Overview

Production co: RKO Radio Pictures

►104 min (USA) □ 27 March 1933 (New York) (USA)

Library synopsis: [En] As a film, King Kong is barely average: crudely acted, little more than competently directed, and with (famed) special effects which vary wildly from the magnificent to the mediocre. Written by Phil Hardy

Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper

Cult stars: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot

Cult relevance index: ₪ 9.0 / 10

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Related videos

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Essential inner links and references

The Aurum Film Encyclopedia – Horror [UK / 1996] (bk)  |  Il Cinema Northern [Italy / 1996] (bk)  |   Cine Fantástico y de Terror Alemán (1913-1927) [Spain / 2002] (bk)  |  Mad Doctors, Monsters and Mummies [UK / 1991] (bk)  |  Midi – Minuit Fantastique [France / Nr. 9 - July 1964] (mg)  |  Monster Memories [USA / Nr. 1 - January 1993] (mg)  |  Mad Movies [France / Nr. 16 - October 1977](fz)  |  Monster Bis [France / Nr. 120 - Le Gothique a L'Anglo-Saxonne] (fz)

King Kong

Midi – Minuit Fantastique [France / Nr. 3 - May-June 1962] (mg)  |  Terror Fantastic [Spain / A. 2 - Nr. 5 - February 1972] (mg)  |  Vampir [West Germany / Nr. 14 - 1976] (fz)  |  Vampir [West Germany / Nr. 12 - 1976] (fz)  |  Vampir [West Germany / Nr. 3 - April 1973] (fz)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Gallery and video classification

