Quotes

Dialogue

Zelman: [learning that Carl has hired a ship to get to a location for his picture] What location, Carl?! You're supposed to be shooting on the back lot! Carl Denham: Yes, I understand that, but fellas, we're not making that film anymore. And I'll tell you why. The story has changed. The script has been rewritten. Life... intervened. I've come into possession of a map. The sole surviving record of an uncharted island. A place that was thought to exist only in myth. Until now... Zelman: Whoa, Carl, slow down. Sleazy Studio Guy: Is he asking for more money? Thuggish Studio Guy: He's asking us to fund a wild goose chase. Carl Denham: Where we're going is the only place on Earth where the geese chase us! I'm talking about a primitive world, never before seen by man. The ruins of an entire civilization. The most spectacular thing you've ever seen. That's where I'll shoot my picture. [After a moment's silence] So, any questions? Sleazy Studio Guy: Will there be action? Carl Denham: Yes. Thugg

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Fay's a size four. Preston: Yes, she is, but she's doing a picture with RKO. Carl Denham: [bitter and defeated] Cooper, huh? I might've known.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Vaudeville, huh? I worked Vaudeville once. That is a tough audience. If you don't kill 'em fast, they kill you. Ann Darrow: Mr. Denham. I want you to know that I'm not in the habit of accepting charity from strangers, or, for that matter... taking things that don't belong to me. Carl Denham: It was obviously a terrible misunderstanding. Ann Darrow: It's just that I haven't been paid in a while... Carl Denham: [mock sincerity] That's awful. Anyway, Ann. May I call you Ann? You wouldn't happen to be a size four by any chance, would you? [Ann pauses mid way through a mouthful of food, her appetite suddenly draining away.] Ann Darrow: What makes you think I'm a size four? Carl Denham: Well, that depends on how much you weigh. [Ann abruptly stands] No, no, no, no. Oh God, no! You've got me all wrong. Miss Darrow, please! I'm not that type of person at all! Ann Darrow: Well then, what type of person are you? Carl Denham: I'm someone you can trust, Ann. I'm a movie producer. [sin

Dialogue

Carl Denham: I'll give you another thousand if you leave right now. Captain Englehorn: Ah, but you haven't given me the first thousand yet.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Two thousand – it's a deal. Will you take a check? Captain Englehorn: Do I have a choice?

Dialogue

Jack Driscoll: Dammit! Carl Denham: I keep telling you, Jack, there's no money in theater. You're much better off sticking with film. Jack Driscoll: I don't do it for the money, Carl. I happen to love theater. Carl Denham: No, you don't. But If you really loved it, you would've jumped.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: She's standing at the railing. She doesn't know it yet, but they are sailing towards disaster. You got that? Jack Driscoll: Okay, so she turns... the first mate is staggering towards her. There's a knife sticking out of his back. Carl Denham: Wait a sec. We're killing off the first mate? Jack Driscoll: That's assuming she knows who the first mate is. Carl Denham: Come on, Jack. It was an honest mistake. Ann is nearsighted. It could have happened to anyone. Jack Driscoll: I was joking, Carl. Carl Denham: The point is she's horrified. She has to look away. And that's when she sees it. Jack Driscoll: Sees what? What? Carl Denham: [intensely] The island. Jack Driscoll: We're filming on an island now? When did this happen? Carl Denham: [shushing] Jack, keep your voice down. I don't want the crew getting spooked. Jack Driscoll: Why would they get spooked? What's it called? Carl Denham: All right. It has a local name... but I'm warning you, Jack, it doesn't sound good. [whisperin

Dialogue

Bruce Baxter: What do you think, Driscoll? Dialogue's got some flow now, huh? Jack Driscoll: It was pure effluence. Bruce Baxter: I beefed up the banter. Jack Driscoll: Try to resist that impulse. Bruce Baxter: It's just a little bit of humor, bud. What are you, a Bolshevik or something? [leaves] Jack Driscoll: [to himself] Actors. Travel the world, but all they ever see is a mirror.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Relax, Captain. We're not going thousands of miles. And if it makes you feel any better, I'll make it worth your while. Captain Englehorn: I tell you, Denham, there's nothing out there. Carl Denham: Well then, I guess you've nothing to lose.

