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KING KONG ***** out of *****
 GenresDirected by Merian C. Cooper Ernest B. Schoedsack Written by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace (story) James Ashmore Creelman and Ruth Rose Cast Fay Wray .... Ann Darrow Robert Armstrong .... Carl Denham Bruce Cabot .... John 'Jack' Driscoll Frank Reicher .... Capt. Englehorn Sam Hardy .... Charles Weston Noble Johnson .... Native Chief Steve Clemente .... Witch King James Flavin .... Second Mate Briggs
 | Kong breaks a soon-to-be valuable
Transformer. | Released in 1933, King Kong was a cinematic achievement that marvelled audiences around the world. With its then groundbreaking special effects the exciting, tragic adventure was a bona fide box office hit. In fact, at the film's early screenings in California people were reported to have left the theatre screaming. Some scenes where so gruesome for the time that word of mouth spread quickly and throughout the 1930's up until the early 1950's the film was re-released over and over again. Each time it appeared as a new version, four different edits where produced, each shorter than the last. In 1971 director Merian C. Cooper released his Director's Cut version of the film, adding back all the cuts that where made to the original version of the film. This restored version is the most common edit currently on DVD.
In King Kong filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) is planning to shoot a new film on a remote island. With his newly cast leading lady, the beautiful actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray), they embark with an expedition team. The remote island is said to be populated by natives who have built a giant wall to protect them from what lies on the other side of the island, the fabled Kong.
 | No one will play fetch with you
again if that's your attitude. | After having landed on the island the team encounter the natives who offer to pay six of their women for the golden beauty that is Ann Darrow. Having disagreed to such an offer the team return to the safety of their ship. But they find out that Ann has disappeared; she has been captured by the natives in order to sacrifice to the mighty Kong.
King Kong takes the bait and the team are now on a rescue mission, making their way through the a part of the island that appeared to have been forgotten by time, seeing sights which have not been seen for millions of years. But when they come across the king of all beasts, King Kong, their rescue attempt is in vain as he escapes to his cave. There he curiously examines Ann and eventually falls in love with her. The team mount another rescue, this time successful and also decide to capture Kong using some smoke bombs that Carl brought with him. Carl believes that Kong would make a wonderful attraction for the masses to see, so they transport him back to New York.
 | There are also some humans in
the film. | Being shackled and exhibited to the masses does not go down well, and combined with his love for Ann, and the need to be with her prompts his escape. He breaks free of his shackles and runs amok in New York with his beauty in his clutches, all leading to the iconic Empire State Building showdown with the air force plane ordered to take Kong out.
King Kong is one of the silver screen's most classic of films. It’s riddled with high-stakes adventure, snappy dialogue, some very theatrical performances and, most importantly, some of the best stop motion animation for its time. If you haven't already seen this classic I urge you to check it out before Peter Jackson releases his $100+ million remake.
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