FILM 1826: KING KONG

FILM 1826: KING KONG

TRIVIA: Grossed ninety thousand dollars its opening weekend, the biggest opening ever at the time.

The success of this film is often credited for saving R.K.O. Pictures from bankruptcy.

Merian C. Cooper's first vision for the film, was of a giant ape on top of the world's tallest building, fighting airplanes. He worked backward from there, to develop the rest of the story.

King Kong's roar was a lion's roar and a tiger's roar combined and run backwards, but slowly.

At around eighty minutes into the film, a man (LeRoy Mason) standing in line to see Kong complains to his lady companion, "These tickets cost me twenty bucks." At presumably ten dollars per ticket, this would have been a tremendous cost in Depression-wracked 1933. By contrast, a ticket to see the 1933 New York Yankees, which featured Babe Ruthand Lou Gehrig, or to this movie itself, would have been about 35 cents.

The one flaw that remains in the animation is the way Kong's fur seems to be moving constantly, showing where the animators had to grab the figure to move it. Though the animators would brush the fur constantly to hide their work, it still shows up in the finished film. Many other filmmakers who have used the same technique actually admire this flaw, because it shows that the work was done by skilled artists using their hands.

Executive Producer David O. Selznick left R.K.O. midway through production of this film. Selznick's last act of business at R.K.O., and probably his biggest contribution to the film, was to write a memo changing the name of the production from "Kong" to "King Kong".

The "Old Arabian Proverb" opening the film, was actually written by Merian C. Cooper.

Although many film historians insist that a spider pit scene was never shot, much less previewed, at least three production stills do exist showing the miniature ravine complete, with at least one spider and a crab creature, both of which are menacing miniature sailors. There was one person who claimed to have seen the first preview screening who said that the spider pit scene was in it, and the audience laughed at large bug-eyes on a spider model. He felt that this unintended laugh was the reason the scene stopped the film, and was cut.

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

FILM 1511: SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE 

TRIVIA: The scene between Tom Hanks and Victor Garber crying over the movie The Dirty Dozen (1967) was completely improvised during the take.

The silhouette of the couple on the box of chocolates in a shop window outside Annie's house is, in fact, a silhouette of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

The role of Annie was originally offered to Julia Roberts, who turned it down. Kim Basinger was also offered the role in the early script process, but turned it down because she thought the premise was ridiculous. After Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jodie Foster declined as well, Meg Ryan landed the role.

A pre-Seinfeld (1989) reference to the real-life "Soup Nazi": A male journalist is speaking as Meg Ryan enters an office at her newspaper, saying, "...he's the meanest guy in the world, but he makes the best soup you've ever eaten."

Jason Schwartzman auditioned for the role of Jonah Baldwin.

Garry Marshall was originally slated to direct the film. He is the brother of actor/director Penny Marshall, who directed Tom Hanks in Big (1988) and A League of Their Own (1992). She is the ex-wife of Rob Reiner, who plays Jay in the film.

Parker Posey was originally cast in the movie but later cut. She appeared with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks years later in You've Got Mail (1998).

This film's director (Nora Ephron) wrote When Harry Met Sally... (1989), which also starred Meg Ryan and was directed by Rob Reiner, who appears in Sleepless in Seattle (1993).

Demi Moore was considered for the role of Annie Reed.

Director Cameo: Nora Ephron: When Meg Ryan's character is in the kitchen in the middle of the night listening to the 'best of' radio callers, the caller 'Disappointed in Denver' is voiced by Ephron.