Episode 498: King Kong (1933)

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It's classic OG monster movies for this first pairing of 2026! Directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933's "King Kong" brought new innovation to the screen and started a long-running franchise! The story follows filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) as he prepares for his latest action thriller! The only problem is... no agency will help him cast his leading lady. Fortunately, he finds struggling actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) in a soup-kitchen line and offers her the part of a lifetime. They head out to sea on the ship Venture, helmed by Captain Englehorn (Frank Reicher). Denham reveals they're headed for an uncharted island, distinguished by a mountain shaped like a skull and, supposedly, the home of a mysterious creature known only as "Kong." Along the way, sparks begin to fly between Ann and first make Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot). Upon arriving at the island, they witness a ceremony before a massive wall and gate, which their presence interrupts. The chief of the tribe asks to purchase Ann for her blond hair, but of course the group refuses. That night, after Driscoll reveals his love to Ann, natives slip aboard the Venture and kidnap her. Discovering her absence, the crew heads off to the rescue, only to witness Kong, a giant ape, carry Ann off into the jungle. They give chase, and most of them are killed attempting to rescue Ann, leaving only Jack to follow Kong back to his lair, where he manages to spirit Ann away, with Kong in hot pursuit. The chase continues through the island and down to the beach the crew landed on, where Denham uses the gas bombs he brought with him to incapacitate Kong, declaring that they're going to take the ape back to New York for exhibition! And that's only the first half of the story! Also starring Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson, James Flavin, and Steve Clemente!

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