King Kong Escapes (1967) Kingu Kongu no gyakushû (original title)

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writer:

Takeshi Kimura

Release Date:

19 June 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

King Kong is brought in by an evil ruler to dig for precious gems in a mine when the robot MechaKong is unable to do the task...

Plot Keywords:

King Kong | Tokyo Tower | Island | Japan | Mind Control

Cast

Rhodes Reason	...	Commander Carl Nelson
Mie Hama	...	Madame Piranha (Madame X)
Linda Miller	...	Lieutenant Susan Watson
Akira Takarada	...	Lt. Commander Jiro Nomura
Hideyo Amamoto	...	Dr. Who (as Eisei Amamoto)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David de Keyser	...	Commander Carl Nelson (voice: English version)
Paul Frees	...	Dr. Who (voice: English version)
Shôichi Hirose	...	Henchman
Andrew Hughes	...	Reporter
Tôru Ibuki	...	Henchman
Nadao Kirino	...	Henchman
Ryûji Kita	...	SDF General
Seishirô Kuno	...	Soldier
Susumu Kurobe	...	Henchman
Haruo Nakajima	...	Kingukongu (King Kong)
Tadashi Okabe	...	Soldier
Sachio Sakai	...	Henchman
Ikio Sawamura	...	Mondo Islander
Yû Sekida	...	Mekanikongu / Gorosaurusu
Kazuo Suzuki	...	Henchman
Yoshifumi Tajima	...	Henchman
Yasuhisa Tsutsumi	...	General
Osman Yusuf	...	Submariner
Julie Bennett	...	Female Voices (uncredited)

Directed by
Ishirô Honda		(english language version) (as Inoshiro Honda)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Takeshi Kimura		(as Kaoru Mabuchi)

Produced by
Arthur Rankin Jr.	....	producer (US version)
Tomoyuki Tanaka	....	producer

Original Music by
Akira Ifukube

Cinematography by
Hajime Koizumi

Film Editing by
Ryohei Fujii

Production Design by
Takeo Kita

Makeup Department
Nobuyuki Yasamaru	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Riley Jackson	....	post-production supervisor (US version)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Sano	....	chief assistant director

Sound Department
Sadamasa Nishimoto	....	sound effects
Shoichi Yoshizawa	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Sadamasa Arikawa	....	special effects codirector
Yasuyuki Inoue	....	special effects art director
Fumio Nakadai	....	special effects wire work
Teruyoshi Nakano	....	chief assistant director of special effects
Eiji Tsuburaya	....	director of special effects

Visual Effects by
Kuichirô Kishida	....	special effects lighting
Yoichi Manoda	....	special effects cameraman
Hiroshi Mukoyama	....	special effects opticals
Sokei Tomioka	....	special effects cameraman

Camera and Electrical Department
Toshio Takashima	....	lighting technician

Other crew
Paul Frees	....	dubbing director (US version)
William J. Keenan	....	dialogue (US version)
Arthur Rankin Jr.	....	creative consultant (Japanese version)
Ernest L. Scanlon	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Rankin/Bass Productions
• Toho Company

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound Company  recording: U.S. version
• National Screen Service  titles

Also Known As:

"Kingu Kongu no gyakushû" - USA (original title)
"King Kong Strikes Again" - International (English title) (literal title)
"King Kong's Counterattack" - International (English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

104 min | USA:96 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (DVD rating) (2005) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:G

Company:

Rankin/Bass Productions

Trivia:

Two costumes of King Kong were made. The arms of the first costume were very long, so Haruo Nakajima's hands did not reach those of the costume. He had to grasp onto sticks that were attached to the hands of the costume. He wore a second costume with shorter arms whenever they were shooting footage of King Kong battling other monsters.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During some of the North Pole scenes, Dr. Hu's men cast shadows on the painting of the "distance" (mainly snow-capped mountains) on the studio set.

Quotes:

[first lines]
First Submariner:Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Susan Watson:Good morning.
Second Submariner:[talking to another crew member] Boy, with a good looking nurse like that on board, I wouldn't mind running a fever.
Lieutenant Susan Watson:Just remember, sailor. I've got lots of castor oil in sick bay. And you too.
Second Submariner:Y-yes, Sir. Ma'am. Lieutenant.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "King Kong" (1966)

Top 10 All Time Favorite Distraction

I've seen this film a number of times growing up. Most recently in '94. I can't wait to see it again! I loved it. Loved it all. The bad guy was scary when I was young but was down right hip when I saw it when I was older. The characters were pretty much weak and the story was weak but when "Kong" gets mad and starts kicking butt; I just enjoy the ride. I don't recommend this as a "feel good" movie. Nor is it a "cinema experience" of note. It is entertaining and fun if you're a "Kong" fan like me. The props and costumes are old school and cheap! Brings back all sorts of fun memories. The soundtrack was also cool too. Excellent inspiration for aspiring Avant-Garde types. I loved this film!