King Kong (1976)

Director:

John Guillermin

Writers:

Merian C. Cooper (idea) and
Edgar Wallace (idea) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 December 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The most exciting original motion picture event of all time.

Plot:

A petroleum exploration expedition comes to an isolated island and encounters a colossal giant gorilla.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Gorilla | Oil | King Kong | Ape

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Jack Prescott
Charles Grodin	...	Fred Wilson
Jessica Lange	...	Dwan
John Randolph	...	Capt. Ross
Rene Auberjonois	...	Roy Bagley
Julius Harris	...	Boan
Jack O'Halloran	...	Joe Perko
Dennis Fimple	...	Sunfish
Ed Lauter	...	Carnahan
Jorge Moreno	...	Garcia
Mario Gallo	...	Timmons
John Lone	...	Chinese Cook
Garry Walberg	...	Army General
John Agar	...	City Official
Keny Long	...	Ape Masked Man
Sid Conrad	...	Petrox Chairman
George Whiteman	...	Army Helicopter Pilot
Wayne Heffley	...	Air Force General
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Fleeing Extra in Crowd (uncredited)
Rick Baker	...	King Kong (uncredited)
Todd Baker	...	Shea Stadium Spectator (uncredited)
Corbin Bernsen	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ray Buktenica	...	Naval Officer (uncredited)
Larry M. Byrd	...	Excited Fan (uncredited)
Peter Cullen	...	King Kong (voice) (uncredited)
S.C. Dacy	...	Newspaper Photographer (uncredited)
James Dunaway	...	Man in Audience (uncredited)
Donald F. Glut	...	Guy in Amphitheater (uncredited)
Walt Gorney	...	Subway Driver (uncredited)
Brent Huff	...	Extra (uncredited)
Shawn McAllister	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Joe Piscopo	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Ira S. Rosenstein	...	Logan (uncredited)
David Roya	...	Ship's Radio Operator (uncredited)
David Ulmer	...	Man Running in Terror (uncredited)
Kristephan Warren-Stevens	...	Kid with Afro on Bleachers (uncredited)
Booker James Winter	...	BG Crowd (uncredited)
Billy Zoom	...	Man Running from Monkey (uncredited)

Directed by
John Guillermin

Writing credits
Merian C. Cooper		(idea) and
Edgar Wallace		(idea)
James Ashmore Creelman		(1933 screenplay) (as James Creelman) and
Ruth Rose		(1933 screenplay)
Lorenzo Semple Jr.		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer
Federico De Laurentiis	....	executive producer
Christian Ferry	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Richard H. Kline		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ralph E. Winters

Casting by
Joyce Selznick

Production Design by
Mario Chiari
Dale Hennesy

Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon
David A. Constable
Robert Gundlach

Set Decoration by
John Franco Jr.

Costume Design by
Moss Mabry
Anthea Sylbert		(gowns and native costumes)

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist
Jo McCarthy	....	hair stylist
Michaeldino	....	hair designer: Kong
Rick Baker	....	makeup effects (uncredited)
Rob Bottin	....	makeup effects (uncredited)

Production Management
Terry Carr	....	production manager
Brian E. Frankish	....	unit production manager: Hawaii (as Brian Frankish)
George Goodman	....	unit production manager: New York
Jack Grossberg	....	in charge of production
Phil Tucker	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nathan Haggard	....	assistant director: second unit (as Nate Haggard)
Pat Kehoe	....	second assistant director
William Kronick	....	second unit director
David McGiffert	....	assistant director
Kurt Neumann	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert L. Clark	....	set painter (as Robert Clark)
Curtis 'Red' Hollingsworth	....	set painter
Mentor Huebner	....	illustrator
Jack M. Marino	....	property master (as Jack Marino)
Gary Martin	....	construction coordinator
David J. Negron	....	illustrator (as David Negron)
Ken Richey	....	greensman
William Cruse	....	set designer (uncredited)
William S. Maxwell III	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
James J. Klinger	....	sound effects editor
William L. McCaughey	....	sound re-recording mixer (as William McCaughey)
Jack Solomon	....	sound mixer
Harry W. Tetrick	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Rick Baker	....	special contributions: Kong
Don Chandler	....	sculptor: Kong
Joe Day	....	special effects
Carlo Rambaldi	....	designer/engineer/constructor: Kong
Glen Robinson	....	constructor: Kong
Glen Robinson	....	special effects
Eddie Surkin	....	mechanical coordinator: Kong
Terry W. King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Andrew Miller	....	special effects (uncredited)
Wayne Rose	....	special effects crew (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Louis Lichtenfield	....	matte artist (as Lou Lichtenfield)
Barry Nolan	....	photographic effects assistant
Aldo Puccini	....	miniature coordinator
Frank Van der Veer	....	supervisor of photographic effects
Harold E. Wellman	....	additional photographic effects

