RKO’s 1933 classic King Kong is one of the most undisputed legendary films ever – not just in the fantasy genre. Boasting revolutionary stop-motion effects from Willis O’Brien, it’s a film that’s in the hearts of many cinema fans. Many know it off by heart, beat for beat. However, the story was originally something different; the first drafts of the script were written by famed mystery thriller author Edgar Wallace. This impressive book takes a fresh look at the film and reprints Wallace’s screenplay in its original format for fans to devour.
The first part of the book focuses on Wallace, with author Stephen Jones providing a potted history of the literary legend and his involvement in the creation of Kong. Through the various rewrites and behind-the-scenes drama, the story of cinema’s first kaiju unfolds in fascinating detail. It also puts right one misconception that has been ‘fact’ since the movie’s release. King Kong producer Merian C. Cooper always insisted the screenplay filmed bore no relation to Wallace’s script. However, the emergence of Edgar’s text proves otherwise. It might well have been Cooper’s idea, but Wallace’s draft certainly informed a lot of the final picture.
The screenplay itself is a riveting read, although you have to overlook some expressions that should not be used today (unless you’re Quentin Tarantino). It is a very different beast, and it’s interesting to see (via the footnotes) how many mistakes Wallace made, particularly with the naming of the leading lady. If the screenplay is not enough, we also get the adaptation that was printed in Boys’ Magazine in 1933. It’s a rollicking, brief read but keeps the excitement of the film in place.
Overall, this is a must-read for fans of both Kong and of stories of classic Hollywood in all its back-biting glory. It’s peppered with illustrations and images – some this writer hadn’t seen before – and a wealth of information that makes you want to watch the film again.
Kong: An Original Screenplay is available now.
