King Kong [1933] (2 discs)

Random Trivia For This Title:

• ^[?] Edgar Wallace died in Hollywood in February 1932 while working on the story for this film.
• ^[?] Jean Harlow refused the lead part.
• The models of King Kong built for the island scenes were only 18 inches high. When producer/director Merian C. Cooper decided Kong needed to look bigger while in New York, a new 24-inch armature was constructed, thus changing Kong's film height from 18 feet on the island to 24 feet while in New York.
• The trees and plants in the background on the stop-motion animation sets were a combination of metal models and real plants. One day during filming, a flower on the miniature set bloomed without anyone noticing. The error in continuity was not noticed until the film was developed and shown. While Kong moved, a time-lapse effect showed the flower coming into full bloom, and an entire day of animation was lost.
• The project went through numerous title changes during production, including The Beast (original title of draft by ^[?] Edgar Wallace in RKO files), The Eighth Wonder, The Ape, King Ape and Kong.
• Was voted the 47th Greatest Film of all time by [Entertainment Weekly].
• King Kong's roar was a lion's and a tiger's roar combined and run backwards.
• The success of this film is often credited for saving RKO from bankruptcy.
• Both Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack had been wrestlers, and they acted out the fighting moves for the battle between the T-Rex and Kong in the effects studio, before the animators shot the scene.
• The whole idea allegedly originated when co-director/co-producer Merian C. Cooper had a dream about a massive gorilla attacking New York City.