Dr. Zaius

I still remember four scenes in The Planet Of The Apes movie when it appeared in movie theaters in the late 1960s.

The first is when the Apes first appeared capturing the wild humans.  The second is when one of the astronauts is stuffed and put on display in a museum.  

The third is when Charlton Heston as astronaut Taylor utters the famous line” Get you dam dirty apes hands off of me!’  

The fourth is when Taylor discovers that The Planet Of The Apes is actually earth in the future when he sees the half-buried Statue Of liberty.

Of all the Ape characters the scientist Dr, Zaius was and is one of my favorites.

Sideshow Collectibles recreated the Dr. Zaius in perfect 12-inch articulated form its The Planet Of The Apes series of figures.

The Dr. Zaius figure comes in a Sideshow’s flip lid display box.  All sides are decorated with photos of figure and on the back of the box is a short description of the Dr. and the first Apes film.

Small photos of other character figures are also on the back of the box.

On the inside of the flip lid is a more comprehensive explanation of The Planet Of The Apes film.  Opposite of it is the figure and accessory area.

All are shielded by a clear plastic sheet for protection and display.  Sideshow cleverly made the edges of the paper that holds the plastic irregular mirroring the feel of the movie.

The figure and accessories (including a The Planet Of The Apes base and support wire) are held securely in place by a form fitting plastic cocoon and wires.

Dr. Zaius is fashioned after the appearance of a baboon.

His long hair, beard and skin are light brown of color with a slight twinge of red.

His facial features include a large muzzle area, deep set and wise eyes, a heavy brow and a small upturned nose.

His hands are of the same color and are pre-postioned to hold the sacred scroll and scroll tube with wooden handle, miniature statue of an ape with scrolls and standing by a rock table and has personal walking stick.

Dr. Zauis’ cloths are the same color as his skin.  

He wears a deep brown undergarment, a large open front coat with leather shoulders decorated in ape symbols and pants that allow his hairy, hand-like feet to go bare.  The pant bottoms are held in place by small straps that fit over the arch of his feet.

His feet rest upon leather foot-pads.

Sculpt work is impressive especially Dr. Zaius’ face and eyes and the stitching and details on the clothing are in scale and well done.

The figure poses easily under the loose clothing.  Clothing wrinkles and folds appear natural and do not bind when moved with the figure.