The Kong Movies That Never Were...

[SuperXAsh]

Kong's had relatively few movies in his illustrious career.

-King Kong
-Son of Kong (though he was nowhere in sight)
-King Kong vs. Godzilla
-King Kong Escapes
-King Kong (70's)
-King Kong Lives

But as it's been uncovered before in the forums, the mighty ape has had his share of unmade movies. Post what information you know about any of the mentioned movies down below, or ones you've heard of.

-King Kong vs. Frankenstien:
   -The script that would eventually lead to the box office smash that was King Kong vs. Godzilla. Willis O'Brien had sketches, and ideas of how to pit these two against each other. Including having a Frankenstien Monster that was composed of solely large animal parts. Sadly, he wasn't able to get anyone to make this movie, and Kong never got to wrestle it out with the Frankenstein's Monster.

-King Kong vs. Prometheus:
   -Apparently another adaption of the Kong/Frankenstein battle that O'Brien had wrote. Probably to give the Frankenstein's monster a name. *any and all extra info for this one would be appreciated*

-Operation Robinson Crusoe:
   -Back when Toho was making Kong-related films (KKvsG, KKE), they had the idea of putting Kong back squarely on his "home territory" (Islands). His foe would have been a large crab/lobster named Ebirah. An interesting idea of this one, would have been the fact that if it had been made, Kong would have faced Mothra as well (not to mention stomping a big mudhole in the Red Bamboo Army). But Toho decided to put their icon lizard in the lead role instead, and is known now to many as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster. Though you can still see the Kong-isms in this film.

-King Kong vs. Orca, The Killer Whale:
   - Not much is known here, but apparently the maker of the 70's Kong remake, Dino Di' Laurentis had the idea in his head to pit King Kong against his Jaws rip-off, Orca the killer whale. Nor is it known how the two monsters would have squared off successfully. Thankfully, it never came to fruitation.

-King King vs. Godzilla (II):
   -Trying to bring back together the two most known icons in Movie Monster history, (not to mention that the last time the two met, it was a huge success for the company) Toho wanted to pit these two against each other once more. But before much could be put together, Turner Entertainment (which owns the rights to Kong) wanted way too much money for the mighty ape. So, thanks to Ted Turner and his cronies, these two mighty beasts couldn't be put back together for another rumble.

-Godzilla vs. Mechani-Kong:
   -When plans to use Kong failed, Toho tried to use the foe from King Kong Escapes, Mechani-Kong (the precursor to MechaGodzilla) instead. The main idea revolved around MK (whose likeness is based on a "legendary ape of history&quot injecting Godzilla with a tiny submersible manned by scientists to try and undo Godzilla from within. So while Godzilla battled the Mechanical Ape, the scientists would be travelling within the Big G's body. Course, again, Turner and his pack of thugs said that MK would be too much of a likeness to King Kong, so the project was iced.

Any others that I missed?

   

[Doctor Whu]

A lost or unfinished Kong film is LOST ISLAND, starring "gorilla suit actor" Charles Gemora playing a parody of KONG in this musical-comedy. *The "human actors" were marionettes designed to look like Groucho, Mae West and others.

It was Gemora's starring in this film that led to a mistake in the actor's 1961 obituary. *The obituary stated that Gemora had portrayed the ape in KING KONG (33). The rumor grew that it was Gemora in an ape suit that was used for the long shot of Kong's climb up the Empire State Building. (not true as there are numerous photos of O'Brien and his staff animating Kong in this scene). As this ugly rumor grew, it even had Gemora making the claim himself that he played Kong.

I believe that there is also an unauthorized Indian film called KING KONG meets TARZAN, but I have never seen any stills from that one.

KONG also appears in the puppet-motion film:THE MAD MONSTER PARTY (made by the same folks who did RUDOLPH, and SANTA CLAUSE IS COMMING TO TOWN, among many others)

if you want to talk to real Kong historians, check out the following web site:

http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/

[Kaiju Nexus]

i believe there was a sequel to King Kong Lives.  I think it had a baby Kong in it (a result of the male and female kongs from KKL).  I forget what it was called though . . .

[Doctor Whu]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (DBZelda7 @ Dec. 07 2003,16:46)]i believe there was a sequel to King Kong Lives. *I think it had a baby Kong in it (a result of the male and female kongs from KKL). *I forget what it was called though . . .

Well, if it was made by the same folks who did KINO 76 and KK Lives, then I believe the word: "cra@p" would be appropriate...

