King Kong (1933)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Writers:

James Ashmore Creelman (screenplay) and
Ruth Rose (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 April 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A Monster of Creation's Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!

Plot:

A film crew goes to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and discovers a colossal giant gorilla who takes a shine to their female blonde star.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Gorilla | Love | Blonde | Expedition

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Fay Wray	...	Ann Darrow
Robert Armstrong	...	Carl Denham
Bruce Cabot	...	John Driscoll
Frank Reicher	...	Captain Englehorn
Sam Hardy	...	Charles Weston
Noble Johnson	...	Native Chief
Steve Clemente	...	Witch King (as Steve Clemento)
James Flavin	...	Second Mate Briggs
King Kong	...	The Eighth Wonder of the World
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Ackerman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
James Adamson	...	Native Child (uncredited)
Van Alder	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Ed Allen	...	Native (uncredited)
Etta Mae Allen	...	Native (uncredited)
Frank Angel	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Roscoe Ates	...	Press Photographer (uncredited)
Ralph Bard	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow	...	Ship's Engineer (uncredited)
Leo Beard	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Fred Behrle	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Jack Best	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Johnnie Bland	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Eddie Boland	...	Reporter / Cameraman (uncredited)
Harry Bowen	...	Reporter (uncredited)
John Brakins	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Lynton Brent	...	Reporter / Cameraman (uncredited)
Roy Brent	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Everett Brown	...	Native in Ape Costume (uncredited)
Betty Burns	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Barney Capehart	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Jack Chapin	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Claremont	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Edward Clark	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
John Collins	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Odel Conley	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Onest Conley	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Merian C. Cooper	...	Pilot of Plane That Kills Kong (uncredited)
Harry Cornbleth	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Kathryn Curry	...	Native (uncredited)
Nathan Curry	...	Native (uncredited)
Dick Curtis	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Bill Dagwell	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
George Daly	...	Machine Gunner (uncredited)
Ruby Dandridge	...	Native Dancer (uncredited)
Vivian Dandridge	...	Native Child (uncredited)
John Davis	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Joe Dill	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
James Dime	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Fanny Donahue	...	Native (uncredited)
Jean Doran	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Walter Downing	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Florence Dudley	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Tex Duffy	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
William Dunn	...	Native (uncredited)
William Duran	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Peter Duray	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Duval	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Earl Dwire	...	New York Theatregoer (uncredited)
Ralph Easton	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Oliver Eckhardt	...	New York Theatregoer (uncredited)
Louise Emmons	...	Old Woman in Line at Mission (uncredited)
Shorty English	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Frank Fanning	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
Bill Fisher	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Larry Fisher	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Art Flavin	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Joe Flourney	...	Native (uncredited)
Betty Gale	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
Jack Gallagher	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Bob Galloway	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Evelyn Garrison	...	Native (uncredited)
Harold Garrison	...	Native Child (uncredited)
Frank Gerritty	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
June Gittelson	...	Fat Woman (uncredited)
Arnold Gray	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Duke Green	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Lawrence Green	...	Native (uncredited)
Dorothy Gulliver	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Charles Haefeli	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Charlie Hall	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Pat Harmon	...	Gunman (uncredited)
James Harrison	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Eddie Hart	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Lew Harvey	...	Gunman (uncredited)
Etta Mae Henry	...	Native (uncredited)
Irene Henry	...	Baby (uncredited)
Tex Higginson	...	Member of Ship's Crew / Assistant Director / Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Earl 'Hap' Hogan	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Wesley Hopper	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Hazel Howell	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
Clifford Ingram	...	Warrior (uncredited)
T.C. Jack	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Jimmy James	...	Member of Ship's Crew / Assistant Director (uncredited)
