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When I was 5 years old I went to New York City with my parents. We went to Times Square and King Kong (1933) was playing. This was around 1953. My parents decided it was a good idea to see the movie. What a mistake for a 5 year old! I was terrified! My Mom said I spent the whole movie standing in the aisle ready to run. The bad part was when we left the theater it was night time and we could see the Empire State building from times square. Remember I was 5 years old. I had nightmares for years. And I mean years! Now as an adult "King Kong" is my favorite scary movie of all time.
What a great flick. My Mom saw it when it came out when she was a teenager in 1933. I saw it in the late 60's on TV and have had a copy since starting out in BETA to DVD today.
When I was a kid and saw this for the first time in the early’60’s, I cried when Kong fell to his death. For the next fifty years my family would ask me if I still felt sorry for King Kong. The answer is always… yes. I’ve seen one of the original Kong articulated models when it was on display at the MOMI in London back in the ‘80’s. It was so cool to see it up close and personal. A real piece of cinematic history.
The fact you correctly called him the king of all monsters has earned you a new subscriber. Godzilla wouldn't even exist as he is if not for the original king of monsters, King Kong! So, it always pleases me when King Kong is recognized as such.
Even though it was kind of an oversight on my part when I created the video, I totally agree :-) I'm not that big of a Godzilla fan, but I have got beaten up pretty good over it lol. Thanks for the subscription and your support :-) Dan
In 1976 I was at MGM watching the filming of KING KONG. Make-up and effects legend Rick Baker was inside the KK suit, rehearsing the with the “stomp on the village” miniature and later, watching gorgeous Jessica Lange in her red/white striped half shirt and jean shorts. A few years later, when very kind Bob Burns arranged my visit to an EFX shop, a full size animated Kong bust was made for the 50th anniversary of the original, 1933 Kong film. Thanks again, Bob!
Recently started watching your videos. Just fantastic!!! You have a really smooth radio announcer voice!!! Super easy and nice to listen to!! Great stuff on LIS. Love all your content!!!
There's supposed to be a Third 18-inch Armature out there somewhere. For years It was supposed to have been kept by Marcel Delgado, Who held on to It after the Production. That's the One the Smithonion thought they had, But It turned out to be Fake.
My Great Uncle, Edwin (Eddie Linden) working under O’Brien (Chief Technician) did most of the work with the stop-motion animation along with Walker and Taylor. Still, Kong is a family favorite. ❤️
As a kid in the late 50's I saw & loved King Kong & Might Joe Young! They were frequently shown, and are still the "Best" versions of any King Kong movies!! Long Live KONG!
People actually DID run out of the theatres in fear, back in 1933. And did you notice, the nearly 3D effects, when Kong was trashing that village, and throwing a hut towards the camera!....so innovative for that time! This film deserves to be so well-appreciated...and what a shame, that the impressive Skull Island Wall, was actually burned, during filming of Gone With the Wind!! That Wall would have made an incredible tourist attraction.
Years ago I was in a used bookstore in Hollywood. I bought a used copy of a book called _Speaking of Silents,_ which contains transcribed interviews with famous actress. After I purchased it, I openned up to the title page. It was autographed by the author, Willam Drew, to Fay Wray!!! How cool is that?
That is massively cool! Fay Wray is my favorite Hollywood Crush...So beautiful, and very vibrant and creative in her later years...She lived to the age of 96. She was a much better actress than the rest of the so-called "scream queens" of the era. Her career started way back in 1925...and she eventually showed up on TV shows, like Perry Mason, etc...She did not retain her incredible, sexy looks as an older woman, but did have a nice, "mature" look about her.
My girlfriend and I started watching the show Monarch which led me to pick up all the recent American Godzilla and Kong movies. They are great and bring back fond memories of watching the older ones
I'm getting pretty old and King Kong was already a very old movie when I watched it on television as a kid. It was supremely entertaining and it was fun to imagine just how blown away people at the time must have been! Truly a part of American history. (And world history most likely. It would be interesting to hear the effect it had on the world if any.)
It's the perfect movie. Greatest movie ever made. Perfectly executed, edited, paced. Never a dull moment, it keeps your attention. You stay in it the whole time. My favorite movie in case you can't tell.
This is a great history. I had toured Forry Ackerman's mansion in LA and thought I recalled seeing a King Kong but was not 18" tall. He definitely had some of the Willis O'brian dinosaurs (and Martian ship from War of the Worlds, and an original Maria from Metropolis). Maybe I am having a false memory re the Kong. Have to dig thru my foto archives... It was a real mecca for fans, too bad, all gone now.