Dialogue

Mr. Hayes: If someone were to tell you this ship was headed for Singapore, what would you say? Lumpy: I would say they're full of it, Mr. Hayes. We turned southwest last night. Carl Denham: Gentlemen, please. We're not looking for trouble, if that's what you two are worried about. Jimmy: No. You're looking for something else. Carl Denham: Yes, we are. We're going to find Skull Island. Find it, film it, show it to the world. For about 25 cents, you get to see the last blank space on the map. Lumpy: I wouldn't be so sure of that. Preston: What do you mean? Is there something you're not telling us? Lumpy: Seven years ago, me and Mr. Hayes were working our passage... on a Norwegian schooner. Mr. Hayes: We picked up a castaway. We found him in the water. He'd been drifting for days. Lumpy: His ship had run aground on an island way west of Sumatra. An island hidden in fog. He spoke of a huge wall... built so long ago... that no one knew who'd made it. A wall over 200 feet high... as strong t

Dialogue

The Venture: [hands out a message to the Captain just outside] Message for you, Captain. Carl Denham: What's going on? [sees Hayes turning the ship with a steering wheel] Hayes, why are we changing course? Hayes: Don't look at me, Denham. You'll have to ask the Captain. Carl Denham: [sees Englehorn] Englehorn, you can't turn this ship around without— Englehorn: [cuts Denham off] Outside, Denham! Right now. [from outside the ship] There's a warrant out for your arrest. Did you know that? Carl Denham: Englehorn, if this is a joke... Englehorn: It's no joke, Denham. I've been ordered to divert to Rangoon. Carl Denham: Another week. I haven't got a film yet. Please, I've risked everything I have on this trip. Captain Engelhorn: No, Denham. You've done more than that. You risked everything I have. Carl Denham: What do you want? Tell me what you want, I'll give you anything! Captain Engelhorn: I want you off my ship.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: [contemplating his arrest] I'm finished. It's over for me, Jack. Jack Driscoll: And how did you think this would end, Carl? Captain Englehorn: Check our position. And while you're at it, use the stars. Hayes: There are no stars, Captain. Jack Driscoll: [examining the map] What is that? Carl Denham: What? Jack Driscoll: That. That right there. Carl Denham: [sarcastically] I don't know. What is it, a huge ink blotch? [looks at the map and sees the disturbing effigy of Kong]

Dialogue

Jimmy: I always wondered how Cortés felt when he first saw the Inca treasure. El Dorado, I believe. Hayes: That wasn't Cortés, Jimmy; that was Pizarro, and he died busted. [After a long pause] So what's on your mind? Jimmy: I'm getting worried about Miss Darrow and the others. [referring to "Heart of Darkness"] Which brings up a couple of questions from this book I've been reading. Do you mind if I...? Hayes: Ask away, Jimmy. Jimmy: Why does Marlow keep going up the river? Why doesn't he turn back? Hayes: There's a part of him that wants to, Jimmy. A part deep inside himself that sounds a warning. But there's another part that needs to know. To defeat the thing which makes him afraid. "We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember because we were traveling in the night of f

Dialogue

Ann Darrow: Who do you suppose could've built that wall? Bruce Baxter: I was up in Angkor once. The Khmer ruins are bigger than this, but at least we know who built them. No one has any idea who constructed these fortifications.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Bring the tripod and all of the film stock. Herb: You wanna go to the six-inch lens? Carl Denham: [considers the size of Kong, who he has just seen for the first time] The wide-angle will do just fine.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: [while filming a herd of Brontosauruses] Walk forward, Bruce. Bruce Baxter: What?! Carl Denham: You're the star of this picture. Get into character and head toward the animals! Bruce Baxter: Those animals are the least of our worries! We're after Miss Darrow, remember? Carl Denham: Look, will you do as you're told? Bruce Baxter: If you insist...

Dialogue

Bruce Baxter: Are you sure about this, Denham? Don't we have a stand-in for this type of thing? Carl Denham: I need you in the shot or people will say they're fake. Bruce Baxter: Nobody's gonna think these are fake!