Annie L. Johnson	...	Native (uncredited)
John L. Johnson	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Harry Keaton	...	Ballyhooer (uncredited)
Walter Kimpton	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Walter Kirby	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Al Knight	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Walter Knox	...	Native (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	First Mate (uncredited)
Sam Levine	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Vera Lewis	...	New York Theatregoer (uncredited)
Col. Timothy J. Lonergan	...	Police Officer / Usher (uncredited)
George MacQuarrie	...	Police Captain (uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Joe Smith Marba	...	Elevated Train Motorman (uncredited)
Rena Marlowe	...	Native Child (uncredited)
Sam Marlowe	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Mae Marrin	...	Ballyhooer (uncredited)
Henry Martin	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Buddy Mason	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
LeRoy Mason	...	New York Theatregoer (uncredited)
Richie McCarew	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Etta McDaniel	...	Native (uncredited)
Al McDonald	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Larry McGrath	...	Ballyhooer (uncredited)
Frank Meredith	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dusty Mitchell	...	Pilot (uncredited)
King Mojave	...	Ballyhooer (uncredited)
Carlotta Monti	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Harry Mount	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Almeta Muse	...	Native (uncredited)
Alice Nichols	...	Native (uncredited)
Nim Nixon	...	Native Dancer (uncredited)
John Northpole	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Skeets Noyes	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
G. Raymond Nye	...	Police Captain (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Paddy O'Flynn	...	Reporter / Cameraman (uncredited)
Tom O'Grady	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Bert O'Malley	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Charles O'Malley	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Edward Patrick	...	Native Dancer (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Jack Perry	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Nathan Perry	...	Native (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	...	Motorcycle Policeman (uncredited)
Paul Porcasi	...	Apple Vendor (uncredited)
Mahlon Potts	...	Native Child (uncredited)
Malcon Potts	...	Native Child (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Watchman (uncredited)
A.J. Prather	...	Native (uncredited)
Jack Pratt	...	Radio Announcer (uncredited)
T.J. Rankin	...	Native Dancer (uncredited)
Eddy Reed	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Gus Robinson	...	Native Dancer (uncredited)
Ed Rochelle	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Russ Rogers	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Jack Saunders	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Syd Saylor	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ernest B. Schoedsack	...	Machine-Gunner on Plane That Kills Kong (uncredited)
Charles Sewell	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Floyd Shackelford	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Sandra Shaw	...	Hotel Woman Dropped by Kong (uncredited)
Tony Shelly	...	Native (uncredited)
Gay Sheridan	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Milton Shockley	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Jack Silver	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Jack Smith	...	Reporter (uncredited)
William Solder	...	Native (uncredited)
Katherine Sparks	...	Native (uncredited)
Hugh Starkey	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	New York Theatregoer (uncredited)
Edward Stevens	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Roy Stewart	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Policeman at Headquarters (uncredited)
Eddie Sturgis	...	Ballyhooer (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Madame Sul-Te-Wan	...	Native (uncredited)
Gertrude Sutton	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Tobias Tally	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Walter Taylor	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Ivan Thomas	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Roy Thompson	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Jim Thorpe	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Earl Turman	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Ray Turner	...	Native (uncredited)
Monte Vandergrift	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
William Van Vleck	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
John Wade	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Kid Wagner	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Harry Walker	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Wade Walker	...	Native (uncredited)
H.R. Warwick	...	Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Blue Washington	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Charles Washington	...	Warrior (uncredited)
George Washington	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Hannah Washington	...	Native Child (uncredited)
Jack West	...	Native (uncredited)
Blackie Whiteford	...	Member of ship's crew (uncredited)
Bill Williams	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Geneva Williams	...	Native (uncredited)
Ivory Williams	...	Warrior (uncredited)
Victor Wong	...	Lumpy (uncredited)
Eric Wood	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Helen Worthington	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)
Lillian Young	...	New York Theatergoer (uncredited)

