The image that can be recognized throughout the nation is that of a giant ape holding a helpless women in the grip of his hand at the peak of the Empire State Building. No other film during the early 20th century had done or had even considered doing what directors Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack had in mind.
On this day, March 2nd, 1933, King Kong, a movie distinguished for its use of stop-motion animation and memorialized by countless spoofs and remakes, premiers in New York with good reviews. These reviews were above and beyond the norm and could be noted by the amount profited. The film made around $2 million – keep in mind that in 1933, movie tickets were priced at less than a dollar per ticket.
This film has become part of American history and frequently shows up on a critics’ lists of essential American films.