Name: Behind the Blockbuster: King Kong’s Social and Racial Context
Uploaded: 2024-04-05T05:33:58.000Z
Duration: 9 min 7 s
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(host) It's one of movies' most iconic moments.

-[suspenseful music] -[King Kong roaring]

In what would become an international phenomenon,

King Kong, as both a character and a film,

is commentary on greed, social economics,

I'm Dr. Emily Zarka, and this is "Monstrum."

hears rumors of a mysterious deity called Kong,

living on a secret island in the south seas.

Carl heads out with a hired crew to capture Kong.

played by iconic Hollywood beauty Fay Wray.

On the island, the group interrupts the ritual sacrifice

decide she would be a more fitting tribute.

The foreigners attempt a hasty retreat to their boat,

and the natives string her up as an offering.

An infatuated Kong carries Anne off with Carl

The rescue party discovers not only the massive gorilla

Cut to a battle between Kong and the Tyrannosaurs Rex.

but despite Kong saving Anne from the dangers of the island,

and, ever the colonial fantasy capitalist gentleman,

Carl absconds with Kong back to New York City.

(Carl) Ladies and gentlemen, look at Kong,

(Emily) And as you can guess, this does not go well.

and captures Anne, whom he believes to be in danger.

and famously climbs the Empire State Building

before being shot down by the military...

(Emily) The movie was produced by two filmmakers,

Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Shoedsack.

Cooper claims credit for crafting the original story.

One of his inspirations was a friend's unsuccessful attempt

to display two Komodo dragons at the Bronx Zoo.

And Cooper drew heavily from a 19th century travel log,

"Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa."

The book includes a recounting of a gorilla

who supposedly took a female villager into the jungle.

featured gorillas violently murdering humans.

that the title resembles the "King Kong" namesake

This one involves ivory smugglers and a giant gorilla

who at one point threatens the protagonist with a gun.

popular Western opinion at the time stereotype the species

Oh, and have the gorilla get into a fight

which I guess kind of made it onto screen

And that was only possible thanks to Willis Harold O'Brien.

was the sculptor behind Kong's famous form.

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Behind the Blockbuster: King Kong’s Social and Racial Context

iconic

practice

character

audience