Man, I loved King Kong and Mighty Joe Young when I was a kid. I can remember still watching all the great monster movies on Saturday when they aired. I still miss my 13 inch B/W with rabbit ears!! Boy, those were the days!! I'm still a big Ray Harryhousen fan. That's been almost 5 decades ago. Time sure flys.😢
Interesting that you have a cardboard cutout of Carrie fisher in the background because she once said in an interview that she lived in a house that once belonged to actor Robert Armstrong who was in King Kong it even had a secret room for Alcohol because of Prohibition 😊😊
You know what? I think you're right. I remember that now. The problem is, they initially advertised it as an authentic prop from the 1933 movie. I'm not sure if it's still there or not. Thanks for writing, Dan
3:50 Sorry to have to correct you and I don't know where you heard that, but the deleted footage wasn't "edited for TV" but had been deleted soon after the 1933 premiere mostly because of the Production Code and one or two because RKO thought they were too gruesome (The Spider Pit sequence): The Brontosaurus mauling crewmen in the water, chasing one up a tree and killing him. Kong undressing Ann Darrow and sniffing his fingers. Kong biting and stepping on natives when he attacks the village. Kong biting a man in New York. Kong mistaking a sleeping woman for Ann and dropping her to her death, after realizing his mistake. This deleted footage was thought lost until a 16mm print was found in 1969 and efforts were started to cut the scenes back in. See Ray Morton's 2005 book, _King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon From Fay Wray to Peter Jackson,_
One thing the censors missed-I do not know how! is the sexy scene, when Fay Wray comes up, out of the water, after that rope sequence...she shows us her ample breasts, just for one second or so...amazing, for that era!
I wondered that too. Kong was a giant ape species of his own. There was never any mention of him being a gorilla. I just think a lot of people just assumed that.
Growing up in the 1970s on what was called WOR TV Channel 9 in NYC, I would look forward to Thanksgiving to see King Kong son of Kong and Mighty Joe Young. The next day would be Godzilla films. It's definitely an all-time classic. Have you ever seen the colorized version of this? I thought it was decent. You have a great studio, and I appreciate seeing an all-time favorite movie of the horror genre being reviewed of the facts you pointed out.
Okay, that is absolutely amazing. I grew up in the Buffalo New York area and that was the exact same channel, channel 9, out of new york, that I watched King Kong on as a kid. That is so cool:-) hope you had a great holiday, Dan
my favorite King Kong movie is King Kong Escspes (1968)where Kong battles a giant Robot version of himself, Mechani Kong. I met Linda MIller who played Suan.
@@MoviesMusicMonsters it seemed to be always on Sunday afternoons when i was a teenager....i really grew to appreciate it more when I got older especially after I got to meet Linda MIller at Galaxy con Richmond a couple of years ago. Its got Dr Who who wants Kong to dig up Element x to take control of the world with the mysterious Madame Prianna and of course Rhodes Reason who plays the Commander of a UN sanctioned exploratory submarine who opposes Dr Who's congest of the world using elementx and the big fight between Dr Who's mechanical duplicate of King Kong in Toyoko.
I just found this channel and I absolutely love it. The details about what has happened to so many pieces of movie and TV history has always intrigued me. Another reason I like it so much is that while watching the videos I think of my best friend Bill who passed away from cancer over four years ago. He was a huge movie buff and I know he would also enjoy this channel. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I used to own the Armature replica from sideshow collectibles. I wish a company would offer an 18-inch replica of the finished model. It wouldn't have to be articulated but even a statue with fur would be nice
The photo at 6:40 shows animator JIM DANFORTH, but we get the impression that it's Phil Kellison. Actually, it was Hollywood SFX guy Howard Anderson who discovered the Kong armatures (both?) in the RKO prop room around 1960. Anderson and Kellison intended to use the armatures in their big, upcoming production "Jack the Giant Killer' (which soon was farmed out to the legendary "Projects Unlimited" company). Kellison stripped down the "round-face" armature (still covered with rotting Son of Kong rubber and fur), but "found that the armatures were too antique. The (1933) machine work had been crude, and most of the parts were worn." Quote above taken from the FABULOUS, IN-DEPTH, MUST HAVE article on the making of "Jack" (Starlog Magazine's "CINEMAGIC" magazine, issue #34, spring, 1986). Every serious "old-world" SFX guy should have a copy. Several photos of Kellison (one of them taken at the same session as your 6:52 image), and TONS of great info on "Jack", including Kellison's memories. Article by Paul Mandell. LR
Actually, a tiny bit of Kong wound up in the Jack movie -- just a little finger, which was borrowed from the armature but never returned. Jim Danforth has published his memoirs in a gigantic three volume CD set (no printed book copies were made). They are absolutely terrific, crammed with highly detailed stories about every job he ever worked on. "Dinosaurs, Dragons and Drama." It's sold by the mail order company Creature Features in LA. I don't think any more are going to press so get it while you can. Also worth noting, the re-release of the VERY FINEST 3 volume set of Harryhausen books, "Ray Harryhausen: Master of the Majicks" is being readied for reprinting as of January/2024. Even if you have the previous 3 volume set, the updates are so voluminous that it could practically be called a new release. Available from Archive Editions. They are only printing enough to fulfill pre-orders. Majicks is bound to sell out immediately, so look them up and place your order. (Yes, I'm friends with the people involved with these books but I don't see a dime, I just want to get the info OUT THERE for interested parties.)
