Starring Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher, John Marston, Victor Wong
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Bankrupt and fleeing lawsuits after King Kong's disastrous attack on New York, Carl Denham is lured to return to Kong's island by the promise of treasure, and discovers a "son" of the great ape.
A quickie sequel to the 1933 classic, this followup is no match for the original in size and scope, instead focusing on a more juvenile adventure with many comic moments. However I still found it very enjoyable, with more great stop-motion animated creatures from Willis O'Brien, including not just the son of Kong, but also a couple dinosaurs, some fearsome reptiles, and a giant bear. The smaller, but still giant, ape is as lovable as the original Kong was fearsome, and several of the crew from the original film return, including composer Max Steiner who adapts his original Kong themes and adds new material. The romance between Armstrong and Mack doesn't really come off well (there was a 23 year age difference between the two), and Ruth Rose's story could use some more hard edges, but overall the film is charming, and worthwhile for another chance to see the work of O'Brien and his crew in their prime.
Showing posts with label Ernest B. Schoedsack. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ernest B. Schoedsack. Show all posts
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Dr. Cyclops (1940)
Starring Albert Dekker, Thomas Coley, Janice Logan, Charles Halton, Victor Kilian
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A trio of scientists travel to South America to assist a reputed biologist, but when they discover the secrets behind his research, he shrinks them to a tiny size and they try to escape.
This is a very entertaining sci-fi adventure with terrific special effects, directed by Schoedsack who worked on the original King Kong. Although some of the same types of effects in Kong are used in this film, like rear projection and giant mockups of Dekker's hands for grasping his tiny victims, the film's master stroke is the detailed recreations of objects in Dekker's lair in giant size for the "shrunken" actors to climb and interact with. The work put into building these objects and the sets built to mimic the doctor's lab and the outdoor lagoon shore is absolutely superb. Yet Schoedsack and his additional crew should be given even more credit for creating a thrilling film utilizing these backdrops. In particular, I love the music score by Gerard Carbonara, Albert Hay Malotte, and Ernst Toch. In his book Classics Of The Horror Film, historian William K. Everson compares their work to a Disney music score, and it's an apt comparison, with beautiful lyrical themes for the scientist's journey and the jungle locale, as well as an energetic passage with dark notes whenever Dekker is on the attack.
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A trio of scientists travel to South America to assist a reputed biologist, but when they discover the secrets behind his research, he shrinks them to a tiny size and they try to escape.
This is a very entertaining sci-fi adventure with terrific special effects, directed by Schoedsack who worked on the original King Kong. Although some of the same types of effects in Kong are used in this film, like rear projection and giant mockups of Dekker's hands for grasping his tiny victims, the film's master stroke is the detailed recreations of objects in Dekker's lair in giant size for the "shrunken" actors to climb and interact with. The work put into building these objects and the sets built to mimic the doctor's lab and the outdoor lagoon shore is absolutely superb. Yet Schoedsack and his additional crew should be given even more credit for creating a thrilling film utilizing these backdrops. In particular, I love the music score by Gerard Carbonara, Albert Hay Malotte, and Ernst Toch. In his book Classics Of The Horror Film, historian William K. Everson compares their work to a Disney music score, and it's an apt comparison, with beautiful lyrical themes for the scientist's journey and the jungle locale, as well as an energetic passage with dark notes whenever Dekker is on the attack.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Mighty Joe Young (1949)
Starring Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Frank McHugh, Douglas Fowley
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A producer of stage shows brings back from Africa a giant gorilla and the girl who can control him to star in a new nightclub he's opening.
The creators of King Kong deliver another giant ape tale, and though it's not the grand adventure Kong was, it's a charming film with impressive technical wizardry in its own right. Willis O'Brien returned to supervise the special effects and employed a young Ray Harryhausen, on the cusp of his own brilliant career, as his first technician. Together with other animators, they create a living breathing character with his own personality, and although the film borrows several elements from Kong, including star Robert Armstrong, its comes into its own with a fiery climax that shows off the ape's heroism. The reddish-tinted shot of Joe Young clinging to a tree with a vivid fearful expression at the peril Moore faces atop a burning orphanage is one of my all-time favorites.
