King Kong Escapes: Difference between revisions

From Wikizilla, the kaiju encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
m (Text replacement - "|1st assistant" to "|First assistant")
 
(244 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Tab
{{Tab
|soundtrack=King Kong Escapes (Soundtrack)
|soundtrack   =King Kong Escapes/Soundtrack
|credits=King Kong Escapes/Credits
|credits     =King Kong Escapes/Credits
}}
}}
{{Nav Design
{{Nav
|type = [[King Kong]] [[:Category:King Kong Films|Films]]
|type1        =Yellow
|prev = King Kong vs. Godzilla
|type2        =Fighting
|prevname = ''King Kong vs. Godzilla''
|type         =''[[King Kong]]'' [[:Category:King Kong Films|films]]
|name = ''King Kong Escapes''
|prev         =King Kong vs. Godzilla
|next = King Kong (1976 film)
|prevname     =''King Kong vs. Godzilla''
|nextname = ''King Kong'' (1976)
|name         =''King Kong Escapes''
|type2 = Normal
|next         =King Kong (1976 film)
|type1 = Steel
|nextname     =''King Kong'' (1976)
}}
}}
{{Infopelicula
{{Infobox Film|ratings=yes
|type1 = Normal
|type1       =Fighting
|type2 = Steel
|type2       =Yellow
|header ={{Toho}} {{Slash}} {{Rankin/Bass}} {{Kaijup}} {{Film}}
|image       =King kong escapes poster 01.jpg
|image = Kingkongescapes.jpg
|caption     =The Japanese poster for King Kong Escapes
|caption = The Japanese poster for King Kong Escapes
|name         =''King Kong Escapes''|titles=yes|alt-titles=yes
|name = ''King Kong Escapes''
|jp-title    =''King Kong's Counterattack'' (1967)
|dt     =''King Kong Escapes'' (1967)
|dt           =''King Kong Escapes'' (1967)
|director = [[Ishiro Honda]]
|director     =[[Ishiro Honda]]{{#tag:ref|Arthur Rankin Jr. is falsely credited as director and producer in the U.S. version, giving the impression that he was in charge of the film.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=313}}|name="Rankin"|group="lower-alpha"}}
|producer = [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|producer     =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]{{R|Rankin|group="lower-alpha"}}
|writer = [[Takeshi Kimura]]
|writer       =[[Kaoru Mabuchi]]
|composer = [[Akira Ifukube]]
|composer     =[[Akira Ifukube]]
|distributor = [[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>[[Universal Pictures]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|produced    =[[Toho]]
|rating = G{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}, [[Universal Pictures]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|runtime = 104 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 44 minutes)}}<br />96 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 36 minutes)}}
|rating       =G{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|budget      =¥170 million{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=240}}
|gross        =$3 million{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|runtime     =104 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 44 minutes)}}<br>96 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 36 minutes)}}<br />59 minutes{{sup|[[Toho Champion Festival|TCF]]}}
|aspectratio  =2.35:1
}}
}}
{{Quote|The [[King Kong|mightiest of all creatures]] pitted against his [[Mechani-Kong|exact duplicate]] in a colossal struggle of monster vs. robot|International Tagline<ref>[[File:King-kong-escapes-aka-kingukongu-no-everett.jpg|150px]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|The electronic monster [[Mechani-Kong]] boldly challenges the ruler of the South Seas, [[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|King Kong]]!!|parenthetical=電子怪獣メカニ・コングに敢然と挑戦する南海の王者キングコング!!|Tagline}}
'''''King Kong Escapes''''' {{Nihongo|キングコングの逆襲|Kingu Kongu no Gyakushū|lit. ''King Kong's Counterattack''}} is a [[1967]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] co-produced by [[Toho]] and [[Rankin/Bass Productions]]. It is a loose adaptation of episodes of Rankin/Bass and Toiei Animation's cartoon series ''[[The King Kong Show]]''. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters on July 22, 1967 and to [[United States|American]] theaters on June 19, [[1968]].
