BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970)

• Director: Ted Post
• Featured special makeup effects: John Chambers
• Cast: James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans
• Film: 94mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: 20:45 – 23:15 [18+]

The sole survivor of an interplanetary rescue mission searches for the only survivor of the previous expedition. He discovers a planet ruled by apes and an underground city run by telepathic humans.

“THE BIZARRE WORLD YOU MET IN ‘PLANET OF THE APES’ WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING… WHAT LIES BENEATH MAY BE THE END!”

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues with its 11^th sensational season — SYNTHETIC FLESH! —  a tribute to more than 100 years of monster makeup FX.

In 1968, John Chambers’ pioneering makeup special effects for PLANET OF THE APES changed the industry forever and inspired generations of artists to follow in his footsteps. Loosely based on the 1963 novel by Pierre Boulle, the film — about astronauts on a mission from earth crashing on a distant future planet ruled by apes — was a major commercial success, spawning a series of sequels, two TV series, a remake, and a blockbuster CGI-era re-boot. We’re showing the first of four original sequels, BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970), a daring departure that saw Chambers working with a lower budget to produce a wider array of makeups for its truly deranged story.

Token Homo is stupidly proud to be joined for this edition of BAR TRASH by Dan Frye, a makeup and special effects artist and prop maker with a career spanning more than 40 years in New York, Los Angeles and London. Amongst Dan’s early career highlights are work with Larry Cohen on A RETRUN TO SALEM’S LOT (1983) and IT’S ALIVE III (1987), and Frank Henenlotter on BRAIN DAMAGE (1988), BASKET CASE 2 (1990), and FRANKENHOOKER (1990). Later career highlights in the UK include SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004), DOOMSDAY (2008), GAME OF THRONES (2015–2016), and DR WHO (2015–2016). Dan’s appearance is subject to work commitments.

Featured special makeup effects artist: John Chambers (1922–2001) was a pioneering legend in makeup special effects and one of the few makeup artists to have a film made about his real life (mis)adventures (‘Best Picture’ Academy Award winner ARGO, 2012).

Polite notice: We are projecting BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES with subtitles from the best available digital source. 

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50+. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on IG & Letterboxd or visit tokenhomo.com for all the gory details ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london