In this thrilling episode, we delve into the legendary tale of King Kong, as recounted by Captain Englehorn, who once commanded the SS Sumatra. The story begins with a mysterious charter by filmmaker Denham, who hires the ship to venture into the uncharted waters of the Southwest Pacific. As the crew sets sail, they are unaware of the perilous adventure that awaits them, involving a giant beast known as Kong. The narrative unfolds with suspense and danger, as the crew encounters prehistoric creatures and faces the wrath of Kong, who is eventually captured and brought to New York City for public display.
The episode captures the dramatic escape of Anne Darrow, the actress involved in Denham's film, from the clutches of Kong, and the subsequent chaos that ensues when Kong breaks free in New York. The climactic showdown atop the Empire State Building is a testament to the clash between modernity and the primal forces of nature. This retelling of King Kong's saga is not only a thrilling adventure but also a reflection on the consequences of human ambition and the untamed power of nature.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon
Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
[00:00:00]
Unknown:
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
[00:00:31] Unknown:
Yeah. That's the old ship sitting out there. The SS Sumatra. A good ship, but I never want to sail with her again. I was her captain for many years. Mostly the South Pacific, Surabaya, The Philippines, Java, Ceylon, and up and down the West Coast Of India. We had adventures, this old steel lady and me. But the last one was the worst one. It was a long time ago, but I'll never forget it. I still wake up at night screaming, and I don't scare easily. The newspapers carry the story of Kong. King Kong was what Denim called the beast. Who was Denim?
I'll tell you the story about Denim, Driscoll, Anne, and the monster King Kong. I first met Denham. I think it was in 1932. Yeah. We were laid up here in New York Harbor. No cargo, no credit. A full crew to pay and I had no money. It was winter, a heavy snow, Christmas coming. And if the devil came up that game plan and asked me to sail him to hell, if he had the money, I would have given him the best cabin and sailed on the first tide. This was my cabin. I remember sitting here very worried when Driscoll, my first mate, knocked on the door. Come.
A man came aboard, captain. Says he must see you. Mister Driscoll, if he's a bill collector, tell him I've jumped ship. He drove up to the dock in a chauffeur driven car. So? Well, I don't stand that. Tell him I'll be delighted to see him. That's what he said. Captain Englehorn, mister Denham. Sit down, sir. Thank you. And, what can I do for you?
[00:02:32] Unknown:
Captain, I wanna charter your boats. I'm Denham of Denham Motion Pictures Incorporated. My company makes travel films. I want you to take me, my cameraman, and Acura two to the Southwest Pacific. I've been told you're familiar with the area.
[00:02:49] Unknown:
More than familiar. The Pacific is where I got my sea legs and learned my trade. Where exactly is your destination?
[00:02:57] Unknown:
That's something I can't tell you until we get there. Where? Her ship must have a destination. A point on the chart to sail to, mister Dan. I have the exact longitude and latitude. I'll give them to you after we reach the East Indies. Now for the services of your ship, crew, yourself, I'm prepared to pay a more than generous sum.
[00:03:20] Unknown:
A more than generous sum. Well, times were bad, and a sailor might just as well be a farmer if he's not at sea. I agree to mister Denham's deal. But if I could have seen ahead, I would have thrown mister Denham overboard.
[00:03:40] Unknown:
Secure that number three hat. Myself. Away. Easy now.
[00:03:50] Unknown:
Mister Driscoll, sir, I want to hoist acres and sail on the uptight. Anxious to get underway? I get sick living on shore too long. Well, engine room reports. Steam is up to full. Well, I'll be glad to get away from this cold. Oh, heading south then. South and east. And that's all I know. Mister Dennis, punctual. Send two men down to help him with his gear, mister Driscoll. Aye, sir. There's a woman with him. I recognize the outlines, Mr. Driscoll.
[00:04:26] Unknown:
Two men to the dock, also.
[00:04:29] Unknown:
And, make ready to cast off, Mr. Driscoll. Aye, sir. Denim and his movie people came aboard and was shown to their cabins below decks. Anne Darrow, a beautiful young lady, was an out of work actress who asked no questions. She had a job, and the idea of spending time in the tropics appealed to her. Stand by to cast off all lines. Sing up, mister Driscoll.
[00:05:09] Unknown:
Sing off. Forward up.
[00:05:13] Unknown:
Cast off, mister Driscoll. Let's go for and out. Helmsman, all are stern slow. Let the tide take her.
[00:05:32] Unknown:
Aye, Aye, sir.
[00:05:37] Unknown:
Arnabord.
[00:05:40] Unknown:
Arnabord here, sir.
[00:05:43] Unknown:
Now make chips.
[00:05:46] Unknown:
Make chips here, sir. All ahead, sir. All ahead, sir.
[00:05:57] Unknown:
Take over the helm, mister Driscoll. I'll give you the new course when we clear the Ambrose Light. Aye, sir. I will leave you now, sir. I'll be below to check with our passengers. I tried very hard to be friendly with mister Denham, but that was very difficult. So we arrived at a working agreement. He was in charge of his crew. I was in charge of the ship. But nothing, I could say, would get Denim to give me the slightest hint of our destination. I even had Driscoll speak with a girl. He was, at that time, a handsome young man, and I knew he upheld the traditions of the sea by having a girl in every form.
[00:06:48] Unknown:
No. No. I'm not much of an actress. Just a beginner, and this is quite a chance for me. What are you supposed to do?
[00:06:55] Unknown:
Has Denham shown you
[00:06:57] Unknown:
a script? No. He said we'd play the scenes as they happen. It's a travelogue, so I suppose I'll be sitting around watching natives dance or fish or hunt or something like that. Well, that doesn't seem like too much. I'm the only actor in the company, so it'll be plenty for me.
[00:07:14] Unknown:
Well, mister Driscoll, what do you think of our star?
[00:07:18] Unknown:
As pretty as I've ever seen, mister Dunham.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
I thought sailors only talked that way in books. Oh, there's a bit of truth in everything, mister Driscoll.
