Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The ***Official*** Weekend Singles Thread (Aug. 11-13)
August 11, 2006 | pcottraux; rzeznikj at stout

Posted on 08/11/2006 3:59:51 PM PDT by pcottraux

Presenting to you, this weekend, from pcottraux and rzenjikj at stout:


From “King Kong” (1933)

By Pcottraux (a.k.a Philip)


A publicity still from “King Kong.”

“King Kong” is one of my personal favorite movies, and unquestionably one of the greatest American films. It was a pioneering breakthrough in film special effects technology, as well as one of the most technically influential movies ever made. “Aliens” and “Jurassic Park” are its grandchildren.

However, since its original premiere in 1933, the movie itself has taken many forms. Five years after its release, “Kong” began to fall under the scissors of the editors. For some reason, even though the movie had already been in show for years, editors at the Motion Picture Ratings Board deemed many scenes “inappropriate” and they were instantly cut.

Some four minutes of footage was lost altogether. Included were scenes involving Kong peeling off Fay Wray’s clothing, a giant monster eating some of the sailors in the swamp, and of course, a rampaging Kong squashing Skull Island residents with his foot.


Kong peeling off Fay Wray’s clothes.


Kong about to stomp a guy’s head into the ground.

Miraculously, however, the man who actually cut the scenes from the reel decided that instead of burning it (which was the common custom back then), he would take it home. So for years and years, this lost footage, which was considered a sort of “Holy Grail” for Kong fans, lie in his basement in a film canister collecting dust. Decades later, he sold the footage, and it was restored to its rightful place in the movie. Film buffs of the world, rejoice!

However, this four minutes of footage wasn’t the only thing missing from “King Kong”…

In the movie, there’s a climactic moment where the sailors, having just been attacked by a swamp monster, are running crazily through the jungles of Skull Island. At some point, they come across a fallen log that forms a bridge over a gigantic chasm. They rush across towards what they think is safety, but suddenly, Kong appears on the other side. The sailors are trapped; Kong picks up the log--with them still hanging on--and shakes it violently. One by one, the sailors lose their grip and fall presumably to their deaths at the bottom of the ravine.


Kong picks up the log and shakes it, trying to rid himself of those pesky sailors.


One-by-one, the sailors fall screaming to the bottom of the chasm.

Then, with one sailor still desperately clinging on, Kong decides to send the whole log crashing to the bottom.

But before the movie was released to theaters, there was a notorious scene taking place immediately afterwards that was cut out. This missing piece of footage is now legendary among Kong fans such as myself, known simply as “The Lost Spider Pit Sequence.”

According to the legend, in the original cut, the sailors actually survived the fall to the bottom of the pit, only to be attacked and eaten by giant, disgusting insect monsters!

The scene in its time was said to have been cut out for two reasons: one, because it was too gruesome and shocking, and two, because it “interrupted the pacing of the film.” In fact, the scene was cut out personally by the movie’s director, legendary filmmaker Merian C. Cooper.


Merian C. Cooper.


In this handwritten memo, Cooper addresses the issue of the Spider Pit Scene.

Despite the grimness of the scene, the film’s chief special effects technician/animator, Willis O’Brien, was said to have been devastated by the loss. He had considered it his greatest animation ever.


Willis O’Brien, the father of movie special effects, and the head animator of “King Kong.”

In all probability, the original footage of the Spider Pit Sequence was burned shortly after being cut. This was a common practice in an age long before DVDs, Deleted Scenes, Directors’ Cuts, etc. However, there is hope that a copy of the scene may still exist, depending on exactly when it was cut out. If it was excised right before the movie’s early pre-screenings, there is a good chance that at least a few copies of the movie (containing the legendary scene) had already been shipped out overseas.

Virtually nothing was known about this lost moment of film history for about thirty years. Then, some time in the 1960’s, a legendary Science-Fiction guru named Forrest J. Ackerman came across an intriguing photograph in the Philippines. Once he discovered this grainy old picture, he also learned of the possibility that a missing scene from “King Kong” may be out there somewhere, and he quickly published the picture as well the story in his popular magazine Famous Monsters of Film Land.


This is the infamous “Spider Photo” discovered by Ackerman in the ‘60s. This is an actual still image of the lost Spider Pit Sequence. In the foreground, you can see a giant spider lunging forward to attack, and in the background, a giant man-eating lizard is also visible.

