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King Kong

  • 1933
  • Passed
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
88K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,857
305
King Kong (1933)
Trailer for the original, classic film
Play trailer1:32
1 Video
99+ Photos
AdventureHorrorSci-Fi

A film crew goes to a tropical island for a location shoot, where they capture a colossal ape who takes a shine to their blonde starlet, and bring him back to New York City.A film crew goes to a tropical island for a location shoot, where they capture a colossal ape who takes a shine to their blonde starlet, and bring him back to New York City.A film crew goes to a tropical island for a location shoot, where they capture a colossal ape who takes a shine to their blonde starlet, and bring him back to New York City.

  • Directors
    • Merian C. Cooper
    • Ernest B. Schoedsack
  • Writers
    • James Ashmore Creelman
    • Ruth Rose
    • Merian C. Cooper
  • Stars
    • Fay Wray
    • Robert Armstrong
    • Bruce Cabot
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    88K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,857
    305
    • Directors
      • Merian C. Cooper
      • Ernest B. Schoedsack
    • Writers
      • James Ashmore Creelman
      • Ruth Rose
      • Merian C. Cooper
    • Stars
      • Fay Wray
      • Robert Armstrong
      • Bruce Cabot
    • 584User reviews
    • 192Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos1

    King Kong
    Trailer 1:32
    Watch King Kong

    Photos187

    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    King Kong (1933)
    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Steve Clemente, Noble Johnson, and Fay Wray in King Kong (1933)
    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, James Flavin, Sam Hardy, Frank Reicher, Fay Wray, and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Bruce Cabot and Fay Wray in King Kong (1933)
    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Fay Wray, and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)
    Fay Wray and King Kong in King Kong (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fay Wray
    Fay Wray
    • Ann Darrow
    Robert Armstrong
    Robert Armstrong
    • Carl Denham
    Bruce Cabot
    Bruce Cabot
    • Jack Driscoll
    Frank Reicher
    Frank Reicher
    • Capt. Englehorn
    Sam Hardy
    Sam Hardy
    • Charles Weston
    Noble Johnson
    Noble Johnson
    • Native Chief
    Steve Clemente
    Steve Clemente
    • Witch King
    • (as Steve Clemento)
    James Flavin
    James Flavin
    • Second Mate Briggs
    King Kong
    King Kong
    • The Eighth Wonder of the World
    Walter Ackerman
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    James Adamson
    • Native Child
    • (uncredited)
    Van Alder
    • Member of Ship's Crew
    • (uncredited)
    Ed Allen
    • Native
    • (uncredited)
    Etta Mae Allen
    • Native
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Angel
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Roscoe Ates
    Roscoe Ates
    • Press Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Bard
    • Member of Ship's Crew
    • (uncredited)
    Reginald Barlow
    Reginald Barlow
    • Ship's Engineer
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Merian C. Cooper(uncredited)
      • Ernest B. Schoedsack(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • James Ashmore Creelman
      • Ruth Rose
      • Merian C. Cooper(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Grossed $90,000 its opening weekend, the biggest opening ever at the time.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 14 mins) A Skull Island resident jumps from a hut and falls beside a domed chicken cage, which then hinges backwards and catches the actor's wig, taking it off his head, and remaining on top of the cage.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Police Lieutenant: Well, Denham, the airplanes got him.

      Carl Denham: Oh no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening Card: And the prophet said: "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." Old Arabian Proverb
    • Alternate versions
      On November 22, 2005, Turner Classic Movies premiered a version with a four minute overture added. This increased the run time to slightly over 104 minutes. This is also the U.S. two-disc DVD collector's edition version. Note, however, that the overture was not part of the film's original exhibition. According to John Morgan's notes on the score's re-construction, the overture was not written by Max Steiner. Morgan writes, "Another rumour has recently surfaced that Steiner composed an Overture for the film's world premiere opening in 1933 - there was even a recent recording claiming to be this long-lost Overture. Hearing the recorded "proof" of this Overture confirmed our suspicions: it was merely those same few acetates that have been floating around for years, professionally edited into a short Suite and called an Overture. In conversations I had with people who attended and remembered this opening, there was no music from the film used in any of these shows." Source: John Morgan, "Reconstruction Notes by John Morgan," Steiner: King Kong. Marco Polo (8.223763), 1997, pg. 21 (near bottom).
    • Connections
      Edited into The Ghost Ship (1943)
    • Soundtracks
      St. Louis Blues
      (1914) (uncredited)

      Music by W.C. Handy

      Whistled by Robert Armstrong

    User reviews584

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Holy Mackerel, what a show!
    I could never tire of this movie, i've seen it so many times and always watch it when it's on tv-in fact i watched it just a week ago! It's one of those films that is rewatchable countless times, like many other 'monster' movies. But this is the best 'monster' movie , it is so well made-it is a masterpiece. Everything is right-the effects,the photography,the score,pacing,continuity. My favourite part would be the big middle chunk on the island. Ann captured-natives dance-a sacrifice to kong-rescue mission-defeat of stegasoraus-swamp adventure-swamp escape-log catastrophe-trex battle-snake creature fight-pterydactil disposal-rescue/escape-kong wrecks village-gas bomb. There is almost no let up in the action in this sequence. I have seen two versions of the film though. One was cut, the other wasn't. Some scenes that were cut: kong pulls a native out of his hut and stomps him into the mud. Brilliant. Also the bits when kong chews a native, and when he chews on a new yorker. And when he throws a woman down from a scraper into the street. Needless cutting in my book. A lot of people complain about the acting. The acting is swell. Robert Armstrong is perfect as the over enthusiastic director who is completely responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people but has absolutely no scruples about it. He provides the silent chuckles of the movie e.g my one line summary is actually what denham says when he sees the savages and their dancing. And Bruce Cabot to Fay Wray: ' hey, i guess i love you!' in a moment of clarity. Overall a smashing film with a great climax. And kong is supposed to have the hots for fay wray too when he plays with her and her clothes
    helpful•66
    17
    • baz-15
    • Mar 1, 2002

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    FAQ6

    • What is 'King Kong' about?
    • Is "King Kong" based on a book?
    • Why did the natives build such a huge door if they wanted to keep Kong out?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • King Ape
    • Filming locations
      • San Pedro Harbor, Long Beach, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • RKO Radio Pictures
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $670,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $651
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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