[00:07:26] Unknown:
I might be able to use that line, mister Driscoll. And I wanna run some film tests, the camera set up front. Board, mister Darrow. Yeah. Board. Up ahead in the nose of the boat, the plow is what it's called. Oh, you know what I mean. And put on some makeup, eye shadow, lipstick. We'll take a look.
[00:07:45] Unknown:
He's not much of a sailor. He'll learn or captain Englehart will toss him to the sharks. Well, you better go along up to the nose in the boat.
[00:07:57] Unknown:
Denham had set up cameras up forward on the foredeck. He had the girl leaning on a bollock. The weather was getting warmer as we headed south. A good ship, a farm sea, and people going about their work.
[00:08:12] Unknown:
Okay, Anne. Yes. Look around. Roll the cameras. Action. Anne, look to your right. Now look left. Now look at me. That's right. Now you see something. You don't know what it is. Slowly now. You're amazed by it. Hold that. Now you become frightened. It's nothing you've ever seen before. It's coming closer. Oh. Closer. Closer. You're too frightened to run. You're helpless. You can't scream. You're trying to hide it from your eyes. Good. Now scream. Scream. Scream for your life. It was only a simple screen test just to see how well Anne can follow direction.
[00:09:13] Unknown:
But, mister Denim, it would seem to me you had some purpose. A poor kid was terrified.
[00:09:18] Unknown:
She's in her cabin now. Won't let anyone come near her. Oh, that just means she's a good actress. There's something you're not telling us, Denham. That's perfectly correct, mister. And I don't intend to tell you until I'm ready.
[00:09:32] Unknown:
You tell us now,
[00:09:35] Unknown:
Dennis. Now look, mister. I chartered this ship. You go where I tell you to go, and when I tell my actress to scream, she screams. And it's none of your business, sailor. Mister Driscoll, the leader. Mister Driscoll, stop it.
[00:09:55] Unknown:
Mister Driscoll, you will go on deck and cool your temper. Mister Dedham, you will go below to your cabin. Oh, don't give me any orders. I don't go downstairs for anybody. The expression is below, mister Denham. I am master of life and death aboard this vessel and you will go below or I will have you locked in the brig. A brig means a prison, mister Denham. Mister Driscoll. Aye, sir. You better behave as a first mate should. If you expect to command your own ship, you cannot make clear decisions when your mind is muddled with personal feelings. The safety of the ship and her crew is your first concern.
You can break Denham's neck when we're safe in port. Is that clear?
[00:10:38] Unknown:
Aye aye, sir. Very clear.
[00:10:50] Unknown:
Somewhere, saw Hatteras, we ran into bad weather. The waves were running high and the sea broke over the bridge. As sometimes happens in a storm, we shook loose some of the cargo. I sent Bristol below to make everything secure. He was a good sailor, so I left it all in his hands. But below decks in number two hold this is the captain.
[00:11:15] Unknown:
No. I can't believe, sir.
[00:11:17] Unknown:
Problems, mister Driscoll?
[00:11:19] Unknown:
Yes, sir. You're not gonna take a look.
[00:11:23] Unknown:
In the older type ships, you had to cross the deck to get to the cargo patches. Safety lines were rigged and I held down for dear life. As I crossed the deck to Number 2 Hole, I was annoyed with Bristol, but I knew he would never call me unless he had a good place. These crates, Carlos, captain. This one broke open. Goddamn him. Denim has enough here to start a war. Dynamite, hand grenades. There's a case of high powered rifles, ammunition, gas grenades. Why would he need these to make movies? Yes, sir. That's what I was wondering. Just nail up the crates and say nothing. I, sir. Denham said all he was carrying was motion picture equipment and supplies for six months.
As far as I'm concerned, that's all he is carrying. I we know of nothing else. None of these guns and dynamite will be unloaded from the ship. Keep the hatch closed and locked, mister Driskell, and give me the keys. We made good time on our way through the Panama Canal into the Pacific through every type of weather. Now the skies were clear and blue as the days grew from warm to hot. On a course of south by west past Pitjarn Island, Rapha, then along the Tropic Of Capricorn, almost to the Fiji's. Then at twenty degrees south latitude and a hundred and sixty degrees longitude west from Greenwich with New Caledonia dead ahead.
Come. Mister Denham. Captain,
[00:13:18] Unknown:
I believe we've been making excellent time. So it depends on where we're heading. You know, Lord Howe Island? Dead south of us, mister Denham. And change course Southeast Of Howe Island to forty degrees south and a hundred and forty degrees, twenty minutes east latitude. That's our destination. My charts show no islands there? That's the fault of the charts, cap. And I assure you that there is an island there and that is our destination.
[00:13:43] Unknown:
And for what reason, mister Denham?
[00:13:46] Unknown:
The weirdest, wildest, most impossible thing you've ever seen. I'm gonna make a movie the likes of which has never been made before. Have you ever heard of the word
[00:13:56] Unknown:
Kong? There are many things I haven't heard. And I, captain.
[00:14:00] Unknown:
I first heard about Kong some five years ago. The man who told me was mad, raving. I would have dismissed the whole story if I hadn't seen a few feet of film he brought back. What I saw was enough to start me on my way.
[00:14:14] Unknown:
And frankly, captain, now that we're almost there, I'm a little scared. You aren't the first man to be scared by a rumor. Oh, you forget the film. I include the film. You know, lights and shadows make strange images.
[00:14:27] Unknown:
That is all your Kong is. Believe me. Pardon me would like to believe you, but the other half knows better. Then what is Kong if not imagination? Not imagination, captain. Kong is some strange kind of giant beast.
[00:14:50] Unknown:
Helmsman, all ahead slow. Rolling upcast happens, so what are you doing? Helmsman, all stop. Let go of the ankles, mister Driscoll. Let's
[00:15:08] Unknown:
go, Boone.
[00:15:12] Unknown:
Captain
[00:15:15] Unknown:
Englehorn. Captain Egelhorn. Do you hear the drums?
[00:15:21] Unknown:
Nothing unusual about drums in this part of the world. All away, number one boat, mister Drisker.
