King Kong

Many recognize King Kong, and with its impressive stop motion animation and more impressive story, it is easy to see why. The film follows a film crew’s expedition to an uncharted island where they discover an enormous gorilla. With fortune in their eyes, the crew capture the mythic beast and take it back to New York. The great ape escapes and fights for his freedom atop the Empire State Building. King Kong’s significance on the genres of fantasy, adventure, and monster maintains even today.

Production

Directed by Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Produced by Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

Screenplay by James Creelman, Ruth Rose

Story by Edgar Wallace, Merian C. Cooper

Starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot

Music by Max Steiner

Cinematography by Eddie Linden, Vernon Walker, J.O. Taylor

Edited by Ted Cheesman

Production company: Radio Pictures

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by Radio Pictures

Release date: March 2, 1933 (New York City), March 24, 1933 (Los Angeles), April 7, 1933 (United States)

Running time: 100 minutes, 104 minutes (with overture)

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $672,000, ($13 million adjusted for inflation)

Box office: $5.3 million