Following the success of King Kong (33) RKO commissioned a sequel, Son of Kong, to be made and released a mere six month after King Kong's theatrical debut.
According to Perry's article what was Son of Kong about?
How was it different then King Kong?
How was it similar?
Perry argues that both King Kong (33) and Son of Kong were influenced by the political climate in which they were made. How so?
How does this explain the two film's differences in narrative and tone?
In Son of Kong, Carl Denham returns as the main character. According to Perry and Andriano how has Denham changed since the events of King Kong (33)?
How has he stayed the same?
Who is Kong's son?
What's he like?
How is he like his father?
How is he different?
Both Snead and Andriano are particularly interested in one specific aspect of Kong's son and how it seems to relate to his overall character.
What is this aspect? What do you make of this?
In 1949, the team behind King Kong (33) - Producer Marian C. Cooper, Director Ernest B. Schoedsack, Writer Ruth Rose, Stop-Motion Animator Willis O'Brien and Actor Robert Armstrong (Denham) - reunited to make another movie about a giant ape: Mighty Joe Young. Both Snead and Andriano go over the plot of Mighty Joe Young.
How is it similar to King Kong (33)?
How is it different?
Actor Robert Armstrong plays a character named Max O'Hara in Mighty Joe Young.
How is O'Hara like King Kong (33)'s Carl Denham?
How is he different?
Snead sees Mighty Joe Young as a return to the themes of colonialism we've previously discussed in relation to the 'Lost World' genre.
What is his evidence for this argument?
Snead and Andriano both note that in making Son of Kong and Mighty Joe Young, creator Marian C. Cooper seems to be trying to "revise" the story of King Kong (33), to make it less tragic for the monster and allow their human characters a chance to redeem themselves.
How does Cooper go about accomplishing this?
How successful do you think he was at accomplishing this?
Whether or not you've seen either of these movies may change your opinion on this issue, but feel free to address this issue regardless.