The makers of KONG 76 also constructed two full-scale, hydraulically-operated Kong hands to hold and caress Jessica Lange throughout the film.
Learn more in the pages of my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
s the virtual book tour continues, I was a guest on the Oscar Project podcast talking Kong (and a few other things) with host Jonathan Ytreberg. Thanks to Jonathan for having me on.
www.buzzsprout.com/788981/episo...
In addition to the full-size mechanical Kong, the makers of KONG 76 fabricated a full-size polystyrene Kong model to lay at the base of the World Trade Center in the film's final scene.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
The Kong masks and the full-scale Kong were both impressive-looking. The problem is, they didn't look much like one another.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON -- REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION, available now in bookstores and online.
I recently had ther chance to speak to Chris Gore of the Film Threat website about Kong and my new book. Thanks to Chris for having me on and for a great chat.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or_B...
The KONG 76 team also constructed a full-size, hydraulically-operated Kong with an aluminum skeleton, rubber skin and fur made from Argentinian horsehair. It looked great but didn't work and appeared in only 6 shots
My book KING KONG:THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON is available in bookstores and online
For some shots in the film, Kong was played by actor/playwright Will Shephard. Will played Kong as he broke through the wall, climbed the World Trade Center, and fell from the Twin Towers.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
I'm a guest on the latest episode of the Kaiju Transmissions Podcast discussing my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON -- REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION. Thanks to hosts Byrd and Kevin for a really fun chat.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
Future Oscar-winning make-up and creature creator Rick Baker -- seen here in the foam rubber undersuit -- wore the Kong costume and played the great ape in most shots in the movie.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
Some folks have complained about the lack of color photos in the new edition. It was purely economics--if we'd included color, the book would have had to be priced at a prohibitive amount. I too wish there could have been color, but I hope all the new additional material in the text makes up for it.
The Kong 76 costume also came equipped with finger extensions worn inside the gloves to give Kong gorilla-length arms. The extensions could be operated by device worn like rings.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
Carlo Rambaldi's sketch showing all of the expressions Kong could make.
Learn more in my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON -- REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION, available now in bookstores and online.
Kong 76 smiles a lot in the movie, which is a marvelous technical effect. The only problem is that apes -- and in fact all animals other than humans -- don't smile.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
They made a big deal of announcing that they were, but then fucked everyone over with the dynamic pricing thing. It was really shitty.
This world that is being engineered exclusively for the benefit of the rich is truly depressing. This truly is the second Gilded Age. And it sucks. #2028Olympics #ticketscam #2ndGildedAge
I'll live if I can't go to the Olympics, but it is a shame that the only people who are going to be able to attend this rare worldwide event taking place in our hometown are the wealthy. It would have been nice if we'd all had a chance to join in the fun, but I guess that's not to be.
Except if you wanted to see the opening or closing ceremonies, in which case the tickets were between $5,000 and $10,000 a piece. All of these were far beyond what we can afford or felt it was prudent -- in these days of inflation and ever-rising prices -- to pay. And it just made me sad.
My link was for the second day, which meant a whole lot of people had a shot at tickets first. By the time we got on, most of those $28 tickets were long, long gone and any event you might want to see was now costing hundreds of dollars.
I got a link to purchase advance tickets for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles -- y'know, the ones that were supposed to be $28. What was not mentioned was that the ticketing site was going to be employing dynamic pricing, one of the true evils of the 21st century.
@nytimes.com -- good lord, what has happened to you?
That blurb alone is an embarrassment, much less you turning the Gray Lady into People for oligarchs. Shame on you. And tears for you.
The 5th Kong 76 mask was rigged to allow Kong's cheeks to expand as he blows Dwan dry in the waterfall scene.
Learn more in the pages of my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
5 cable-controlled masks gave Kong a wide range of expression: 1 was for "normal" looks, 2 was fixed in a partial roar, and 3 opened in a full roar. 4 was sans cables for long shots where the cables had to be hidden.
Learn more in my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now.
Cinematographer Richard H. Kline, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work on KING KONG 1976, with one of the finished Kong masks created for the movie.
Learn more in my book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON -- REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION, available now in bookstores and online.
For KONG 76, Rick Baker sculpted a face and head for Kong that was used as the basis for the five different Kong masks the masks used to complete the costume.
Learn more in the pages of my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
THIS VOYAGE, the Treksperts are joined by author of the new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON to dissect the most gonzo #StarTrek movie never made, PLANET OF THE TITANS. Go crazy with the Treksperts wherever you listen to podcasts and on You Tube.
open.spotify.com/episode/3xiA...
NEXT VOYAGE, author RAY MORTON joins us to talk about the anniversary of KING KONG as we celebrate the beast that beauty killed. Available wherever you listen to podcasts and on You Tube this Thursday.
The Kong costume for KK 1976 created by Carlo Rambaldi and Rick Baker consisted of a foam rubber undersuit and covered with an outer skin crafted from bear skins.
Learn more in the pages of my new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON, available now in bookstores and and online.
UK friends: KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON -- REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION will be available in the UK beginning 11 June 2026. You can pre-order it from the Bloomsbury UK site. The listing on the Amazon UK site will be updated soon.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/king-kong...
In the 1976 remake of KING KONG, Kong was portrayed by an actor in a Kong costume, only one far more sophisticated than the ones used in the Toho films.
Learn more in new book KING KONG: THE HISTORY OF A MOVIE ICON -- REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION, available now in bookstores and online.
