Story - Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Den tredje apfilmen utspelas efter det att Moder Jord blivit förintad av en atombomb i den andra filmen. Filmen inleds med att tre austronauter reser tillbaka i tiden och landar i havet utanför USA:s västkust. Tiden är sent 1900-tal. Överraskningen för den amerikanska generalstaben är dock att de tre austronauterna är chimpanser. Corneilus & Zira samt Milo. They are at first treated like royalty by popular culture and society. They can talk and walk and it is a cool novelty for people at first. As they tell the story of their origin it soon becomes apparent to the United States government that their existance would pose a continual threat to humanity. When Zira the female chimp is discovered to be pregnant the President of the United States orders an immediate abortion as well as sterlization for Zira. This order was to combat the possibilty that Apes may rule man in the future . If these apes would just live and die off quietly the problem would seem to be solved. Cornelius and Zira resist however and ultimately are killed. They do have an offspring and this offspring is kept in secret by a human named Armando. This ape child is to become Ceasar the leader of the Great Ape revolution in the coming future.