A Quick Look: KING KONG VS GODZILLA (1963 - color)

   KING KONG's effects master Willis O'Brien had been trying to pitch a sequel, evidently since the 1930's. "King Kong vs Frankenstein" would've featured the giant ape confronting the latest monstrous creation of Dr. Frankenstein. It wasn't until the early 60's that he finally sold the idea to producer John Beck, who in turn sold the idea to Japan's Toho studio. Toho chose to replace the Frankenstein monster with their signature giant, and thus was born KING KONG VS GODZILLA. The film remains one of the most popular and successful of Toho's releases. It was the first Godzilla movie many monster kids saw, and it remains sheer enjoyment.

 

   In short, a Japanese pharmaceutical company is eager to capitalize on a legendary giant that feeds on some island berries the company has purchased. Whether it exists or not, some employees of the company are sent to the tropics to find the creature. They do, and soon Kong is headed toward Japan on a raft. Meanwhile, Godzilla has emerged from an iceberg and is heading straight for Japan... The result is one of the most enjoyable giant monster movies ever made. Just fun. At least for those who can take the movie on it's own merits... 

 

   O'Brien passed away before the film was released, and some have put forth that maybe it was best he never saw the final results since it departed so far from his initial idea. Obie's beloved stop-motion magic obviously couldn't be employed, and the man-in-suit Kong is light-years departed from anything as good as the master craftsman could've done. Honestly, it's a pretty shabby costume in general, far outclassed by iconic suits like those worn by George Barrows, etc. Conversely, Godzilla looks great, and the effects work really shines if you can just get around that crummy Kong suit. It's easy enough to do, though, and clearly the original audience didn't have any misgivings. It remains one of the top Godzilla movies of all time. This is the one really responsible for the continuing series of the 60's.

 

   The studio did hang onto the Frankenstein idea, though, and couple years later made FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD (only they would've turned the Frankenstein monster into an ever-growing giant who does battle with a fire-spitting dinosaur...). Toho made another, unrelated Kong movie in 1967, KING KONG ESCAPES, which itself was based on the Saturday morning cartoon series of 1966!