King Kong (1933)

Director: Merian C Cooper, Ernest B Schoedsack
Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot

Synopsis:
A movie shoot on an uncharted island goes awry when the crew encounters hostile natives and the god they worship.

Impressions:
I can remember first seeing this when I was a child and it left a strong impression. Rewatching it as an adult, I can see that it's nothing amazing in terms of writing or acting, but simply to credit it for its special effects does the film a disservice. Now, to be fair, if it wasn't for Willis O'Brien's amazing stop-motion animation, this film wouldn't have had nearly the same impact. We have a seviceable story with plenty of action set pieces to keep the audience entertained. Kong himself has a lot of personality poured into him, a testament to O'Brien's talent. Now, the film is of course a product of its time and some more sensitive modern viewers will bristle at the assorted isms on display, but if you're not the sort to let that get in the way of a landmark piece of entertainment, you should appreciate what you get. For any true cinephile, you'll want this in your collection.

Rating:
Own It