Directed by
Merian C. Cooper		(uncredited)
Ernest B. Schoedsack		(uncredited)

Writing credits
James Ashmore Creelman		(screenplay) (as James Creelman) and
Ruth Rose		(screenplay)
Merian C. Cooper		(idea) and
Edgar Wallace		(idea)
Merian C. Cooper		story (uncredited)
Leon Gordon		contributing writer (uncredited)
Edgar Wallace		story (uncredited)

Produced by
Merian C. Cooper	....	producer
Ernest B. Schoedsack	....	producer
David O. Selznick	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Edward Linden		(photographed by) (as Eddie Linden)
J.O. Taylor		(photographed by)
Vernon L. Walker		(photographed by) (as Vernon Walker)
Kenneth Peach		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Ted Cheesman

Production Design by
Carroll Clark		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Carroll Clark		(uncredited)
Alfred Herman		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Carroll Clark		(settings)
Alfred Herman		(settings) (as Al Herman)
Thomas Little		(uncredited)
Ray Moyer		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup supervisor (uncredited)
Dot Carlson	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Dotha Hippe	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Sam Kaufman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Doran Cox	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Walter Daniels	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Ivan Thomas	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Byron L. Crabbe	....	art technician
Mario Larrinaga	....	art technician
John Cerisoli	....	sculptor (uncredited)
George Gabe	....	property master (uncredited)
Van Nest Polglase	....	supervising art director (uncredited)
Ernest Smythe	....	additional storyboard artist (uncredited)
Peter Stitch	....	painting technician (uncredited)
W.G. White	....	construction technician (uncredited)

Sound Department
Murray Spivack	....	sound effects
Earl A. Wolcott	....	sound recordist
Walter Elliott	....	sound effects associate (uncredited)
Eddie Harman	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Murray Spivack	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Harold E. Stine	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Richard Van Hessen	....	boom operator: visual effects unit (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Frank D. Williams	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Byron L. Crabbe	....	matte painter (uncredited)
Byron L. Crabbe	....	matte technician (uncredited)
Marcel Delgado	....	model maker (uncredited)
Marcel Delgado	....	technician (uncredited)
Carroll H. Dunning	....	visual effects supervisor: Dunning process (uncredited)
C. Dodge Dunning	....	visual effects supervisor: Dunning process (uncredited)
Linwood G. Dunn	....	optical photographer (uncredited)
Buzz Gibson	....	technician (uncredited)
Orville Goldner	....	technician (uncredited)
Henri Hillinck	....	matte painter (uncredited)
Mario Larrinaga	....	matte painter (uncredited)
Mario Larrinaga	....	matte technician (uncredited)
Willis H. O'Brien	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Fred Reese	....	technician (uncredited)
Carroll L. Shepphird	....	technician (uncredited)
Clifford Stine	....	special effects cameraman (uncredited)
William Ulm	....	optical photographer (uncredited)
Vernon L. Walker	....	visual effects cinematographer (uncredited)
Frank Williams	....	matte supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Marcella Allen	....	stunt double: Fay Wray (uncredited)
Frank Cullen	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dorothy Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Aline Goodwin	....	stunt double: Fay Wray (uncredited)
Duke Green	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tex Higginson	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Jimmy James	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Jimmy James	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lillian Jones	....	stunt double: Fay Wray (uncredited)
Leonore Kinney	....	stunt double: Fay Wray (uncredited)
Mike Lally	....	stunt double: Robert Armstrong (uncredited)
Mike Lally	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Mason	....	stunt double: Robert Armstrong (uncredited)
Cherie May	....	stunt double: Fay Wray (uncredited)
Al McDonald	....	stunt double: Bruce Cabot (uncredited)
Harvey Parry	....	stunt driver: car crashes (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunt double: Bruce Cabot (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	....	stunt double: Robert Armstrong (uncredited)
Sailor Vincent	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harry Wagner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pauline Wagner	....	stunt double: Fay Wray (uncredited)
Charles Watt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Williams	....	stunt double: Robert Armstrong (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ernest Bachrach	....	still photographer (uncredited)
William H. Clothier	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Lee Davis	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Guy Gilman	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Edward Henderson	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Alexander Kahle	....	still photographer (uncredited)
George Marquenie	....	best boy (uncredited)
Sam Redding	....	key grip (uncredited)
William Reinhold	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (uncredited)
Ernest B. Schoedsack	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Clifford Stine	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Bert Willis	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (uncredited)
Stacy Woodard	....	director of photography: inserts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ethel Beach	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Tommy Clark	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Walter Daniels	....	production assistant
Marcel Delgado	....	technical staff
Buzz Gibson	....	technical staff (as E.B. Gibson)
Orville Goldner	....	technical staff
Archie Marshek	....	production assistant (as Archie F. Marshek)
Willis H. O'Brien	....	chief technician
Fred Reese	....	technical staff
Carroll L. Shepphird	....	technical staff (as Carroll Shepphird)
Betty Collins	....	double (uncredited)
Chick Collins	....	double (uncredited)
Sam Cummings	....	double (uncredited)
Carroll H. Dunning	....	dunning process supervisor (uncredited)
C. Dodge Dunning	....	dunning process supervisor (uncredited)
Betty Goode	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Mike Graves	....	double (uncredited)
Edith Haskins	....	double (uncredited)
Jack Holbrook	....	double (uncredited)
Billy Jones	....	double (uncredited)
Duke Krantz	....	pilot (uncredited)
Dr. J.W. Lytle	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Horace McCoy	....	script assistant (uncredited)
Frances Mills	....	double (uncredited)
Dr. O.A. Patterson	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Zoe Porter	....	assistant: Mr. Cooper (uncredited)
Dr. Harry C. Raven	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Bob Rose	....	double (uncredited)
Loretta Rush	....	double (uncredited)
Sidney Saunders	....	rear projection process (uncredited)
John Sinclair	....	double (uncredited)
George Weiss	....	pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1957) (USA) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Adams Filmi (1934) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Kove-Filmi (1962) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Castle Video (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Continental Video S.A. (????) (Spain) (DVD) (colorized)
• Criterion Collection, The (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Janus Films
• Pan Vision Oy (????) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sanford Productions (II)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) ((????)) (USA) (TV)
• Turner Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title and Art Studio  titles (uncredited)
• Western Costume Company  costumes supplied by (uncredited)

