King Kong 1933 or 1976? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Media Lover · 10-28-2004, 07:41 PM

I have both the original black and white King Kong movie from 1933,and the remake from 1976.The original Kong with Fay Wray is a classic.Kong himself looks as scary as ever.Fay Wray can really scream.Just for interest sake,the designs of the openning and closing credits resemble that of Laurel & Hardy's feature movie"Sons Of The Desert"from the same year.I know that this original Kong movie has recently been colorized.However I find the 1976 version of Kong to have been very well done also.The Kong in this movie appears to be an actor in costume,as opposed to the original 30s version of Kong who appeared to be animated.Unlike Fay Wray,who only screamed her head off in terror of Kong,Jessica Lang showed remarkable sympathy for Kong throughout her encounter with the beast.She seemed to reach out to him somehow and was quite caring towards him.Which version do you prefer?

stella · 10-29-2004, 02:09 AM

I saw the 1976 version first, when I was rather young so it became the more memorable of the two.

Of course, technology was a lot more sophisticated in 1976 as opposed to 1933, so it's fair to say that the special effects were a lot better in the 1976 version. Also, I'd say the storyline in the 1976 version would be a lot more plausible. During the mid-70's energy crisis, seeing an ambitious oil company executive go to a remote island in hopes of finding oil is a lot more believable than some movie director going to an island to shoot a movie.

I'd say the characters played by Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges in the 1976 version gave the audience much more emotions than the pairing of Fay Wray and Bruce Cabot.

In the 1976 version, I'd say Dwan, Jack, and Fred were ordinary people struggling with their own conflicts, emotions, and personal desires - something all of us could relate to. Therefore, I conclude by saying I like the 1976 version better because it seems to capture the audience from a personal perspective a lot better. I would say that seeing Kong fall of the World Trade Center in the 1976 version captured a lot more sympathy from the audience than when Kong fell from the Empire State building in the 1933 version.

TJL · 10-29-2004, 04:56 AM

A lot of critics dismissed the 1976 remake as "campy," but I always liked it. I think they did a good job of updating the storyline for the 70's, and the climax had much more drama than the original.

Pitooey · 10-29-2004, 09:20 AM

I like the 1933 version better even though I was in the crowd at the end of the movie.

You can't see me of course but I got to see Jessica Lange in person with her light blue dress and I saw the gorilla on the ground in front of the World Trade center. It is a memory that is never erased from my mind because the World Trade center was so beautiful. The air was crisp back then.

TJL · 10-29-2004, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pitooey
I like the 1933 version better even though I was in the crowd at the end of the movie.

You can't see me of course but I got to see Jessica Lange in person with her light blue dress and I saw the gorilla on the ground in front of the World Trade center. It is a memory that is never erased from my mind because the World Trade center was so beautiful. The air was crisp back then.

It's funny you mentioned that, because my Father was there too! He saw all the Ape construction and was there for the filming.

stella · 10-30-2004, 08:08 PM

Since we are talking about the ending of the 1976 version, perhaps somebody could explain to me what the intended message was for one scene.

Shortly after a crying Dwan reunites with Kong after he has fallen off the building, she is soon surrounded by reporters and photographers. And then we see Jack Prescott try to break through the crowd and reach Dwan. But soon, he stops attempting to reach her and just stands there and looks at her.

Why did Jack stop attempting to go to Dwan? Is it because she finally got all the fame she desired so much with all those reporters and photographers around her?

Personally when I saw the movie for the first time when I was young, I was kind of glad that Jack was not able to get to Dwan. I think I was getting a little tired of all of Jack's attempted heroics.

Zebra 3 · 03-17-2005, 11:42 PM

I only seen the 1933 version many years ago on a crappy TV and the 1976 one in theatre where Kong was sharp, in colour and huge, which most defiantly made quite an impression though he looses his luster when seen on a regular size colour TV set.

Jrnygrl · 03-18-2005, 04:31 PM

1933 version

10-28-2004, 07:41 PM	#1
Media Lover Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 14, 2004 Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 91	King Kong 1933 or 1976? I have both the original black and white King Kong movie from 1933,and the remake from 1976.The original Kong with Fay Wray is a classic.Kong himself looks as scary as ever.Fay Wray can really scream.Just for interest sake,the designs of the openning and closing credits resemble that of Laurel & Hardy's feature movie"Sons Of The Desert"from the same year.I know that this original Kong movie has recently been colorized.However I find the 1976 version of Kong to have been very well done also.The Kong in this movie appears to be an actor in costume,as opposed to the original 30s version of Kong who appeared to be animated.Unlike Fay Wray,who only screamed her head off in terror of Kong,Jessica Lang showed remarkable sympathy for Kong throughout her encounter with the beast.She seemed to reach out to him somehow and was quite caring towards him.Which version do you prefer?
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10-29-2004, 04:56 AM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	A lot of critics dismissed the 1976 remake as "campy," but I always liked it. I think they did a good job of updating the storyline for the 70's, and the climax had much more drama than the original.
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10-29-2004, 09:20 AM	#4
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	I like the 1933 version better even though I was in the crowd at the end of the movie. You can't see me of course but I got to see Jessica Lange in person with her light blue dress and I saw the gorilla on the ground in front of the World Trade center. It is a memory that is never erased from my mind because the World Trade center was so beautiful. The air was crisp back then.
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03-17-2005, 11:42 PM	#7
Zebra 3 Striped Tomato Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 26, 2002 Location: Bay City Posts: 5,811	I only seen the 1933 version many years ago on a crappy TV and the 1976 one in theatre where Kong was sharp, in colour and huge, which most defiantly made quite an impression though he looses his luster when seen on a regular size colour TV set.
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10-29-2004, 02:09 AM	#2
stella Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 392	I saw the 1976 version first, when I was rather young so it became the more memorable of the two. Of course, technology was a lot more sophisticated in 1976 as opposed to 1933, so it's fair to say that the special effects were a lot better in the 1976 version. Also, I'd say the storyline in the 1976 version would be a lot more plausible. During the mid-70's energy crisis, seeing an ambitious oil company executive go to a remote island in hopes of finding oil is a lot more believable than some movie director going to an island to shoot a movie. I'd say the characters played by Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges in the 1976 version gave the audience much more emotions than the pairing of Fay Wray and Bruce Cabot. In the 1976 version, I'd say Dwan, Jack, and Fred were ordinary people struggling with their own conflicts, emotions, and personal desires - something all of us could relate to. Therefore, I conclude by saying I like the 1976 version better because it seems to capture the audience from a personal perspective a lot better. I would say that seeing Kong fall of the World Trade Center in the 1976 version captured a lot more sympathy from the audience than when Kong fell from the Empire State building in the 1933 version.

10-30-2004, 08:08 PM	#6
stella Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 392	Since we are talking about the ending of the 1976 version, perhaps somebody could explain to me what the intended message was for one scene. Shortly after a crying Dwan reunites with Kong after he has fallen off the building, she is soon surrounded by reporters and photographers. And then we see Jack Prescott try to break through the crowd and reach Dwan. But soon, he stops attempting to reach her and just stands there and looks at her. Why did Jack stop attempting to go to Dwan? Is it because she finally got all the fame she desired so much with all those reporters and photographers around her? Personally when I saw the movie for the first time when I was young, I was kind of glad that Jack was not able to get to Dwan. I think I was getting a little tired of all of Jack's attempted heroics.

03-18-2005, 04:31 PM	#8
Jrnygrl Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: wheel in the sky Posts: 4,540	1933 version