As is the case with all highly successful films, "If you make a lot of money you have to make a sequel." Beneath the Planet of the Apes would suffer troubles from the moment of its conception. First problem, Charlton Heston wanted nothing to do with the production. He had originally felt that the story had ended properly with Taylor on the beach in the first movie. Without Heston there wouldn't be a picture. The studio fought like mad to get Heston to give in. Finally, he did, but the only way he would do it is if Taylor died at the beginning of the film. The studio countered with Taylor disappearing in the first scene, then dying at the end of the picture. Heston agreed under those guidelines. Next problem, Money. Fox had just suffered a horrible year at the box office. Budgets for all productions were slashed, including Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The films original budget would hardly cover the cost of the makeup alone. Corners had to be cut, and, in the end, it showed in the final product. Extras in crowd scenes can be clearly seen with rubber ape masks instead of the award-winning makeup. This could have been a monumental film had there been enough money. Still I feel the film is a classic, considering what was made with so little resources.
We are then introduced to Brent (James Fransiscus) who is, unfortunately, the next Earth-man to visit the future. His ship, like Taylor's crashes and out of the two-man crew, he is the only survivor. This second ship was sent out to find out what happened to the first. As luck would have it, they both would follow the same bend in time and would end up in the same place.
As luck would also have it, Nova would find Brent and his crashed ship. Brent can't communicate with her very well but does find that she is wearing Taylor's dog-tags. He tells her to go find Taylor. Unfortunately, Nova has no idea where that is. What she manages to do, is take Brent to Ape City to find Zira and Cornelius. Brent is shocked to find that he is on a planet ruled by apes. The two chimpanzees are shocked to find another talking human. The shock quickly wears off and they promise to help each other find Taylor.
The Gorilla Army is preparing for war. A recent drought has dwindled down the ape’s food supply. Scouts had reported strange encounters in the forbidden zone. The logic, if there is something out there then it must eat to survive. So, go take it's food by force.
Brent and Nova manage to get captured on their way out of the city. The two of them are brought to Zira for cleaning and she helps them to escape being used as target practice for the Gorilla Army. They both flee the city and stumble upon an old abandoned subway station. Brent then too realizes where and when he is. He takes it a lot better than Taylor did.
Brent and Nova are lured into the remains of what used to be New York City. Once there they fall under the mind control of the city’s mutant residents. With their mind powers the Mutants try to make Brent kill Nova. After he refuses, he is brought before them to extract information about the ape army. Brent knows nothing. After tiring of picking his mind the Mutants imprison Brent with Taylor. The two share pleasantries and then are forced to fight to the death with mind control.
The apes attack the city. The mutants have no weapons to fight the apes, save one "The Alpha Omega Doomsday Bomb." The apes quickly take control of the city and the bomb.
Brent and Taylor manage to escape their cell while the ongoing battle distracts the mutants. Once outside the trio is confronted by a gorilla soldier. Brent and Taylor charge him. He shoots. Nova is killed. Before she dies, she utters her only spoken word, "Taylor." The two then proceed to the church where the bomb is kept. They try to take control of the weapon but fail. Brent is gunned down, then Taylor is shot after killing Ursus. With his last bit of strength Taylor detonates the bomb ending life on Earth.
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