Film Review - King Kong

King Kong, directed by Merian Cooper in 1933, is definitely an interesting watch. The behaviour of society at the time is captured in this film very well; the sexism and racism is very prominent. The general plot of the film is one that most people are probably familiar with: Anne, the main protagonist has captured the eye of the giant ape King Kong, who is then captured and taken to New York City where he wreaks havoc until killed. What is more interesting than the plot, however, is the way the characters act, and more importantly, why.

Fig. 1

As stated in many reviews, "modern viewers will shift uneasily in their seats during the stereotyping of the islanders in a scene where a bride is to be sacrificed to Kong" (Ebert, 2002). Not only this, the stereotypy of Anne as a screaming damsel in distress is also something that is quite unsettling to a modern audience. It is interesting to see how stereotypes have changed, and also slightly horrifying to see how to world used to be stuck in rigid views of how specific genders or races should act.

Despite the blatant sexism and racism in the film, it was still a ground breaking picture of its time, and has now spawned many sequels and remakes. Described as "ahead of its time" (Haflidason, 2001), the special effects were something that not many people had seen before. In 1933 the film industry was still developing, and technology was moving slowly forwards. Although we may find it silly now, it was a film that was so life-like back then that it had people on the edge of their seats.

Fig. 2

At the end of the film, where Kong is taken back to New York, he is "exploited for profit" (Dirks, no date), and treated more as a slave than a living thing. The cruelty of the photographer, Denham, bringing Kong back in this way often isn't recognised, and can also be compared to real-life slavery in the 1930's. There is a bitter sweet feel about the ending, as although the terror on New York has stopped now Kong is dead, he was also just an animal taken from where he belonged and thrust into a whole new environment, somewhere he didn't want to be. Being chained up and displayed in front of paying people against his will, there is something sad about King Kong, where this animal has been killed for simply wanting to go home.

Fig. 3

Bibliography

Ebert, R. (2001). "King Kong". In: RogerEbert [online] Available at: (http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-king-kong-1933)

Haflidason, A. (2002). "King Kong (1933)". In BBC Movies [online] Available at: (http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/01/30/king_kong_1933_review.shtml)

Dirks, T (no date). "King Kong (1933)". In filmsite [online] Available at: (http://www.filmsite.org/kingk3.html)

Illustration List

Fig. 1 - http://www.attitudedesign.co.uk/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/KingKongPoster.jpg

Fig. 2 - https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/kong1933a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&strip=all

Fig. 3 - https://ianfarrington.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/kk1933.jpg