King Kong

Merian C Cooper (1933)

104min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Andrew Collins

Arguably the monster movie of all time, this abiding take on Beauty and the Beast has a mythic power that belies its years. At its heart is the amazing ape (and dinosaur) animation of Willis O'Brien, his cutting-edge model work the CGI of its day, but it's the tragic story that stays etched on the memory. Robert Armstrong's Hollywood film-maker imperils starlet Fay Wray on a prehistoric island in his bid to turn a local legend into a hit on celluloid. Taking the giant gorilla Kong back to civilisation for entrepreneurial gain is bad for all concerned, not least the captive creature who ends up on top of the Empire State Building in one of cinema's greatest climaxes. This thrilling adventure with a good heart offers an early eco-message.

Summary

A film producer and his crew visit a remote island where they encounter a 50ft gorilla which takes a shine to their leading lady. When they decide to take it back to America, they fail to foresee the inevitable havoc as the gigantic ape runs amok in New York. Fantasy, starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot.