A Few Words About A few words about…™ King Kong (1976) – in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Mark Booth]

We watched the digital streaming HD version yesterday (available on iTunes for $3.99 rental). Comparing what I saw to the screenshots available in the review of the Shout Factory release over on that other site, I'm reasonably confident the HD streaming version and Shout Factory releases are from the same master.

It has been years since I watched this film. I still have the DVD copy in a box in the other room. Frankly, it hasn't held up as well as I had hoped. My mind has been permanently tainted by CGI marvels in the last dozen+ years. Kong looks far more like Rick Baker in a gorilla suit than I remembered it looking from years ago. It's fairly easy to get past the full body gorilla suit shots but the real mood killer is the humanness of the eyes. There's just no hiding the fact that it's Rick Baker in a gorilla suit in those closeups.

And, holy lustful looks, Batman... Some of those eye/face/expression shots are downright off-putting. In those moments, it felt like some cornball amateur porn film instead of a major motion picture. The lusty eyes and smirks suggested that Kong was ready to whip out his Johnson at any moment. Ugh!

How I managed to not realize all of that back in 1976 (or on DVD rewatch), well, is beyond me. I guess I was just too busy being a 20-year-old with lustful thoughts of my own?

Suffice to say, I will not be purchasing the Shout Factory release. I'm happy to go another 30+ years without seeing the film again.

Mark

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

The lusty eyes and smirks suggested that Kong was ready to whip out his Johnson at any moment. Ugh!

I'm reasonably sure he wasn't even wearing pants the entire time!

 

[John Maher_289910]

Wow, I'm interested in what you did.

I wa1 Yes, the stadium, and twont the BD so I can try and see myself in the stadium, just before he breaks loose. The SD is too crappy looking and no detail.

Wow, I'm interested in what you did.

I want the BD so I can try and see myself in the stadium, just before he breaks loose. The SD is too crappy looking and no detail.

Yes, the stadium. Before that, I did one night at World Trade Center Plaza, and around the same time as the stadium, I did another night at the Plaza. I only got paid for that second night at the Plaza. The other night and the Stadium were no pay. Were you seated at the stadium? I was not. I stood the whole time. All that time with the broken hose or whatever it was. All the nights were hot, which is what I remember most. I have no memory of seeing myself in it. I do recall the mechanical Kong looking like a mechanical Kong in the finished film. In person it was kind of cool and ridiculous-looking at the same time. I was so excited to see the film, and so disappointed with everything about it. I love the original film, and never tire of it, and am constantly in awe of what they accomplished. This one, with all its millions and advancements in film making, ends up being a man in a money suit.

 

[John Sparks]

I was in the 2nd or third row of the bleachers when the camera was moving along in front of us. Funny, I met Rick Baker on two occasions and never asked him about the suit. I know there was a lot of interviews about the wearing of it, but that was so long ago I don't remember them.

 

[roxy1927]

Anybody else remember the giant painting of Kong with a foot on each World Trade Center building(the art work of the film) on the side of the Loew's State building in Times Square when the film opened?

Lange got a Time cover out of it so there was some curiosity to see her.

 

[John Maher_289910]

I was in the 2nd or third row of the bleachers when the camera was moving along in front of us. Funny, I met Rick Baker on two occasions and never asked him about the suit. I know there was a lot of interviews about the wearing of it, but that was so long ago I don't remember them.

Lucky you! What was it that broke? Do you remember? Something to do with what made him move.

 

[RolandL]

Anybody else remember the giant painting of Kong with a foot on each World Trade Center building(the art work of the film) on the side of the Loew's State building in Times Square when the film opened?

Lange got a Time cover out of it so there was some curiosity to see her.

 

[B-ROLL]

View attachment 97122

I think WB just got a new movie idea ...

 

[Will Krupp]

Anybody else remember the giant painting of Kong with a foot on each World Trade Center building(the art work of the film) on the side of the Loew's State building in Times Square when the film opened?

