Review of King Kong (1933) by Kyle20Ellis — 17 Mar 2022

This version of King Kong is a classic, it may be a monster movie but it has something that most of the other versions of the story don't have- heart. The story is basically a take on the timeless story of Beauty and the Beast but it is a powerful, beautiful, tragic and beguiling one.

The cinematography is beautiful and crisp, and the scenery is convincing enough, plus the score is a gem. In terms of acting, Faye Wray is stunning as Ann Darrow and Robert Armstrong does well with a role that is admittedly on the corny side but hey I can live with that.

But what made the film was King Kong himself, he is absolutely amazing to look at, he looks and acts very convincingly. Maybe scary to start with but as the film progresses (like the Beast in the fairytale Beauty and the Beast) you feel for him.

The climax on top of the Empire State Building is one of cinema's greatest climaxes, and this is the only film version of King Kong where I had to stop the video to go and sort myself out from crying at the end.

Overall, a beautiful timeless film. As said already, while essentially a monster movie, it is that with a lot of heart.