I love these "What happened to..." videos. Kong and Robby were HUGE influences on me. Please do more. How about the spaceships from Forbidden Planet or Lost in Space? or any of Ray Harryhousen's models.
Hey, I got a whole bunch of new video plans for the upcoming year. Doing the research now :-) thanks so much for your support, hope you had a great Christmas, Dan :-)
I was able to see Kong at Movie World when I was a child. I recall it being an eclectic collection of movie props scattered around a large building. Wish I had been more appreciative on what I was seeing
Yikes. I thought it was the other guy, that's what Google said LOL never trust the internet. Thanks for pointing that out I appreciate it :-) hope you had a great christmas, Dan
About 10 or 12 years ago or so, I went to a convention in Kentucky called Wonderfest. That was like the third year I was able to go and Bob Burns had Kong there to show him.
The edited violent shots and one risqué scene (Kong peeling off Ann's clothes) were cut before television - since KONG was shot during the Pre-Code period, all of that was allowed (save for RKO demanding the extraction of the infamous "Spider Pit" sequence, which is thought to be lost). The aforementioned scenes were cut during the years when the Production Code was seriously being enforced for subsequent re-releases in the 1940s-1950s. Janus Films was able to restore the film for a re-release in 1970. But, the missing elements were taken from a 16mm print. In the 1980s, while an uncut 35mm print was found in the UK, the search continued for better sources for the missing footage. Finally, in 2005, Warner Brothers gave the film a much-needed 4K restoration and also reinstated the opening Overture from the original release.
@@MoviesMusicMonsters thanks for producing such great and interesting content! BTW, I brought the original Godzilla suit actor, Haruo Nakajima, to Monsterpalooza in 2011, and Bob Burns was there with his Kong armature. Bob wanted to meet him, came to our panel, so we arranged a meeting photo-op of Nakajima with Burns and the armature! Nakajima, by the way, played Kong in KING KONG ESCAPES. We also had photo ops with Nakajima and Bert I. Gordon (Mr. BIG) and Ricou Browning. Gordon directed many giant monster movies in the '50s (obviously) and Browning portrayed the Gill-Man in 1954 (of course), the same year that Nakajima played Godzilla for the first time. It was a magical weekend! Keep up the fantastic work! We are kindred spirits!!
@@MoviesMusicMonsters as an aside, in 1984, Bob Burns told us about his experience discovering the Godzilla and Anguirus suits in crates at Howard Anderson Company, when Burns and Paul Blaisdell were filming the saucer scenes for INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN in 1957. As they ducked behind some crates for cover when they blew up the saucer model, Bob saw that they had Japanese writing on them. So, he and Blaisdell opened them up - were flabbergasted - and tried on the suits. They were shipped to Howard Anderson to shoot addition scenes for a AB-PT production taking the effects footage from GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN and shooting scenes with American actors and more Godzilla footage for a monster picture to be titled, "The Volcano Monsters," written by Ib Melchior. Burns has no idea whatever happened to those suits, although Eric Hoffman (who wrote the "Professor Gruebeard" column for "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine) told me in 1979 that someone in Los Angeles owned a "real Godzilla suit." Interestingly, Melchior infamously sued Irwin Allen for allegedly stealing his screenplay for "Space Family Robinson." When New Line Cinema produced the LOST IN SPACE feature film, they agreed to pay him $75,000 and a production bonus of $15,000. Godzilla and the Space Family Robison are forever strange bedfellows...
It was a good restoration but they digitally painted out some of the support rods that were visible in all previous prints, just for a frame here and there. What were they thinking? That one frame of this curious artifact was ruining the illusion? Silly.