{{Quote|The Arctic, South Seas and [[Japan]]―three enraged giant monsters of the century! Amazing! A breathtaking duel!|parenthetical=北極・南海そして日本―怒り狂う世紀の三大怪獣!すごいッ!息づまる驚異の大決闘!|Tagline}}
{{Quote|The [[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|mightiest of all creatures]] pitted against his [[Mechani-Kong|exact duplicate]] in a colossal struggle of monster vs. robot|International tagline<ref>[[File:King-kong-escapes-aka-kingukongu-no-everett.jpg|150px]]</ref>}}
{{Quote|The fate of the world hangs in the balance as [[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|King Kong]] fights the [[Mechani-Kong|King Kong Robot]]! ... two King Kongs fight to the DEATH! All New!|American tagline}}
'''''King Kong Escapes''''' {{Nihongo|キングコングの逆襲|Kingu Kongu no Gyakushū|lit. ''King Kong's Counterattack''}} is a [[1967]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] directed by [[Ishiro Honda]] and written by [[Kaoru Mabuchi]], with special effects by [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]. Produced by [[Toho]] in partnership with [[Rankin/Bass]], it is a loose adaptation of episodes of Rankin/Bass and [[Toei|Toei Animation]]'s animated TV series ''[[The King Kong Show]]''. The film stars [[Akira Takarada]], Mie Hama, Rhodes Reason, Linda Miller, and [[Hideyo Amamoto]]. Toho released it to [[Japan]]ese theaters on July 22, 1967, and [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] to [[United States|American]] theaters on June 19, [[1968]].
 
During a research expedition in their submarine the ''[[Explorer (submarine)|Explorer]]'', a [[United Nations]] crew led by Commander [[Carl Nelson]] encounters the legendary giant ape [[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|King Kong]] living on the remote [[Mondo Island]]. Meanwhile, the evil scientist [[Dr. Who]] has completed his own robot duplicate of Kong: [[Mechani-Kong]]. Who intends to use the electronic robot to mine the deadly Element X for his benefactor [[Madame Piranha]], but when Mechani-Kong fails to do so, he decides to kidnap the real Kong to do the job himself. It is up to Nelson, Lt. Commander [[Jiro Nomura]], and Lieutenant [[Susan Watson]] to foil Who's plan and help Kong escape, which leads to a final confrontation in [[Tokyo]] between Kong and his robot doppelganger. ''King Kong Escapes'' was the last ''[[King Kong (franchise)|King Kong]]'' film produced for nearly a decade, with the next being [[Dino De Laurentiis]]'s ''[[King Kong (1976 film)|King Kong]]'' remake in [[1976]].
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Plot==
==Plot==
{{Plagiarized}}
The [[United Nations]] research submarine ''[[Explorer (submarine)|Explorer]]'' is on a mission in the Java Sea, under the command of [[Carl Nelson]]. Nelson sits in a room conversing with Lt. Commmander [[Jiro Nomura]], where they are joined by the ship's nurse, Lieutenant [[Susan Watson]]. She asks if they are discussing gorillas when she sees them looking at a diagram of one, remarking that she finds them dull. Nelson asks if she still finds gorillas dull even if one is 60 feet tall. He explains that he has spent a great deal of time researching a legendary giant goriila-like ape said to live in this area, known as [[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|Kong]]. He and Nomura show Susan photographs of a gigantic staircase and underground tunnel from the nearby [[Mondo Island]], and explain that they are believed to have been built by Kong. Susan asks if they can visit Mondo Island, but Nelson responds that they unfortunately cannot because of their mission.
An evil genius named [[Dr. Who]] creates a robotic version of [[King Kong]], named [[Mechani-Kong]], in order to dig for a highly radioactive element called "Element X", found only at the North Pole. The extremely rare compound, once unearthed, will be sold to an Asiatic country (never identified in the film) and used to give said country nuclear domination over the world. The Doctor, along with a benefactor from the unidentified nation known only by the alias "[[Madame Piranha]]", watch as Mechani-Kong enters an ice cave and begins to dig into the glacier. However, as the robot digs, the high amounts of radiation produced by the glowing substance destroys its systems and shuts it down. Meanwhile, a submarine from the [[United Nations]] is damaged and forced to weigh anchor off the coast of [[Mondo Island]], an island where, according to legend, the real King Kong resides. As it so happens, the sub's Commander [[Carl Nelson]] has spent many years studying the legend of Kong and is all too pleased to venture ashore to explore, along with with Lt. Commander [[Jiro Nomura]] and Lt. [[Susan Watson]]. Once on the Island, the crew see an old man atop a hill shouting at them to leave the area, for it is taboo to enter the territory of Kong. Nelson and Nomura go to confront the old man, leaving Susan alone with their landing craft. However, no sooner have the men left, a gigantic theropod dinosaur (later dubbed [[Gorosaurus]] in the film ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'') emerges from the forest and attempts to attack Susan. Suddenly, from out of a nearby cave, a roar is heard, and a few seconds later, King Kong himself emerges, bellowing and beating his chest.


