Dr. Zaius: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
←Redirected page to List of characters in the Planet of the Apes films#Dr. Zaius |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
#REDIRECT [[List of characters in the Planet of the Apes films#Dr. Zaius]] |
|||
{| class="infobox" style="width: 21em; font-size: 90%; text-align: left" |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | ''[[Planet of the Apes (novel)|Planet of the Apes]]'' character |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size: larger; background-color: #001; color: #ffa;" |Dr. Zaius |
|||
|- |
|||
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Drzaius.jpg|Dr. Zaius, as portrayed by [[Maurice Evans (actor)|Maurice Evans]] in the [[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|film series]] ('''top''') and Councillor Zaius, as portrayed by [[Booth Colman]] in the [[Planet of the Apes (TV series)|television series]]]] |
|||
|- |
|||
! Species |
|||
| [[Orangutan]] |
|||
|- |
|||
! First appearance |
|||
| ''[[Planet of the Apes (novel)|Planet of the Apes]]'' |
|||
|- |
|||
! Created by |
|||
| [[Pierre Boulle]] |
|||
|- |
|||
! Portrayed by |
|||
| [[Maurice Evans (actor)|Maurice Evans]]</br>[[Booth Colman]]</br>[[Richard Blackburn]] (voice) |
|||
|} |
|||
'''Dr. Zaius''' is a fictional character in the [[Pierre Boulle]] novel ''[[Planet of the Apes (novel)|Planet of the Apes]]'', and the [[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|film series]] and [[Planet of the Apes (TV series)|television series]] based upon it. (In Boulle's novel, his honorific was "Mi", a term in the Ape language.) He is an [[orangutan]] and although given a minor role devoid of dialogue in the novel, he becomes the main antagonist of the story in the subsequent film adaptation. Zaius was portrayed in the first and second films of the series by actor [[Maurice Evans (actor)|Maurice Evans]], in the later television series by [[Booth Colman]], and voiced in the animated series by [[Richard Blackburn]]. |
|||
== Film history == |
|||
=== Planet of the Apes === |
|||
Zaius serves a dual role in Ape society, as Minister of Science in charge of advancing ape knowledge, and also as Chief Defender of the Faith. In the latter role, he has access to ancient scrolls and other information not given to the ape masses. Zaius knows the true origins of the ape society, how mankind fell as the dominant species, and the reasons why the [[Forbidden Zone (Planet of the Apes)|Forbidden Zone]] is so regarded, and he blames human nature for it all. Zaius seems to prefer an imperfect, [[ignorant]] ape culture that keeps humans in check, to the open, scientific, human-curious one posed by [[Cornelius (Planet of the Apes)|Cornelius]] and [[Zira (Planet of the Apes)|Zira]]'s generation (though it is never fully explained just why this is). The idea of an intelligent human (such as [[Taylor (Planet of the Apes)|Taylor]]) threatening the balance of things frightens him deeply. Knowing the destruction that humanity (with the aid of technology) caused in its downfall, he doesn't want even the possibility of a human resurgence. At the end of ''Planet of the Apes'', Zaius has Cornelius's archaeological findings (human artifacts, predating the Ape society) destroyed, and Cornelius and Zira arrested on [[heresy]] charges. |
|||
Although cast as the antagonist in the film, Zaius's actions are nonetheless driven by his deep belief that he is protecting the [[world]] (at whatever cost) from the "walking pestilence" of man, even if his actions cause undue harm to his ape brethren. And despite his animosity towards Taylor, Zaius nevertheless demonstrates a grudging respect for his adversary, calling him by his proper name, and even advising Taylor near the end of the film against delving into the mystery as to how the apes evolved from humans because as he cryptically warns the marooned astronaut: "you may not like what you find." The film's final startling image can be seen as a vindication of Zaius's views as to the destructive, genocidal nature of mankind and the means by which he is compelled to employ, even against his own colleagues, from the existential threat of a resurgent human race. It can also be seen as a vindication of efforts by social engineers to conceal information that would hurt society. |
|||