Dialogue

Jack Driscoll: Bruce, get this through your head. We're not leaving this island without Miss Darrow! Bruce Baxter: Then you can go and keep looking for her. Or you can stick with us as long as you don't hold us up. Either way... you probably won't get off this island alive. Jack Driscoll: You wanna know something, Bruce? I always knew you were nothing like the tough guy on the screen. I just never figured you for a coward. Bruce Baxter: Hey, pal. Hey, wake up. Heroes don't look like me, not in the real world. In the real world, they got clean teeth, a cowlick and a flat stomach. I'm just an actor with a gun, who's lost his motivation. Be seeing ya.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Oh, thank God. Captain Englehorn: Don't thank God. Thank Mr. Baxter. He insisted on a rescue mission. Me? I knew you'd be okay. Bruce Baxter: Just so you know, if it wasn't for me, you'd all be bug chow! Captain Englehorn: That's the thing about cockroaches. No matter how many times you flush them down the toilet... they always crawl back up the bowl. Carl Denham: Hey, buddy? I'm out of the bowl. I'm drying off my wings and trekking across the lid. Captain Englehorn: You wanna know something, Denham? It's a pity you didn't stay down there with Hayes and the others. Jack Driscoll: I'll be seeing you. Captain Englehorn: Driscoll! Don't be a fool! Give it up. It's useless! She's dead. Jack Driscoll: No, she's not. Carl Denham: She's not dead. Jack's gonna bring her back... and the ape will be hard on his heals. That's where we come in. We can still come out of this thing okay. More than okay. Think about it. We came here to make a picture, only to discover something worth mor

Dialogue

Preston: He was right... about there still being some mystery left in this world. And we can all have a piece of it... for the price of an admission ticket. Jack Driscoll: That's the thing you come to learn about Carl. His unfailing ability to destroy the things he loves.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Please remain calm, ladies and gentlemen! We now come to the climax of this savage ritual. The sacrifice of a beautiful young girl. Behold her terror as she is offered to the mighty Kong! Give a big hand, folks, for the bravest girl I have ever met; Ms. Ann Darrow! Actress: [screams, pretending to be scared] Save me from the beast! [Kong roars in rage. Everyone in the auditorium gasps in shock.] No! no!! Help me! No!! Jack: [realizing this is not Ann] Where is she?? Where's Ann? Preston: I have no idea. I heard he offered her all kinds of money and she turned him down flat.

Dialogue

Carl Denham: Here's your story, boys! "Beauty... and the man who saved her from the beast!" Take the pictures. Jack: [Seeing Kong's mounting anger] Oh no... [Kong begins to roar louder and thrashes around on the stage, still chained up.] We have to get these people out of here. [to the audience] Everyone needs to leave! Okay? He thinks that girl is a fake! Come on! Bruce Baxter: Denham, for once in your life, could you please tell that great big ape to be quiet? Carl Denham: Let him roar! It makes a swell picture. [Laughs] Jack: Head for the exits! Bruce Baxter: Excuse me, fellas. Coming through! Coming through, fellas! Actress: Somebody!! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!! Preston: [holds one of the doors open for the panicking patrons] GO! GO! GET OUT!!! Jack: Go! Go now!

Dialogue

Photographer #1: Why'd he do that? Climb up there and get himself cornered? The ape must have known what was coming. Photographer #2: He was just a dumb animal. Didn't know nothing. [Carl Denham comes barging through the crowd to see what has become of his beast] What does it matter? The airplanes got him. Carl Denham: It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty that killed the Beast.

About

Bates: All three "King Kongs"--the classic 1933 version starring Fay Wray, the campy 1976 version starring Jessica Lange and the current epic by "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson--feature a big, black ape who falls in love with a willowy white woman. The unspoken fear about black-white sexual relations has been remarked on by film historians and cultural critics ever since. The 1933 original stoked anxieties about black male hypersexuality. Kong snatches Ann Darrow up and makes off with her as she screams in horror. <br> And the film's supposedly African natives--who offer the heroine up to the giant ape--came from what some critics called the ooga-booga(ph) school of thespian arts. Newsday columnist Jim Pinkerton says the 2005 "Kong", starring a dewy, blond Naomi Watts, shows the story line hasn't evolved all that much. Mr. Jim Pinkerton (Newsday): And for this movie to have been made in 1933 about white people going over to the Third World to capture a large, black being wit