Seeing Susan, he realizes she is in danger and places her in a tree. Then, Kong attacks Gorosaurus with all he has. Unfortunately, the bipedal predator possess a powerful "kangaroo-kick" that floors Kong several times and prevents him from getting too close to inflict serious damage. As the two titans duke it out, Nelson and Nomura return and, with Susan in tow, escape in their hovercraft. Behind them, Kong finally defeats Gorosaurus by breaking its jaw. He follows the hover-craft to the coast of the island just in time to see a [[Giant Sea Serpent]] heading for them. Kong dives into the water and grabs the snake, buying time for the crew to return safely to the sub. The giant ape then defeats the huge serpent and swims over to the sub. He begins to shake it and bang on the hull, hoping Susan will appear again. Knowing she is what Kong wants, Susan volunteers to exit the sub to try to calm him down. Her plan works. After saying goodbye to a crestfallen Kong, she returns to the sub and the crew leaves for New York.
In a secret base in the Arctic, the diabolical [[Dr. Who]] prepares to show his mysterious benefactor [[Madame Piranha]] his latest invention: [[Mechani-Kong]]. He states that he created this robot using schematics he stole from his former colleague, Carl Nelson. He claims that Mechani-Kong can do anything the real Kong can do, but Madame Piranha asks how this is going to help her nation obtain Element X. Dr. Who replies that other nations have only been able to find a few small pieces of Element X in the world, because they are unaware of a huge deposit which exists in the Arctic. Mechani-Kong, he says, is designed specifically to withstand the intense radiation given off by Element X and directly mine it from under the ice. Dr. Who and Madame Piranha observe from a helicopter as Mechani-Kong exits the hangar and makes its way to a crevice in the ice. The robot jumps into the fissure and lands on a ledge overlooking a deep chasm. Mechani-Kong begins tearing off bombs from its utility belt, then activates them and drops them into the hole below. After several explosions, the ice gives way and Mechani-Kong drops to the bottom. It then begins to dig through the ice before finally reaching a large deposit of Element X, which emits a bright radioactive glow. As Mechani-Kong continues to dig, it suddenly malfunctions and collapses. Dr. Who is surprised that even his Mechani-Kong could not withstand the radiation of Element X. Dr. Who returns to his base where he instructs his men to work on repairing Mechani-Kong and figuring out what caused it to break down. He sees Madame Piranha leaving the base and tries to convince her to give him more time to retrieve Element X. She eventually agrees, saying she will convince her country to give Dr. Who one more chance.


Once in America, the submarine crew relates their amazing discoveries on Mondo Island to the United Nations. They also state that the sub will be returning to the island to study Kong and his fellow monsters on the island. However, they are unaware that Madame Piranha is at the meeting, and after it ends, she sneaks into the ladies restroom and contacts Dr. Who. She relates the details of the crew's discoveries and hatches a plan with Dr. Who. A few days later, Dr. Who arrives on Mondo with a fleet of helicopters to attract Kong's attention. They drop gas bombs around the great ape, and the ether soon knocks him out cold. The helicopters then lower large shackles down, and a ground crew secures them to Kong's wrists and ankles. Suddenly, the old man erupts from the jungle and points at the now secured ape, and as he attempts to get answers from Dr. Who (unfortunately in a language only the speaker can understand), the evil scientist shoots him three times and leaves him in the underbrush to die. As he departs, the four helicopters lift King Kong from Mondo Island and lower him into the cargo hold of their huge ship. They then head back to the North Pole. Soon after, the United Nations sub returns and the trio of Commander Nelson, Lt Commander Nomura, and Lt Watson venture onto the island. They discover evidence of something nefarious, and are unable to locate Kong. What they do find, however, is the old man bleeding in the bushes. As the islander lays dying in Susan's arms, he tells Carl, who can understand the language, that "An oriental skeleton, a devil with eyes like a gutter-rat, kidnapped Kong and took him away into the skies." He then dies, but he has told Carl all he needs to know: Kong was kidnapped by Dr. Who, an old "friend" of Carl's. In fact, Who's Mechani-Kong was built using blueprints based on Nelson's own detailed diagrams of the real Kong. The Doctor had stolen the drawings and used them to create a robot that he believed would secure for him the Element X. However, the robot had failed, and now Who planned to use the real Kong to do his bidding. However, in order to do that, he needed to put the next part of his plan into action. He sends several of his minions to Mondo Island who, posing as the [[JSDF]], collect Carl, Jiro, and Susan, claiming that Kong has swum ashore at [[Tokyo]]. The trio are suspicious, but can do nothing as they are flown off to the North Pole.