Lange got a Time cover out of it so there was some curiosity to see her.

"King Kong" for Christmas!!

Nov. 17, 1976: “Paul Chin paints billboards,” reads the article accompanying this photograph. “Every weekday morning, provided it is not raining, snowing or dangerously windy, the 5-feet 6-inch Mr. Chin, a native of Hong Kong, climbs to the roofs of buildings and into his narrow studio – a scaffold.” Mr. Chin, the art director for Artkraft Strauss, created this King Kong billboard towering over Midtown Manhattan. Photo: D. Gorton/The New York Times

By the way, even though the Loew's Building is gone and the whole block has been changed, this is the same spot (though taken from the ground) in 2018 (note the old Paramount Building three blocks down) and LOOK what they're advertising (though it has to be said, it's sort of a pipsqueak billboard compared to the one from 1976!)

 

[John Sparks]

Lucky you! What was it that broke? Do you remember? Something to do with what made him move.

Not sure what you mean John, Rick's suit or the giant Konk?

 

[Randy Korstick]

"King Kong" for Christmas!!
View attachment 97128
View attachment 97129



By the way, even though the Loew's Building is gone and the whole block has been changed, this is the same spot (though taken from the ground) in 2018 (note the old Paramount Building three blocks down) and LOOK what they're advertising (though it has to be said, it's sort of a pipsqueak billboard compared to the one from 1976!)

View attachment 97138

I had that poster in my room for almost a year before the film came out and about two years after. Right next to the famous poster of Farrah Fawcett.

 

[roxy1927]

Thank you guys for finding that! I miss the Loew' State.

 

[Christian D66]

I was a 9 year old monster kid so very excited for this even tho I was a Kong/Harryhausen fan and didn't want to see a man in suit Kong (tho I love Toho Kong too, it's just different) and I was aware of the controversy about Jim Danforth resigning his Academy membership when they gave a spfx Oscar to Kong. Even as a kid I was offended by the hubris of the "Most Original Motion Picture Event of Our Time" tagline. But I went opening day, armed with the King Kong candy (peanut butter cups) and excited. I loved the John Barry score and the film had some atmosphere but was marred by 70's humor and cynicism. The giant snake was Irwin Allen zone and the mechanical Kong was ridiculous. I was surprised there was no follow-up to Denham (until the tv version) and the ending was a 70's downer. I give it points today for playing it so cynical but it lacked the spfx imagination from the original. Had Danforth or Harryhausen done it...wow.

 

[John Sparks]

To me it was very special and a product of the times.

 

[Moore Maxx]

Jerry Seinfeld must have liked that poster because in some episodes of Seinfeld you can see an 8 ×10 framed picture of the King Kong poster in the background of his apartment, hanging above his computer.

 

[Nelson Au]

Thanks for the link to the article about Paul Chin and how he paints those billboards. That was an interesting read. I wish there was more information about that because if I read it right, he does actually paint the large billboard of the movie poster in little sections at a time.

I don’t see this blu ray available from Amazon, except from third party sellers who are asking $35.00 for it. That is the MSRP. Best Buy has it for $27.99. Looks like I’ll give Best Buy some business again.

I saw this once, I didn’t hate it or love it. I had a similar reaction to the Jackson version. I’m a fan of the original film. But I am really curious to revisit this version again.

 

[John Sparks]

I actually like Peter Jackson's the best. It encompasses the best of all until then. IMO

 

[John Maher_289910]

Not sure what you mean John, Rick's suit or the giant Konk?

I mean the giant mechanical Kong. We were held up by something breaking. I think it had something to do with the hydraulics.

 

[John Sparks]

Yeah, from what I remember, the night before they filmed my scene, it broke down. How many nights did they film that outside night time stadium scene, I don’t know.

 

[Tino]

Reviews were actually pretty good when it was released. Here’s a screenshot from the King Kong book The History Of A Movie Icon