[kpa]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]-King Kong vs. Prometheus:
* *-Apparently another adaption of the Kong/Frankenstein battle that O'Brien had wrote. Probably to give the Frankenstein's monster a name. *any and all extra info for this one would be appreciated*

It's the same proposed film as KING KONG VS FRANKENSTEIN. The full title of Mary Shelley's novel is "Frankenstein: or the The Modern Prometheus". The same proposal was later retitled KING KONG VS THE GINKO, with the name 'Ginko' being an anagram of 'King Kong'.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] *-Operation Robinson Crusoe:
* *-Back when Toho was making Kong-related films (KKvsG, KKE), they had the idea of putting Kong back squarely on his "home territory" (Islands). His foe would have been a large crab/lobster named Ebirah. An interesting idea of this one, would have been the fact that if it had been made, Kong would have faced Mothra as well (not to mention stomping a big mudhole in the Red Bamboo Army). But Toho decided to put their icon lizard in the lead role instead, and is known now to many as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster. Though you can still see the Kong-isms in this film.

This film (and KING KONG ESCAPES) were based on the American KING KONG cartoon TV series from Rankin-Bass. Rankin-Bass wanted a "bigger" story and Honda and Tsuburaya's involvement so Toho decided to make ORC a Godzilla film by Fukuda and Arikawa instead. R-B, Honda, and Tsuburaya collaborated on KKE the following year. KKE had the large scale R-B wanted and used Dr Who and Mechani-Kong, both of whom were introduced in the cartoon show.

FOX ran a new KONG cartoon a couple of years ago. A teenage boy could project his consciousness into the body of a descendant of the great ape. It's as lame as it sounds.

There was also THE MIGHTY KONG, an awful straight-to-video movie released by Warner Bros in the mid-1990s. It's a musical with Dudley Moore playing Carl Denham.

A lost Kong movie, KING KONG APPEARS IN EDO, was made in Japan in 1933 or 1934. The story was about Kong (a man in an ape suit) attacking ancient Japan.

In *the mid-1970s Jim Danforth and Universal planned a KING KONG remake that would use stop-motion photography and be set in the 1930s. When Paramount and DeLaurentiis announced their own remake, there was a lawsuit that eventually led to the cancellation of the Universal version.


RE: DBZelda7's post; There is no sequel to KING KONG LIVES. That film tanked at theaters all around the world. It did so poorly that Toho held back on making an immediate sequel to GODZILLA 1985 because they thought audiences were tired of monster movies.

[Kaiju Nexus]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (kpa @ Dec. 07 2003,19:59)]RE: DBZelda7's post; There is no sequel to KING KONG LIVES. That film tanked at theaters all around the world. It did so poorly that Toho held back on making an immediate sequel to GODZILLA 1985 because they thought audiences were tired of monster movies.

oh.  sorry lol.  i guess i must have dreamt that one up or something.

[James_D]

Does the nightmare that is Queen Kong count in this?

[juan]

Ah yes,women's libber bashing with a hairy ugly female thing kidnapping a guy called Ray Fay.

[Raptor]

King Kong vs. Orca the Killer Whale

Now it's not known what kind of story it would have, or how the two monsters would meet... and have the idea still make sense that is.

But Laurentis had the idea of eventually pitting the two monsters against each other. This was when he was still riding on the high he had been on during the 70's. You know... when people still threw lotsa money his way.

I don't mind his kong version TOO much, but to have that stupid whale fight an icon (specially with all the crazy s*** that was made up for it in it's own movie) like Kong would have been the last straw and eventually a lynch mob would have been formed.

-- SuperXAsh, Dec. 02 2003,11:45 (OTHER unmade kaiju movies topic)

[Morgoth]

The 1960's project that was mentioned above was planned by Britain's Hammer studios. This was at a time when dinosaur films such as 'One Million BC' were bringing the House that Dripped Blood plenty of money, so to recreate the greatest dinosaur film of them all would seem a natural. Just imagine, we might have seen a British Carl Denham played by Peter Cushing if this had gone through!

As for other 'lost' or unmade films there was a 1950's remake also planned. This one would have had Obie doing the efts work again and would have been filmed in colour. It was after this fell through that O'Brien started shopping his now famous 'King Kong vs Frankenstein' idea around. There was also an idea to do a third Kong picture after 'Son of Kong' back in 1934. This film would have been a prequel to the other two and have featured an earlier expedition to Skull Island. Sadly, the executives at RKO decided that 1930's moviegoers would be too confused by releasing a 'movie that precedes the movie' and this project never got too far.

[baragon2005]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (DBZelda7 @ Dec. 07 2003,15:46)]i believe there was a sequel to King Kong Lives. *I think it had a baby Kong in it (a result of the male and female kongs from KKL). *I forget what it was called though . . .

You must have seen part of the MJY remake by Disney (which, I think is an okay movie. But Bill Paxton?) The ape in the movie is about the size of the original Kong, and the story is very similar to the original Kong film (and I guess you could say it's similar to the original MJY, too. Lol.)

