RE Real Actors:
In the age before CGI, they had to be “real” enough to be believable.
Looking back now, watching the Planet of the Apes makeup documentaries and such, seeing what Roddy McDowell and the others went through to “become” the Apes... they did a remarkable job of it.
By the time the Television series started though, it had worn off.
But the first two movies ... man, I STILL love them.
Gorillas on horseback... damn.
Another quick note: the guns the Gorillas had in the first movie were actually M1 Carbines in custom wooden stocks. In the second movie “Beneath The Planet of the Apes” they had submachine guns - they were Danish Madsen M50s in custom stocks as well.
I had very realistic replicas of those guns when I was a kid.
“Gorillas on horseback... damn.”
I won’t comment.
“I had very realistic replicas of those guns when I was a kid.”
And if brought one to school these days, you and your parents would be arrested.