King Kong [DVD] [1933]

a great monster movie at a good price.

Most people browsing this review will have seen the film on TV more than once. I've loved it since I was a child, and I'm working on the basis that you like the film enough to be considering which version to buy, so rather than discussing the merits of the film itself, I'll discuss why I chose to invest in a special edition DVD.This special edition is a US import which isn't available on Region 2. But if you're really interested in the film and its production, the Region 1 DVD is the right choice, even at a price.The film is almost eighty years old, and any movie from so long ago will have technical limitations. Nothing has been done to render the sound and vision artificially clean, and this is the right approach. So to date it's the best available version.The picture quality is probably as good as it's going to get. Some sections are still grainy, but for the most part the images are clearer than I've ever seen them on TV transmissions. It helps you appreciate the sheer skill and effort that went into creating the special effects in the early 1930s.Likewise, the sound quality is as clear as you're likely to get. The dialogue is clear, the sound effects' impact improved and the cleaned-up music score ilustrates the action properly - it seems better mixed and less tinny than TV viewings in my recollection (it has been some time since it was transmitted in the UK and my home cinema equipment has also improved since then).So, you're watching a very old film from early in the sound era, and from the earliest days of special effects. It's just in the best form that can currently preserve the essence of that classic.The extras however are what distinguishes this from the European equivalent release. The film commentary, in large part from Ray Harryhausen, is interesting on a technical level, and the inserts from contemporary interviews, including from Fay Wray, are worthwhile. It's the second disc, which seems only to be available on Region 1 however, which is of most value. As well as an interesting documentary on Merriam Cooper, there is an excellent documentary on the film's production.This includes fascinating insights from Peter Jackson and the Weta team who reconstructed the lost spider-pit sequence (also a standalone extra), and also interesting insights into the cancelled Creation, whose special effects fed into King Kong. The whole lengthy documentary provides excellent context. All DVD extras should ideally increase your appreciation for the film itself, and these do.

Bought it for my husband who was pleased with the quality considering the film was originally made in the 1930's.Very easy to purchase and swift delivery.

Legendary Movie Producers Ernest B Schoedsack & Merian C Cooper's Classic Fantasy epic King Kong The one and only original from 1933 Gets another eagerly awaited Blu-ray release. we all know The story seen The movie not much point adding another review on That Except To say it's Fay Wray at her screaming best Robert Armstrong in The role of a lifetime as big game Hunter Turned movie producer Carl Denham who gets more Than he bargained for when he decides To shoot His next movie on The long lost forgotten Skull island. And perhaps we should mention The star of The movie The Giant ape Kong. like many of you I suspect I Do own The region1 Digi Book release that came out a couple of years ago now of The 1933 classic and a Truly memorable release That was perhaps now you are wondering why purchase another release. what got my interest in This Italian release billed as The ultimate edition in amongst The extras They were including The 1925 silent epic The Lost World. as we all know now without The Lost World we really would not have King Kong Today. This release Though not in Blu-ray offers a remarkable DVD print Transfer of The silent classic Italian subtitles Do appear but can easily be removed from The Disc's Main Menu. Next up is an interview with a very ageing Fay Wray interesting to note she as lost none of her memories on The making of The movie and her anecdotes on The movie are now really priceless. clips from The unfinished Creation can be viewed as a separate extra Though some of stop motion creatures on view Turned up in The Kong sequel Son Of Kong. finally we get again all in DVD format The colourized version of King Kong This however is The only extra in Italian No English subtitles are listed for it still it can be viewed as an interesting curiosity. Great to see Fay Wray's famous blonde Hair you can see why old Kong had The Hot's for her in The movie. But Kong is a black and white movie Through and Through. None of These extras featured on The region 1 release but they give us nearly all Cooper's & Schoedsack work connected with King Kong. Disc1 one gives us The original movie in Blu-ray and like The region one release it is an outstanding release for a film of its age and yes it does include The censored lost footage That was restored back To Kong a few years back. I can tell you it Does Not include The famous missing spider pit sequence I mean Then we really would have The ultimate edition any great movie is worth another copy in your collection The combined Extras with The region 1 release give us The films History and Heritage This release comes Highly recommended.