[00:15:30] Unknown:
Stand by number one boat.
[00:15:37] Unknown:
We headed for sure. And the closer we came to the island, the more I was sorry we left our guns aboard the Sumatra. The beach was lined with native warriors armed with spears and shields. I would not call it a hospitable welcome. Behind the beach, the forest began. And rising above the trees, a most incredible sight. A wall, perhaps 40 feet high, made all of stone and running the length of the island as far as I could see. I looked at Denham and remembered the story he had told of Kong. For the first time, I began to believe that he was telling the truth. Anything seemed possible now.
[00:16:24] Unknown:
Mister Driscoll, look. That native girl. Captain,
[00:16:28] Unknown:
there in the center.
[00:16:30] Unknown:
There's a girl tied hand and foot. Stand too, mister Driscoll. Don't try to be a hero. These people have their own customs. Listen now, all of you. If you're frightened, don't show it. This is good acting practice for all of us, mister Dunham. You call
[00:16:49] Unknown:
this land couple. Ranger not belong. Many death here. Chief, we come from far away.
[00:17:00] Unknown:
Ship sails very long time. We here, Kong.
[00:17:05] Unknown:
Kung, not for you.
[00:17:18] Unknown:
The girl's a sacrifice.
[00:17:21] Unknown:
You're a woman with gold hair. You give to great God. I give you many things.
[00:17:31] Unknown:
Frisco, get Anne out of here back to the boat. Move. Great chief, Woman with golden hair not for Kong. She belong to us. Did him stop back slowly. No. Panic. Mighty chief. Very powerful. Me chief, I'm more powerful. All the golden hair belong me. Get him. Pull back. He's thinking it over. When he makes up his mind, we'd better be off this island. It was a close call. We had raised the boat beyond the breakers when the natives reached the beach. Safe on board the ship, I tried to get Denham to leave the island, but his desire for making movies got the better of his judgment. I agreed to stay when he promised he'd leave Anne aboard ship.
The drums sounded throughout the night. We could see the flickering campfires on the beach. I thought of that poor native girl tied up as a sacrifice for Kong. We slept fitfully that night. Then sometime during the middle watch, Driscoll informed me that Anne was missing. We searched the ship, but she had gone. Anne had been taken by a war party of natives who had climbed aboard and captured her. Anne was to be a sacrifice to Kong. From the sounds coming from the island, there was little time for action. Mister Driscoll. Hi, sir. If five men open up number two hold.
Mister Denham, I will overlook your bringing arms aboard this ship without permission. You will come along with a party. Under double, mister Driscoll. See that rifles, ammunition, hand grenades, gas grenades are each to call the men. I've never seen anything that huge, mister Denham. We should have brought Cannon. Rifles will be of little use against a monster that's We must get Anne. We can't leave her. No. And it's leaving the girl. But can we fight that beast? You can stay here and discuss what you're going to do. I'm going out to come. Kong, like a heavy tank, broke through the rainforest.
Trees had fallen before him, and he left footprints 12 feet long. From time to time we could see Kong's great head over the treetops. This was a nightmare world we had come to. We were now in what seemed to be a slice of prehistoric times which somehow found a way to survive until now. All around us were gigantic furls,
[00:21:41] Unknown:
strange trees to animals,
[00:21:43] Unknown:
great deserts that should have been long since day. Had it not been for the thought of the girl, I would have turned back many times. I am brave enough in the world, I know, but here. The trail of Khan led us through what looked like a prehistoric wing of a museum come to life. Denim, in spite of the dangers, took time to identify the beasts as we saw them. Stagosaurus, Triceratops, Magatherium, Magocerops, Hyanodon. Buying things, crawling things. It would have interested me more if they didn't look at us like we were a good meal on the move. He's up ahead, Captain.
What about Anne? Alive so far ahead. How far ahead? Kong is across a deep ravine about a thousand feet dropped to the bottom, maybe a hundred feet across. There might be a way to go around it. If the girl is alive, we cannot take the chance of going around. I had the men cut down a large tree and wrap it across the chasm to use it as a right. On the other side, I could see Kong. I was certain we were near his lair. First, I sent four of my men across. The beast saw them. He gently placed Anne down on the ground and then he started for the log. Those four men held down for dear life as that giant monster shook and rolled the log.
Finally, Kang lifted the hundredth good tree and slammed it back on the ground. The log was cracked but in place across the chasm. The four men were dead. And Khan guarded the far edge of the chasm. We had no choice but to go back. Anne was lost to us. Over there. What what kind of beast is that? It's going for Anne. Time to scat off.
[00:24:01] Unknown:
Come come, Caesar. What is that thing? Can't tell exactly.
[00:24:06] Unknown:
It's something like tyrannosaur, Heliosyncus. A man eater.
[00:24:22] Unknown:
This was a battle of prehistoric monsters come to life while we modern men, modern with modern weapons, took powerless to beat anything. While the two giants fought, Driscoll picked up Anne who had fainted on Sharp and raced across the cracked tree which lay across the chasm. Vang had defeated a 30 foot lizard that stood 18 feet tall. None would catch us there was no escape, no place of safety, except maybe one. That was down the side of the chasm to the rushing river. We started down. Kong stood above us, glaring down at us.
Do you think, Thomas, what kind of killers? I couldn't understand why he let us live. And then I realized that monstrosity, that relic from a million years ago, had a heart. It didn't want to hurt the girl. Kong seemed almost cool in them. I almost knew what he would do next. He would meet us downstream, some place where he could get in without harming her, then kill the rest of us. We tried to dig in the middle of the river while Khan followed us along the banks, roaring and beating his chest. And then we saw the rock carol that led the river underneath the huge wall out to safety.
Kong left us little choice. We tried smiling at each other, then took deep breaths and let the current carry us through to the other side of the wall in safety. Anne
[00:26:18] Unknown:
Anne, are you alright? Oh, that thing. That horrible thing. I thought I was losing my mind. I'll never be able to forget it. Never. Never as long as I live. Anne, don't think about it. That's the end of Kong.
