"He's always been the king of his world but we'll teach him fear. We're millionaires, boys! I'll share it with all of you! Why, in a few months, it'll be up in lights on Broadway - Kong! - The Eighth Wonder of the World!"

- Carl Denham

- - - -

C'mon? Do I really need to do a plot synopsis? Does anybody not know the basic premise of King Kong? Boy meets girl. Boy and girl go to an island to make a movie. Boy loses girl to big monkey. Boy gets girl back and takes big monkey home. Big monkey breaks loose. Boy loses girl again. Big monkey gets shot off a building. Boy gets girl back. T'was beauty killed the beast (well, that, and an eighty story fall.)  

The End

Too simple? Okay. Let's start over.

We open in New York city at the height of the Great Depression on the ocean vessel The Venture. Movie maker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) talks to Captain Englehorn (Frank Reicher) about how they need to set sail immediately. Why? Because the Harbor Patrol has gotten wind of Denham's special cargo; a stash of modified grenades filled with knock out gas and "enough ammunition to blow up the ship."

Denham insist they wait because he needs a female lead for his next picture to appease his public. Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot), Englehorn's first mate, escorts in Denham's last hope, Weston (Sam Hardy), a theatrical agent, but he brings bad news. No one in their right mind would send a girl on one of Denham's mystery location shoots. Even Englehorn and Driscoll don't know where they're going. 

Pressed for time but undaunted as ever (the man never lacks of enthusiasm), Denham vows to find a female lead for his movie "even if I have to marry one." The director walks the streets of New York but his luck is so bad he's about to give up when he saves a young waif from the wrath of fruit vendor. The woman swoons into Denham's arms and he gets a good look at her. Denham excitedly calls for cab.

Denham takes young Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and gets her something to eat. She recognizes him as the world famous movie director and he offers her the opportunity of a lifetime. Ann is reluctant but Denham calms her fears assuring her it's all strictly business and she finally agrees.

The six-week voyage gets underway and it takes almost all that time for a romance to slowly blossom between Ann and Driscoll. Denham is very coy about their destination but drops all kinds of hints. 

He has Ann dress up in the Beauty and the Beast costume for a few practice shots. Denham rolls the camera and instructs her to slowly look up. Then asks her to react to something big and horrible looming up above her. Then to scream, scream for her life. Ann follows his instructions (and boy does she have a set of pipes) while Driscoll ominously wonders what will she really see when they get to wherever they're going.

Finally Denham calls Englehorn and Driscoll to the bridge to reveal where they're headed. He received a secret map to an island that's not on any of Englehorn's charts. He bought it off a Norwegian skipper who picked up some natives of the island who were lost at sea. 

They were all dead save one who managed to draw the map. It shows an island with a tall mountain in the center shaped like a skull. There's also a peninsula that is separated from the rest of the island by a large wall that Denham claims they need for safety. 

Englehorn assumes it's a buffer against a hostile tribe but Denham shakes his head no then asks if they've ever heard of "Kong." Denham and Driscoll do their best to hide their derisive smirks. They don't believe in the legend of the great monster. Denham admits he's not sure if he believes it either but all myths have some basis of fact and he intends to film Kong whatever it turns out to be.

They find the island but have to wait out a thick fog. When it dissipates the island presents itself and Denham's wall, with a large gate in the middle, can be seen from the ship. Denham gathers his film equipment, his cast (despite Driscoll's protest that she should stay on board) and armed escort takes them ashore.

Upon reaching shore the party follows the sound of native drums inland. They find a primitive village but it's deserted. They keep following the noise towards the large gate and stumble upon quite a spectacle. 

A wild ceremony is underway and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the girl being showered with flowers is a sacrifice for something. Denham orders the other to stay hid but sets up his camera and starts rolling. The ceremony reaches a fever pitch. Chants of Kong thunder about while a dozen guys dressed as monkeys dance in a circle.

The Chief (Noble Johnson) appears to be about to put the finishing touch on the ceremony when he spots Denham and his camera bringing everything to a screeching halt. The natives confront the intruders. Luckily Englehorn can speak their lingo and calms them down. 

The Skipper translates for Denham who wants to know what the ceremony is all about. The Chief says the flower girl is the Bride of Kong but the ceremony is ruined. Things are about to get ugly when the Chief spots Ann. He quickly offers to trade several native girls for Ann in compensation for ruining their ceremony. Denham refuses and orders a hasty retreat back to the Venture before the natives cut them off but Denham tells the Chief they'll be back to make friends.

That night, on the Venture, Driscoll and Ann make it official and profess their love for each other. Driscoll is called to the bridge leaving Ann alone on the deck. The natives seize the opportunity and swoop in and stealthily swipe her without a peep. Ann only manages to tear off a native bracelet that lands silently on the deck.

From the bridge Denham, Englehorn and Driscoll watch the island and plot their next move. Denham wishes he could film by torchlight because something big is going on in the village.

We cut to the wall and see what the commotion is all about. The Kong ceremony is back in full swing only this time Ann is the bride to be. The giant gate is opened revealing an altar buffeted by two large pillars of stone. Ann, in a state of shock, is rushed out and secured to the altar.

Back on the Venture, Charlie (Victor Wong) the cook and comedy relief, finds the native bracelet and raises the alarm because "a crazy black man been here." A quick search of the ship finds no sign of Ann. Englehorn barks orders to break out the guns and man the boats. Driscoll encourages everyone to hurry because "they've taken Ann."

The natives close the great gate and bolt it shut. The Chief gives the order and a large gong is struck several times. A hush comes over the crowd and the air grows tense. 

The soundtrack teases as something big starts crashing through the trees. The forest parts and Ann comes face to face with a myth - Kong! who turns out to be a giant gorilla. Ann finds her voice and screams, screams for her life (although I don't think she's acting this time.) Kong releases her from the altar and cradles her in his paw. He roars at the natives and turns back to the jungle.

The rescue party arrives too late but Driscoll gets a quick glimpse of the ape as it disappears into the jungle. Driscoll and Denham take half the men to pursue Ann while Englehorn and the rest will remain behind and hold the gate.

The rescue party follows Kong's footprints but quickly discover that Kong isn't the only monster on this island. A stegosaurus appears and charges them. The sailors fire a volley of bullets while Denham chucks one of special gas bombs.

It detonates and the creature is enveloped in the fog. It takes a few more steps then collapses. Denham puts one more bullet in it's head to finish the job. Denham can't believe it's a real live dinosaur and the worst part is he doesn't have his camera. 

The pursuit continues. They hear the great ape cross a river ahead but they can't swim it with all their equipment. They overcome this obstacle by hastily constructing a raft. They shove off but only get halfway when another dinosaur, a sauropod, attacks and sinks them. 

All their equipment, guns and bombs are lost in the river. The sauropod munches a few sailors and tosses them around. It even pursues them on shore and runs a man up a tree. The beast picks him off in its jaws and kills him. 

Up ahead Kong crosses a fallen log over a deep chasm, deposits Ann in the nook of a tall tree then circles back to see what's pursuing him. The sailors aren't that far behind. Denham gets caught up in some branches and lags behind while Driscoll leads the charge over the log. He makes it across just as Kong roars on scene. 

Driscoll manages to dive off into some vines and swings his way into a shallow cave below the log. The other sailors aren't so lucky. They try to scramble back to the other side but Kong seizes the log and starts shaking them off. All the sailors plummet to their death, save one, that Kong can't shake. The ape is so enraged it just chucks the whole log into the chasm. (Luckily the falls were fatal and the sailors didn't meet their original fate!) 

Kong then goes after Driscoll who is also menaced by a large lizard crawling up to get him from below. Driscoll manages to dodge Kong long enough to hack the vine the lizard was crawling up and it plummets back into the ravine. Kong almost gets him when he hears Ann screaming and breaks off at a gallop.

Back in the tree, Ann has been spotted by an Allosaurus whose pegged her for a quick snack. It closes in for the kill but Kong intercedes. A wild and savage battle ensues. During the slugfest the tree Ann is in topples over but she's pinned underneath it. 

Kong finally gets the upper hand and breaks the dinosaur's jaw by splitting it's mouth open way beyond the technical specs. The great ape roars in triumph and beats his chest. He retrieves Ann and moves on.

Back at the chasm Jack manages to crawl out. Denham yells at from the other side. He was spared because he got snagged. Driscoll says he'll keep after Ann while Denham goes back for reinforcements and more gas bombs. Driscoll will try to signal them somehow if he manages to sneak Ann away and tells Denham "not to get himself killed until you see Englehorn."

Driscoll moves on and sees the carnage and carcass from Kong's last battle. He tails the ape all the way to Skull Mountain. Kong enters his cave and makes his away around an underground lake on the way up to his perch. 

Kong sets Ann up on a large rock where she's immediately menaced by a plesiosaur who was lurking in the lake. Kong grabs the slippery creature that counters by coiling around the ape in attempts to strangle him. Kong slowly uncoils the creature, seizes it by the tail, swings it high over his head and slams the creature down several times with much ferocity. 

The great ape quickly discards the corpse then takes Ann up and saunters out onto his perch. It's all been too much for Ann who faints. Kong gently lays her down then moves to the perch and surveys his kingdom. He let's out a monster roar and pounds his chest. 

He moves back to Ann and picks up her limp form. Then the naughty little booger starts pulling pieces of her clothing off and examines her scent. Then the perv starts tickling her. Ann wakes up as his assault continues.

Luckily for her, Driscoll dislodges some rocks back in the cave. Kong dumps her to investigate the noise. Driscoll hides and Ann tries to crawl away but soon falls victim to yet another dinosaur (are they just circling around waiting for him to put her down?) A pterodactyl swoops in, snags Ann, then flaps away but Kong intercepts him on the five yard line. The winged monster drops Ann and is quickly turned into a piece of origami by Kong (look I made a lower intestine!) 

While Kong pretzels the dinosaur, Driscoll uses the distraction to slip away with Ann. A large vine descends from Kong's perch to the river below. Ann clamps on to Jack's back and he starts sliding down the vine. Kong spots them and starts reeling them in. Driscoll let's go and he and Ann plummet into the river below. They surface and swim away.

Up above Kong roars in anger.

Back at the wall, Denham did manage to get back all right without getting killed but Englehorn insisted that they wait until daylight before sending another rescue party. The look-out spots Driscoll, with Ann in tow, heading for the wall. 

They open the gate and let them through. Ann is safe but Denham has been infected with the idiot bug and wants to capture Kong. Driscoll says they'll never get him off the mountain but Denham doesn't think they'll have to. He feels the ape will come after Ann.

Denham proves prophetic as the look-out raises the alarm. Kong is coming. They barely get the gate closed and bolted before the ape strikes. Driscoll quietly escorts Ann back to the Venture while the others try to buttress the gate.

Even with the natives pitching in the gate can't hold. Kong breaks through and starts buzz-sawing through the natives, eating and stomping on them. The village is laid waste and everyone retreats to the beach. Denham finally gets his hands on another gas bomb and heaves it at the pursuing ape. It detonates true and Kong sucks in the knock out gas. He stumbles around then collapses on the sand.

Denham's megalomania gets the better of him and he orders the sailors to bring chains and tools from the boat. Dollar signs spin in his eyes but he promises to share it with all of them. They'll teach Kong a little fear and respect and display him for all the world to see. Denham can see it all now, up in the Broadway lights -  

We quickly segue to opening night in New York. Backstage, behind the curtain, Driscoll, clad in a monkey suit (a tuxedo), and Ann watch Kong on stage. Denham tells them the box office is overflowing with cash and it will be like this every night. Ann is nervous but Denham promises that they've knocked the fight out of Kong.

Denham goes on stage and introduces Ann and Driscoll. He milks the moment then raises the curtain revealing Kong chained to a large steel cross. Denham calls the reporters in and all the rumors about the New York media prove true. They snap pictures of Kong and Ann. The flashes annoy the ape but, worse yet, he mistakes it as an attack on Ann.

The enraged Kong easily breaks his chains and is soon on the loose. Panic sweeps the theater. Driscoll manages to get Ann outside and slips into a nearby hotel. 

Kong breaks out into the street and chews on a couple of pedestrians. He spies Ann being herded into the hotel. The riot squad shows up so Kong starts scaling the hotel. He spies someone through a window and smashes in. He snags someone but it turns out not to be Ann so he quickly drops the poor woman to her doom. 

Driscoll and Ann enter their room. While Driscoll assures her safety Kong peeks through the window behind them and spots her. He reaches in and knocks Driscoll out. He snatches up Ann then returns to the street. 

His rampage continues as Kong angrily takes out an L-Train. Driscoll recovers and finds Denham with the authorities. Their hands are tied because they can't shoot at Kong for fear of hitting the girl. A report comes over the radio that Kong is climbing the Empire State Building.

Denham thinks they're licked but Driscoll suggests using airplanes. If they can get Ann away from him the planes can get him.

Kong's molecular structure proves unstable in the high altitude as he appears to have doubled in size upon reaching the top of the skyscraper. He spies the airplanes circling so he sets Ann down and rises up to meet the challenge. 

The planes swoop in and pepper the ape with round after round. Kong manages to snatch one of the planes and sends it spinning into the building but the rest prove to elusive. The onslaught continues and Kong slips down to the ledge of the building. 

He painfully reaches for Ann but one more pass from the planes send him into a death scene that would do Bugs Bunny proud. Kong loses his grip and plummets to the street. Driscoll reaches the top and rescues Ann off her precarious ledge and they watch the scene far below.

Kong's body didn't make quite as big a mess as I thought it would on impact. The police try to keep everyone back. We spy Denham behind the barricade. One of the cops says the airplanes got him. Denham disagrees and goes all cryptic and claims it was beauty that really killed the beast. (Whatever. I really think it was the fall that did it.)

The End

My lifelong fascination with King Kong began when I was five years old in the mid-'70s when the propaganda machine for Dino de Laurentis's remake flooded the country and overwhelmed this junior monster fanatic. Images of John Berkey's savage Kong paintings leaping between the World Trade Center, breaking through a wall or wrecking a train were everywhere; on tablets, calendars, trading cards and glasses (collect all four!)

Also, like most people of my generation and situation (living in the sticks with no cable and VCRs still a pipe dream), I had never seen the original King Kong outside of pictures in books. The story of the great ape and his battles with all the dinosaurs, while protecting his prize possession, to his climatic battle on top of the Empire State building had long been committed to memory. I knew the name Willis O'Brien, and how his stop-motion techniques worked, and at that point in my life I chucked the idea of being a fireman and settled on being an animator of dinosaurs when I grew up. (Where I went wrong and how I wound up here is still up to much conjecture, wailing and gnashing of teeth.)

I don't know what it is about these stop-motion pictures that put the hypno-whammy on me, giving me the irresistible urge to break out the play-dough and make some dinosaurs. O'Brien and his group of technicians work is amazing. Talkies hadn't been around all that long when this thing was made. I honestly don't know if he invented the technique and I wouldn't even say he perfected it (that nod I'd give to Harryhausen) but he refined it and showed what was it was capable of. And it was revolutionary and miniature special effects remained basically the same until CGI came along.

The best compliment I can give the effects team on the original film is this: At no point during the remake did I not look at Kong on screen and forget it's just a guy in a monkey suit. In the original, you easily get past that and it really gives the animated characters life and enhances the action instead of hindering it.

But to everyone's defense, there aren't a lot of opportunities for emoting in this film except for Kong's death scene atop the Empire State Building. I think that's why we wind up rooting for Kong. Not necessarily to get the girl (that's just weird) but we don't want to see him shot off the building and are sad when we see him splayed all over the pavement.

- - - -

Our Kong Tribute Continues!  The History The Film Deleted Scenes Bibliography Knock-Offs Kong Index