March 2nd
Thursday March 2nd
In 1933, Hollywood history was made on this date when daredevil filmmaker Merrian C. Cooper unleashed his unique creation upon the world. Billed as the 8th wonder of the world, Cooper’s film “King Kong” broke box office records. The iconic image of the film remains the final scenes where the giant ape, brought in captivity to New York City from his island home of Skull Island, scales the Empire State Building with Fay Wray in his hands, and battles an aerial assault until he is shot down and falls dead to the street on 5th Avenue.
I must have seen the film over a hundred times on local TV in New York (the coolest part was that I could see the Empire State Building from my window as the movie was playing, and always imagined seeing King Kong up there.) In 1976, a remake of the film came out where King Kong climbed the World Trade Center towers instead. It was a flop at the box office. In March of 1983, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original, the Empire State Building attached a giant balloon of King Kong to the top of the building. Unfortunately, the winds of March caused punctures in the balloon and it deflated midway through the exhibition. It was impressive when it was up, and a nice try on their part.
Just last year, an updated CGI version of “King Kong” was released. It was stunning, and brought attention to the great ape (and the Empire State Building, which was depicted in its 1933 form) again. To commemorate this anniversary, I’m writing to the director of the new version, the producer of the 1976 version, and the current owner/operator of the Empire State Building.
Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson is a New Zealand-born filmmaker best-known as the director of the epic trilogy “The Lord of the Rings“, which he adapted from the novel by J. R. R. Tolkien. Jackson first gained attention with his horror comedies, and came to prominence with his movie “Heavenly Creatures“, for which he shared an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. He first saw “King Kong” on TV when he was 9, and it inspired him to be a director.
Dino DeLaurentiis
Dino De Laurentiis, is an Italian movie producer. Since his first movie, “L'ultimo Combattimento“, he has produced nearly 150 movies, including the Fellini classics “La Strada” and “Nights of Cabiria“. In the 1970’s, Dino de Laurentiis relocated to the USA where he set up studios. During this period he made a number of successful films, but he also made a great many flops. It is for his most ambitious productions that De Laurentiis's name has become known - the legendary King Kong remake, as well as “Orca” “Flash Gordon” and “Dune.” During the 1980’s DeLaurentiis also produced the original Hannibal Lecter film “Manhunter”. He passed on adapting Thomas Harris's sequel, “The Silence of the Lambs“, but produced the two followups, “Hannibal” and “Red Dragon”, a remake of “Manhunter.” In 2001 he received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Peter L. Malkin
Peter L. Malkin is Chairman of W&M Properties, Wien & Malkin LLP, and their affiliates, which own and manage many notable landmarks, including the Empire State Building. He was associated with the late Lawrence A. Wien (his father-in-law) for 30 years in the acquisition, ownership, and operation of real estate. He has interests in more than 100 property investments throughout the United States and is general partner or manager in investment entities that own and operate approximately 12,000,000 square feet of office, showroom and retail space and 3,500 apartment units. Mr. Malkin is the Founding Chairman and currently a Director of the Grand Central Partnership and The 34th Street Partnership, and a Director of the Fashion Business Improvement District, together, the largest business improvement districts in the United States. Mr. Malkin is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, amongst other business, civic and charitable organizations. Mr. Malkin received his B.A. Degree summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Harvard College in 1955 and his Law Degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1958.
In 1933, Hollywood history was made on this date when daredevil filmmaker Merrian C. Cooper unleashed his unique creation upon the world. Billed as the 8th wonder of the world, Cooper’s film “King Kong” broke box office records. The iconic image of the film remains the final scenes where the giant ape, brought in captivity to New York City from his island home of Skull Island, scales the Empire State Building with Fay Wray in his hands, and battles an aerial assault until he is shot down and falls dead to the street on 5th Avenue.
I must have seen the film over a hundred times on local TV in New York (the coolest part was that I could see the Empire State Building from my window as the movie was playing, and always imagined seeing King Kong up there.) In 1976, a remake of the film came out where King Kong climbed the World Trade Center towers instead. It was a flop at the box office. In March of 1983, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original, the Empire State Building attached a giant balloon of King Kong to the top of the building. Unfortunately, the winds of March caused punctures in the balloon and it deflated midway through the exhibition. It was impressive when it was up, and a nice try on their part.
Just last year, an updated CGI version of “King Kong” was released. It was stunning, and brought attention to the great ape (and the Empire State Building, which was depicted in its 1933 form) again. To commemorate this anniversary, I’m writing to the director of the new version, the producer of the 1976 version, and the current owner/operator of the Empire State Building.
Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson is a New Zealand-born filmmaker best-known as the director of the epic trilogy “The Lord of the Rings“, which he adapted from the novel by J. R. R. Tolkien. Jackson first gained attention with his horror comedies, and came to prominence with his movie “Heavenly Creatures“, for which he shared an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. He first saw “King Kong” on TV when he was 9, and it inspired him to be a director.
Dino DeLaurentiis
Dino De Laurentiis, is an Italian movie producer. Since his first movie, “L'ultimo Combattimento“, he has produced nearly 150 movies, including the Fellini classics “La Strada” and “Nights of Cabiria“. In the 1970’s, Dino de Laurentiis relocated to the USA where he set up studios. During this period he made a number of successful films, but he also made a great many flops. It is for his most ambitious productions that De Laurentiis's name has become known - the legendary King Kong remake, as well as “Orca” “Flash Gordon” and “Dune.” During the 1980’s DeLaurentiis also produced the original Hannibal Lecter film “Manhunter”. He passed on adapting Thomas Harris's sequel, “The Silence of the Lambs“, but produced the two followups, “Hannibal” and “Red Dragon”, a remake of “Manhunter.” In 2001 he received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Peter L. Malkin
Peter L. Malkin is Chairman of W&M Properties, Wien & Malkin LLP, and their affiliates, which own and manage many notable landmarks, including the Empire State Building. He was associated with the late Lawrence A. Wien (his father-in-law) for 30 years in the acquisition, ownership, and operation of real estate. He has interests in more than 100 property investments throughout the United States and is general partner or manager in investment entities that own and operate approximately 12,000,000 square feet of office, showroom and retail space and 3,500 apartment units. Mr. Malkin is the Founding Chairman and currently a Director of the Grand Central Partnership and The 34th Street Partnership, and a Director of the Fashion Business Improvement District, together, the largest business improvement districts in the United States. Mr. Malkin is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, amongst other business, civic and charitable organizations. Mr. Malkin received his B.A. Degree summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Harvard College in 1955 and his Law Degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1958.
posted by Chris Lucas | 12:19 AM
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