long with an engaging plot and convincing special effects, King
Kong is renowned for its music, which is considered by many cinema
experts to be the first legitimate film score. Written by composer Max
Steiner (Gone with the Wind, Casablanca), the melodies paved
the way for the grand orchestral works that, for well over half a century,
have accompanied most big-budget movies. While numerous interpretations of
Steiner's ground-breaking Kong compositions have previously been
issued, the
King Kong Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features selections
actually recorded for the film--including several heretofore unreleased
cuts--in addition to an array of dialogue snippets.
The CD is divided into two distinct sections. The first segment,
subtitled
"The Story of King Kong," lasts over 48 minutes and contains
extensive
vocal elements. Each of the 11 tracks, which sport descriptive names like
"Arrival at Skull Island," "Kong Attacks the Village" and "Death of King
Kong," is lifted directly from the picture, and, taken as a whole,
incorporates nearly every word spoken in the movie. The remainder of the
disc
showcases the "King Kong Music Suite," a 25-minute work that
features
melodies obtained from rare 78-rpm albums and alternate versions of cues
recorded (but not used) by Steiner.
Packaged in a gatefold cardboard sleeve, the King Kong soundtrack
is accompanied by a 38-page booklet that provides information about both
Steiner's compositional techniques and the production history of the
picture.
The text, written primarily by Hollywood historian Rudy Behlmer, is
complemented by numerous photos, sketches and promotional shots from the
film.
Beloved monster movie music
Since its release in 1933, King Kong has remained one of the most
beloved monster movies of all time. Images of the gigantic ape holding
actress Fay Wray in his hand, or snatching airplanes out of the sky while
he stands atop the
Empire State Building, are indelibly etched in the memories of many SF
fans.
Although it obviously doesn't have the same visual impact as the film
itself,
the King Kong Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is equally
engrossing and enjoyable in its own way.
Listeners can certainly feel the excitement and tension as "The Story of
King Kong" unfolds. Stripped of its optical trappings, the
rat-a-tat-tat delivery of the actors and the stirring background music keep
the adventure moving at a brisk pace. And, though Wray's screams
and various crowd noises occasionally go on a bit too long (in part because
the selections are designed to flaunt Steiner's score), the tale itself
plays
out quite effectively as purely aural entertainment.
While clearly valuable from an historical standpoint, the subsequent
"King Kong Music Suite" isn't nearly as compelling. It contains a
few
colorful cues, like the electrifying "Main Title," which opens with Kong's
famous three-note theme, and the emotional "Stolen Love/Humorous Ape," but,
partly due to the limited recording capabilities of the 1930s, most modern
orchestras deliver better-sounding renditions of the movie's well-known
melodies. Nevertheless, the King Kong Original Motion Picture
Soundtrack remains an entertaining album that harks back to an era
when, for audiences of all ages, the gargantuan gorilla truly seemed to be
"The Eighth Wonder of the World!"
