1949, Warner Bros., 94 min, USA, Dir: Ernest B. Schoedsack

Inspired as a boy by the pioneering stop-motion work of Willis O’Brien on KING KONG, Ray Harryhausen got the chance to work with his hero years later - along with KING KONG co-director Ernest B. Schoedsack - on this marvelous adventure/fantasy story about a beautiful young woman (Terry Moore) and her best friend, a giant, kindhearted gorilla named Joe. In the end, Harryhausen wound up handling the majority of the visual effects for the film, including spectacular scenes of Joe destroying a nightclub. Academy Award winner for Best Visual Effects.

1933, Warner Bros., 100 min, USA, Dir: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack

KING KONG remains the Eighth Wonder of the World, a marvelous, mysterious blend of awesome prehistoric monsters and newfangled technology (including airplanes, subway trains and the Empire State Building). Fay Wray lights up the screen as the beauty who drives the beast to distraction, with support from Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot and the astounding visual effects work of Willis O’Brien.

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