The Forbidden Zone, Escaping Earth and Tonality: An Examination of Jerry Goldsmith's Twelve-Tone Score for Planet of the Apes

Jerry Goldsmiths twelve-tone score for Planet of the Apes (1968) stands apart in Hollywoods long history of tonal scores. His extensive use of tone rows and permutations throughout the entire score helped to create the diegetic world so integral to the success of the film. Goldsmiths formative years prior to 1967his training and day to day experience of writing music for dramatic situationswere critical factors in preparing him to meet this challenge. A review of the research on music and emotion, together with an analysis of Goldsmiths methods, shows how, in 1967, he was able to create an expressive twelve-tone score which supported the narrative of the film. The score for Planet of the Apes marks a pivotal moment in an industry with a long-standing bias toward modernist music.