King Kong
King Kong is a 1933 American pre-Code adventure fantasy horror monster film directed and produced by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The screenplay by James Ashmore Creelman and Ruth Rose was developed from an idea conceived by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. It stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot, and tells the story of a giant ape dubbed Kong who attempts to possess a beautiful young woman. It features stop-motion animation by Willis O'Brien and a music score by Max Steiner. It is the first entry in the King Kong franchise.
Plot
In New York Harbor, filmmaker Carl Denham, known for wildlife films in remote and exotic locations, charters Captain Englehorn's ship, the Venture, for his new project. However, he is unable to secure an actress for a female role he has been reluctant to disclose. Searching in the streets of New York City, he finds Ann Darrow and promises her the adventure of a lifetime. The crew boards the Venture and sets off, during which the ship's first mate, Jack Driscoll, falls in love with Ann. Denham reveals to the crew that their destination is in fact Skull Island, an uncharted territory. He alludes to a mysterious entity named Kong, rumored to dwell on the island. The crew arrives and anchor offshore. They encounter a native village, separated from the rest of the island by an enormous stone wall with a large wooden gate. They witness a group of natives preparing to sacrifice a young woman termed the "bride of Kong". The intruders are spotted and the native chief stops the ceremony. When he sees Ann, he offers to trade six of his tribal women for the "golden woman". They refuse him and return to the ship.
Cast
- Bill Williams
- Bruce Cabot
- Charles Sullivan
- Earl Dwire
- Ernest B. Schoedsack
- Ethan Laidlaw
- Etta McDaniel
- Everett Brown
- Fay Wray
- Frank Mills
- Frank O'Connor
- Frank Reicher
- G. Raymond Nye
- George Magrill
- Harry Tenbrook
- James Flavin
- LeRoy Mason
- Merian C. Cooper
- Noble Johnson
- Paul Porcasi
- Robert Armstrong
- Roscoe Ates
- Roy Stewart
- Ruby Dandridge
- Sam Hardy
- Steve Clemente
- Syd Saylor
- Vera Lewis
- Victor Wong
More details
| author | Edgar Wallace James Ashmore Creelman Ruth Rose |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | Empire State Building New York City |
| director | Ernest B. Schoedsack Merian C. Cooper |
| editor | Ted Cheesman |
| events | King Kong |
| genre | action adventure animation fantasy horror |
| keywords | attack biplane broadway theatre brontosaurus build carl denham climb dinosaur elasmosaurus fall giant gorilla gorilla hotel room jack driscoll kill native chief new york harbor press photographer pteranodon search skull island stegosaurus surround survive theatre audience tyrannosaurus tyrannosaurus rex uncharted wait young woman |
| musicBy | Max Steiner |
| producer | Ernest B. Schoedsack Merian C. Cooper |
| productionCompany | RKO Pictures |
| publisher | RKO Radio Pictures |
| recordedAt | New York City |
| theme | epic filmmaking monster movie |