[00:26:30] Unknown:
Captain, we'd make a fortune if we could bring Khan alive to The States. I'd rather be a live sea captain, mister Denham. Just think about it. Zenham Enterprises presents King Khan. Bravo.
[00:26:46] Unknown:
I don't think that big ape would sign a contract, Denim. Go ahead. Ask him.
[00:26:55] Unknown:
Run for the shore.
[00:27:00] Unknown:
Go on. Run. I'm gonna try and get him. He'll rip you to bits, then. Come on. Let go. A couple of gas grenades ought to stop him dead. One under, one under, one in front. It's still coming. Three of those would have put a leg went to sleep. It's impossible,
[00:27:24] Unknown:
complained to the company who made them. Get to the boat. Come on, Denham.
[00:27:32] Unknown:
Wait. The gas grenades, they're working.
[00:27:39] Unknown:
Mister Denham, I think you're a very brave but foolish man. He's all yours.
[00:27:45] Unknown:
Yeah. He's all
[00:27:50] Unknown:
And Denham, he's all mine. I'll take him to the boat.
[00:27:54] Unknown:
Poor Kong. He looks so harmless now.
[00:28:08] Unknown:
It took most of a day to get Kong out to the ship and placed in the hold. I had anchor chain welded over the hatch. We had a pretty good prison for the giant ape. Kong was beaten and he knew it. He did nothing except, now and then, trying to knock out the sides of the ship. Only Anne could calm him down. She would stand by the hatchway and speak to the beast.
[00:28:36] Unknown:
Poor thing. Poor calm. No one will hurt you. Anne is here.
[00:28:44] Unknown:
Couldn't hurt him if we tried.
[00:28:47] Unknown:
A little sad to see anything in captivity. Oh, he's done enough damage in his day, Anne. He was only protecting himself.
[00:28:54] Unknown:
And we were only trying to protect you.
[00:28:57] Unknown:
Where are you?
[00:29:00] Unknown:
Let's get away from your friend. There is an old sailor's wish, calm sea and prosperous voyage, which we had going back. Mister Driscoll and Anne asked me to be best man, but I was captain and couldn't marry them if I accepted that honor. Mister Denham was best man. Anne and Driscoll became man and wife. When we sailed into New York Harbor, we were a happy ship carrying the strangest cargo ever to come into that port. Denim had a theater rented in the middle of New York City in Times Square. There were plenty who'd pay to see this prehistoric killer. And just as many who thought Kong was a fake, but would pay just to oh and ah, Kong was no longer the beast from that prehistoric jungle.
He was frightened and beaten and he went wherever Denim took him. Kong seemed like some monstrous organ grinder's monkey. It was the first night that Kong was to be shown. The theater was plastered with signs. Gene Kong, the name Denham had given the great ape. Denham asked me to be in the audience to introduce me as the captain who shared all the dangers. Driscoll and Anne were also there. Denham said love interest was very important. In spite of himself, he was a brave man and that he had to respect. The drifting went up. Ladies and gentlemen,
[00:30:46] Unknown:
a beast out of history, out of place, out of time,
[00:30:52] Unknown:
a sight once seen by cavemen,
[00:30:55] Unknown:
but never before viewed by modern man. Ladies and gentlemen, King Kong.
[00:31:07] Unknown:
Ong frightened by the sounds of a strange world began pulling at this huge chain. He looked out into the audience and he saw Anne. We rushed her out of the theater. As the crowds panicked, Kong trampled them as he went after Anne. Kong, loose in the city, police and fire departments useless as Kong began his search for the girl. The city came to a stop. No place was saved. There was no place to hide as Kong raged up and down the streets, crushing everything in his way. Driscoll and I hurried and back to the ship with the idea of getting underway and out to sea, but we never would have made it. Kong, with that logic peculiar to the great apes, made his way to the river and to the ship.
He saw us. He saw Anne. And then the great monster reached out. He took Anne.
[00:32:26] Unknown:
Army Air Force Roosevelt Field, officer of the base team. Yes, sir. There's a fighter squadron. Well, I suggest you call the zoo. We don't handle monkeys here.
[00:32:41] Unknown:
What?
[00:32:43] Unknown:
You're kidding.
[00:32:45] Unknown:
Right away.
[00:32:50] Unknown:
All pilots, man your planes. Condition read. Repeat. Condition read. This is not an exercise. Repeat. This is not an exercise.
[00:33:12] Unknown:
Destroyed all in his way. All we could do was to follow. It was impossible to shoot at him for fear of hitting Ann. Kong, in a panic, looking for safety, found the only place he thought he would be safe. Slowly carrying Ann gently in one bore, he began to climb the Empire State Building a hundred and two stories into the air, over a thousand feet from the ground. The crowds below were silent for fear. The only sound was Anne. Suddenly, from a long way away, the sound of hope for the city and maybe the end for Anne. The fighter planes were coming in, five planes, each with two machine guns and a few bombs.
Driscoll heard them and started into the building, pushing through the line of police. Dawn was just breaking and there they were. Nine fighter planes flying straight towards town. He held the girl high up in the air. The planes zoomed away.
[00:34:24] Unknown:
Fred Leader, that thing's holding a girl in his paw.
[00:34:28] Unknown:
Check. Come around for another pass. Don't fire until I signal Red leader to all elements. Forget the girl. Shoot the girl. Can't do that. 8,000,000 people in that city down there. Only one girl up here. Follow me in. Feed her off. He's putting her down.
[00:34:55] Unknown:
My God, what kind of a thing is that?
[00:34:58] Unknown:
You name it, I'll feed it. Here I go.
[00:35:12] Unknown:
I could only see Khan put the girl down and hope that Driscoll had pulled her to safety. The fighters with one plane missing now continued making their runs on Khan, And he stood there pawing at them, trying to swipe them out of the air, modern beast against a giant. How much could Kong take? How many bullets? I don't know how long it took. All I could see was Kong weaving back and forth, always trying to fight off the planes. A monster fighting for his life. And then, Kong began to topple, to stagger. The police pushed the crowds back, back and the planes made one more run.
