KING KONG (1976)

[RCMerchant]

I seen this at the theater in 1976.
It's a BAD movie. But I like it anyway. Because when I went to see it, I took my little sister Wendy,who was 5. She was amazed.
I had to convince her the blood spurting out of Kong on top of one of the World Trade Centers was just ketchup. It wasn't easy. Scared the f**k out of her.
And the Rick Baker gorilla suit was good!




BUT! Overall, this movie sucked. That f**king snake.
The robot Kong in the parking lot. AHRG!
I'm like Sally Field as SYBIL on this thing!

[indianasmith]

I went to see that in 7th grade with my girlfriend.  We thought it was great at the time, but the few times I have seen it since then I was underwhelmed.  Jessica Lange was kinda hot back in the day, though . . .

[FatFreddysCat]

This was the first version of "Kong" I saw as a kid so it's always been a sentimental favorite. I revisited it a few years ago on Netflix and still enjoyed it, even if some of the fx haven't held up very well.
...and yes, Jessica Lange was fiiiiine back then! Haha

[WingedSerpent]

What disappoints me about the movie is just how empty Skull Island feels.  It just seems  to have Kong and the one giant snake.

The original and the 05 version (side note.  Screw the haters I like that version)  present Skull Island and a place where life is abundant.  That's part of Kong's tragic life before he's taken away.  He's in a place where not only is he alone but has to fight everyday for survival.

Without the dinosaurs, and other large creatures-it looses some of it's spectral.   

[RCMerchant]

What disappoints me about the movie is just how empty Skull Island feels.  It just seems  to have Kong and the one giant snake.

The original and the 05 version (side note.  Screw the haters I like that version)  present Skull Island and a place where life is abundant.  That's part of Kong's tragic life before he's taken away.  He's in a place where not only is he alone but has to fight everyday for survival.

Without the dinosaurs, and other large creatures-it looses some of it's spectral.   

I agree 100%.
Not a dinosaur in sight. A real fake looking snakes at that.
It sucked. But I have good memories of it because I seen it with my little sister Wendy.
I also agree that the new remake is fantastic, and SKULL ISLAND is even better! I can't wait for the next one!

[BoyScoutKevin]

A number of interesting facts.

In most versions, as far as I know, Kong climbs the Empire State Building. Not here. Here he climbs the World Trade Center, which, of course, no longer exists.

In the original version, Charles Grodin's character survives Kong's rampage thru New York City, but, his character was so hated by preview audiences, that his character was killed off in the version released to theaters.

And as a tie-in to the film, they came out with a mass market paperback version of "the making of." Which I have somewhere boxed up and in storage.

While I can't say I enjoyed the film, when I saw it in the theater on its original release. There have been a lot of films, since then, I have liked a lot less.

[Alex]

A number of interesting facts.

In most versions, as far as I know, Kong climbs the Empire State Building. Not here. Here he climbs the World Trade Center, which, of course, no longer exists.

In the original version, Charles Grodin's character survives Kong's rampage thru New York City, but, his character was so hated by preview audiences, that his character was killed off in the version released to theaters.

And as a tie-in to the film, they came out with a mass market paperback version of "the making of." Which I have somewhere boxed up and in storage.

While I can't say I enjoyed the film, when I saw it in the theater on its original release. There have been a lot of films, since then, I have liked a lot less.

Used to have a copy of that book too. I remember reading about the problems of being accused of racism the production had, but mostly I remember the production stills.

[RCMerchant]

I had the book too.
 That robot Kong fiasco. 

[RCMerchant]

A number of interesting facts.

In most versions, as far as I know, Kong climbs the Empire State Building. Not here. Here he climbs the World Trade Center, which, of course, no longer exists.

There was only one version before that. And yes-that was in 1933. Of course you had  MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949), KONGA (1960), the MIGHTY GORGA (1968) and all sortsa soft core porn s**t.
The only other KING KONG movies after that were SON OF KONG (1933)- who never Makes it to NYC, and KING KONG VS GODZILLA.
And KING KONG ESCAPES (1967) which I seen in at the Strand on Halloween, 1971.
the MIGHTY GORGA (1968)
that f**king movie! UGH!

I actually own it!

[Couchtr26]

Didn't this spawn a sequel King Kong Lives?  I vaguely remember it as being a staple in the 80's and needing to do a heart transplant on him.  I don't mean to go off topic just a memory I had while reading the post. 

[FatFreddysCat]

Didn't this spawn a sequel King Kong Lives?  I vaguely remember it as being a staple in the 80's and needing to do a heart transplant on him.  I don't mean to go off topic just a memory I had while reading the post.  

Yup, I was just gonna say "RC, you forgot King Kong Lives!" ... but then I think most people have forgotten it, haha.

It even had Linda "Terminator" Hamilton in it!

! No longer available	Small | Large

[The Burgomaster]

I remember seeing the movie poster on the back covers of comic books. The posters made Kong look huge (straddling both of the twin towers). He wasn't nearly that big in the movie (or maybe the towers weren't nearly that small).

[RCMerchant]

Didn't this spawn a sequel King Kong Lives?  I vaguely remember it as being a staple in the 80's and needing to do a heart transplant on him.  I don't mean to go off topic just a memory I had while reading the post.  

Yup, I was just gonna say "RC, you forgot King Kong Lives!" ... but then I think most people have forgotten it, haha.

It even had Linda "Terminator" Hamilton in it!

! No longer available

I also forgot about YETI-GIANT OF THE 20th CENTURY, A*P*E*, QUEEN KONG,  and more I reckon.

[The Burgomaster]

I also forgot about YETI-GIANT OF THE 20th CENTURY, A*P*E*, QUEEN KONG,  and more I reckon.

I have all 3 of these on DVD . . . but I don't have the 1976 King Kong!

[RCMerchant]

I also forgot about YETI-GIANT OF THE 20th CENTURY, A*P*E*, QUEEN KONG,  and more I reckon.

I have all 3 of these on DVD . . . but I don't have the 1976 King Kong!

A man after me own heart!