# A question about the original "Planet of the Apes" movie series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 3, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765 "2011-07-03T23:57:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/1 "2011-07-03T23:57:23Z")
The fourth movie in the series was about how Caesar led the ape revolt. Then in the fifth movie its a decade or so later, and a global thermonuclear war has taken place. Was the ape revolt supposed to have somehow caused the nuclear war, or was it more or less an independent development? (Remember, this was the early '70s, when it was considered a question of **when** , not if, we would blow everything up.) ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/2 "2011-07-04T00:14:41Z")
Independent, I think. Though somehow the nuclear war evidently sped up ape evolution from “one ape [other than Caesar] barely able to make one decipherable word in English” to “all apes not only fluent in speech but won’t shut the hell up about it and some postulating relativity”. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/3 "2011-07-04T00:20:56Z")
I think Sampiro is right. They had to “fast forward” evolution. I first saw the Apes movies on July 4th, 1974. A local theater showed all five for the price of one ticket. They even sold bananas in the lobby. That was a strange day, going in at 10:00AM and I don’t even remember what time is was when the fifth film ended. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/4 "2011-07-06T17:12:36Z")
Remember that it’s established that the world has changed quite a bit inbetween the 3rd (presumably contemporary America) to the 4th movie (seemingly City-States comprising “America”). Something has caused the world’s regular apes to evolve quite a bit (IIRC there’s some supplemental fiction saying the Chrononaut Apes in the Third unknowlingly brought something with them on the ship that jumpstarted the evolution) making them able to be the new slave class. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/5 "2011-07-07T00:20:48Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I think Sampiro is right. They had to “fast forward” evolution. > > I first saw the Apes movies on July 4th, 1974. A local theater showed all five for the price of one ticket. They even sold bananas in the lobby. That was a strange day, going in at 10:00AM and I don’t even remember what time is was when the fifth film ended. That is hardcore. The most I have ever managed in one day is three. They were all David Cronenberg though, so that should count for something. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/6 "2011-07-07T01:19:06Z")
The story of the war between men and apes that took place between _Conquest_ and _Battle_ is told in a comic book mini series called [Revolution on the Planet of the Apes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-zledKoBNE&feature=youtube_gdata_player). The nuclear apocalypse was the climax of a years-long war between humans and apes. IIRC, the bombs were triggered by humans who would rather see Earth destroyed than ruled by apes. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/7 "2011-07-07T01:35:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Independent, I think. Though somehow the nuclear war evidently sped up ape evolution from “one ape [other than Caesar] barely able to make one decipherable word in English” to “all apes not only fluent in speech but won’t shut the hell up about it and some postulating relativity”. I’ve also heard theories that the apes were subject to all kinds of genetic engineering in attemps to make them better slaves. Also not only did all apes manage to develop the power of speech between Conquest and Battle they also managed to develop their own distinctive style of fashion; which will remain unchaged for the next 2,000 years. It’s all a result of each sequel having worse writing & a lower budget than it’s predecesor. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/8 "2011-07-07T14:35:55Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > they also managed to develop their own distinctive style of fashion; which will remain unchaged for the next 2,000 years. I always wondered where the supposedly vegetarian apes got all that leather from. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/9 "2011-07-07T14:50:23Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I always wondered where the supposedly vegetarian apes got all that leather from. Ape leather is… PEOPLE! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/10 "2011-07-07T14:55:03Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I always wondered where the supposedly vegetarian apes got all that leather from. The Soylent line from the Ed Gein Clothing Company. ETA: Damn sticking space bar. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/11 "2011-07-07T15:20:40Z")
If I remember correctly, and I think I might, at the end of “Conquest,” Caesar teaches a female chimp named Lisa to say, “No.” There is no explanation on how she is able to speak, but she does use the word. I think at the beginning of “Battle for,” it is mentioned that the war was between human nations. It’s hinted, or maybe outright stated, that the apes were peaceful and the humans are the the real “beasts.” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-original-planet-of-the-apes-movie-series/587765/12 "2011-07-07T17:19:33Z")
According to this [timeline](http://pota.goatley.com/prophecy/timeline.htm) > [@](#): > > A.D. 1992 > > NUCLEAR WAR: The work of a single madman. International political pressure. Some country taking advantage of the US governmental paralysis. It is swift and effective. Laser defense ABM systems prevent war from utterly destroying life. Major cities bombed but surrounding areas liveable-to a certain degree. This, I believe, is based on the comic book mini-series I mentioned in my earlier post.