Above is the final 15 minutes of the 1933 film King Kong, which begins with a shackled Kong being put on display before a Broadway theater audience. Under the harsh glow of stage lights and the relentless snap of flashbulbs, the spectacle quickly turns into chaos as Kong breaks free from his chains.
He storms out of the theater and unleashes havoc across the city, sending panicked crowds fleeing through the streets. In the midst of the chaos, he seizes Ann Darrow (played by Fay Wray) once more and scales the towering Empire State Building.
As dawn breaks over Manhattan, a squadron of biplanes circles the skyscraper and opens fire, leading to the film’s iconic and tragic climax.
To watch the clip, click the above play button at the left of the feature image.
Directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, King Kong combined groundbreaking special effects, a gripping tale of beauty and the beast, and unforgettable visuals that left audiences of its time wide-eyed and breathless.
Released during the Great Depression, the film became a box-office sensation. It grossed over $2 million in its initial run—then a massive success—and drew long lines of moviegoers eager to escape into its fantastical world. Critics praised its innovation and spectacle, cementing its status as a genre-defining classic.