And that is all. The story of Kong, King Kong, a yesterday that lived today. A story to frighten children, unbelievable, impossible, incredible, whatever you choose to call it, but I know it to be the truth.
[00:36:32] Unknown:
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
[00:00:31] Unknown:
Yeah. That's the old ship sitting out there. The SS Sumatra. A good ship, but I never want to sail with her again. I was her captain for many years. Mostly the South Pacific, Surabaya, The Philippines, Java, Ceylon, and up and down the West Coast Of India. We had adventures, this old steel lady and me. But the last one was the worst one. It was a long time ago, but I'll never forget it. I still wake up at night screaming, and I don't scare easily. The newspapers carry the story of Kong. King Kong was what Denim called the beast. Who was Denim?
I'll tell you the story about Denim, Driscoll, Anne, and the monster King Kong. I first met Denham. I think it was in 1932. Yeah. We were laid up here in New York Harbor. No cargo, no credit. A full crew to pay and I had no money. It was winter, a heavy snow, Christmas coming. And if the devil came up that game plan and asked me to sail him to hell, if he had the money, I would have given him the best cabin and sailed on the first tide. This was my cabin. I remember sitting here very worried when Driscoll, my first mate, knocked on the door. Come.
A man came aboard, captain. Says he must see you. Mister Driscoll, if he's a bill collector, tell him I've jumped ship. He drove up to the dock in a chauffeur driven car. So? Well, I don't stand that. Tell him I'll be delighted to see him. That's what he said. Captain Englehorn, mister Denham. Sit down, sir. Thank you. And, what can I do for you?
[00:02:32] Unknown:
Captain, I wanna charter your boats. I'm Denham of Denham Motion Pictures Incorporated. My company makes travel films. I want you to take me, my cameraman, and Acura two to the Southwest Pacific. I've been told you're familiar with the area.
[00:02:49] Unknown:
More than familiar. The Pacific is where I got my sea legs and learned my trade. Where exactly is your destination?
[00:02:57] Unknown:
That's something I can't tell you until we get there. Where? Her ship must have a destination. A point on the chart to sail to, mister Dan. I have the exact longitude and latitude. I'll give them to you after we reach the East Indies. Now for the services of your ship, crew, yourself, I'm prepared to pay a more than generous sum.
[00:03:20] Unknown:
A more than generous sum. Well, times were bad, and a sailor might just as well be a farmer if he's not at sea. I agree to mister Denham's deal. But if I could have seen ahead, I would have thrown mister Denham overboard.
[00:03:40] Unknown:
Secure that number three hat. Myself. Away. Easy now.
[00:03:50] Unknown:
Mister Driscoll, sir, I want to hoist acres and sail on the uptight. Anxious to get underway? I get sick living on shore too long. Well, engine room reports. Steam is up to full. Well, I'll be glad to get away from this cold. Oh, heading south then. South and east. And that's all I know. Mister Dennis, punctual. Send two men down to help him with his gear, mister Driscoll. Aye, sir. There's a woman with him. I recognize the outlines, Mr. Driscoll.
[00:04:26] Unknown:
Two men to the dock, also.
[00:04:29] Unknown:
And, make ready to cast off, Mr. Driscoll. Aye, sir. Denim and his movie people came aboard and was shown to their cabins below decks. Anne Darrow, a beautiful young lady, was an out of work actress who asked no questions. She had a job, and the idea of spending time in the tropics appealed to her. Stand by to cast off all lines. Sing up, mister Driscoll.
[00:05:09] Unknown:
Sing off. Forward up.
[00:05:13] Unknown:
Cast off, mister Driscoll. Let's go for and out. Helmsman, all are stern slow. Let the tide take her.
[00:05:32] Unknown:
Aye, Aye, sir.
[00:05:37] Unknown:
Arnabord.
[00:05:40] Unknown:
Arnabord here, sir.
[00:05:43] Unknown:
Now make chips.
[00:05:46] Unknown:
Make chips here, sir. All ahead, sir. All ahead, sir.
[00:05:57] Unknown:
Take over the helm, mister Driscoll. I'll give you the new course when we clear the Ambrose Light. Aye, sir. I will leave you now, sir. I'll be below to check with our passengers. I tried very hard to be friendly with mister Denham, but that was very difficult. So we arrived at a working agreement. He was in charge of his crew. I was in charge of the ship. But nothing, I could say, would get Denim to give me the slightest hint of our destination. I even had Driscoll speak with a girl. He was, at that time, a handsome young man, and I knew he upheld the traditions of the sea by having a girl in every form.
[00:06:48] Unknown:
No. No. I'm not much of an actress. Just a beginner, and this is quite a chance for me. What are you supposed to do?
[00:06:55] Unknown:
Has Denham shown you
[00:06:57] Unknown:
a script? No. He said we'd play the scenes as they happen. It's a travelogue, so I suppose I'll be sitting around watching natives dance or fish or hunt or something like that. Well, that doesn't seem like too much. I'm the only actor in the company, so it'll be plenty for me.
[00:07:14] Unknown:
Well, mister Driscoll, what do you think of our star?
[00:07:18] Unknown:
As pretty as I've ever seen, mister Dunham.
[00:07:21] Unknown:
I thought sailors only talked that way in books. Oh, there's a bit of truth in everything, mister Driscoll.
[00:07:26] Unknown:
I might be able to use that line, mister Driscoll. And I wanna run some film tests, the camera set up front. Board, mister Darrow. Yeah. Board. Up ahead in the nose of the boat, the plow is what it's called. Oh, you know what I mean. And put on some makeup, eye shadow, lipstick. We'll take a look.
[00:07:45] Unknown:
He's not much of a sailor. He'll learn or captain Englehart will toss him to the sharks. Well, you better go along up to the nose in the boat.
[00:07:57] Unknown:
Denham had set up cameras up forward on the foredeck. He had the girl leaning on a bollock. The weather was getting warmer as we headed south. A good ship, a farm sea, and people going about their work.