Basic Card

Genre	Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Director	Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper
Writers	Edgar Wallace, James Ashmore Creelman, Leon Gordon, Merian C. Cooper, Ruth Rose
Producer	David O. Selznick, Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper
Cast	A.J. Prather, Al Knight, Al McDonald, Alice Nichols, Allen Pomeroy, Almeta Muse, Annie L. Johnson, Arnold Gray, Art Flavin, Barney Capehart, Bert O'Malley, Betty Burns, Betty Gale, Bill Dagwell, Bill Fisher, Bill Williams, Blackie Whiteford, Blue Washington, Bob Galloway, Bruce Cabot, Buddy Mason, Carlotta Monti, Charles Haefeli, Charles O'Malley, Charles Sewell, Charles Sullivan, Charles Washington, Charlie Hall, Clifford Ingram, Dick Curtis, Dorothy Gulliver, Duke Green, Dusty Mitchell, Earl 'Hap' Hogan, Earl Dwire, Earl Turman, Ed Allen, Ed Rochelle, Eddie Boland, Eddie Hart, Eddie Sturgis, Eddy Reed, Edward Clark, Edward Patrick, Edward Stevens, Eric Wood, Ernest B. Schoedsack, Ethan Laidlaw, Etta Mae Allen, Etta Mae Henry, Etta McDaniel, Evelyn Garrison, Everett Brown, Fanny Donahue, Fay Wray, Florence Dudley, Floyd Shackelford, Frank Angel, Frank Fanning, Frank Gerritty, Frank Meredith, Frank Mills, Frank O'Connor, Frank Reicher, Fred Behrle, G. Raymond Nye, Gay Sheridan, Geneva Williams, George Daly, George MacQuarrie, George Magrill, George Washington, Gertrude Sutton, Gil Perkins, Gus Robinson, H.R. Warwick, Hannah Washington, Harold Garrison, Harry Bowen, Harry Claremont, Harry Cornbleth, Harry Duval, Harry Keaton, Harry Mount, Harry Strang, Harry Tenbrook, Harry Walker, Hazel Howell, Helen Worthington, Henry Martin, Hugh Starkey, Irene Henry, Ivan Thomas, Ivory Williams, Jack Best, Jack Chapin, Jack Gallagher, Jack Perry, Jack Pratt, Jack Saunders, Jack Silver, Jack Smith, Jack West, James Adamson, James Dime, James Flavin, James Harrison, Jean Doran, Jean Fenwick, Jim Thorpe, Jimmy James, Joe Dill, Joe Flourney, Joe Smith Marba, John Brakins, John Collins, John Davis, John L. Johnson, John Northpole, John Wade, Johnnie Bland, June Gittelson, Katherine Sparks, Kathryn Curry, Kid Wagner, King Kong, King Mojave, Larry Fisher, Larry McGrath, Larry Steers, Lawrence Green, Lee Phelps, Leo Beard, LeRoy Mason, Lew Harvey, Lillian Young, Louise Emmons, Lynton Brent, Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Mae Marrin, Mahlon Potts, Malcon Potts, Merian C. Cooper, Milton Shockley, Monte Vandergrift, Nathan Curry, Nathan Perry, Nim Nixon, Noble Johnson, Odel Conley, Oliver Eckhardt, Onest Conley, Paddy O'Flynn, Pat Harmon, Paul Porcasi, Peter Duray, Ralph Bard, Ralph Easton, Ray Turner, Reginald Barlow, Rena Marlowe, Richie McCarew, Robert Armstrong, Roscoe Ates, Roy Brent, Roy Stewart, Roy Thompson, Ruby Dandridge, Russ Powell, Russ Rogers, Russell Saunders, Sailor Vincent, Sam Hardy, Sam Levine, Sam Marlowe, Sandra Shaw, Shorty English, Skeets Noyes, Steve Clemente, Syd Saylor, T.C. Jack, T.J. Rankin, Tex Duffy, Tex Higginson, Timothy J. Lonergan, Tobias Tally, Tom O'Grady, Tom Quinn, Tony Shelly, Van Alder, Vera Lewis, Victor Wong, Vivian Dandridge, Wade Walker, Walter Ackerman, Walter Downing, Walter Kimpton, Walter Kirby, Walter Knox, Walter Taylor, Wesley Hopper, William Dunn, William Duran, William Solder, William Van Vleck
Certification	Canada:A (Nova Scotia) (video rating) / Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (cut) / Canada:G (Quebec) / Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) / Denmark:15 / USA:Approved (certificate not issued at release) / USA:Not Rated (video release) / Brazil:Livre / Finland:(Banned) (1933) (uncut) / Finland:K-16 (1933) (cut) / South Korea:12 (2003) / USA:Passed (National Board of Review) / USA:TV-PG (TV rating) / Norway:16 (1934) / USA:Unrated / Argentina:Atp / Australia:PG / Chile:TE / France:U / Germany:6 / Norway:11 / Spain:T / Sweden:15 / UK:PG
Country	USA
Language	English
Release date	USA 7 March 1933 (New York City, New York) (premiere) | USA 24 March 1933 (Los Angeles, California) | USA 7 April 1933 | Mexico 27 July 1933 | Czechoslovakia September 1933 (Prague) | Sweden 8 September 1933 | Japan 14 September 1933 | France 29 September 1933 | Peru 3 October 1933 | Spain 9 October 1933 | Italy 13 October 1933 | Turkey December 1933 | Germany 1 December 1933 | Portugal 2 January 1934 | Finland 4 February 1934 | Hong Kong 25 May 1934 | Finland 25 March 1939 (re-release) | West Germany 18 March 1952 (re-release) | Denmark 20 April 1959 (re-release) | Finland 23 November 1962 (re-release) | France 11 April 2001 (re-release) | Germany 1 December 2005 (re-release) | France 14 December 2005 (re-release) | Greece 13 October 2006 (Panorama of European Cinema) | USA 23 April 2010 (TCM Classic Film Festival)
Also known as	King Kong Italy / Czechoslovakia / Finland / France / Hungary / Mexico / Portugal / Spain / Turkey (Turkish title) | Die Fabel von King Kong - Ein amerikanischer Trick- und Sensationsfilm Germany | King Ape USA (working title) | King Kong und die weiße Frau West Germany | King Kong, la huitième merveille du monde France | King-Kong Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title) | Kong USA (working title) | The Ape USA (working title) | The Beast USA (working title) | The Eighth Wonder (undefined) | The Eighth Wonder of the World (undefined)
