The Naked Ape (film)

The Naked Ape
The Naked Ape
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Donald Driver
Screenplay by	Donald Driver
Based on	The Naked Ape; by Desmond Morris
Produced by	Zev Buffman; Jerry D. Good;
Starring	Johnny Crawford; Victoria Principal; Dennis Olivieri;
Cinematography	John A. Alonzo
Edited by	Michael Economou; Robert L. Wolfe;
Music by	Jimmy Webb
Production; company	Playboy Enterprises
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	August 1, 1973;
Running time	85 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Naked Ape is a 1973 American comedy film, loosely adapted from the non-fiction novel of the same name by Desmond Morris, written and directed by Donald Driver, and starring Johnny Crawford, Victoria Principal, Dennis Olivieri, Diana Darrin, Norman Grabowski, and John Hillerman, with animated segments created by Murakami Wolf Studios. The film was released on August 1, 1973, by Universal Pictures.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The Desmond Morris book had been optioned for a film adaptation in 1968, and aside from some factual consultation, Morris was not involved in the screenplay writing. Initially set up at Universal, after initial screenplay drafts were submitted, the book was deemed unfilmable and was almost sent into turnaround, until Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, who had been producing other film projects at the time, agreed to co-finance the project.

Leading lady Victoria Principal later said that her career momentum was hurt by the film's failure.^[4]

Plot[]

In a series of satirical live action and animated vignettes, the evolution of humanity is depicted and explored, primarily through the experiences of Cathy, a tour guide in a natural history museum describing the ages of mankind and its advancement, and Lee, a college student who meets Cathy in one of his classes and grows infatuated with her. Through them, rituals of courtship, sex, marriage, workplace manners, and military service are dramatized, suggesting that despite centuries of change, certain behaviors remain constant.

Cast[]

Johnny Crawford as Lee
Victoria Principal as Cathy
Dennis Olivieri as Arnie
Diana Darrin as Fat Woman
Norman Grabowski as Sargent
John Hillerman as Psychiatrist
Helen Horowitz as Fat Child
Robert Ito as Samurai Warrior
Marvin Miller as Fat Man

References[]

^ Sandra Brennan (2015). "The-Naked-Ape - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.^{[failed verification]}
^ "Naked Ape, The (1973) – Overview". TCM.com. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
^ "The Naked Ape". Afi.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
^ Jeff Jarvis. "Darling of Dallas". People.com. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

External links[]

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[1] Sandra Brennan (2015). "The-Naked-Ape - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.^{[failed verification]}

[2] "Naked Ape, The (1973) – Overview". TCM.com. 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2015-12-17.

[3] "The Naked Ape". Afi.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-03. Retrieved 2015-12-17.

[4] Jeff Jarvis. "Darling of Dallas". People.com. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

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