King Kong (1933)

“And lo, the beast looked upon the face of beauty. And it stayed its hand from killing. And from that day, it was as one dead.”

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King Kong tells two stories.  The first is of an expedition to a remote island, where the impulsive Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) intends to shoot a film.  What he discovers there alters his plans, if not his reckless enterprising.  The second story tells of the love triangle between sailor Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot), ingenue Ann Darrow (Fay Wray), and the island’s menacing overlord, Kong.

A variation of the “beauty and the beast” dynamic, King Kong is entertaining, but less notable for its story than its production.  Quaint by current standards, it remains a milestone in film history for both its advancement and combination of special effects techniques.  It was, in more ways than one, the 800 lb gorilla of its day.

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Please note: This article is a “stub” review which has since been given an update.

Rated PG

104 minutes (restored version)