"Go Ape" for the Museum's First Friday
Contact: Steve Popson at 919-733-7450, ext. 379.
RALEIGH — Have you ever felt hunted … haunted … wanted … like beasts of prey? Would you like to? Then swing on over to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh for an eye-opening view of a world where humans are the endangered species. Don't miss the original and still the best "Planet of the Apes," which will be shown again (in its entirety this time) Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
"Planet of the Apes" (1968) tells the story of Commander Taylor, an astronaut who has landed in a world where Apes are the rulers and Man the beast. Now he is caged, tortured and at constant risk of mutilation. (Not to mention a huge PR nightmare for NASA.) Commander Taylor is, of course, Charlton Heston, the man who played the larger-than-life film roles of Moses, Ben Hur and Michelangelo. As bad as Heston craved a reliable firearm in "Planet," it's no wonder he ended up as President of the National Rifle Association.
The film boasts lots of other great actors as well, including Roddy McDowall (Dr. Cornelius), Kim Hunter (Dr. Zira) and Maurice Evans (Dr. Zaius). McDowell has appeared in everything from "Lassie Come Home" (1943) as a child actor to the original 1960s television series "Batman"” (as Bookworm), eventually adding his considerable vocal talents to animated action series in the '90s ("Duckman," "Batman," "The Tick") and the feature film "A Bug's Life" (1998).
Hunter won an Oscar for her portrayal of Stella (without the chimp makeup) in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951). Evans won an Emmy for his television-movie rendition of "Macbeth" (1960) and was a legend for his portrayal of several Shakespeare characters on Broadway. Still, Evans is probably best known for his recurring appearances on the "Bewitched" (1964) TV series, as Elizabeth Montgomery's loving but unapproving warlock father.
The film was based on the novel by Pierre Boulle ("La Planète des Singes"), directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (who also directed "Patton") and adapted for the screen by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling of "Twilight Zone" fame. Jerry Goldsmith wrote the original score, which won him wide critical acclaim as well as lavish praise from the movie industry, including an Academy Award nomination. Eight years later, Goldsmith won an Academy Award for his original score in "The Omen" (1976).
The feature film begins at 7 p.m. and the Museum stays open till 9 p.m. Come early for live music and an early film short from the AV Geek. Enjoy light fare and beverages from the Acro Café. The Museum Store offers after-hours shopping and an opening reception for two new artists in the Nature Art Gallery.
If watching over-sized primates on horseback is not your thing, check out the Museum's newest traveling exhibit -- "Discovering Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane Goodall" -- which stays open till 9 p.m. (last tickets sold at 8 p.m.). This exhibit highlights Dr. Goodall's four decades of research and thought provoking ideas on chimpanzees and primates. Tickets discounted for First Friday attendees: $4 for all; free for Friends of the Museum.
The Museum of Natural Sciences is located in downtown Raleigh at 11 West Jones Street. Parking is available on the street and in surface lots along Wilmington and Edenton streets. For more information, contact Steve Popson at 919-733-7450, ext. 379.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the web at www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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