A genuine classic which wears its 70 odd years well. Given the technology of the time the special effects are truely brilliant. Kong's battles with the pre-historic creatures of Skull Island are breath- taking. The Skull Island set is wonderfully atmospheric, you can almost smell the decaying vegetation.Cooper build's suspense wonderfully, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the fearsome island inhabitants are the most terrifying thing there. The wall dividing the island is the last boundary between civilisation and fantasy world where Kong is King.Denham as portrayed by Armstong is the very personification of capitalism and greed and Cooper's message is that excess greed leads to tragedy. Kong is a monarch in his own realm, when he is transported to democracey as represented by contemporary America, the clash of ideologies produces mayhem.The film gives us some of the most iconic images of cinema history, the bound Wray helpless in her initial confrontation with Kong mirrored by the bound Kong on the New York stage. The Ape's eyes peering menacingly through the train wreck and of the course probably the most famous cinema image of all, Kong roars defiance from the Empire State summit.Forget Jackson's version which would be nothing without the many benefits of computer generated special effects and depends on shock and graphic images for effect. This is the definitive Kong, one of the greatest movies ever made and I heartily recommend it.

Almost the definition of a classic movie.

Llego sin problemasSi viene en español latino subtitulos tambiénLa imagen restaurada en HDTítulo indispensable para cualquiera queSea un amantes del séptimo arte

Great item for collectors. Love the case.

The still pictures of Fay Wray are from the special feature, "Camera's Roll on King Kong the Eighth Wonder of the World." Wray was indeed the beauty counter parting the beast. The pencil art work displayed in the special features segments is way cool also. The special features are vast and detailed, thus making this Blue-Ray Disc of 1933s "King Kong" a real gem to own. There's an interview with Fay Wray decades after "King Kong" was released and so much more.Interviews with modern day film technicians praised the technical team of King Kong and said many of their basic techniques are still used to this day. The details of the 18 inch model of King King and stop motion photography are explained perfectly. I merely touched the tip of ice burg about the special features on this Blue-Ray Disc. Simply stated, the special features alone make this version of "King Kong" worth having."King Kong" was way ahead of it's time, and not just for the special effects. Early in this flick, Fay Wray struts her fabulous frame in a transparent top with no bra, a big no-no for main stream movies that was rigidly enforced by 1935, so 1933s "King Kong" is a true Pre-Code Hollywood film for ignoring the boundaries of sexuality and violence on the the movie screen upon its time.Screenplay writers James Creelman and Ruth Rose transformed Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper's story into a cinematic masterpiece that cemented the ground work for solid story telling and captivating special effects. Fay Wray as Ann Darrow wanted Cary Grant as her leading man and said Bruce Cabot wasn't her ideal choice, but regardless, this 1933 flick contains realistic romance and the idea that only love can kill the beast.Robert Armstrong portrays a successful, yet controversial film maker, Carl Denham who cast's Ann Darrow as the female love interest for his next motion picture. Denham, Darrow and his entire film crew sail the vast seas to Skull Island, an uncharted island where the mighty Kong dwells. Kong's soul is caressed with love be the mere sight of Darrow (Wray) and when she's taken away from mighty beast, Kong roams the streets of New York with vengeance and a quest for sheer serenity. While on Skull Island, Kong combats dinosaurs and other giant beasts from millions of years ago. Bravo to Willis O' Brien, the technician who inspires the likes of today's special effects gurus.This 2022 restoration is fantastic. The sound is crisp and works very well on today's sound systems and the picture quality is amazing. The Overture before the credits is more than four minutes long before the opening credits even begin. Simple use the fast skip button on your DVD player once, and the opening credits roll, press fast skip once more, and the movie begins in its entirety.

