SON OF KONG (1933)

Prior to the release of  KING KONG, RKO was a studio in financial trouble. The stunning success of KING KONG had the studio in a panic for more of the same.  They immediately set plans for a sequel into action.  In this day and age of hit movies spawning sequel (or several sequels) that doesn't seem so unusual, but for this time period it was an exception.

Willis O'Brien wanted to make an extension of KING KONG starting after Kong was captured and before he arrived in New York but the idea didn't go over well. Instead SON OF KONG was planned.

After the death of KONG in New York, creditors are storming down Carl Denham's neck.  He and the skipper decide to gather a crew and escape from all of their problems. They wind up on a tropical island where they meet a young girl whose father is murdered.  After they leave the island they discover that the girl has stowed away on the ship.

Since most of the crew was made up of criminals who despises the hard work at sea a mutiny occurs sending Denham, the Skipper, Charlie the cook, the young girl and the man who murdered her father adrift at sea.  They land on Skull Island where the natives react with hostility because their intervention has caused Kong to destroy their village. They find another place on the island to land their ship. While exploring, Denham and the girl find a little Kong that is about 12 feet high. The Baby Kong is dubbed Son Of Kong. Little Kong is trapped in quicksand and Denham feels guilty for what happened to King Kong and rescues the ape. This action befriends the gorilla to Denham who in return, rescues them when a giant bear attacks.

They find treasure on the island, but just as the island erupts in turmoil and begins to sink into the sea.  Denham finds himself  trapped on the island and climbs to the top of it's highest point along with baby Kong. The skipper and Charlie row their boat towards them but they won't make it until little Kong lifts them on his hand, sacrificing his own life to save them.

It is rare when a sequel equals or surpasses the original film and SON OF KONG is no exception. While KING KONG had plenty of time to be prepared and developed, SON OF KONG was released to theaters 6 months after the original film. It was rushed and everything shows it except Willis O'Brien's effects. This script is weaker and relies more on comic elements making it a much lighter film than KING KONG. But with all of that said, SON OF KONG is still a good film.

It is a shame that SON OF KONG is often criticized because it is always compared to KING KONG. It may be impossible to think as though KING KONG had never been made, but if it hadn't, SON OF KONG would be looked upon with kinder eyes. It is a gentler film that it's predecessor and while it lacks the grandeur of the original Kong it is still filled with adventure.

O'Brien's effects are skillfully executed and the matte paintings create the same depth and feeling of fantasy as the original. Since little Kong is only half the size of the original Kong, their couldn't be the giant dinosaur fight sequences like in the original.  In all it's a fun film with excellent effects and remains recommendable for good family entertainment

SON OF KONG

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