Planet of the Apes (1968 film) Quotations

Planet of the Apes is a 1968 film about an astronaut who finds himself 2,000+ years in the future, stranded on an earth-like planet where humans are enslaved by apes.

Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. Written by Pierre Boulle, Michael Wilson and Rod Serling.

Somewhere in the Universe, there must be something better than man! taglines

George Taylor

Imagine me needing someone. Back on Earth I never did. Oh, there were women. Lots of women. Lots of love-making but no love. You see, that was the kind of world we'd made. So I left, because there was no one to hold me there.

And that completes my final report until we reach touchdown. We're now on full automatic in the hands of the computers. I've tucked my crew in for the long sleep, and I'll be joining them...soon. In less than an hour we'll finish our six months out of Cape Kennedy. Six months in deep space...by our time, that is. According to Dr. Hasslein's theory of time in a vehicle traveling nearly the speed of light, the Earth has aged nearly 700 years since we left it...while we've aged hardly at all. Maybe so. This much is probably true. The men who sent us on this journey are long since dead and gone. You, who are reading me now, are a different breed...I hope a better one. I leave the 20th century with no regrets, but...one more thing, if anybody's listening, that is. Nothing scientific. It's...purely personal. But seen from out here, everything seems different. Time bends. Space is...boundless. It squashes a man's ego. I feel lonely. That's about it. Tell me, though, does man, that marvel of the universe, that glorious paradox who sent me to the stars, still make war against his brother...keep his neighbor's children starving?

You're 300 light years from your precious planet. Your loved ones are dead and forgotten for 20 centuries. 20 centuries! Even if you could get back, they'd think you were something that fell out of a tree.

Clue me in on something, will you? Why did you sign on for this trip? You volunteered. Why? Never mind. I'll clue you in. You were the golden boy in the class of '72. When they nominated you for the big one, you couldn't turn it down...not without losing your old American image.

Oh, and the glory, don't forget that. There's a life-size bronze statue of you standing out there somewhere. It's probably turned green by now; nobody can read the nameplate. But never let it be said that we forget our heroes.

And there's just one last item: immortality. You wanted to live forever, didn't you? Well, you damn near made it. Except for me and Dodge, you've lived longer than anyone ever born. And with our lovely Lieutenant Stewart dead, looks like you're the last of the line. You got what you wanted, tiger. How does that taste?

It's a mad house! A mad house!

I'm a seeker, too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be.

What evidence? There were no weapons in that cave.

But they...! (after seeing that Landon has been lobotomized) You did it. You cut up his brain, you bloody baboon!

You did that to him, damn you! You cut out his memory! You took his identity! And that's what you want to do to me!

A planet where apes evolved from men?

Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!
- Note: ranked #66 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.

Doctor, would an ape make a human doll, that talks?

[to Lucius] In my world, when I left it, only kids your age wore beards.

[riding down the beach in the last scene] Oh my God... I'm back. I'm home. All the time it was... we finally really did it. [screaming] YOU MANIACS! YOU BLEW IT UP! OH, DAMN YOU! GODDAMN YOU ALL TO HELL! (camera pans to reveal the half-destroyed Statue of Liberty sticking out of the sand)

Dr. Zaius

Man has no understanding. He can be taught a few simple tricks. Nothing more.

Dr. Zira, I must caution you. Experimental brain surgery on these creatures is one thing, and I'm all in favor of it. But your behavior studies are another matter. To suggest that we can learn anything about the simian nature from a study of man is sheer nonsense. Why, man is a nuisance. He eats up his food supply in the forest, then migrates to our green belts and ravages our crops. The sooner he is exterminated, the better. It's a question of simian survival.

Ah, yes - the young ape with a shovel. I hear you're planning another archeological expedition. Cornelius, a friendly word of warning: as you dig for artifacts, be sure you don't bury your reputation.

[to humans] You are a menace. A walking pestilence.

[to humans] Have you forgotten your scripture, the thirteenth scroll? "And Proteus brought the upright beast into the garden and chained him to a tree and the children did make sport of him."

[to George] You are right, I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself.

[to George] The Forbidden Zone was once a paradise. Your breed made a desert of it, ages ago.

Other

Julius: You know the saying, "Human see, human do."

Ape Guard: Shut up, you freak.

Cornelius: [reading from the sacred scrolls of the apes] 'Beware the beast man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, for lust, for greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death.'

Dialogue

George: Doctor, I'd like to kiss you goodbye.

Dr. Zira: All right, but you're so damned ugly.

George: There's your Minister of Science; honor bound to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

Dr. Zira: Taylor please!

George: Except that he's also Chief Defender of the Faith!

Dr. Zaius: There is no contradiction between faith and science... true science.

George: Are you willing to put that statement to the test?

Cornelius: Taylor I would much rather—

George: Take it easy, you saved me from this fanatic, maybe I can return the favor!

Dr. Zaius: Tell me, why are all apes created equal?

George: Some apes, it seems, are more equal than others.

Dr. Zaius: I see you've brought the female of your species. I didn't realize that man could be monogamous.

George: On this planet, it's easy.

Cornelius: Well Taylor, we're all fugitives now.

George: Do you have any weapons, any guns?

Cornelius: The best, but we won't need them.

George: I'm glad to hear it. I want one anyway.

George: [brandishing rifle] Don't try to follow us. I'm pretty handy with this.

Dr. Zaius: Of that, I'm sure. All my life I've awaited your coming and dreaded it.

Dr. Zira: What will he find out there, doctor?

Dr. Zaius: His destiny.

[George ties up Dr. Zaius]

Dr. Zira: Taylor! Don't treat him that way!

George: Why not?

Dr. Zira: It's humiliating!

George: The way you humiliated me? All of you? You led me around on a leash!

Cornelius: That was different. We thought you were inferior.

George: Now you know better.

Leader of the Hunt: I don't understand these animal psychologists. What is Dr. Zira trying to prove?

Dr. Zaius: That man can be domesticated.

Dr. Zaius: The Forbidden Zone was once a paradise. Your breed made a desert of it ages ago.

George: It still doesn't give me the why. A planet where apes evolved from men? There's got to be an answer.

Dr. Zaius: Don't look for it, Taylor! You may not like what you'll find.

Taglines

Somewhere in the Universe, there has to be something better than man. Has to be!

20th Century Fox Wants You To... Go Ape [1974 re-release]

This is Commander Taylor, Astronaut. He has landed in a world where Apes are the rulers and Man the beast. Now he is caged, tortured, risks mutilation. Because no human can remain human on, The Planet of the Apes.

Hunted... haunted... wanted... like beasts of prey!

Cast

Charlton Heston — George Taylor
Maurice Evans — Dr. Zaius
Kim Hunter — Dr. Zira
Roddy McDowall — Cornelius
Buck Kartalian — Julius
Norman Burton — Leader of the Hunt

Quoternity