[00:08:12] Unknown:
Okay, Anne. Yes. Look around. Roll the cameras. Action. Anne, look to your right. Now look left. Now look at me. That's right. Now you see something. You don't know what it is. Slowly now. You're amazed by it. Hold that. Now you become frightened. It's nothing you've ever seen before. It's coming closer. Oh. Closer. Closer. You're too frightened to run. You're helpless. You can't scream. You're trying to hide it from your eyes. Good. Now scream. Scream. Scream for your life. It was only a simple screen test just to see how well Anne can follow direction.
[00:09:13] Unknown:
But, mister Denim, it would seem to me you had some purpose. A poor kid was terrified.
[00:09:18] Unknown:
She's in her cabin now. Won't let anyone come near her. Oh, that just means she's a good actress. There's something you're not telling us, Denham. That's perfectly correct, mister. And I don't intend to tell you until I'm ready.
[00:09:32] Unknown:
You tell us now,
[00:09:35] Unknown:
Dennis. Now look, mister. I chartered this ship. You go where I tell you to go, and when I tell my actress to scream, she screams. And it's none of your business, sailor. Mister Driscoll, the leader. Mister Driscoll, stop it.
[00:09:55] Unknown:
Mister Driscoll, you will go on deck and cool your temper. Mister Dedham, you will go below to your cabin. Oh, don't give me any orders. I don't go downstairs for anybody. The expression is below, mister Denham. I am master of life and death aboard this vessel and you will go below or I will have you locked in the brig. A brig means a prison, mister Denham. Mister Driscoll. Aye, sir. You better behave as a first mate should. If you expect to command your own ship, you cannot make clear decisions when your mind is muddled with personal feelings. The safety of the ship and her crew is your first concern.
You can break Denham's neck when we're safe in port. Is that clear?
[00:10:38] Unknown:
Aye aye, sir. Very clear.
[00:10:50] Unknown:
Somewhere, saw Hatteras, we ran into bad weather. The waves were running high and the sea broke over the bridge. As sometimes happens in a storm, we shook loose some of the cargo. I sent Bristol below to make everything secure. He was a good sailor, so I left it all in his hands. But below decks in number two hold this is the captain.
[00:11:15] Unknown:
No. I can't believe, sir.
[00:11:17] Unknown:
Problems, mister Driscoll?
[00:11:19] Unknown:
Yes, sir. You're not gonna take a look.
[00:11:23] Unknown:
In the older type ships, you had to cross the deck to get to the cargo patches. Safety lines were rigged and I held down for dear life. As I crossed the deck to Number 2 Hole, I was annoyed with Bristol, but I knew he would never call me unless he had a good place. These crates, Carlos, captain. This one broke open. Goddamn him. Denim has enough here to start a war. Dynamite, hand grenades. There's a case of high powered rifles, ammunition, gas grenades. Why would he need these to make movies? Yes, sir. That's what I was wondering. Just nail up the crates and say nothing. I, sir. Denham said all he was carrying was motion picture equipment and supplies for six months.
As far as I'm concerned, that's all he is carrying. I we know of nothing else. None of these guns and dynamite will be unloaded from the ship. Keep the hatch closed and locked, mister Driskell, and give me the keys. We made good time on our way through the Panama Canal into the Pacific through every type of weather. Now the skies were clear and blue as the days grew from warm to hot. On a course of south by west past Pitjarn Island, Rapha, then along the Tropic Of Capricorn, almost to the Fiji's. Then at twenty degrees south latitude and a hundred and sixty degrees longitude west from Greenwich with New Caledonia dead ahead.
Come. Mister Denham. Captain,
[00:13:18] Unknown:
I believe we've been making excellent time. So it depends on where we're heading. You know, Lord Howe Island? Dead south of us, mister Denham. And change course Southeast Of Howe Island to forty degrees south and a hundred and forty degrees, twenty minutes east latitude. That's our destination. My charts show no islands there? That's the fault of the charts, cap. And I assure you that there is an island there and that is our destination.
[00:13:43] Unknown:
And for what reason, mister Denham?
[00:13:46] Unknown:
The weirdest, wildest, most impossible thing you've ever seen. I'm gonna make a movie the likes of which has never been made before. Have you ever heard of the word
[00:13:56] Unknown:
Kong? There are many things I haven't heard. And I, captain.
[00:14:00] Unknown:
I first heard about Kong some five years ago. The man who told me was mad, raving. I would have dismissed the whole story if I hadn't seen a few feet of film he brought back. What I saw was enough to start me on my way.
[00:14:14] Unknown:
And frankly, captain, now that we're almost there, I'm a little scared. You aren't the first man to be scared by a rumor. Oh, you forget the film. I include the film. You know, lights and shadows make strange images.
[00:14:27] Unknown:
That is all your Kong is. Believe me. Pardon me would like to believe you, but the other half knows better. Then what is Kong if not imagination? Not imagination, captain. Kong is some strange kind of giant beast.
[00:14:50] Unknown:
Helmsman, all ahead slow. Rolling upcast happens, so what are you doing? Helmsman, all stop. Let go of the ankles, mister Driscoll. Let's
[00:15:08] Unknown:
go, Boone.
[00:15:12] Unknown:
Captain
[00:15:15] Unknown:
Englehorn. Captain Egelhorn. Do you hear the drums?
[00:15:21] Unknown:
Nothing unusual about drums in this part of the world. All away, number one boat, mister Drisker.
[00:15:30] Unknown:
Stand by number one boat.
[00:15:37] Unknown:
We headed for sure. And the closer we came to the island, the more I was sorry we left our guns aboard the Sumatra. The beach was lined with native warriors armed with spears and shields. I would not call it a hospitable welcome. Behind the beach, the forest began. And rising above the trees, a most incredible sight. A wall, perhaps 40 feet high, made all of stone and running the length of the island as far as I could see. I looked at Denham and remembered the story he had told of Kong. For the first time, I began to believe that he was telling the truth. Anything seemed possible now.
[00:16:24] Unknown:
Mister Driscoll, look. That native girl. Captain,
[00:16:28] Unknown:
there in the center.