I've heard a lot of horror stories about how they treat their props. When Kevin Burns was alive, he was the guy who owned the original loss of space robot, he would often tell me they wanted to display the robot, but he wouldn't let them because they just don't treat the stuff very good. Thanks for writing :-) Dan
@@MoviesMusicMonsters wow. I didnt know they ever had any interst in anything from Lost in Space at all....and to think i always thought that the LIS Robot would have made a good home at the Smithsonian. of course, Gene Roddenbery often over bragged about how the original Enterprise model was at the so called World's Foremost museum...but based on what you said, im glad they didnt get their hands on it!
I think that day is coming but how will that go? The monster kids generation is sometimes dismissive of the Japanese effects films even if for a time the Japanese, the Toho studio in particular, had the most sophisticated effects in the industry and the most advanced technology (the Oxberry Optical printer for example that only they and Disney had). Of course it's partially because in the US the Godzilla films were often badly dubbed and recut. Now Godzilla is the most popular movie monster in the world I think largely because the original versions are widely available.
When I was a kid my mother took me to the movie world museum. The only thing I actually remember is the King Kong. I remember thinking how small it was and how ratty the fur that was left on it was. Mike
The armature was stripped and rebuilt for Son of Kong. So that was the one you saw. Phil Kellison had the rotting rubber & fur stripped before he gave it to Bob Burns.
I am so glad I found your channel! I absolutely love all the content you present. It’s everything I love about movies! Your knowledge on every topic is “impressive, most impressive!” 👍
Me and my brother went to see King Kong Uncut at the El Chin theater in 1970 and we were shocked, some women were screaming! We were in Manhattan so when we stepped out of the theater there was the Empire State Building a few blocks away so we went there afterwards, what a Great day!!
Fascinating! Interesting to hear that an established museum like the Smithsonian would resort to creating a replica Kong armature and claim that it's real. I saw what I believe was Bob Burns' armature (it might have been the prototype now after watching this) at an exhibit for Hollywood props many years ago and it was very cool to see. Love your channel! I'm not surprised that it's grown so fast. This stuff is right up my alley! Thank you!
@MediaMasterDesign Unfortunately they wouldn't let us take pictures. 🤬 They also had the spinning head Linda Blair figure from Exorcist, the mother ship from Close Encounters, C-3P0, Darth Vader, a mechanical wolf from Wolfen and so many amazing pieces.
Peter Jackson’s King Kong prop wasn’t randomly in London it was in the museum of the moving image for years so am guessing it was that one he bought at auction.
@@GrumpyOldGit60 I remember my dad telling me about it when he saw it I had no clue what he was talking about then he showed me the film and I was hooked for life
When Bob Burns was in better health, he went to a lot of conventions. In the 90's he was going to Wonderfest in KY. One year he brought Kong and everyone got to see AND touch the armature and take pics. Bob has always been such a great guy. One year he wore his Tracy outfit and had blast at the WF show on Saturday night. It was the last time he was able to perform as Tracy. I have great video of that. I also made Bob a custom 8" Mego Bob Burns and Tracy box set for his birthday at WF one year. He was very touched.
My favorite scene in King Kong doesn't even have King Kong in the scene. It's the scene where Carl Denham is trying to convince Ann Darrow to come with him. Just two people talking to each other and it's one of the greatest movie scenes of all time.
That scene with the beautiful Fay 8:17 Ray trying to steal a bit of fruit and with Carl Denham staring at his nearly fainted fem fatal Ann Darrow . There is real chemistry between these two actors. And in basically 2 sentences... Carl denim has to basically sell the whole premise of the movie and the adventure. 😢😊 My other favorite scene is what we call a movie in a movie when Gorgeous Fay Ray in full white medieval princess costume on the deck of the ship and Director Dunham gets Ann to Screammmm for her life. I love her fullout, blood curdeling scream of absolute terror. By this scene every man on board is in love with and worried about what might happen to Ann.
Hey Dan! I subscribed to your channel because you are great at what you do. My Father told me that people ran out of the theater when Kong first appeared.
Great video! Very informative. I love the presentation; the editing is snazzy, and your set is so cool! I've been a huge Kong fan for basically all my life, and I didn't know the stories behind how PJ and Bob Burns got their Kong armatures, so thanks for teaching me something new! Happy New Year! :)
@@lunamotionproductions9559 Oh neat! I didn't know that. I'm glad that Bob is still gonna take care of Kong. He seems like a very trustworthy guardian for the big guy.