Movies to Stream: Let's go apeshit
"What did Don Draper see in 'Planet of the Apes?'" & other existential questions
In season 6, episode 5 of Mad Men, the main character- the boozy, melancholic advertising genius Don Draper- takes his young son Bobby to the movies.
And not just any movie. Father and son enjoy what was likely a fairly common cinematic bonding experience in 1968: They see Planet of the Apes 🐒
After it ends, with Charleton Heston’s character collapsing in the sand at a shocking revelation (don’t worry, I’m not going to spoil this more than 55-year-old movie), Bobby lets out an exasperated “Jesus.”
“You wanna see it again?” his dad asks. And they do!
What did Don see in this apocalyptic movie that he immediately suggested watching it again? This is the kind of thing I like to think about.
If you’ve already seen Planet of the Apes and/or don’t mind spoilers for a movie released in the late ‘60s whose twist is already widely known, here’s the Mad Men clip:
Though I came of age in the ‘90s and 2000s, I know how they felt. The Apes films were staples of my childhood VHS and DVD viewing. Set in a future where humans have devolved into speechless, loincloth-clad barbarians and primates rule the world, the movies range from shockingly effective to, uh, very ridiculous.
So, as a new Planet of the Apes film looms, I think we could all benefit from a little monkey business. This week I’ll be spotlighting two of my favorite Apes outings, but I’ll also be looking at films that capture what I am referring to as “the apeshit ethos,” movies that are chaotic, rowdy, and more than a little bit angry.
(Unless otherwise noted, all movies are available to rent from Apple, Amazon, etc. in addition to the listed streaming services. But if you watch them and like them, I’d consider buying physical copies 😃)
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