King Kong est un film américain réalisé et produit par Merian C. Cooper et Ernest B. Schoedsack, sorti en 1933. Le scénario de James A. Creelman et Ruth Rose a été développé à partir d'une idée de Merian C. Cooper et Edgar Wallace.Le distribution principale est :-Fay Wray.-Robert Armstrong .-Bruce Cabot ( remarque: son père est français).-Frank Reicher .Le King-Kong de 1933 fait partie des thrillers les plus mythiques de l'histoire du cinéma occupant une place prestigieuse dans le Top-100 des Meilleurs Films Américains de l'American Film Institute. L'actrice légendaire Fay Wray incarne une jeune starlette qui fait la rencontre avec le puissant Kong dans l'île lumineuse du Crâne et qui le ramène dans l'éblouissante ville de New York. Nul ne peut vraiment oublier le sentiment de terreur et les scènes de suspense à couper le souffle qui ont fait de ce film un classique très moderne et l'un des plus glorieux de l'histoire du cinéma.Ce DVD comprend un bonus exceptionnel:- Un document de 2005 "Je suis King-Kong- Les exploits de Marian c. Cooper" . Ce film raconte la vie exceptionnelle de Cooper . Interviennent dans ce document des historiens cinés, des spécialistes effets spéciaux, des historiens, l'actrice Fay Wray ( interview en 1997), l'écrivain Ray Bradbury, Bob Burns grand collectionneur de ce film et d'autres, le petit-fils de Cooper, etc. Egalement présents des commentaires en voix off de Cooper.-Le film avec les commentaires de Ray Harryhausen, Ken Raltson, Fay Wray, Marian C Cooper.Remarque : le film remastérisé est ici présenté dans sa version non colorisée et c'est bien mieux. L'image est superbe , le son fut aussi retravaillé mais reste dans les limites d'une Bande Originale mono avec quand même ses imperfections d'époque.Remarque.J'avais regardé récemment "Creature from the black lagoon" - voir mon com-et le principe hollywoodien est le même.Une créature assez "moche" vit dans son petit paradis. Elle est bien peinarde. Pour Kong c'est encore mieux car on lui donne une vierge à becter tous les mois😉. Une expédition arrive, celle-ci représente la soi-disant civilisation , mais une femme fait partie de l'équipe. Et malheureusement pour Kong ou la créature du lagon , celui-ci tombe amoureux de la belle jeune femme. Pour la créature ou le monstre les ennuis commencent...En conclusion.Le King-Kong de 1933 est un des plus grands films d'horreur américains. Les effets spéciaux sont à couper le souffle pour son époque mais sont encore actuellement des références. King -Kong est aussi une histoire d'amour entre une belle si fragile et un monstre. Il fera tout pour la retrouver dans l'immense NY, après avoir osé la déshabiller partiellement sur son île (images qui avaient été censurées à l'époque- Code Hayes ) La plus belle image du film est celle où King-Kong blessé au sommet de l'Empire Stade Building sait qu'il va mourir. Il tient dans sa main la belle Ann Darrow ( Fay Wray) , la repose sur le sol de la tour , sèche ses larmes et la caresse une dernière fois . Car il l'aime de trop pour l'entraîner dans sa chute et la mort.Dernier dialogue du film:Un policier en montrant Kong étendu mort: "les avions l'ont eu""non ce ne sont pas les avions, c'est la Belle qui a tué la Bête" répond Carl Denham - le réalisateur de films - qui a ramené Kong de son expédition- en regardant tristement la dépouille.En fait c'est l'amour qui a tué Kong.

Anche se oggi devo fare un bello sforzo per immedesimarmi con i film di quest'epoca é indubbio che questo film ha rappresentato all'inizio degli "effetti speciali" é una perla Dell epoca per cui anche se oggi appare "banale" a quel tempo era come mandare il 1 razzo in orbita con un pc con i floppy disc.. Per cui fu veramente qualcosa di incredibile, fortunatamente è ststo possibile reperirlo anche se credo non ci sianogli stessi contenuti speciali della versione a due dischi uscita anni e anni fa, però meglio di nulla..