ilm critics generally agree that Jerry Goldsmith's exhilarating music was one of the most influential elements of the original Planet of the Apes movie. Those innovative themes also served, to varying degrees, as the inspiration for the accompaniment to all four of the film's sequels. As part of its ongoing "Silver Age Classics" CD series, Film Score Monthly magazine recently issued a pair of albums showcasing the soundtracks to three of these follow-up features: Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
One disc is devoted entirely to the modernistic melodies of Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The initial 19 cues present composer Leonard Rosenman's contributions to the picture, introducing both a tender leitmotif for Nova (Linda Harrison) and an angry march for the aggressive gorilla army. This first portion of the platter is supplemented by a brief "Bonus Section" that includes a damaged cut titled "Nova Dies" and a sampling of the movie's electronic sound effects. The recording concludes with the "LP Program," a group of 11 works intermingling the film's dialogue and music that was released in 1970 as the "original motion picture score."
Jazz musician Tom Scott provided the themes for Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and the second CD showcases 14 of his highly imaginative compositions. These tunes are followed by 17 selections from the final installment in the series, Battle for the Planet of the Apes. Rosenman returned to the franchise to pen these numbers, generating a more consistently menacing ambiance than he had in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The collection closes with an unexpected Apes
addendum--Lalo Schifrin's noteworthy "Main Title" motif from the short-lived Planet of the Apes TV show.
More fun than a barrel of monkeys
With all of the attention that Planet of the Apes has received over the years, it's rather surprising to discover that the film's sequels have often been casually dismissed as little more than inferior follow-ups. There's no question that they lack the monumental power and substance of
the initial movie, yet--at least from a musical standpoint--they invariably offer inventive and engaging scores that are genuinely deserving of acknowledgment by both critics and collectors.
"Exploring" is among Rosenman's most atmospheric Beneath the Planet of the Apes cues. This intriguing tune--heard when Nova and astronaut John Brent (James Franciscus) first travel toward the apes' city--is filled with clattering percussion, sinister strings and weird electronic sounds that serve as an arresting and unexpectedly clever contrast to the dark cadence that permeates such militaristic cuts as "Off to War" and "Ape Soldiers Advancing." "Hail the Bomb" is equally notable, incorporating a forceful organ and chorus to highlight the mutants' misguided worship of a deadly doomsday device.
Scott's music for Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is also quite effective, echoing many of the same ingenious instrumental techniques utilized by Goldsmith in the original picture. The pitch is clearly altered in some sections of the "Main Title," just as "Ape Revolt Begins" employs ominous clacking noises and odd piano effects to create a sense of agitation and apprehension. Meanwhile, Rosenman's work on Battle for the Planet of the Apes focuses on more belligerent themes, including the stirring "Fight Like Apes," with its fierce woodwinds and muted brass, and the angry, slowly building beat of "Ape Has Killed Ape." SF film connoisseurs may dismiss the Planet of the Apes sequels as substandard, but it's obvious from these two CDs that their music is potent, enduring and plainly first-rate.