Only once near the end does Zaius truely make what he knows and thinks known: |
|||
''"I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself....The Forbidden Zone was once a paradise. Your breed made a desert of it"'' |
|||
=== Beneath the Planet of the Apes === |
|||
By the second movie [[Beneath the Planet of the Apes]], Cornelius recalls how Zaius brought them to trial, but then acted on their behalf. When Zaius leaves on a military expedition with [[General Ursus (Planet of the Apes)|General Ursus]]. To explore the Forbidden Zone, Zaius trusts them both to continue his work. (In the novelization of ''Beneath'', they instead begin a revolt, once the gorilla army is gone.) Zaius meets Taylor once more, in a showdown between the gorillas and a [[mutant]] human race living underground in the Zone. Taylor was trying to keep the mutant humans from activating a doomsday bomb, and was shot several times in the process by gorilla troops. Wounded and dying, Taylor begs Zaius to help him stop the bomb; when Zaius refuses (declaring "Man is ''evil'' - capable of ''nothing'' but destruction!"), Taylor deliberately activates the bomb in his last moments, ironically realizing Zaius's worst fears, as the Earth is destroyed. |
|||
=== Escape from the Planet of the Apes === |
|||
During the third movie (''[[Escape from the Planet of the Apes]]'') Cornelius relates how he learned the truth about humans and apes from reading secret scrolls. Cornelius presumably had access to these while working for Dr. Zaius (or after his departure), or perhaps was granted access by Zaius as a consolation for the loss of his archaeological work. |
|||
== Television history == |
|||
In the television series, Councillor Zaius serves as a government official, with authority over all the humans in his district. The young chimpanzee Galen becomes his new assistant, but becomes a fugitive with two human astronauts Virdon and Burke, fleeing from Zaius and his enforcer, General Urko. |
|||
In the animated series, Zaius again serves as a government official, who holds influence within the Ape Senate, and has authority over both Cornelius and Zira, and their scientific enterprises, as well as General Urko and his military. |
|||
== Cultural references == |
|||
* In ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode 3F15, ''[[A Fish Called Selma]]'', Dr. Zaius was featured prominently in a song in a musical version of ''Planet of the Apes''. The song is a parody of ''[[Rock Me Amadeus]]'' by [[Falco (musician)|Falco]]. |
|||
* In the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode "[[The Reverse Peephole]]", as Elaine and Puddy (who is wearing a large fur coat) enter Joe Mayo's apartment, Elaine introduces Puddy with the words "I believe you know Dr. Zaius." She later throws the coat out a window saying, "Goodbye, Dr. Zaius." |
|||
*The engineering security network at ''[[Boston University]]'' is named Zaius after Dr. Zaius. The Zaius security system is the "defender of all things engineering." |
|||
*In the 1997 cult classic ''[[RocketMan]]'', astronaut Fred Z. Randall refers affectionately to Ulysses, the chimpanzee who accompanies the crew to Mars, as "Little Doctor Zaius." |
|||
*In a segment of the February 14, 2008 episode of ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', Lyle the Intern ([[Jimmi Simpson]]) says to [[David Letterman]], "Your loss, Dr. Zaius." <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZeldHZWocI&feature=related</ref> |
|||
*In [[The Amazing Johnathan]]'s comedy special ''[[Wrong On Every Level]]'', Johnathan makes a shadow puppet ape mouth with his fist and thumb and says, "Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! They've gone into the Forbidden Zone!" |
|||
* In ''[[Reality Bites]]'', TV producer Michael Grates ([[Ben Stiller]]) keeps a statuette of Dr. Zaius in his office, which Lelaina ([[Winona Ryder]]) damages during a visit. |
|||
== References == |
|||
<references/> |
|||
== External links == |
|||
* {{imdb character|0003467}} |
|||
{{Planet of the Apes}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaius, Dr.}} |
|||
[[Category:Fictional apes]] |
|||
[[Category:Science fiction film characters]] |
|||
[[Category:Planet of the Apes characters]] |
|||
[[Category:Fictional doctors]] |
|||
[[Category:Fictional politicians]] |
|||
[[fr:Zaius]] |
|||
[[pt:Dr. Zaius]] |
|||