[SuperXAsh]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Morgoth @ Dec. 12 2003,13:32)]Sadly, the executives at RKO decided that 1930's moviegoers would be too confused by releasing a 'movie that precedes the movie' and this project never got too far.

Wow!! Wish they had that kind of thing still at work today with all the prequel madness going on.  

Though this one would have been possibly more sensible... I mean how else did Denham find out about Kong?

   

[Tokyo VigilanteX]

I heard that jackson wanted to to the remake in 98 but got scared by "Godzilla" and "Mighty Joe young" weich both sucked,and got tied up in the lord of the rings.

[kpa]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (SuperXAsh @ Dec. 12 2003,14:15)]Though this one would have been possibly more sensible... I mean how else did Denham find out about Kong?

According to the film, Kong was an old legend or superstition. That's how Capt Englehorn referred to it.

[Doctor Whu]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (kpa @ Dec. 14 2003,00:44)]

According to the film, Kong was an old legend or superstition. That's how Capt Englehorn referred to it.

Denham claimed that he didnt know what to expect on the island. But with all the heavy weapons Denham was carrying and the great number of sailors he has onboard the Venture (too much than the ship needed), one could speculate that the skipper of the Norwegian bark told Denham alot more than he revealed to Engelhorn and Driscoll about Skull Island.

I would say that Denham knew full well that there were prehistoric animals there (specifically KONG). Why else would he only take only one actor on location to shoot a film? Did he intend to capture KONG all along? Did he intend to use Ann as bait from the beginning? ... And just who did build that wall?

[Grand Godzilla]

I really hope that one day we see a remake or a whole new version of Godzilla vs King Kong.
 X  

   

[C-R-V]

<font color='#000F22'>

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Grand Godzilla @ Dec. 14 2003,13:04)]I really hope that one day we see a remake or a whole new version of Godzilla vs King Kong.
*X *

* *

Ya that would be great wouldnt it

*x * *

POST # 150!!! &nbsp; &nbsp;

[Grand Godzilla]

^ Yes it would.

&nbsp; &nbsp;

[Paulzilla]

I wish they made G vs. KK 2.
________
Toyota Sportivo Coupe specifications

[Alien-G]

no it wouldn't, I think that King Kong vs Godzilla is fine the way it is

[Alien-G]

Queen Kong is coming out to DVD soon, is it funny?

[monsterslayers]

It's already out. I think Retromedia released it. Don't worry, I'm on the hunt to get this and review it! Maybe even get some screenshots!

[Gawdziller]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (SuperXAsh @ Dec. 05 2003,18:49)]-Operation Robinson Crusoe:
* *-Back when Toho was making Kong-related films (KKvsG, KKE), they had the idea of putting Kong back squarely on his &quot;home territory&quot; (Islands). His foe would have been a large crab/lobster named Ebirah. An interesting idea of this one, would have been the fact that if it had been made, Kong would have faced Mothra as well (not to mention stomping a big mudhole in the Red Bamboo Army). But Toho decided to put their icon lizard in the lead role instead, and is known now to many as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster. Though you can still see the Kong-isms in this film.

Toho didn't decide to replace Kong with Godzilla at the last minute. According to Toho Kingdom, Rankin-Bass Productions wanted to have Ishiro Honda direct the film and Eiji Tsuburaya helm the special effects. Since Toho insisted on giving the director's chair to Jun Fukuda and have Teisho Arikawa be the special effects director, Rankin-Bass refused to allow Kong to be used in the film. That's why Godzilla was put in Kong's place at the last minute. Eiji Tsuburaya did end up directing the special effects and Arikawa's position was changed to special effects photography, but one out of two apparently wasn't good enough for Rankin-Bass.

[THE ONE AND ONLY]

Heres one that I found out about, but sorry to say I didn't get around to putting it up for awhile. Continuation:King Kong Vs. Godzilla was one of the first proposals submitted right after the success of King Kong Vs. Godzilla('62). The proposal written by Shinichi Sekizawa, was submitted in '63 , but other than the two monsters butting heads again ,nothing is known. For more, check over here. http://www.tohokingdom.com/cutting_r...s_godzilla.htm

[SuperXAsh]

Well I'm always surprised with some of the actions by Toho at times. Here is one of their biggest box office movie smashes, for Godzilla no less, and they DON'T go on and do an "encore" rematch. Yet they're willing to do that for both Ghidorah AND MechaGodzilla movies, TWICE for MechaGodzilla even. But no rematch love for Kong.

Well I'm just left wondering what they would've done with this if they HAD. Would they have kept it kinda silly, gone SILLIER or would they have gone for a much more serious tone? Would Godzilla have won this time or would they have had a draw this time? The mind boggles.