Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

For the discussion of Toho produced and distributed films or shows released before 1980.
User avatar
Terasawa
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 5841
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by Terasawa »

LSD Jellyfish wrote:So I finished the full film, again. Honestly, not too much is different or changed. There's some minor development with Madame Piranha that gets removed, and some characterization with Who as well, but really both films are identical. Either cut is fine and has advantages and disadvantages with it's cast. The Japanese cut offers some slight clarity into what is going on and the present goals are.
You'd never believe it from the different run times (the U.S. version is about eight minutes shorter) but yeah.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.

The Killer Meteor
Yojimbo
Posts: 47
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 5:55 am

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by The Killer Meteor »

Given Kong's popularity, I'm surprised Universal never released it to VHS during the 80s or 90s

edgaguirus
Keizer
Posts: 8559
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:25 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by edgaguirus »

Eight minutes isn't missing much.
I've got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.

Then expect something that's fiercer, more cruel, and deadly than anything that's walked the Earth.

User avatar
LSD Jellyfish
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 14248
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:57 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by LSD Jellyfish »

edgaguirus wrote: Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:58 pm Eight minutes isn't missing much.
That was from nearly over a year ago, but yeah. Both cuts are fine, though there's like a minute lost that gives Madam Piranha some good development.

I might re-watch this in anticipation of Godzilla vs. Kong. It's kind of funny because this is one of the big films that first turns kong into a more sympathetic creature.
Spirit Ghidorah 2010 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:54 pm Anno-san pleasures me more than Yamasaki-san.

Online
User avatar
LegendZilla
Sazer
Posts: 10354
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:57 am
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by LegendZilla »

I’m surprised that they did not use Haruo Nakajima’s real eyes when he donned the Kong suit.

User avatar
Terasawa
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 5841
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by Terasawa »

edgaguirus wrote: Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:58 pm Eight minutes isn't missing much.
Well, what was lost in those eight minutes doesn't amount to much, but eight minutes on its own is actually quite a bit of material to be cut. There aren't many Americanized Toho films with a larger runtime discrepancy between Japanese and U.S. releases. Most of the ones that surpass it are the ones which inserted new actors (both Burr Godzillas, Varan, KKvG, etc.) or restructured their respective original versions (the Rodan or The Human Vapor variety).

Unlike most of those movies, Rankin/Bass' version of KKE still feels like a faithful adaptation of the original film. In that regard, it's a lot like TriStar's Godzilla 2000.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.

AaronMJ90
Ronin
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:05 am

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by AaronMJ90 »

I always liked the film although it bothered me Kong was shorter when he seems to be the same one from GVKK that was masssive.

User avatar
Spuro
Keizer
Posts: 9532
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:34 pm
Location: Monster Island

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by Spuro »

AaronMJ90 wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:21 pm I always liked the film although it bothered me Kong was shorter when he seems to be the same one from GVKK that was masssive.
Image

Different island, different reputation, different relationship with the natives. Even if you lump King Kong Escapes into the Showa Godzilla continuity, it would probably be a completely different Kong.
Last edited by Spuro on Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
eabaker wrote: You can't parse duende.
Breakdown wrote: HP Lovecraft's cat should be the ultimate villain of the MonsterVerse.

AaronMJ90
Ronin
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:05 am

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by AaronMJ90 »

Kaiju-King42 wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:39 pm
AaronMJ90 wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:21 pm I always liked the film although it bothered me Kong was shorter when he seems to be the same one from GVKK that was masssive.
Different island, different reputation, different relationship with the natives. Even if you lump King Kong Escapes into the Showa Godzilla continuity, it would probably be a completely different Kong.
Him being a smaller one of the species and the people not realising its a different one makes more sense and annoys me less I guess. I need to rewatch it.

User avatar
Terasawa
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 5841
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by Terasawa »

Gorosaurus in DAM ended up muddling things a bit, but King Kong Escapes is really supposed to be a standalone film.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.

edgaguirus
Keizer
Posts: 8559
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:25 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by edgaguirus »

Keep in mind that DAM was supposed to be the last film, and so they just tossed in every kaiju they could to make the film epic.

KKE has more to do with a cartoon. Think of it as a live version of the animation.
I've got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.

Then expect something that's fiercer, more cruel, and deadly than anything that's walked the Earth.

User avatar
LSD Jellyfish
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 14248
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:57 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by LSD Jellyfish »

I’m glad Gorosaurus got randomly inserted into DAM. For what is essentially a generic dinosaur intended to be fodder for Kong, it’s got a fantastic suit, and some memorable abilities. Bumping it up to Godzilla size and having it briefly do some cool stuff in DAM, sure made it not be a forgettable monster.
Spirit Ghidorah 2010 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:54 pm Anno-san pleasures me more than Yamasaki-san.

User avatar
eabaker
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 13758
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:16 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by eabaker »

LSD Jellyfish wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 6:43 am I’m glad Gorosaurus got randomly inserted into DAM. For what is essentially a generic dinosaur intended to be fodder for Kong, it’s got a fantastic suit, and some memorable abilities.
Also, one of the greatest figures in the classic Bandai 8" line.
Tokyo, a smoldering memorial to the unknown, an unknown which at this very moment still prevails and could at any time lash out with its terrible destruction anywhere else in the world.

