Kong Unbound: The Cultural Impact, Pop Mythos, and Scientific Plausibility of a Cinematic Legend

by Karen Haber

Book Overview

In 1933, Merian C. Cooper, Ernest Schoedsack, and Willis O'Brien created more than movie magic. King Kong is a pop-cultural icon and a central part of American mythology. But more than just another "Beauty and the Beast" tale, Kong Unbound also allows us to examine such themes as:

The Great Depression and America's place in the world Kong as Avatar of Repressed Sexual Energy Kong as a Symbol of Slavery and Racism Kong as Alternate...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416516700
• ISBN13: 9781416516705
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

The Perfect Title for the Perfect Book

The curious reader that selects this unique, well written, detail filled, and often heartfelt collection of nostalgic memories shared by the chosen authors within will enjoy a wonderful surprise page after page. Whether you are a historian, classic Hollywood filmbuff, "Saurian" scientist, or devoted Kong fan, there is inevitably something of interest for everyone. The chapters are actually essays, primarily written by male authors, artists, and scientists, who begin their tales with the memory of seeing the 1933 epic movie for the 1st time, then conveying how it impacted their lives. The title, "Kong Unbound- the Cultural Impact, Pop Mythos, and Scientific Plausibility of a Cinematic Legend," is exactly what each writer tackles essay after essay. In addition, compelling questions about the details of the, "Beauty and the Beast," story are brought up, and solutions are offered, while supplying trivia about Hollywood at the time, the stars of the film, and what was going on in American history during the era that the movie was released. A plethora of knowledge is also shared with regards to other King Kong films and novels that have attempted to rival the epic original. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and was sorry to read the last essay, because it was so interesting from cover to cover. I am a science teacher now, and my history teacher while in college suggected the themes mentioned in the title towards a thesis paper. If only this book were available at the time. I look forward to a volume 2.

Kong Transcendent

KONG UNBOUND (The Cultural Impact, Pop Mythos, And Scientific Plausibility of a Cinematic Legend) is a collection of essays inspired by the original 1933 KING KONG. The book shouldn't be dismissed as another rushed, media tie-in to the Peter Jackson remake; there are some genuine pieces of interest by noteworthy SF writers and illustrators. The best of which are those by Robert Silverberg, William Stout, Philip Currie, and Joe DeVito. The latter's personal recollection is one of the best-- capturing the impact of the film on a small boy in the 1960s. The other contributors add the usual quota of "phallic symbols" and "rape analogies," and other pieces are either silly or downright wrong. Contrary to what Richard Lupoff writes, co-director Ernest Schoedsack was never a member of Merian Cooper's Kosciuszko Squadron. And Paul DiFilippo diminishes the extent of Ruth Rose's contribution to the original's screenplay despite the fact that 90% of the final dialogue was hers! Christopher Priest, meanwhile, reveals an almost snobbish contempt by attacking the "amateurish" acting and linking the "trashy appeal" of the screenplay to pulp fiction. Despite these and other weaker pieces, the greatness of the immortal Kong shines through. The contributions by Ray Harryhausen and Ray Bradbury alone make this a must-read for any fan of Kong.