An unexpected underwater rockslide damages the ''Explorer'', forcing it to ascend and anchor near an island for repairs. As Nelson, Nomura, and Susan observe the island from a distance, Nelson states that Susan got her wish after all because the island happens to be Mondo Island. The three travel to the island in a Hover Car and disembark. They note that the island seems to be uninhabited, before an elderly native man appears over a hill and begins to shout at them. Nelson recognizes his speech as a Javanese dialect, and says he is telling them they must not proceed any further as it is taboo to encroach on the domain of Kong. Nelson notes that the man calls Kong ''Bon Kong'', which in this dialect means "King Kong." Nelson and Nomura try to follow the man and instruct Susan to stay behind with the Hover Car. As Susan waits, the colossal dinosaur [[Gorosaurus]] emerges from the jungle and notices her. Susan screams, which gets the attention of Kong as he rests in a cave. Nelson and Nomura hear Susan's scream and try to make their way back, where they see Gorosaurus menacing her. Soon, Kong emerges from the jungle. He immediately takes an interest in Susan, grabbing her in his hand and lifting her up. After admiring her for a few moments, Kong sets Susan down safely in a nearby tree and prepares to battle Gorosaurus. Kong begins pummeling Gorosaurus with his fists, but the dinosaur leaps into the air and delivers a series of powerful kangaroo kicks that knock Kong down. The monsters continue to grapple, with Kong eventually gaining the upper hand by getting on top of Gorosaurus and repeatedly punching him in the head. Gorosaurus finally goes limp, and Kong stands and beats his chest victoriously. He grabs Susan again, and she begs Kong to put her down. Finally understanding, Kong gently sets Susan on the ground where she reunites with Nelson and Nomura. Suddenly, Gorosaurus stirs back to life and bites down on Kong's leg. Nelson says now is the time to escape back to the ''Explorer'', but Susan protests and declares they cannot just leave Kong like this. Still, they are forced to get back into the Hover Car and make their way back to the sub. Kong manages to free his leg by grabbing Gorosaurus' jaws and prying them apart. Kong continues to pull apart Gorosaurus' jaws, causing the beast to foam at the mouth. Finally, Kong breaks his enemy's jaws and Gorosaurus is defeated. Kong then makes his way into the sea and pursues the Hover Car. A [[Giant Sea Serpent]] suddenly surfaces and begins to approach the Hover Car, but Kong intercepts it and begins to battle the serpent. The Hover Car escapes in the confusion and the three get back aboard the ''Explorer''. Kong dispatches the serpent and swims to the ''Explorer''. Nelson asks if the ship is ready to leave, but is informed that repairs are not yet complete. Kong begins to shake the ''Explorer'', prompting Susan to volunteer to go out and try to calm him down. Nelson and Nomura protest at first, but she convinces them that this is the best way to buy them time. Susan goes above deck and tells Kong to stop shaking the ship. Kong, still infatuated by Susan, picks her up in his hand again. She tells Kong to put her down, but this time he does not listen. Susan is forced to leap out of Kong's hand into the water below, prompting Kong to momentarily panic and snatch her back out of the water. She again asks Kong to take her back to the ship, and he finally complies. Nomura helps Susan back below deck, where Nelson gives the order to dive now that repairs are complete. As the ''Explorer'' departs, Kong watches it go and then swims back to Mondo Island.