Stunts
Bill Couch	....	stunt coordinator
Lightning Bear	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loyd Catlett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roger Creed	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
J. David Jones	....	aerial stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Julius LeFlore	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Lovelett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kelly Nichols	....	stunt double: Jessica Lange (uncredited)
Beth Nufer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Diane Peterson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ray Saniger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sunny Woods	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Albert Bettcher	....	camera operator (as Al Bettcher)
Ed Carlin	....	gaffer
Robert Edesa	....	assistant camera
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Robert Sordal	....	key grip
Michael Burke	....	electrician (uncredited)
Doug Byers	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Calvin Maehl	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Louis Niemeyer	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	rigger (uncredited)
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Gary Stark	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dennis Young	....	grip (uncredited)
Ron Zarilla	....	second assistant camera: New York (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arnie Lipin	....	wardrobe (as Arny Lipin)
G. Fern Weber	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Margo Anderson	....	assistant film editor
Robert Pergament	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor
Aaron Rochin	....	music re-recordist
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joe Sawyers	....	transportation coordinator
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)
James Nordberg	....	driver: special effects department (uncredited)

Other crew
Gordon Armstrong	....	publicity coordinator
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	unit publicist
Jeffrey Chernov	....	messenger
Dino De Laurentiis	....	presenter
Charlotte Dreiman	....	production secretary
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Lori Imbler	....	production coordinator
Robert F. Kocourek	....	production auditor
Meryle Selinger	....	production accountant
Fred Sidewater	....	assistant to producer (as Fredric M. Sidewater)
Scott Thaler	....	messenger
Claude Thompson	....	native dance choreographer
Michael Winter	....	messenger
Frans J. Afman	....	financial services (uncredited)
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Stephen A. Glanzrock	....	production assistant: New York (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dino De Laurentiis Company

Distributors

• Prodis (1976) (France) (theatrical)
• Tobis (1976) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1976) (Australia) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (1996) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• TF1 Vidéo (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Adams Filmi (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• EMI Films (1976) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Video Classics (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Bulgari  Miss Lange's jewelry
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Joyce Selznick & Associates  casting
• Nikon  still cameras
• Pacific Title and Art Studio  titles
• Sally Perle & Associates  extras casting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

134 min | USA:180 min (2 part television premiere version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1977) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1998) | Argentina:13 | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario - 2005) | New Zealand:PG | Sweden:11 (new rating) | Australia:M (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Norway:11 | Norway:12 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

Employees of the Empire State Building expressed their displeasure at the producers' decision to stage the remake's climax at the World Trade Center by picketing the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building dressed in monkey suits.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kong first comes in during the "sacrifice" ceremony, he knocks down trees all over the place. During later shots of this same area during the movie, there are no downed trees. In fact, downed trees are not seen anywhere on the island after this initial scene.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Perko:OK, Boan, how much you got here?
Boan:About eighteen hundred.
Joe Perko:Eighteen hundred? What's going on?
Boan:There's Bagley.
Joe Perko:Hey, Mr. Bagley! Something's haywire. They only loaded me enough pipe to push one test hole. Less than two thousand feet.
Roy Bagley:Yeah, that'll be enough.
Boan:Are you kidding? On Bagatan, we didn't come until we were past twenty-six thousand feet.
Roy Bagley:You take my word, fellas. This hole proves out within two thousand, or it's a write-off.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Superior Firepower: The Making of 'Aliens' (2003) (V)

Underrated quality remake of the ultimate monster movie

I always feel this movie did not get the credit it deserved. O.K. it was not as good as the original but has any monster movie ever matched it? The effects and story are very entertaining and Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges are well cast. My favourite touch was the selection of the World Trade Center instead of the Empire State Building for the finale. Shame you could not see it well in the dark however. The film is great fun for any movie or monster movie fan. Watch, enjoy and await the UK DVD release. Superb entertainment!