King Kong remake debuts
On this day in 2005 King Kong a remake of the classic 1933 film of the same name about a fictional giant ape who climbs New York Citys Empire State Building opens in theaters.The original King Kong starring Fay Wray as the great apes love interest as well as Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot turned the larger-than-life gorilla into one of Hollywoods most enduring icons.The 1933 film which contains the now-famous line It was beauty killed the beast earned particular notice for its pioneering special effects.The film spawned a series of sequels including Son of King Kong (1933) King Kong vs.
Godzilla (1962) King Kong Escapes (1967) and King Kong Lives (1987).Born on September 15 1907 in Cardston Alberta Canada the actress Fay Wray appeared in some 90 movies during her career but was best known for her role as Ann Darrow an out-of-work actress who travels to Skull Island where King Kong falls in love with her.When the giant ape is later captured and taken to New York City he snatches Wray and climbs up the Empire State Building.Wray was reportedly asked to make a cameo in 2005s King Kong before that could happen however she died at the age of 96 on August 8 2004.In 1976 the producer Dino DeLaurentis released an updated Oscar-nominated version of King Kong featuring Jessica Lange Jeff Bridges and Charles Grodin.
Lange born on April 20 1949 in Cloquet Minnesota made her big-screen debut as Dwan an updated version of Ann Darrow and was panned for her performance by some critics.Lange shook off the criticism and went on to appear in such well-received films as 1979s All That Jazz and 1981s The Postman Always Rings Twice with Jack Nicholson she earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for 1982s Frances.Lange won another Oscar for her supporting role in 1983s Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman.
More Best Actress nominations followed for 1984s Country 1985s Sweet Dreams and 1989s Music Box.She took home her first Best Actress Oscar for 1994s Blue Sky co-starring Tommy Lee Jones.Directed by Peter Jackson (the filmmaker behind the multiple Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy) the 2005 King Kong remake starred Naomi Watts Adrien Brody and Jack Black.The film was a box-office success and won three Academy Awards for Sound Editing Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.
Watts who played Ann Darrow was born September 28 1968 in Shoreham England and raised in Australia.She gained notice in Hollywood with David Lynchs Mulholland Drive (2001) and the 2002 hit horror film The Ring.Among Watts other credits are 21 Grams (2003) with Sean Penn for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination The Painted Veil (2006) with Edward Norton and Eastern Promises (2007) with Viggo Mortensen.