Filming locations	Backlot, Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA (native village/Great Wall set/jungle) | Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA (some shots of jungle) | Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA (studio) (aboard ship scenes/interiors/miniature & stop-motion photography/special effects) | Hoboken, New Jersey, USA (establishing long shots of docks and airplane footage only) | Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA | New York City, New York, USA (long shots/exterior: Empire State building) | San Pedro Harbor, Long Beach, California, USA | San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA (off-shore, freighter scenes, and beach scenes nearby - landing at Skull Island) | Shrine Auditorium - 665 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA (Kong on stage scene)
Box office/business	Budget: $ 670.000 (estimated) | Production Dates: 1931 - 1933 | Filming Dates: 10 October 1931 - 1 February 1933 | Copyright Holder: RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.; 24 February 1933; LP3794 (in copyright registry) || USA - Gross:$ 1.700.000 (20 May 2009), $ 1.700.000 || Spain - Gross: € 147.500,05 | Admissions: 1.079.818
Production company	RKO Radio Pictures
Distribution company	Pan Vision Oy (Finland) (DVD) | Delta (Italy) (theatrical) | Dofra (France) | Rey Soria y Cia S.L. (Spain) (Theatrical) | Compagnie Universelle Cinématographique (CUC) (1933) (France) (theatrical) | RKO (West Germany) (theatrical) | Turner Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS) | Adams Filmi (1934) (Finland) (theatrical) | Turner Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) | Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD) | Turner Home Video (USA) (VHS) | RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) | Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS) | VidAmerica (1980s) (USA) (VHS) | Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) | Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD) | RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) | Continental Video S.A. (Spain) (DVD) (colorized) | Kove-Filmi (1962) (Finland) (theatrical) (re-release) | American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1957) (USA) (TV) | Sanford Productions (II) | Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD) | Nostalgia Merchant, The (1987) (USA) (VHS) | Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (USA) (TV) | Janus Films | C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV) | RKO Radio Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Radio Picture) | Image Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc) | Turner Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) | Castle Video (1989) (Finland) (VHS) | Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD) | Turner Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS) | Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc) | Criterion Collection, The (USA) (video) (laserdisc) | Vertice Cine S.L. (Spain) (DVD) | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (Italy) (DVD) | Warner Home Video (Collector's Edition Tinbox) (Australia) (DVD) | Universal (UK) (DVD) | Universal (4 DVD Empire State Digipak) (UK) (DVD) | 4Front (UK) (VHS) | Warner Home Video (Special Edition) (Poland) (DVD) | Atlantic Film (Special Edition) (Sweden) (DVD) | DVD Acadamy (South Korea) (DVD) | Universal (King Kong- Double Pack 2 Disc) (South Korea) (DVD) | Arthaus / Kinowelt (King Kong Collection) (Germany) (DVD) | Kinowelt / Arthaus (Germany) (DVD) | Kinowelt / Arthaus (Neuauflage) (Germany) (DVD) | Kinowelt / Arthaus Collection (Germany) (DVD) | Atlas / Zweitausendeins (Kino-Legenden) (Germany) (DVD) | Kinowelt (Germany) (VHS) | Taurus Video - Taurus Filmkollektion (Germany) (VHS) | TaurusVideo (Germany) (VHS) | Videobox/Taurus (Germany) (VHS) | Taurus (Germany) (laserdisc) | Free-TV: 3SAT 06.06.1998 (Germany) | Free-TV: ARD (Germany) | Free-TV: ARTE 16.03.2003 (Germany) | Free-TV: ARTE 22.06.2009 (Germany) | Free-TV: MDR 01.12.2008 (Germany) | Free-TV: rbb 10.04.2010 (Germany) | Free-TV: SAT.1 (Germany) | Free-TV: ZDF 13.11.1970 (Germany) | Free-TV: ZDF 18.05.1974 (Germany) | Free-TV: ZDF 20.12.1975 (Germany) | Free-TV: ZDF 31.07.1997 (Germany) | Free-TV: ZDF 31.10.2005 (Germany) | Pay-TV: Premiere - P7 30.11.2002 (Germany) | Pay-TV: Premiere 7 09.12.2005 (Germany) | Pay-TV: Premiere 7 11.01.2006 (Germany) | Free-TV: SVT 1 11.05.2003 (Sweden) | Free-TV: Rai Tre 199? (Italy)
Runtime	USA 100 min | 104 min (restored version) | Italy: 100 min | France: 96 min | Spain: 100 min
Technical specifications	Sound Mix: Mono (RCA Photophone System) | Color: Black and White | Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1 | Camera: Mitchell Camera | Film length (metres): 2752 m (11 reels) (USA), 2599 m (France) | Film negative format (mm/video inches): 35 mm | Cinematographic process: Spherical | Printed film format: 35 mm