Planet of the Apesis one of the most successful and durablescience fiction franchisesin Hollywood history.
But as he toldCinefantastique, Now I have Heston, Schaffner, a screenplay, and all the sketches.
I go right back to everybody, and they throw me out again.
As Zanuck told Jacobs, Nobody will believe Charlton Heston talking to an ape.
Schaffner directed the test, which was enthusiastically received by Zanuck.
But there was one more hurdle to overcome: showing it to an audience.
Nobody laughed, they sat there tense, and he said, Make the picture.
We all thought it worked, Abrahams recalled.
But then something happened that changed the fate ofPlanet of the Apesonce and for all.
[Zanuck] said, Ill tell you what you guys have a point.
Lets see ifFantastic Voyagehas legs.
Come back in four weeks, remembered Abrahams.
They fought him bitterly, said Abrahams.
And he convinced them.
He came back and said, Okay, go.
