The special effects in this film are amazing. King Kong climbing up the Empire State Building is unforgettable. The director put a lot of time, energy and perspiration into making it work. Because, technology was definitely not on his side. There were no computers to make the beast operate more efficiently. King Kong was inched up the building frame by frame. It was somebody’s hand and a steady eye that made it happen.

In combating the limitations of his craft, Merian Cooper used miniatures of Kong and the Empire State Building and shot from a distant perspective. This style of cinematography made the scene, and the rest of the movie, at least somewhat believable. An amazing feat considering how fake the ape looked up close.

This film could have easily fallen victim to it’s own inadequacies. Most of the props were very mechanical and cumbersome. If a lesser director had been at the helm, we would not be debating it’s merits today, more than 70 years after it’s premier. This film was masterfully directed.