Meanwhile, Dr. Who decides to try another method of controlling Kong. His reason for kidnapping the three crew members were not only for their familiarity with Kong, but for the ape's relationship with Susan Watson in particular. On Mondo, Kong had been so infatuated by Watson, that he began to listen to her and do what she asked. Although Dr. Who believed that he could use this connection to get Kong to extract the Element X, he is not willing to wait for the prisoners to arrive and puts an alternative idea to the test. In the cage where the still unconscious King Kong lies, workers attach both a receiving speaker and camera to the beast's ears. When Kong awakens, his first sight is a flashing light that soon places him in a state of hypnosis. From the speaker, the voice of Dr. Who commands Kong to enter the cave and dig out the Element X. Kong complies and ventures into the cave and begins to dig. However, the hypnotized Kong soon snaps out of it, and tears both the speaker and camera off of his ears. He then turns around and attempts to return to the base, but Who orders the gate shut, and Kong is trapped in the cave. Soon after, Carl, Jiro, and Susan arrive and are greeted by Dr. Who. He explains his plans and requests their assistance. All three refuse, and are put into a holding cell. A few minutes later, Carl is released and brought to the room of Madame Piranha, who explains her view of the whole situation. As she attempts to buy Carl off, Dr. Who enters and promptly breaks up the meeting. Only a few minutes after Carl is returned to the cell, he is once again summoned, this time by Dr. Who. In an attempt to gain Carl's assistance in controlling Kong, he turns the prison cell's temperature down to zero, which puts both Jiro and Susan in a freezing environment. Carl refuses to help, even as his friends slowly begin to freeze to death. A while later, Dr. Who enters the cell and states that Carl has been canceled. He then shackles Jiro to the wall and attempts to press Susan's face against the ice-covered metal walls. Fortunately, outside Kong has almost broken through the caged door and his banging begins to shake the entire lair. Who and his minions leave the cell, and Jiro and Susan quickly make their getaway. Outside, Kong has crawled out of the underground lair and begins to flee. The great ape then dives into the frigid ocean and quickly swims away. Back inside, Jiro and Susan discover that Carl is still alive, but the three are once again captured and loaded aboard Dr. Who's ship as the evil scientist sets sail in pursuit of Kong.
Nelson delivers a report at the United Nations building in [[New York City]]. He says that Mondo Island was home to not only the mythical Kong, but also other prehistoric creatures. Madame Piranha, posing as a reporter, asks why Kong was so interested in Lieutenant Watson, to which Nelson responds that Kong is simply a male while Susan is obviously a female. Nelson concludes the press conference and states that he plans to make a return trip to Mondo in the ''Explorer'' to continue observing Kong. Madame Piranha enters a restroom and activates a hidden communicator on her lipstick. She contacts Dr. Who and explains that Kong is confirmed to be on Mondo Island and that Susan is the key to getting him to do what they want. Dr. Who is pleased and prepares to head to Mondo with a fleet of helicopters to capture the real Kong and force him to dig for Element X. The choppers arrive on the island and Dr. Who disembarks with a few of his men. The elderly native approaches them and gives a warning about proceeding further, but Dr. Who simply shoots the man several times. He orders his men to capture Kong quickly before the ''Explorer'' arrives. The choppers circle Kong in the jungle, dropping bombs filled with knockout gas around him. Kong tries to fight back, swatting at the choppers and throwing a tree at them, but to no avail. Kong finally succumbs to the gas and collapses onto his back. Dr. Who's men attach shackles connected to the helicopters around Kong's limbs and airlift him off the island to Dr. Who's base in the Arctic. When the ''Explorer'' arrives and its crew comes ashore, they find the jungle damaged as if a fight occurred there, while Nelson finds several shell casings. He concludes that Kong's enemy was human beings. Susan comes upon the dying native man, and tries to tend to his injuries, though she knows she cannot save him. She is joined by Nomura and Nelson, who listen to the man's final words before he passes away. Nelson interprets the man's dying words and says he said that a "foreign devil" kidnapped Kong. Nelson concludes that the "devil" he described could only be his former colleague and infamous international criminal, Dr. Who. They are contacted by the U.N. and instructed to make their way to a ship docked off the coast of [[Japan]], where they will be airlifted to a UN office in [[Tokyo]]. They comply, and the ''Explorer'' meets the ship near Japan. Nelson, Nomura, and Susan come aboard and enter the helicopter supposedly bound for Japan. They quickly realize that the pilots of the helicopter are not Japanese, and realize they are being taken somewhere else.