Also Known As:

King Ape (USA) (working title)
Kong (USA) (working title)
The Ape (USA) (working title)
The Beast (USA) (working title)
The Eighth Wonder
The Eighth Wonder of the World

Runtime:

100 min | 104 min (restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (video rating) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (cut) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Denmark:15 | USA:Approved (certificate not issued at release) | USA:Not Rated (video release) | Brazil:Livre | Finland:(Banned) (1933) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1933) (cut) | South Korea:12 (2003) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Close-ups of the pilots and gunners of the planes that attack Kong were shot in the studio with mock-up planes. The flight commander is director Merian C. Cooper and his observer is producer Ernest B. Schoedsack. They decided to play the parts after Cooper said that "we should kill the sonofabitch ourselves".

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: During the show in New York, Carl Denham refers to Jack Driscoll as "John Driscoll." This is not incorrect, however, as Jack was once commonly used as a diminutive name for men named John.

Quotes:

Carl Denham: [just before he instructs Ann on how to act in front of the camera] I see you've put on the "Beauty and the Beast" costume!
Ann Darrow: Uh, huh... it's the prettiest!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Angry Red Planet (1960)

Soundtrack:

St. Louis Blues

Scream and Scream Again!

So much has been written about this movie, which has been analyzed more than all but a few films, it's difficult to come up with anything new to say about it but to say that it's magnificently made, and dated as it is in certain respects, it plays as well as anything from seventy years ago, and has a dream logic of its own, which, if one submits to it, still works its charms.

A few points:

i.) There are no wholly sympathetic characters in the movie. While some people are more likable than others, there's really no one to identify with. Fantastic as the subject matter is, it's filmed almost like a documentary about an adventurer who captures a giant ape, takes it to New York, where it escapes, and so forth.

ii.) I've never heard more screaming in a movie than in this one. Men, women, children, natives, sailors, white people, dark people, you name it, they scream, often and loudly. Fay Wray is the chief screamer here, but there are plenty of others, such as the man chased up a tree by a dinosaur, and the sailors shaken off the log by Kong, as they fall to a horrifying death in the ravine. When Kong attacks the village there's screaming galore, then more screaming in old Manhattan, when the big guy breaks out of the theater. For his part, Kong does not scream. He roars. The great ape is angry, not terrified, while the people are only afraid.

iii.) As one of the chief characters is a documentary film-maker, it's impossible (for me anyway) to avoid making associations between what is going on in the film and the film-making process itself, as I wonder to what extent this entered into the minds of them men who made the movie, Merian Cooper and Ernest Shoedsack. To put it another way, film-maker Carl Denham wants to film the beast to show movie audiences something weird and exotic, so as to tickle their fancy. What he finds is so fantastic that he scraps the idea of making a movie and brings the creature back to civilization and puts it on display. But the beast has fallen in love with a woman, and when he thinks press photographers are hurting her, breaks free from his chains and goes on a rampage through Manhattan. Real life, which was supposed to make a "swell movie", proved so astonishing that it had to be brought back alive, to be shown to people as something that actually exists (i.e. not a thing made up by movie men), but in the process something went wrong, and the great creature went berserk. King Kong is in other words about a movie that didn't get made because life interfered, and proved more fantastic than the film that was abandoned. As such one might call it a cautionary tale (movie men, stick to your job). Or is it about the movies themselves? How, in their attempt to bottle life and sell it back to moviegoers as entertainment, like Kong, they have a way of breaking free and becoming real all over again.