[00:16:30] Unknown:
There's a girl tied hand and foot. Stand too, mister Driscoll. Don't try to be a hero. These people have their own customs. Listen now, all of you. If you're frightened, don't show it. This is good acting practice for all of us, mister Dunham. You call
[00:16:49] Unknown:
this land couple. Ranger not belong. Many death here. Chief, we come from far away.
[00:17:00] Unknown:
Ship sails very long time. We here, Kong.
[00:17:05] Unknown:
Kung, not for you.
[00:17:18] Unknown:
The girl's a sacrifice.
[00:17:21] Unknown:
You're a woman with gold hair. You give to great God. I give you many things.
[00:17:31] Unknown:
Frisco, get Anne out of here back to the boat. Move. Great chief, Woman with golden hair not for Kong. She belong to us. Did him stop back slowly. No. Panic. Mighty chief. Very powerful. Me chief, I'm more powerful. All the golden hair belong me. Get him. Pull back. He's thinking it over. When he makes up his mind, we'd better be off this island. It was a close call. We had raised the boat beyond the breakers when the natives reached the beach. Safe on board the ship, I tried to get Denham to leave the island, but his desire for making movies got the better of his judgment. I agreed to stay when he promised he'd leave Anne aboard ship.
The drums sounded throughout the night. We could see the flickering campfires on the beach. I thought of that poor native girl tied up as a sacrifice for Kong. We slept fitfully that night. Then sometime during the middle watch, Driscoll informed me that Anne was missing. We searched the ship, but she had gone. Anne had been taken by a war party of natives who had climbed aboard and captured her. Anne was to be a sacrifice to Kong. From the sounds coming from the island, there was little time for action. Mister Driscoll. Hi, sir. If five men open up number two hold.
Mister Denham, I will overlook your bringing arms aboard this ship without permission. You will come along with a party. Under double, mister Driscoll. See that rifles, ammunition, hand grenades, gas grenades are each to call the men. I've never seen anything that huge, mister Denham. We should have brought Cannon. Rifles will be of little use against a monster that's We must get Anne. We can't leave her. No. And it's leaving the girl. But can we fight that beast? You can stay here and discuss what you're going to do. I'm going out to come. Kong, like a heavy tank, broke through the rainforest.
Trees had fallen before him, and he left footprints 12 feet long. From time to time we could see Kong's great head over the treetops. This was a nightmare world we had come to. We were now in what seemed to be a slice of prehistoric times which somehow found a way to survive until now. All around us were gigantic furls,
[00:21:41] Unknown:
strange trees to animals,
[00:21:43] Unknown:
great deserts that should have been long since day. Had it not been for the thought of the girl, I would have turned back many times. I am brave enough in the world, I know, but here. The trail of Khan led us through what looked like a prehistoric wing of a museum come to life. Denim, in spite of the dangers, took time to identify the beasts as we saw them. Stagosaurus, Triceratops, Magatherium, Magocerops, Hyanodon. Buying things, crawling things. It would have interested me more if they didn't look at us like we were a good meal on the move. He's up ahead, Captain.
What about Anne? Alive so far ahead. How far ahead? Kong is across a deep ravine about a thousand feet dropped to the bottom, maybe a hundred feet across. There might be a way to go around it. If the girl is alive, we cannot take the chance of going around. I had the men cut down a large tree and wrap it across the chasm to use it as a right. On the other side, I could see Kong. I was certain we were near his lair. First, I sent four of my men across. The beast saw them. He gently placed Anne down on the ground and then he started for the log. Those four men held down for dear life as that giant monster shook and rolled the log.
Finally, Kang lifted the hundredth good tree and slammed it back on the ground. The log was cracked but in place across the chasm. The four men were dead. And Khan guarded the far edge of the chasm. We had no choice but to go back. Anne was lost to us. Over there. What what kind of beast is that? It's going for Anne. Time to scat off.
[00:24:01] Unknown:
Come come, Caesar. What is that thing? Can't tell exactly.
[00:24:06] Unknown:
It's something like tyrannosaur, Heliosyncus. A man eater.
[00:24:22] Unknown:
This was a battle of prehistoric monsters come to life while we modern men, modern with modern weapons, took powerless to beat anything. While the two giants fought, Driscoll picked up Anne who had fainted on Sharp and raced across the cracked tree which lay across the chasm. Vang had defeated a 30 foot lizard that stood 18 feet tall. None would catch us there was no escape, no place of safety, except maybe one. That was down the side of the chasm to the rushing river. We started down. Kong stood above us, glaring down at us.
Do you think, Thomas, what kind of killers? I couldn't understand why he let us live. And then I realized that monstrosity, that relic from a million years ago, had a heart. It didn't want to hurt the girl. Kong seemed almost cool in them. I almost knew what he would do next. He would meet us downstream, some place where he could get in without harming her, then kill the rest of us. We tried to dig in the middle of the river while Khan followed us along the banks, roaring and beating his chest. And then we saw the rock carol that led the river underneath the huge wall out to safety.
Kong left us little choice. We tried smiling at each other, then took deep breaths and let the current carry us through to the other side of the wall in safety. Anne
[00:26:18] Unknown:
Anne, are you alright? Oh, that thing. That horrible thing. I thought I was losing my mind. I'll never be able to forget it. Never. Never as long as I live. Anne, don't think about it. That's the end of Kong.
[00:26:30] Unknown:
Captain, we'd make a fortune if we could bring Khan alive to The States. I'd rather be a live sea captain, mister Denham. Just think about it. Zenham Enterprises presents King Khan. Bravo.
[00:26:46] Unknown:
I don't think that big ape would sign a contract, Denim. Go ahead. Ask him.
[00:26:55] Unknown:
Run for the shore.
[00:27:00] Unknown:
Go on. Run. I'm gonna try and get him. He'll rip you to bits, then. Come on. Let go. A couple of gas grenades ought to stop him dead. One under, one under, one in front. It's still coming. Three of those would have put a leg went to sleep. It's impossible,
[00:27:24] Unknown:
complained to the company who made them. Get to the boat. Come on, Denham.
[00:27:32] Unknown:
Wait. The gas grenades, they're working.