The ship soon arives in Japan, where King Kong has swum ashore. Dr. Who plans to unleash his Mechani-Kong against its organic counterpart. However, Madame Piranha is hesitant to be a party to the inevitable collateral damage, and urges the doctor not to let the two monsters fight in Tokyo. After all, thousands would be killed. Dr. Who ignores her sudden change in character as well as her pleas, and prepares his robot for combat. Down below, the submarine crew are chained in a cell, unable to help Kong. Suddenly, Madame Piranha enters and frees them, begging them to do their best to save the lives of the people in the city by leading Kong away before his mechanical doppelganger can engage him. The trio flee the ship and arrive safely in Tokyo, where the JSDF are preparing to fire on Kong. As Carl warns the army not to attack, Susan runs to Kong, whom picks her up gently. She calms him down and assures him that he will not be attacked. However, there is a loud crash behind them, and suddenly Mechani-Kong emerges through the remains of a destroyed building. Susan tries to warn Kong not to fight the machine, as it will most assuredly be a losing battle. Kong, however, carefully places Watson on the ground, and then turns to fight his robotic clone head-on. However, Mechani-Kong has been outfitted with the hypnosis device and, as Kong charges, the light, now attached to the top of the robot's head, begins to flash. Kong stops dead in his tracks and begins to slow down again. On the ground, Lt. Commander Nomura takes a shotgun and aims at the mechanical monster, eventually shooting and destroying the blinking light. Kong once again snaps out of it and finally charges to meet his opponent. The two seem evenly matched for a while, but Dr. Who suddenly turns the tides of the battle and controls his robot to scoop up Susan. The giant mech then begins to ascend Tokyo Tower with Susan as his unwilling captive. Kong follows, and begins to climb after his foe. On the ship, Madame Piranha pulls a gun on Dr. Who and threatens to shoot him. However, he triggers the silent alarm, and he and his minions quickly overpower her, leaving her with a bullet wound in her arm. Back in the city, the mouth of Mechani-Kong opens and the voice of Dr. Who emanates from a speaker within. He warns Kong that if he does not return to the ship, the robot will drop Susan. Kong, however, continues to pursue his metal clone up the tower, and soon enough, the robotic ape lets go of its prisoner, sending Susan falling towards the ground. Kong catches her and sets her safely down on a platform within the tower, and then begins to climb after Mechani-Kong, finally able to fight it again. Below, Jiro climbs up the tower and rescues Susan. As the two monsters get higher and higher, the tower begins to shake more and more. Susan slips and nearly falls off the tower, but is saved by both Jiro and a team of policemen who bring them both safely to the ground. Back in the control room on Dr. Who's ship, Madame Piranha decides to tip the balance in Kong's favor, and makes one last attempt to save the lives of the people of not only Japan, but of the world. The wounded traitor rises and quickly rips the wires and control cables from the wall. Dr. Who turns and shoots her twice in the chest, and she falls dead to the floor. However, her actions, and her sacrifice, are not in vain, for outside, Mechani-Kong begins to short-circuit. Now disabled, the mechanical ape falls from the very top of Tokyo Tower and shatters upon impact with the ground. Having won the battle, King Kong beats his chest in triumph. The next day, Dr. Who decides to make a hasty retreat in his ship. However, on the dock, Carl Nelson, Jiro Nomura, and Susan Watson stand with King Kong. Susan commands Kong to "stop that ship!", and the ape obliges and dives into the sea in pursuit of the freighter. Kong soon catches the ship and begins to destroy it from the outside in. He pounds on it and begins to push it under. Inside, Dr. Who is crushed by falling debris and is soon killed as the ship finally floods and sinks. With his job done, King Kong beats his chest and bellows in victory. He then turns and begins his long swim home to Mondo Island.
