Planet of the Apes (1968) Set Design

Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Forbidden Zone - Mentor Huebner
Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Forbidden Zone - Mentor Huebner

Depicting a harsh and dystopian world (at least for the humans), “Planet of the Apes” has become an unlikely film franchise spanning over half a century.  The original “Apes” from 1968 has some of the most fantastical, caveman-chic sets of any of the films.  Art Directors William Creber and Jack Martin Smith were charged with the difficult task of building an entire futuristic world while limited by the budget of the first in an unknown, untested yet-to-be movie franchise.

Forbidden Zone

Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Forbidden Zone - Mentor Huebner
Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Forbidden Zone – Mentor Huebner

Ape Village

Planet of the Apes Village Set
Planet of the Apes Village Set

As a result of the film’s lower budget, the centerpiece of the film, Ape Village, was filmed at 20th Century Fox’s movie ranch (now Malibu Creek State Park) less than an hour from its Century City studio.  Except for a wide establishing shot (below) that shows just how small the set was, all other shots were kept tight and low by director Franklin J. Schaffner to disguise its tiny stature. Used also for “The Left Hand of God” with Humphrey Bogart the lake was dredged and enlarged by Fox over its early years of ownership.

Concept Sketch of Ape Village

Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Ape Village - Mentor Huebner
Planet of the Apes 1968 Concept Sketch of Ape Village – Mentor Huebner

Mentor Huebner depicted a Gaudi world of craggy, skull-like buildings carved from stone.

Buildings Surrounding the Village

Planet of the Apes Set Surrounding Village
Planet of the Apes Set Surrounding Village

To give Ape Village a greater sense of size, additional buildings were constructed on the hills surrounding the town.  Forced perspective likely was used to make the buildings look larger and farther away than they really were.

Stone Sky Bridge

Planet of the Apes Village Bridge Set
Planet of the Apes Village Bridge Set

Amphitheater

Planet of the Apes Set Amphitheater
Planet of the Apes Set Amphitheater

Church and Unique Circular Room Divider

Planet of the Apes Set Church and Circular Room Divider
Planet of the Apes Set Church and Circular Room Divider

The Apes’ church was enclosed by a semi-circular room divider made of stacked stones.

Museum of Man

Planet of the Apes Set Museum Interior
Planet of the Apes Set Museum Interior

Hallway

Planet of the Apes Set Hallway
Planet of the Apes Set Hallway

Another Hallway

Planet of the Apes Set Hallway 2
Planet of the Apes Set Hallway

Courtroom

Planet of the Apes Set Courtroom
Planet of the Apes Set Courtroom

Courtroom Room Divider

Planet of the Apes 1968 Set Courtroom and Divider 1
Planet of the Apes 1968 Set Courtroom and Divider 1
Planet of the Apes 1968 Set Courtroom and Divider 2 Close Up
Planet of the Apes 1968 Set Courtroom and Divider 2 Close Up

 

By Lee Wallender

Deception, influence, fakes, illusions, themed environments, simulations, secret places, secret infrastructure, imagined places, dreamscapes, movie sets and props, evasions, camouflage, studio backlots, miniatures.