Let the experiment begin!
"Turn Down Your Lights (Where applicable)"
Experiment #306 ~ TIME OF THE APES (1974)
Original Air Date: July 13, 1991
Genre: Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Adventure
Studio: Tsuburaya Productions, LTD.
Starring: Reiko Tokunaga, Hiroko Saito, Masaaki Kaji, Hitoshi Omae
Directed By: Atsuo Okunaka, Kiyo Sumi Fukazawa
Theatrical Running Time: 97 Minutes
Tagline: "They're Lost in Eternity, and Trapped in the Time of the Apes!"
Film Synopsis: Children Caroline, Johnny and their adult scientist sister Catherine unwillingly (with the contrivance of technology and a geological disturbance) become cryogenic-ally frozen and somehow accidentally travel in time to a world where talking apes are the dominant species. With the help of a renegade human named Godo and a juvenile primate named Pepe, the human trio are eventually able to return to their own place in time. Oh, and there's an alien spaceship, too! Don't ask. I don't know.
Intro: Well, it's baseball season on the 'SOL'. (
Joel) "...and in space that means
one thing. Milwaukee!. T-Ball!" Joel drives a ding-er which ruptures the 'SOL"s hull, and causes sudden decompression of the bridge. "We'll be right baaaaack!..."
Invention Exchange: Gypsy tells the boys "not to play ball in the house!" Joel presents the 'Cellulite Phone'. (
Joel): "People should stop dialing, and start dieting!" The Mads present "Miracle Baby Growth Wonder Formula". After feeding the formula to a baby, you have a full-grown adult in minutes.
Host Segments:
Host 1: An 'SOL' spin on an educational film by Bell Laboratories: "Why Doesn't Johnny Care?".
Host 2: The 'SOL' offers their "
dramatized pageant of the 'Scopes Monkey Trial' pivotal interpretation of law which has a very thin connection to today's film. If you would like to read more about it, ask your librarian for the following books..."
- "Picture Book of Tennessee"
- "Welcome to the Monkey House" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
- The 'comic book' version of "Planet of the Apes", and...
- "Curious George Rides a Bicycle"
Host 3: Crow hosts "An Ape Fashion Minute", highlighting the wardrobe styles featured in today's experiment. "TEN-HUT! Colors
scream for attention in these
fun, fun, fun one-piece action jump-suits from 'Dicker and Dicker'. Although they can fly solo, just add a broache, white lacquered skull-cap and jack boots and you'll soar to new fashion heights!"
End: Joel and the Bots sing a derogatory "Sandy Frank" song. Joel reads a fan letter. The Mads parry with each other as to who will "push the button", and who will diaper change the "Miracle Growth Baby". Baby pushes the button.
Stinger: (
Johnny): "I don't care!"
Items of Note:
~ Tom loses a bit of his neck(?) on Joel's second time at bat.
~ The baby that TV's Frank is holding during the 'Invention Exchange' is the son of the show's producer Jim Mallon.
~ A nice touch by Crow, providing the 'school-house 8MM projector' noise during the "Bell Labs" short subject.
~ Tom does a nice job as well, missing the soundtrack on a few sprockets, before Joel puts everything back in synch.
Personal Notes:
~ The 'formula-altered baby' that Frank holds during the 'Invention Exchange' is MST's own "technical supervisor, audio editor and post production supervisor", Timothy Scott.
~ Another reference to Jamie Gumm's van. (This will become a staple joke with the group).
~ Another "Sandy Frank" production, and the boys mercilessly rag on him this episode.
~ In the film, as the scientists are thawing a cryogenic-ally frozen monkey, it sure sounds like Joel says "$%^&! Am I tired." It might be 'Shoot', however.
The 'Riffs':
~ (
Crow): "They look like they're on a playground. They must be
recess monkeys!"
~ (
Tom): "Rug Doctor. Steaming mad at monkeys!"
~ (
Joel): "A little
horse for a little monkey." (
Crow): "Hey, he'll have
himself on his back!"
~ (
Joel): "OOOOH! HOT PANTS!" (You just had to be there. Very funny!)
~ (
Joel): "Apes of the Old West!" "That's John Wesley. He once threw crap on a man, just for snoring too loud!"
~ Pop culture references spanning such subjects as 'Diane Arbus', 'Radio Shack', the "Daleks" and "WAL-MART", as well as 'Oscar Wilde', 'Smokey the Bear' and 'Saturday Night Fever'. The 'riffs' come fast and furious in this one and, paired with a goofy yet entertaining film, it makes this is as close to a perfect episode as I've seen so far. A
must-see for both the veteran viewer and the uninitiated.
Rating: 5 "Steaming Piles of Monkey Dung" out of 5.
"Keep Trading the Discs (and Tapes)"
The opinions expressed herein are those solely of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of 'Jonja.net' nor it's owner. MST3K, it's characters and situations are copyrights and trademarks of Best Brains, Inc. and no infringement is intended.
We do reviews and updates of projects of Sci-Fi movies, television, and books. As well as Horror, Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Anime.
Please feel free to sign up and post your own comments. We would love to hear your opinions, and feel free to join in on our collection of over 700 free flash games and compete with other users for the high score. We also have a great chess system that allows users to compete against one another online.