User avatar
JAGzilla
Sazer
Posts: 11816
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:45 pm
Location: Georgia

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by JAGzilla »

I never actually thought about how lucky Gorosaurus was to get his big break in DAM. He'd probably be as forgotten as the poor Giant Sea Snake if his suit hadn't happened to be available at the right time.
"Stop wars and no more accidents. I guess that's all I can ask." -Akio

User avatar
LSD Jellyfish
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 14248
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:57 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by LSD Jellyfish »

JAGzilla wrote: Wed Feb 24, 2021 12:52 pm I never actually thought about how lucky Gorosaurus was to get his big break in DAM. He'd probably be as forgotten as the poor Giant Sea Snake if his suit hadn't happened to be available at the right time.
Giant Sea Snake feels like what many people assume Gorosaurus to be: complete fodder.
Image
Image

Gorosaurus was heavily featured in the films advertising. I think it's really the quality of the suit that did it.
Last edited by LSD Jellyfish on Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Spirit Ghidorah 2010 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:54 pm Anno-san pleasures me more than Yamasaki-san.

User avatar
Spuro
Keizer
Posts: 9532
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:34 pm
Location: Monster Island

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by Spuro »

Eh... I’m of the opinion that this is one of the weaker Toho kaiju outputs from the 60s. I can understand why it’s overlooked by general audiences.

Still, it’s better than most of its competitors in 1967 — Gappa; The X From Outer Space; Yongary; possibly Gamera vs Gyaos, but that’s debatable. Just goes to show you how even Toho’s weaker outputs at the time were still ahead of the pack.
Last edited by Spuro on Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
eabaker wrote: You can't parse duende.
Breakdown wrote: HP Lovecraft's cat should be the ultimate villain of the MonsterVerse.

edgaguirus
Keizer
Posts: 8559
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:25 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by edgaguirus »

I love X From Outer Space as much as KKE. They're both very fun movies.
I've got a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it.

Then expect something that's fiercer, more cruel, and deadly than anything that's walked the Earth.

User avatar
MaxRebo320
EDF Instructor
Posts: 2893
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:56 pm
Location: albaquarky
Contact:

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by MaxRebo320 »

AaronMJ90 wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:53 pm
Kaiju-King42 wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:39 pm
AaronMJ90 wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:21 pm I always liked the film although it bothered me Kong was shorter when he seems to be the same one from GVKK that was masssive.
Different island, different reputation, different relationship with the natives. Even if you lump King Kong Escapes into the Showa Godzilla continuity, it would probably be a completely different Kong.
Him being a smaller one of the species and the people not realising its a different one makes more sense and annoys me less I guess. I need to rewatch it.
I wouldn't take it too seriously, but there's a sort of fun theory that has King Kong Escapes taking place in the then-future, between Terror of Mechagodzilla and Destroy All Monsters. Some character's unfamiliarity with Kong and considering him more of a legend is due to him disappearing after the events of KKVG and getting overshadowed by all the other monsters. It having a semi-futuristic setting could also explain the presence of hovercars, albeit practically all of these movies feature advanced technology despite contemporary settings. Mechanikong could have been based off of Mechagodzilla and designed as a weapon against all of the attacking monsters. The KKE Kong might be a different induvial from the KKVG one, though I'll admit I can kind of squint at the whole inconsistent size thing. Not sure what to make of Gorosaurus though, considering he was apparently living on Monster Island circa 1972.
Beta Capsule Reviews - Your Guide to Ultraman & other Tokusatsu episode-by-episode!
https://betacapsulereviews.wordpress.com
three wrote:leave me be maxrebo! damn you and your ability to play the game here....

User avatar
LSD Jellyfish
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 14248
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:57 pm

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by LSD Jellyfish »

MaxRebo320 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 5:42 pmIt having a semi-futuristic setting could also explain the presence of hover car
I know the film has a giant robotic ape, but the hover car was always an element that stuck out to me like a sore thumb.
Spirit Ghidorah 2010 wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:54 pm Anno-san pleasures me more than Yamasaki-san.

User avatar
Spuro
Keizer
Posts: 9532
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:34 pm
Location: Monster Island

Re: Talkback: King Kong Escapes (1967)

Post by Spuro »

MaxRebo320 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 5:42 pm Not sure what to make of Gorosaurus though, considering he was apparently living on Monster Island circa 1972.
The simplest explanation in the context of this fan theory: There's more than one Gorosaurus. Toho Showa monsters had a habit of coming in pairs.

Added in 1 minute 1 second:
LSD Jellyfish wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 5:48 pm
MaxRebo320 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 5:42 pmIt having a semi-futuristic setting could also explain the presence of hover car
I know the film has a giant robotic ape, but the hover car was always an element that stuck out to me like a sore thumb.
Haha. I know, right? The main characters otherwise travel by a perfectly normal submarine, or by helicopter.
eabaker wrote: You can't parse duende.
Breakdown wrote: HP Lovecraft's cat should be the ultimate villain of the MonsterVerse.

Post Reply