At his Arctic base, Dr. Who has imprisoned Kong and attached a mind-control device to one of his ears through which he can relay orders. A hypnotic light is lowered in front of Kong, which seems to bring him under Dr. Who's control. Dr. Who orders Kong to dig for Element X, and sends the giant ape through a tunnel directly to the Element X deposit. Kong digs furiously through the ice before finally reaching Element X. Kong seems unaffected by the radiation, but the device in his ear begins to malfunction. Kong finally regains his free will, tears off the device and begins charging back through the tunnel. A gate is lowered in front of Kong to prevent him from escaping, leaving the ape pounding angrily at the metal bars. The helicopter arrives with Nelson, Nomura, and Susan, and Dr. Who comes to greet them. He acts cordially toward Nelson and says it is good to see him again, but Nelson is well aware Who has sinister ulterior motives. Dr. Who explains that he needs their help to get Kong to obey him so he can make him mine Element X. Nelson and the others refuse to help him, so Dr. Who has them taken to a prison cell. Dr. Who's men later come to retrieve Nelson and bring him to Dr. Who's quarters, where he is met by Madame Piranha. She attempts to seduce Nelson, who does not fall for her methods and asks what country she is from. She denies that she is from any world power such as the [[United States]], the [[Russia|Soviet Union]], or [[China]]. When her attempts to seduce Nelson fail, he is taken back to the cell, where Dr. Who arrives to retrieve him again, saying it has been too long since the two of them last played chess. Dr. Who brings Nelson to a panel on the wall, where he activates vents that leak freezing cold air into the cell. He threatens Nelson saying that for every second he does not help him, Nomura and Susan will be closer to freezing to death. Dr. Who brings Nelson to his quarters where the two share a tense game of chess. Nelson still refuses to break, which frustrates Dr. Who even further. He and his men make their way back to the cell and come inside. Dr. Who tells Nomura and Susan that Nelson is dead. but they can still save themselves if they comply. Both continue to refuse, prompting Dr. Who to grab Susan by the throat and threaten to push her face into the icy walls of the cell and see if she is still beautiful after that. Just then, Kong manages to break through the gate and escapes. Dr. Who and his men run out of the cell, but leave the key to Nomura's shackles behind. Susan frees him and they try to find a way out. They are confronted by Madame Piranha, who to their surprise leads them to Nelson. Dr. Who deploys the repaired Mechani-Kong to try and stop Kong from getting away, but the robot is too slow to catch Kong before he leaps into the icy water and begins swimming away. In Dr. Who's quarters, Madame Piranha explains to Nomura, Susan, and Nelson that she simply wanted to help make her country a better place by helping it obtain a nuclear arsenal, but she quickly realized how ruthless and bloodthirsty Dr. Who was. Just then, Dr. Who and his men enter the room, and he decides to bring them all aboard his ship to pursue Kong.
 
As Dr. Who's ship tracks Kong down to Tokyo, Madame Piranha enters the room where Nelson and the others are being held and frees them from their bonds. They insist that she come with them, but she says that she must stay behind. She helps them onto a raft and tells them to head to shore now, just as one of the guards sees them escaping and tries to stop them. Madame Piranha pushes the guard's gun aside so the bullets do not hit the raft. Dr. Who's men capture Madame Piranha and bring her to the control room, where she is kept under close observation. Kong comes ashore in Tokyo, with the [[JSDF]] scrambling to combat him. Nelson meets with the government and tells them not to attack Kong, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Nomura and Susan make their way to the streets and tell the JSDF not to shine lights on Kong. Susan sees Kong and runs toward him, allowing him to pick her up. Dr. Who releases Mechani-Kong in Tokyo to try and subdue Kong. When Kong sees his robot double approaching, he sets Susan down and prepares to fight it despite Susan telling him not to do that because it isn't alive. The two Kongs exchange blows, and seem to be evenly matched. Mechani-Kong uses the flashing light on its head to mesmerize Kong, only for Nomura to shoot it out with his rifle. After more intense hand-to-hand combat, Mechani-Kong grabs Susan and begins to climb [[Tokyo Tower]], with Kong in pursuit. Dr. Who broadcasts his voice through loudspeakers in Mechani-Kong's mouth, telling Kong to surrender and come back to the ship or else he will drop Susan. