Posted on 03/02/2020 6:21:20 PM PST by Maceman
Classic film fans will have something unique to celebrate this March, which will see the return of the original King Kong to theaters for a nationwide, one-day engagement for the first time since 1956. The 1933 film will screen at more than 600 theaters nationwide on Sunday, March 15 via Fathom Events, with tickets available now, as part of Turner Classic Movies’ Big Screen Classics series.
The press release for the screening points out that the last time King Kong was re-released, back in 1956, “Dwight D. Eisenhower was President, the average movie ticket cost 59 cents, and not a single man-made item was orbiting the Earth.” My how times change, right?
The 1933 film, directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, features cutting-edge stop-motion special effects work from the pioneering Willis O’Brien, the stop-motion wiz who would also serve as the mentor for FX maestro Ray Harryhausen, who kept the stop-motion flag flying into the 1970s and 1980s. The film was an obvious pick for the best horror/monster movie of 1933 in our Century of Terror series last year, and stood as a filmmaking achievement that on many fronts wasn’t surpassed for decades afterward. Certainly, no film that was reliant on FX could avoid comparison to King Kong for the next 20 years, much as films released after 1977 couldn’t avoid comparison to the likes of Star Wars.
“The original theatrical version of King Kong is back to dazzle the digital era with it’s all-analog marvels,” reads the TCM/Fathom press release. “Adding to this rare cinematic event, TCM Primetime Host Ben Mankiewicz will offer all-new insight and commentary on one of the most well-known, influential (and still thrilling) films of all time. The dazzling adventure features groundbreaking stop-motion animation by Willis O’Brien—visual effects that remain astonishing even in spite of the computer-generated advances made since the original release of King Kong nearly 90 years ago. The film stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, and features a lush score by legendary composer Max Steiner.”
The modern King Kong reboot universe, meanwhile, is next headed toward Godzilla vs. Kong, a loose remake of 1962’s Japanese King Kong vs. Godzilla, which saw its release date pushed back to this November after the somewhat disappointing box office of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The Adam Wingard-directed Godzilla vs. Kong is currently scheduled for a Nov. 20, 2020 release.
Already got tickets for me and a couple of my kids.
It brings back memories of their great grandfather so there will be tears along with the popcorn.
“That’s racist.”
Vinyl Lp’s, Film SLR Cameras, Edison Light Bulbs, and now, the ORIGINAL 1933 King Kong!
BTW,. I am posting this on a 10-year-old Mac Mini with an OS10.6, use a flip phone, and ride an Antique Harley.
And I am a happy old lady!
Looking forward to this!
The one and only. The best from Willis O’Brien.
How many of our products were Made in China, back then?
Someone needs to make a Merian C. Cooper movie.
He was the original “most interesting man in the world”.
Oh no. It wasn’t the planes. ‘Twas beauty, killed the beast
Faye Wray, Doris Day, Turhan Bay
Great movie, especially for 1933. I’ve seen it enough times already but I hope it does well when it gets back in theaters.
Mu h better than ANY of the remakes.
And it is still way better than anything Hollywood has produced in about the last five years or more.
“Vinyl Lp’s, Film SLR Cameras, Edison Light Bulbs,
All of mine went as FREEBIES on Nextdoor app!
Archive.org has a bunch of new films BTW.
Mostly “film noir”.
There was a recent change in copyrights.
It would always be on tv on thanksgiving in the NYC area when I was a kid.
I think Fay Wray was made in Canada...
TCM had piece on the movie. The “King Kong” skeleton was custom-made, and had almost every, if not all, joints articulated, and the fur was rabbit.
If you pay attention, you can observe the disturbances in the fur as the 22” model was posed for the stop-action sequences.
(One of my favorite Gary Larson cartoons had a guy munching on a burger in a diner with the caption “Did you ever wonder what NYC did with King Kong?”)
The modern King Kong reboot universe, meanwhile, is next headed toward Godzilla vs. Kong, a loose remake of 1962’s Japanese King Kong vs. Godzilla, which saw its release date pushed back to this November after the somewhat disappointing box office of Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Its as disappointing as the last King Kong remake, special effects over story. Jackson thought he could make a better Kong and put his faith is realistic computer generated effects, and it didnt work. I remember taking my 10 year old son to see it. When we left I asked him how he liked it.( My kid was raised on TCM movies.) He turned to me and said “Dad it wasnt as good as the origina!” If your color CGI $275 million spectacular cant beat 80 year old B&W stop animation with a 10 year old, you got a problem! This has been Hollywoods issue since Lucus and Speilberg ruined movies, special effects over a story
When Fay Wray passed away the Empire State building dimmed its lights in honour of her.
I vaguely recall that now that you mention it.
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