Once this picture found its way to Ackerman’s magazine, the legend was born.

It has been four decades since this one photograph was discovered, and since then, the legend of the “Lost Spider Pit Sequence” has grown from a small trivial bit of information to one of the greatest mysteries in cinema history. For years and years, massive investigations and expeditions have been launched all around the world; from China to the Philippines to England, people have been obsessively searching to find this lost moment from film history. In a sense, the Spider Pit Scene has become the “Ark of the Covenant” of the movie industry…people have been hunting it in exotic locales all around the world, and if it is ever found, it will be one of the greatest and most significant cinematic archaeological discoveries ever.

Is the Spider Scene out there, somewhere? Many think so. If it is, it is sitting in some old rusty film canister, locked away in the basement of some theater, or stored among cobwebs in someone’s attic…just waiting to be discovered. And while the odds of ever finding it are slim, the fact that bits and pieces of footage and old props from “King Kong” are still being discovered keeps that hope alive.

But after years and years of exhaustive searching, have all the countless expeditions produced any results? The answer is a resounding YES! Although the scene itself remains undiscovered, a small treasure trove of still photographs, concept art, and evidence has been uncovered. The original script from “Kong” also briefly mentions the Spider Sequence.

These bits of evidence give us a tantalizing idea of what actually happens in the scene itself, and provides a faint glimpse as to what the scene looks like.

So what DOES the scene look like? From what we gather, the season probably lasted about two minutes. There were four sailors getting up and brushing themselves off for a small moment. Then, according to the script, “The men at the bottom of the ravine are attacked by giant insects who come out of caves and fissures to eat them!”

In all probability, there were four sailors altogether (6 actually fall from the log). And five disgusting creatures in all appear out of the “caves and fissures” for dinnertime. There is:

A. A giant crab.
B. A giant man-eating lizard.
C. A giant two-legged lizard which looks up at the hero hiding in the cave at the top of the chasm and decides to go after him (this moment does make it in the movie).
D. A giant spider, and last but not least,
E. The most repulsive monster of all, which is described as a giant insect with slithery octopus-like tentacles.

The most common evidence is actually early conceptual art for the movie. When making a movie like “King Kong,” it is necessary before filming takes place to draw, sketch, and paint what various scenes in the movie will look like. Since this was before filming began, there were several drawings of the Spider Pit Scene made without the knowledge that the scene would be later removed. Most of the artwork was done by an artist named Byron Crabbe, and if you look at other conceptual art he did for “Kong,” you’ll see that the moviemakers were very faithful to his art.

Most of the film’s concept art was done in the late 20’s, long before filming actually began.

The first image is a rough sketch that shows the most recurrent theme throughout the Spider Pit evidence: two of the sailors scrambling to get to safety on top of a large rock as they are attacked by a giant crab. By the end of the sequence, the crab grabs at least one of them in its giant claw, and then crushes and eats him.


These two men are not too thrilled with encountering a giant crab at the bottom of the chasm.


This sketch shows the sailors falling to the bottom.


Here we see the giant insect-octopus-thingy, grabbing one of the sailors in its tentacles to wolf him down.

Last but not least is the most famous piece of concept art from "King Kong;" this picture is a master-shot of the Spider Pit Sequence taking place:


Note the tentacles wrapping around the guy in the foreground, the two guys on the rock being menaced by the giant crab in the background, and the giant spider on the left.

But concept art isn’t the only evidence we have…

Since the search for the Spider Pit Scene began, a few grainy photos have turned up. Like the infamous Spider Photo, these are actual still images from the scene itself (which begs the question: if the scene is missing, where did the photos come from?).


In this rarely seen photograph, a sailor (stop-motion puppet) sits on a rock with his arm extended, perhaps ready to fend off any attacking animals.


Here, some more sailors attempt to scramble to safety. The guy on the right must have a hangover.


Aha! Here is an actual picture of the two sailors on the rock trying to get to safety, and there is the giant crab coming to get them!


Another view of the giant crab.

BUT THAT ISN’T ALL!!!

Just last year, an even bigger discovery was made. A young man from California went snooping around an old movie museum, and came to an amazing discovery: it’s not the Spider Pit Scene itself, but something almost as good. He found the actual spider stop-motion puppet that was used in the scene!

Click here to read this amazing story.

And here is a follow-up, with pictures included.

It is evidence such as this continually being discovered that keeps the legend alive, as long as the hope that some day, miraculously, that missing moment in film history will be uncovered for the world to see.

I want to conclude tonight with a video clip. While shooting his wonderful remake of “King Kong,” director Peter Jackson decided, on the side, as a fun fan project, to shoot a recreation of the lost Spider Pit sequence. He did this using authentic models, replicas, and old cameras to make as authentic a recreation as possible, then spliced it into that moment into the movie. The entire clip is mostly footage from the original and is altogether about 6 minutes. It actually starts with the swamp monster chasing the sailors into the jungle and ends with the hero being attacked by the two-legged lizard who crawls up towards him from the bottom.

Peter Jackson’s fan-film recreation of the Lost Spider Pit Sequence:

I leave you with this.

Philip.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous; Society
KEYWORDS: ape; chitchat; classicmovies; cultmovies; kingkong33; oldmovies; singles; specialeffects; spiderpit; weekend
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 281-287 next last
To: Rca2000

Yah. It didn't matter thought because there was no code. It was faulty from the start. It wasn't until VW tested enough cars (and couldn't get accurate codes) that they decided this was a major problem. 80% of the cars that were brought in were found to have nothing wrong with them. The dealership mechanics would reset the check engine light, and it'd go off again a few weeks later. It was a real problem for new beetle owners with the 2000-2002 models.


81 posted on 08/11/2006 10:00:09 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux

It's not a big deal, it just means your car's oxygen levels aren't right and your car is burning a tiny bit more fuel.


82 posted on 08/11/2006 10:03:09 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

She works at one

And it looks like they may have it "in" for her.


83 posted on 08/11/2006 10:03:53 PM PDT by Rca2000 (I may be a prude, but at least I am CONSISTENT about my beliefs!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux

You got me straight trippin boo.


84 posted on 08/11/2006 10:04:23 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

I noticed the gas level seemed to be going down fairly quickly.


85 posted on 08/11/2006 10:05:04 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux

Peace out, West Coast Homey...


86 posted on 08/11/2006 10:06:20 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Whoops, post 86 is for you.

I'm East Coast.


87 posted on 08/11/2006 10:10:05 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Er, I don't speak with ebonics...8^)

Though I do listen to Dave Chappelle's skit on it...8^)


88 posted on 08/11/2006 10:13:35 PM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (II Computers 3:14))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux

Peace out means you're leaving.

Are you leaving?

Why you doggin me like that foo?


89 posted on 08/11/2006 10:19:29 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Oh, is that what it means? Not like I know what I'm talking about or anything.


90 posted on 08/11/2006 10:21:37 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux

Yo dawg sup. = Hi.

Peace out = Bye.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/


91 posted on 08/11/2006 10:26:46 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Ah, makes perfect sense now.


92 posted on 08/11/2006 10:28:51 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

So I'm down funky fly wid it now.

And yet, as an English major, I am greatly offended by those things.


93 posted on 08/11/2006 10:35:13 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
Yo. We are dancin' on the tables now DAAAAWWWGG!


94 posted on 08/11/2006 10:43:53 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Is that us?

Man, it's hard to keep balancing like this!


95 posted on 08/11/2006 10:45:03 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux

Yah, and you look like you're ready to drop me....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!


96 posted on 08/11/2006 10:49:12 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Well, you being on one foot isn't exactly helping!

rrrggg...uunnnngggg....must...not...fall...must...talk...like...this...


97 posted on 08/11/2006 10:53:03 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
We're raising the roof!!!


98 posted on 08/11/2006 10:58:19 PM PDT by Maximus_Ridiculousness (Nasr'allah, inta yebnen kelb. Shem et Duat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
Howdy!

Married life has been busy.

The party in TX was great but I am still trying to recuperate from it all.

99 posted on 08/11/2006 11:03:02 PM PDT by Kate of Spice Island (Modern day psychic, but first I was a US soldier)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Maximus_Ridiculousness

Raising heck, causing trouble, and sticking it to the man!


100 posted on 08/11/2006 11:04:13 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 281-287 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson