King Kong

Meriam C Cooper / Ernest B Schoedsack, USA, 1933, 100 minutes

Adventurer/film-maker Carl Denham is having problems finding an actress for his latest production, whether from his reputation as a risk-taker or from the fact that the filming will involve a long sea journey to an unspecified destination. Denham is in luck then, when he happens upon Ann Darrow stealing an apple from a fruit stall and rescues her from its angry owner. For the beautiful young woman not only has some acting experience, she's also desperate for work and has no family ties to get in the way.

Denham talks Ann into joining his production and the SS Venture sets sail the next day. After a tense sea voyage, Ann the only woman among an otherwise all-male crew, the vessel arrives at its destination. Skull Island is inhabited by primitive savages (natch) and fearsome prehistoric monsters, most notably the mighty Kong. Bizarrely the monster is smitten by Ann's beauty, giving Denham the opportunity the capture the creature and take it back to New York, where he exhibits it as "The Eighth Wonder of the World". But the mighty creature is not easily cowed and, after breaking free from its chains, abducts Ann and scales the Empire State Building...

For a film that was made 70-odd years ago, King Kong has dated relatively well thanks to its timeless central theme - beauty and the beast - and the still-impressive effects from Willis O'Brien. True, the negro villagers aren't exactly politically correct, while some of the nastier scenes - Kong trampling and chowing down on natives - might surprise more sensitive souls. Here the fine exploitation pedigree of co-creators Meriam C Cooper and Ernest B Schoedsack, who had previously collaborated on the proto-mondo documentaries Grass and Chang and the sadean The Most Dangerous Game, comes to the fore. But, before this leads PC pinko types to condemn the film out of hand, it's also worth bearing in mind that by all accounts the character of Denham had much in common with the two film-makers, thereby giving the possibility of a self-critical reading of the film for those who need such to justify their watching it...

Review by David Khune Jr.
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2003