Burke (sturdy James Naughton) and Virdon (solid Ron Harper) work with stubborn ape medical officer Zoran (well played by David Sheiner) to save a bunch of villagers who have been stricken with malaria. They need to concoct a cure pronto or else the ever-bullish Urko (Mark Lenard in fine fierce form) will burn down the whole village. Director Bernard McEveety, working from an absorbing script by Edward J. Lasko, relates the gripping story at a steady pace and builds a good deal of tension while neatly exploring the themes of trust, ego, loyalty, and abuse of power (Urko tries to defy the council by setting fire to the village prior to the noon deadline). Moreover, this episode addresses the interesting issue of Galen (Roddy McDowell, excellent as usual) having trouble with his human companions being two open and honest about who they really are. Sondra Locke contributes a touching performance as the forlorn Amy. Moreover, both Ron Soble as sickly gorilla Kava and Booth Colman as the sensible Zaius do sound work. A neat show.
4 Reviews
Virdon and Burke cure malaria
Tweekums24 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This instalment sees Burke, Virdon and Galen visiting another village; shortly after they leave they learn of a malaria outbreak there so return to try to help. The ape authorities have also learnt of the outbreak and opinions on how to deal with it are divided; scientist Zoran wants to undertake experiments to find a cure but Urko believes the best solution is to burn the village and its inhabitants! Zoran believes that human diseases are all spread by physical contact so has a hard time believing Burke and Virdon's claim that it was spread by mosquitos from a nearby swamp until an ape dies. He is told that it can be treated by quinine so they set about finding the right tree to extract a cure before Urko can have the village burnt. If that wasn't trouble enough Virdon has told a local girl. Amy, that he and Burke are from the past and she starts talking about this in front of Zoran while delusional with malaria.
While this was yet another episode where Burke and Virdon use their knowledge to save the day it is still pretty good even if it did seem highly unlikely that they would know the type of tree needed to produce quinine and identify it in the local woodland! It was nice to see Galen confront Virdon after he endangers the trio by telling Amy where he is from too often in early episodes it seemed as though he was only there to have the human protagonists explain their superior ways to. The story was enjoyable with David Sheiner putting in a good performance as Zoran and Mark Lenard being even more menacing than usual as the belligerent Urko he is so keen to burn the village that he is prepared to ignore the council's ruling on the matter. Also notable is Sondra Locke who is likable as Amy. Overall a solid episode.
While this was yet another episode where Burke and Virdon use their knowledge to save the day it is still pretty good even if it did seem highly unlikely that they would know the type of tree needed to produce quinine and identify it in the local woodland! It was nice to see Galen confront Virdon after he endangers the trio by telling Amy where he is from too often in early episodes it seemed as though he was only there to have the human protagonists explain their superior ways to. The story was enjoyable with David Sheiner putting in a good performance as Zoran and Mark Lenard being even more menacing than usual as the belligerent Urko he is so keen to burn the village that he is prepared to ignore the council's ruling on the matter. Also notable is Sondra Locke who is likable as Amy. Overall a solid episode.
The Man from another world !!!
elo-equipamentos2 January 2021
Planet of the Apes' series made my Sunday mornings so pleasant when I was a teenager in 1978, now I can expose my thoughts over this, The Cure brings the future Clint's wife Sondra Locke, which falling in love by Alan whereas they staying there for a while only, the sorrowful blonde girl Amy due Alan is upon departing, then he tries explains that he wasn't the right man to marry her, in order to soothe her Alan explains that he came from another world which has a family there, the trio left the village, nonetheless a sudden unknown decease spreads on the human denizens, self-called by the Apes as sleeping illness, thus startled the Ape's soldiers report it to Urko who take it the Supreme Council at central city at command of the worldly-wise Zaius, there sharing the Council the Dr. Zoran, that offers himself to save the village with his new technics who he has been developed, conversely the rough Urko requires to burn the whole hamlet in order to quench the focus of illness, even so Zaius demands that Zoran applies his knowledge on this obscure pest, meanwhile Alan, Burke and Galen already aware of the events return to the village, Alan realizes that all symptoms suggesting to be malaria, Zoran arrives there and would implies an unorthodox method customarily used on the mid-ages, Alan explains that the malaria is spread by mosquito bites that the source were stagnant water, the cure come from quinine from an specific tree bark, Zoran is baffled about such scientific understanding by a mere human, the episode tries display the greedy self-motivated and debt of gratitude, where the best of them prevails even among the primitive Apes!!
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 1978 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 1978 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5
Lovely Locke
TheFearmakers2 May 2024
An episode about a village of humans dying of Malaria would seem a drag, and many shows after, like LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, would have very searing episodes on the subject of disease wiping out towns, but this is surprisingly one of the best episodes...
The ape doctor doesn't believe Virdon and Burke, who know a thing or two about this "unknown" disease called Malaria.
Sondra Locke, a few years shy of being Clint Eastwood's girlfriend/co-star in projects ranging from BRONCO BILLY and SUDDEN IMPACT, plays a pretty village lass smitten with Virdon, who had shared their background as astronauts - and when she comes down with the illness, under delusion she tells all to the Ape doctor, putting the trio at risk and making this a race double-edged race against time: our heroes need to gather tree bark for a possible cure and escape before the apes find out their true identities.
The ape doctor doesn't believe Virdon and Burke, who know a thing or two about this "unknown" disease called Malaria.
Sondra Locke, a few years shy of being Clint Eastwood's girlfriend/co-star in projects ranging from BRONCO BILLY and SUDDEN IMPACT, plays a pretty village lass smitten with Virdon, who had shared their background as astronauts - and when she comes down with the illness, under delusion she tells all to the Ape doctor, putting the trio at risk and making this a race double-edged race against time: our heroes need to gather tree bark for a possible cure and escape before the apes find out their true identities.
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