# Statue of Liberty in Planet of the Apes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511 "2015-10-04T16:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/61 "2015-10-15T20:41:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I visited the Statue of Liberty almost thirty years ago, and, yes, I was surprised at how small the platform in the crown is. As I remember, only a couple of people could fit up there. And we could not linger, as there were other people right behind us who also wanted to stand there. Some movies and TV shows gave me the impression that the windows were larger and you might even be able to stick your head out. But the windows were tiny; perhaps as large as a letter-sized sheet of paper. Does it sway like the Gateway Arch in St. Louis? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/62 "2015-10-15T20:50:50Z")
Not that I remember, but it has been decades. Edited to add, if you’ve never seen it, you may not realize just how tall the base is. It’s really enormous. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/63 "2015-10-15T20:57:57Z")
Not that damned dirty apes care about things like that. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/64 "2015-10-15T22:30:56Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Or that he hasn’t seen the Moon in all that time. Not a moon, which could have looked like a large death star, but The Moon. There’s a line in the movie about there being no moon, isn’t there? Before the astromen encounter the apes, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/65 "2015-10-15T23:01:16Z")
Wouldn’t the astronauts recognize the patterns of the stars (constellations, etc), even if the moon was not visible for whatever reason? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/66 "2015-10-15T23:46:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Wouldn’t the astronauts recognize the patterns of the stars (constellations, etc), even if the moon was not visible for whatever reason? I forget how much time had gone by, but it was considerable; at least some of the constellations could have changed their shape enough as to be unrecognizable. There also would have been precession, meaning the Earth’s orientation to the celestial sphere would have been different. The Moon is also receding, and will likely be torn apart by tidal forces someday (at least that’s what I’ve read). Nowadays, it measures only 0.5 degrees of arc, and it would have appeared much smaller in the sky if it were still intact. Or maybe it was destroyed in the war. ---
**Author:** ![Paxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@Paxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paxx)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/67 "2015-10-16T18:36:27Z")
**terentii** , Taylor says that the date is November 25, 3978 when they land. That’s about two thousand years after the astronauts’ deparature, not enough time for the constellations to become “unrecognizable”. (Take a look at this cool [Space Time app](https://spacetimeapp.herokuapp.com/).) During that time, the Moon would have moved less than 100 meters farther away from the Earth. No change in perceived size. The Earth’s precession doesn’t change the relative positions of the stars in the sky. As for the Moon being destroyed in the war, it’s much more likely that the Great Ape God moved it to an orbit around Jupiter. :dubious: And then created apes in His/Her image and bestowed them with human qualities and abilities, while ignoring anatomical limitations. Hey, we’re all part of the same big happy family! Why can’t we all get along?? Anyway, no need to use science to justify the movie, which is an entertaining pseudo-intellectual adventure, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes pretentious. Well-crafted, with innovative music. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/68 "2015-10-16T20:41:49Z")
> [@Paxx](#): > > **terentii** , Taylor says that the date is November 25, 3978 when they land. That’s about two thousand years after the astronauts’ deparature, not enough time for the constellations to become “unrecognizable”. Not enough time, no. I was thinking more a five-digit figure. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/69 "2015-10-17T01:19:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Was Taylor really back on Earth long enough to have missed the Moon? I had the sense it was only a week or two from his crash-landing to finding the SOL. It might’ve been the wrong time of the month with a barely-visible Moon, or he just missed it the few evenings he was outside. > > Don’t mind me, just fanwanking… He was there long enough for a throat wound that temporarily rendered him mute to heal. What I’ve always wondered is what happened with the astronaut who got lobotomized? If he was taken alive, didn’t he get a chance to speak? (I presume the one who was stuffed and mounted in the museum was killed in the roundup). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/70 "2015-10-17T01:22:10Z")
SEP field generator. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/71 "2015-10-17T02:03:50Z")
There’s always the tornado explanation. Ever hear of the piece of straw that was sent through the piece of wood? It’s when anything happens. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/72 "2015-10-17T15:58:11Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Heston comes upon the half-buried statue. Was the whole harbor supposedly filled in, like forgotten ancient cities? If so, where did that cliff next to it come from? If the statue came apart and was washed up on shore, what explains it being upright and intact? I’m sure I asked the same question…😕 Anyway, why can’t it have been covered in sedimentary rock, which was then eroded ? ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/73 "2015-10-17T16:01:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [The image makes no geological or archaeological sense.](https://anticap.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/pota-statue-of-liberty-2.jpeg) Like many things in movies, it is explained by being a cool image. > > It’s pretty obvious from the solid rocks next to it that it couldn’t be in its original position in New York harbor any more. It appears that it has somehow washed up from somewhere else, but it’s very unlikely for a heavy metal statue to have come to rest in that position. Even today, the arm with the torch is so weak that people aren’t allowed to go up in it anymore. It surely would have collapsed under any stress. > > Also, the statue isn’t free-standing. It consists of sheets of copper attached to an iron interior scaffolding. If exposed to seawater, the scaffolding would corrode and the statue would fall into pieces. > > The actual location was at [Malibu Beach, Los Angeles,](http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/p/planet_apes.html#.VhFYPflVhBc) certainly chosen for convenience rather than any resemblance to New York harbor. > > It doesn’t really pay to think too hard about movies like Planet of the Apes.😉 How do we know the Apes didn’t move it ? They don’t want human crap littering up the place, stick it in the forbidden zone where it’s less of an embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/74 "2015-10-18T22:16:09Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > The statue is huge. It’s a long walk up there. > > What is surprising is that when you are in the crown is that only about 5 people can fit in at a time. You make a long trip up to stand in the crown and look out the small panels for a minute and then begin the long walk down. That’s where the letdown comes in. Depends on your age. I climbed it when I was 8 and my brother was 10. We STRUGGLED to keep up with our Gramma who was in her late 50’s. City people walk everywhere. She lapped up all over the Village, then we got to the Statue. Good lord. Yeah it was cramped. I have a VERY clear memory of looking out at the World Trade Center. ( This was 1970. ) And yeah… the Lady is made of copper sheets and would have come apart. Suck it up. It’s Hollywood. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 18, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/75 "2015-10-18T23:18:20Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > He was there long enough for a throat wound that temporarily rendered him mute to heal. > > What I’ve always wondered is what happened with the astronaut who got lobotomized? If he was taken alive, didn’t he get a chance to speak? (I presume the one who was stuffed and mounted in the museum was killed in the roundup). I assumed he did speak, but unlike Taylor was immediately reported to Dr Zaius who had him lobotomized. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/76 "2015-10-18T23:39:14Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I assumed he did speak, but unlike Taylor was immediately reported to Dr Zaius who had him lobotomized. Doesn’t Taylor actually say something like that in the trial? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/77 "2015-10-19T01:32:44Z")
I hate every ape I see… From chimpan-A to chimpanzee. You’ll never make a monkey out of me. Oh my God, I was wrong. It was Earth, all along. You’ve finally made a monkey, Yes, we’ve finally made a monkey, OUT…OF MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I LOVE YOU DR. ZAIUS! ---
**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:** [October 19, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/78 "2015-10-19T02:11:53Z")
They’re going to do it _again??_ > **[First Image From The War For The Planet Of The Apes Takes Us To A Familiar...](https://gizmodo.com/first-image-from-the-war-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-tak-1737180834)** > > Matt Reeves posted up the first image from his upcoming War for the Planet of the Apes last night, signaling the start of production for the latest installment of the franchise. In it, it looks like they could be returning to an iconic location. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/79 "2015-10-19T03:43:57Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > How do we know the Apes didn’t move it ? They don’t want human crap littering up the place, stick it in the forbidden zone where it’s less of an embarrassment. It would essentially be impossible to move it. Much much easier to just destroy it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511/80 "2015-10-20T08:19:57Z")
At some point in the future, we reinforce the Statue of Liberty and make it stronger. We use it ala Ghost Busters to fight the Apes, but it gets destroyed on some beach, and rolls in the water. The water slowly recedes. Sorry, that;s all I got. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-of-liberty-in-planet-of-the-apes/733511.md?page=5)