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When I show up in this space to celebrate a film's anniversary, I do try -- whenever possible -- to add anything critical to the commentary.
Now, this doesn't mean I won't be 'negative.' By the use of 'critical,' I mean that I try to avoid critiquing any film this way because I do try and save those thoughts for longer, more reflective pieces. My hope in celebrating these little anniversaries is really to just shine a bit of light on genre film history, so if I make a disparaging or complimentary observation or two just take it all with a grain of salt.
That said, I don't think the 1976 version of King Kong was a bad film; I just think it's one of those flicks that gets brushed over mostly because it feels a bit too dated for its age. Essentially, it fairly respectfully retells the Kong legend -- remaining extremely similar to the 1933 -- but brings it into the mid 1970's both in look and overall visual quality. Hell, even it's theatrical one-sheet poster above looks and feels like something that can out of that era; while I'm certainly no expert on artistic styles, I know what I see ... and that looks like it was crafted in the mid 1970's.
Now, this doesn't mean I won't be 'negative.' By the use of 'critical,' I mean that I try to avoid critiquing any film this way because I do try and save those thoughts for longer, more reflective pieces. My hope in celebrating these little anniversaries is really to just shine a bit of light on genre film history, so if I make a disparaging or complimentary observation or two just take it all with a grain of salt.
That said, I don't think the 1976 version of King Kong was a bad film; I just think it's one of those flicks that gets brushed over mostly because it feels a bit too dated for its age. Essentially, it fairly respectfully retells the Kong legend -- remaining extremely similar to the 1933 -- but brings it into the mid 1970's both in look and overall visual quality. Hell, even it's theatrical one-sheet poster above looks and feels like something that can out of that era; while I'm certainly no expert on artistic styles, I know what I see ... and that looks like it was crafted in the mid 1970's.
Kong is a flick that I vividly remember seeing on screens of the day, and I do recall my young self being reasonably smitten with it. It was the kind of thing that a little genre junkie like myself could and would sit through more than once (in my small town, that was fairly common for us kiddies and kiddos), and I do specifically remember being emotionally torn with the big ape's final scene. Alas, it shouldn't have happened that way, but this is what happens when mankind gets afraid at beasts: they kill them, and thus Kong came to his end.
The big screen update shows directed by John Guillermin, a director whose reputation has taken some sizable hits over the years from some pretty big names. Allegedly, he was not an easy person to work with, but I'm only passing on that impression based on things I've both read and heard, and we all know that memories can be a bit fuzzy with the passage of time. The production did bring some heavyweight names to the forefront, casting such talent as Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, Star Trek's Rene Auberjonois, and John Randolph in significant roles. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When a research ship is sent to explore an island thought to be rich in oil, paleontologist Jack Prescott sneaks aboard, having heard strange rumors about the island. En route, the crew rescues Dwan, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. When they arrive, they find native people living in fear of a monster called Kong. The natives kidnap Dwan and sacrifice her to what turns out to be an enormous ape. Dwan is eventually rescued, and the ape captured for a gala exhibit."
The big screen update shows directed by John Guillermin, a director whose reputation has taken some sizable hits over the years from some pretty big names. Allegedly, he was not an easy person to work with, but I'm only passing on that impression based on things I've both read and heard, and we all know that memories can be a bit fuzzy with the passage of time. The production did bring some heavyweight names to the forefront, casting such talent as Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, Star Trek's Rene Auberjonois, and John Randolph in significant roles. Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When a research ship is sent to explore an island thought to be rich in oil, paleontologist Jack Prescott sneaks aboard, having heard strange rumors about the island. En route, the crew rescues Dwan, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. When they arrive, they find native people living in fear of a monster called Kong. The natives kidnap Dwan and sacrifice her to what turns out to be an enormous ape. Dwan is eventually rescued, and the ape captured for a gala exhibit."
If I remember correctly, I believe this version had a pretty big home video re-release earlier this year (in 2024), so maybe it's due for a rewatch by yours truly. I probably haven't seen it in years -- mostly because I'm such a fan of the original Kong -- and maybe I'll hunt it out for posterity's sake and offer up some currently thoughts on the entire production.
Still, Happy anniversary, Mr. Kong. The 70's brought you back to life -- started a small trend of giant-ape movies even -- and that's certainly never a disappointment for fandom.
-- EZ
Still, Happy anniversary, Mr. Kong. The 70's brought you back to life -- started a small trend of giant-ape movies even -- and that's certainly never a disappointment for fandom.
-- EZ
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