[00:27:39] Unknown:
Mister Denham, I think you're a very brave but foolish man. He's all yours.
[00:27:45] Unknown:
Yeah. He's all
[00:27:50] Unknown:
And Denham, he's all mine. I'll take him to the boat.
[00:27:54] Unknown:
Poor Kong. He looks so harmless now.
[00:28:08] Unknown:
It took most of a day to get Kong out to the ship and placed in the hold. I had anchor chain welded over the hatch. We had a pretty good prison for the giant ape. Kong was beaten and he knew it. He did nothing except, now and then, trying to knock out the sides of the ship. Only Anne could calm him down. She would stand by the hatchway and speak to the beast.
[00:28:36] Unknown:
Poor thing. Poor calm. No one will hurt you. Anne is here.
[00:28:44] Unknown:
Couldn't hurt him if we tried.
[00:28:47] Unknown:
A little sad to see anything in captivity. Oh, he's done enough damage in his day, Anne. He was only protecting himself.
[00:28:54] Unknown:
And we were only trying to protect you.
[00:28:57] Unknown:
Where are you?
[00:29:00] Unknown:
Let's get away from your friend. There is an old sailor's wish, calm sea and prosperous voyage, which we had going back. Mister Driscoll and Anne asked me to be best man, but I was captain and couldn't marry them if I accepted that honor. Mister Denham was best man. Anne and Driscoll became man and wife. When we sailed into New York Harbor, we were a happy ship carrying the strangest cargo ever to come into that port. Denim had a theater rented in the middle of New York City in Times Square. There were plenty who'd pay to see this prehistoric killer. And just as many who thought Kong was a fake, but would pay just to oh and ah, Kong was no longer the beast from that prehistoric jungle.
He was frightened and beaten and he went wherever Denim took him. Kong seemed like some monstrous organ grinder's monkey. It was the first night that Kong was to be shown. The theater was plastered with signs. Gene Kong, the name Denham had given the great ape. Denham asked me to be in the audience to introduce me as the captain who shared all the dangers. Driscoll and Anne were also there. Denham said love interest was very important. In spite of himself, he was a brave man and that he had to respect. The drifting went up. Ladies and gentlemen,
[00:30:46] Unknown:
a beast out of history, out of place, out of time,
[00:30:52] Unknown:
a sight once seen by cavemen,
[00:30:55] Unknown:
but never before viewed by modern man. Ladies and gentlemen, King Kong.
[00:31:07] Unknown:
Ong frightened by the sounds of a strange world began pulling at this huge chain. He looked out into the audience and he saw Anne. We rushed her out of the theater. As the crowds panicked, Kong trampled them as he went after Anne. Kong, loose in the city, police and fire departments useless as Kong began his search for the girl. The city came to a stop. No place was saved. There was no place to hide as Kong raged up and down the streets, crushing everything in his way. Driscoll and I hurried and back to the ship with the idea of getting underway and out to sea, but we never would have made it. Kong, with that logic peculiar to the great apes, made his way to the river and to the ship.
He saw us. He saw Anne. And then the great monster reached out. He took Anne.
[00:32:26] Unknown:
Army Air Force Roosevelt Field, officer of the base team. Yes, sir. There's a fighter squadron. Well, I suggest you call the zoo. We don't handle monkeys here.
[00:32:41] Unknown:
What?
[00:32:43] Unknown:
You're kidding.
[00:32:45] Unknown:
Right away.
[00:32:50] Unknown:
All pilots, man your planes. Condition read. Repeat. Condition read. This is not an exercise. Repeat. This is not an exercise.
[00:33:12] Unknown:
Destroyed all in his way. All we could do was to follow. It was impossible to shoot at him for fear of hitting Ann. Kong, in a panic, looking for safety, found the only place he thought he would be safe. Slowly carrying Ann gently in one bore, he began to climb the Empire State Building a hundred and two stories into the air, over a thousand feet from the ground. The crowds below were silent for fear. The only sound was Anne. Suddenly, from a long way away, the sound of hope for the city and maybe the end for Anne. The fighter planes were coming in, five planes, each with two machine guns and a few bombs.
Driscoll heard them and started into the building, pushing through the line of police. Dawn was just breaking and there they were. Nine fighter planes flying straight towards town. He held the girl high up in the air. The planes zoomed away.
[00:34:24] Unknown:
Fred Leader, that thing's holding a girl in his paw.
[00:34:28] Unknown:
Check. Come around for another pass. Don't fire until I signal Red leader to all elements. Forget the girl. Shoot the girl. Can't do that. 8,000,000 people in that city down there. Only one girl up here. Follow me in. Feed her off. He's putting her down.
[00:34:55] Unknown:
My God, what kind of a thing is that?
[00:34:58] Unknown:
You name it, I'll feed it. Here I go.
[00:35:12] Unknown:
I could only see Khan put the girl down and hope that Driscoll had pulled her to safety. The fighters with one plane missing now continued making their runs on Khan, And he stood there pawing at them, trying to swipe them out of the air, modern beast against a giant. How much could Kong take? How many bullets? I don't know how long it took. All I could see was Kong weaving back and forth, always trying to fight off the planes. A monster fighting for his life. And then, Kong began to topple, to stagger. The police pushed the crowds back, back and the planes made one more run.
And that is all. The story of Kong, King Kong, a yesterday that lived today. A story to frighten children, unbelievable, impossible, incredible, whatever you choose to call it, but I know it to be the truth.
[00:36:32] Unknown:
Bettering your business takes working with the best. With the James Hardie Alliance, you gain access to leads, training, networking, and support from the number one brand of siding in North America. Achieve new levels of success by joining the James Hardie Alliance today.
The Captain's Past and the SS Sumatra
Meeting Denham and the Mysterious Voyage
Setting Sail and the Mysterious Destination
Discovering Denham's Secret Cargo
Arrival at the Island and Encounter with Natives
Anne's Capture and the Pursuit of Kong
The Escape and Capture of Kong
Return to New York and Kong's Unveiling
Kong's Rampage in the City
The Final Battle and Kong's Demise
