My wife is not a great lover of the “Planet of the Apes”
movies. Yet when I suggested that we
take a weekend to explore Malibu Creek State Park and visit Point Dume, she
immediately embraced the idea. Her eyes
glowed at the thought. The weekend thus
had a surreal quality, as if I were merely imagining our journey together. It seemed too good to be true.
In the 1968 film “Planet of the Apes,” the first time Taylor
sees Nova, we can see a connection spark between them. Taylor, the ultimate loner, initially objects
to sharing a cell with her. Yet by the
time the Apes take them to the outdoor exercise cage, he’s accepted her company,
and the way she remains by his side.
In concrete matters, Nova is more wise that Taylor. When he, the cynical idealist, insists on speaking
the truth as he sees it, she looks on with concern. When Taylor writes his message in the sand
for Zera, she knows that Dr. Zaius, the orangutan Chief Scientist and Defender of the
Faith, must not perceive Taylor as an intelligent being. So she wipes away the message he has
drawn. Taylor doesn’t recognize her
protectiveness though, and knocks her away. Back in their cell, when he still insists on speaking
to her, she places a finger gently upon his lips.
Taylor may not understand why he cares about this mute,
primitive woman, but he demands that Zera and Cornelius bring Nova along when
they risk their careers to help him escape.
As for the chimpanzee scientists, Cornelius wants nothing to do with
Taylor when Zera first brings the human to him.
He warns her that in protecting Taylor, she is risking everything they
desire: respected positions in their society, and a long and happy marriage. Nonetheless, he supports her arguments in
regards to Taylor, even though he knows that defying Dr. Zaius and the
community leadership will cost them their dreams.
On the way to Point Dume, we saw rows of chairs set up along
the beach. On the way back, people
waited there. A string quartet
played. Young men and women stood at the
edge of the sand, dressed in nice clothes but barefoot, watching the café
opposite. When the father escorted the
bride across the road, he paused upon reaching the beach, as if rethinking his
decision to give her away. The guests
laughed appreciatively. He then escorted
his daughter down the aisle, and presented her to the young man who waited
before the priest. The bride smiled, and
her eyes glowed as she gazed up at the groom.
Long after she should have grown tired of my numerous
faults, my wife still looks at me that way.
It reminds me of how Nova looked at Taylor, and the way Cornelius looked
at Zera. I hope that the bride and groom
will look that way at each other for the rest of their lives.
Dragon Dave
