I bought it on laser disc about 20 years ago. it’s the restored version with several censored scenes put back in. Kong came out just after the Hays Code was adopted in 1930. They removed a couple scenes for violence and a brief scene of Fay Wrey swimming nude.
Great film. I’ve watched it at least 5 times.
Saw it several times, including as part of a college class. Some of the Kong scenes are great and though the animation is primitive by today’s standards, they still managed to put a lot of life in the ape. Love the part where he shakes the snake to make sure it’s dead, also where he runs his finger over Fay Wray and then smells it. I think the original is better than any remake.
One thing I didn’t realize for many years, until it was pointed out to me, is that it’s not a snake Kong fights in the cave – it’s an elongated plesiosaur-type creature. It has a long and supple neck and tail (which wrap around Kong like a snake’s), but if you pay close attention it has a somewhat fatter middle body, with four flippers.
Son of a gun, that’s right! Gotta give props to the filmmakers, given the more limited knowledge of prehistoric creatures that they had.
I saw it as a child. I thought it was a bit scary in parts. I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as the Godzilla pictures.
The first complete plesiosaur skeleton was discovered over a century before.
I’ve seen it at least a couple dozen times. All things considered, the effects hold up rather well. Willis O’Brien was a genius, and his pupil, Ray Harryhausen, loved this film
One little thing I heard on a documentary once, it is arguably the first film with sound that matched soundtrack to action on the screen. Watch the scene where the Skull Islander chief stalks down the steps and you’ll see what I mean.
Well, it wasn’t the original theatrical run. I saw it in a college theatre.
Although I am old enough that I saw the 1976 remake during its original theatrical run.
And the gorilla had not been proven to exist until 1847. Before then it was considered mythical.
Seen it more than a few times. Great movie!
I also watched it on Million Dollar Movie. Grew up in Stamford,CT.
I’m embarrassed to say that I cannot remember whether I have seen the original or not. After two remakes and countless excerpts and parodies, it all kind of runs together in my aging mind.
I’m male, 51.
Saw it on TV as a kid all the time. Saw it in a movie theatre (revival house). Bought the DVD and watch it 3-4 times a year.
I feel it is a better film than Citizen Kane and equal to Casablanca. It is one of the best films of all time.
The remakes were, I agree, forgetable.
I saw the 1976 version and the 2005 version in the theaters. At some point in between, I rented the 1933 version on VHS.
The 1933 version is still the best.
Most people seem to hate the 1976 version, but I enjoy it. Yeah, sure, it’s a guy in an ape suit, but Rick Baker did an excellent job of putting emotion into his eyes.
I like the 2005 version, but I don’t love it. Peter Jackson has a tendency to go overboard with the CGI. The action scenes were a little too thrilling: I had difficulty believing that the men could survive the sauropod stampede, or that Kong’s juggling act would not break the woman’s neck.
Trivia- the giant wall and gate were reused in Gone With the Wind. They got torched.
Have seen it multiple times and own the DVD.
Yes, it holds up extremely well.
Never seen it.
When I was a lad, growing up at the nadir of the world, we had one TV Channel. In 1978 we finally got a second. In 1989 we finally got a third. NZ still only has three main channels, though it has a satellite selection (equivalent to expensive cable). Australia, where I live now, is not that much better, only by an additional 50%.
Anyway, what that meant was I only saw a very limited selection of films on TV, old and new, and those were regularly repeated instead of widened in scope. The original 1933 King Kong, as far as I know, never was screened in my locality, in my lifetime. The 1978 one was, though.
We “missed out” on a whole bunch of the kind of low brow, or early classics, that America was soaked in and constantly talk about. One of the many things that separate the US from the rest of the world, from my point of view.
Now I look at any older movies earlier than 1950 and wince at the hammy acting and crappy production values, so it’s really difficult for me to get past that and enjoy it. I just have a strong resistance towards it.
Yes, multiple times
I’ve seen it. Hella cool film. I am tired as heck of kids these days who don’t like it because “it’s old lol”