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A producer of stage shows brings back from Africa a giant gorilla and the girl who can control him to star in a new nightclub he's opening.
The creators of King Kong deliver another giant ape tale, and though it's not the grand adventure Kong was, it's a charming film with impressive technical wizardry in its own right. Willis O'Brien returned to supervise the special effects and employed a young Ray Harryhausen, on the cusp of his own brilliant career, as his first technician. Together with other animators, they create a living breathing character with his own personality, and although the film borrows several elements from Kong, including star Robert Armstrong, its comes into its own with a fiery climax that shows off the ape's heroism. The reddish-tinted shot of Joe Young clinging to a tree with a vivid fearful expression at the peril Moore faces atop a burning orphanage is one of my all-time favorites.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
King Kong (1933)
Starring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy
Directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A movie director sets off with a fledgeling actress on an expedition to an uncharted island in search of a giant jungle god named Kong.
Still one of cinema's greatest spectacles, with special effects by Willis O'Brien that have not lost their potency, this is a bonafide adventure and horror classic. Unfolding mysteriously at the start, and then building thrill upon thrill, abetted by Max Steiner's vibrant score, it's an exciting and dynamic picture, with O'Brien's skilled stop-motion animation bringing to life not only King Kong, well-integrated with full-size mockups of the ape's head and arm, but a plethora of prehistoric creatures. Although there's some hokey dialogue, and outdated stereotypes, the film is an influential masterwork, full of images and scenes that have since become iconic.
Directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A movie director sets off with a fledgeling actress on an expedition to an uncharted island in search of a giant jungle god named Kong.
Still one of cinema's greatest spectacles, with special effects by Willis O'Brien that have not lost their potency, this is a bonafide adventure and horror classic. Unfolding mysteriously at the start, and then building thrill upon thrill, abetted by Max Steiner's vibrant score, it's an exciting and dynamic picture, with O'Brien's skilled stop-motion animation bringing to life not only King Kong, well-integrated with full-size mockups of the ape's head and arm, but a plethora of prehistoric creatures. Although there's some hokey dialogue, and outdated stereotypes, the film is an influential masterwork, full of images and scenes that have since become iconic.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
Starring Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Leslie Banks, Noble Johnson
Directed by Irving Pichel & Ernest B. Schoedsack
A big-game hunter is stranded on a jungle island owned by a mad Russian count, who hunts human beings for sport, and displays their carcasses in his trophy room.
Perhaps my very favorite among the films I've seen, I've always loved this adaptation of Richard Connell's famous short story, although it's lesser known than the film it shares much of the same cast and crew with, the famed King Kong. According to Wikipedia, this adventure was filmed concurrently with Kong on the same sets, and while it lacks that film's stop-motion special effects, it's a horror classic in its own right. Featuring a driving musical score by Max Steiner, a memorable sinister portrayal of the villainous Zaroff by British actor Leslie Banks, great direction, and a wonderfully staged culminating chase, together all these elements contribute to making this one of the most exciting films of the early 1930s.
Directed by Irving Pichel & Ernest B. Schoedsack
A big-game hunter is stranded on a jungle island owned by a mad Russian count, who hunts human beings for sport, and displays their carcasses in his trophy room.
Perhaps my very favorite among the films I've seen, I've always loved this adaptation of Richard Connell's famous short story, although it's lesser known than the film it shares much of the same cast and crew with, the famed King Kong. According to Wikipedia, this adventure was filmed concurrently with Kong on the same sets, and while it lacks that film's stop-motion special effects, it's a horror classic in its own right. Featuring a driving musical score by Max Steiner, a memorable sinister portrayal of the villainous Zaroff by British actor Leslie Banks, great direction, and a wonderfully staged culminating chase, together all these elements contribute to making this one of the most exciting films of the early 1930s.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)