When the hatch was opened, three white space-suited astronauts emerged.When they removed their helmets, General Winthrop (Harry Lauter) in charge was astonished by the sight of three apes: archaeologist Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and his wife, vet and animal psychologist Zira (Kim Hunter), and their 'genius' colleague Milo (Sal Mineo).It wasn't in Palm Springs and it wasn't in the garage.I was way ahead of the finance company.I knew they'd be coming around and I wasn't taking any chances.With his car keys (with a miniature rabbit's foot attached for luck), Joe ventures out to Paramount Pictures Studios to sell an "original story" - a baseball script titledBases Loadedto a callous, "big shot" "smart producer" named Sheldrake (Fred Clark).The film's climactic final revelation, from Princess to Creature, was an inverted "Beauty and the Beast" plot element.You're carrying precious cargo - I mean manpower-wise...I am in the top ten, efficiency-wise, and this may be the day, promotion-wise.To wish him good luck because he's a "nicer guy" compared o the other characters she transports ("Something happens to men in elevators.