POTA Gorilla ranks

[Action Martin]

In the POTA films gorillas didn't have anything to differentiate their military or police rank other than the Generals having a neck device (Ursus, Aldo), a helmet (Ursus), and fancy gauntlets on their gloves (Ursus, Aldo). I guess General Ursus' vest was rank specific. But whenever someone called a gorilla by rank like sergeant or lieutenant, there was nothing that signified the difference on the uniform.

On the tv series we had General (later Chief of Secuirty) Urko with the helmet, neck device, and gauntlets. And now the gorilla policemen had rank markings on their uniforms. Sergeants had two vertical white/silver stripes on their vests. Lieutenants and Captains had the same two stripes but also had a white/silver "V" between the stripes. This weekend I was watching the tv series on DVD and noticed that in one episode one gorilla police officer only had the "V" and he was called "Captain". And in another episode there was a gorilla in charge of the police and he had two thinner vertical white/silver stripes that were closer together than the normal sergeants but he was never called by any rank.

Anyone have any more information about POTA ranks?

[enaud]

I'm glad that you brought this up.I've wondered a little about the ranking system myself...aside from the obvious(ursus & aldo) that you pointed out.

Another puzzling factor I'ld like to add,is that in the 1st movie,some of the gorillas have hyrogliphics on their bandoliers.I recall seeing 1 or 2 shots,a gorilla soldier with a hyro on the front of his strap,in sequence with the ammo pouches(near the shoulder)& you see few gorillas with hyros(2) on the backs...they may have the one on the front as well.I don't recall them addressed by a rank.

[Action Martin]

Another puzzling factor I'ld like to add,is that in the 1st movie,some of the gorillas have hyrogliphics on their bandoliers.I recall seeing 1 or 2 shots,a gorilla soldier with a hyro on the front of his strap,in sequence with the ammo pouches(near the shoulder)& you see few gorillas with hyros(2) on the backs...they may have the one on the front as well.I don't recall them addressed by a rank.

I noticed that as well. Not so much on the back but I did notice them on the front.

Did the hieroglyphics represent status or job classification? I've noticed that Caesar and Galen did not have hieroglyphics on their tunics. Caesar most likely didn't have them since they hadn't been "invented" yet. I also like in the tv series how the medical doctor chimpanzees wore necklaces and had tunics with hieroglyphics that featured a Caduceus. And the Prefect of a fishing village had hieroglyphics and fish on his tunic. Nice little touches on the tv series.

[ctc]

>Did the hieroglyphics represent status or job classification?

I always thought the heiroglyphs represented an appointment or some special award.

As for rank, it seems like the two bars represent some sort of NCO. I remember someone with 'em being referred to as Sergeant. Two bars with a V I recall as a Lieutennant; some sort of junior officer for sure. The guys with just a V seemed to be really important and yeah; I recall one of 'em being called Captain. So the V represents a senior officer of some sort.

That's kinda how I go; and any oddities are probably continuity errors.

Don C.

[Action Martin]

I would think that the "V" would be the junior officer and the "IVI" would be the senior officer. But that's me.

[enaud]

I always thought the heiroglyphs represented an appointment or some special award.

A friend & I joked about them being "monkey merit badges"

[Action Martin]

Just watched the episode "The Tyrant". It featured another gorilla rank. Urko's old friend from the academy (shades of James T. Kirk) Aborro is the regional chief (of police/security) in an Ape district. He wears the gorilla tunic but all of the vertical pipings have silver hi-lights to them. He also has epaulets that have 3 round silver studs on each one. Rather cool looking uniform.

[apes3978]

Anyone have any more information about POTA ranks?

On the TV series these are the ranks:

"II" is a Sgt.
"V" is a Lt.
"M" is a Capt.

I'm not quite sure which episode you're referring to that had the "V" trooper referred to as a Captain?

And, as far as the PLANET film, the gorilla with the hieroglyphics on his bandolier is The Hunt Leader.

[misterdroid]

I use this site for a lot of POTA costume reference. He has somewhat of an explanation for the ranked gorillas. Check 'em out:
Gorilla Leutenant Planet of the Apes Simian Arms

[enaud]

Cool...thank's for posting that misterdroid

[Action Martin]

On the TV series these are the ranks:

"II" is a Sgt.
"V" is a Lt.
"M" is a Capt.

I'm not quite sure which episode you're referring to that had the "V" trooper referred to as a Captain?

It was 1-2 episodes before "The Tyrant". I chalk it up to loose continuity. Also in the tyrant mention is made of Aborro's Lieutenant, Zako, and he wears the "V".

[Action Martin]

I use this site for a lot of POTA costume reference. He has somewhat of an explanation for the ranked gorillas. Check 'em out:
Gorilla Leutenant Planet of the Apes Simian Arms

apes3978 had it correct. Had the website author watched the episodes like he claimed he would have known that each of those gorillas was called by a rank.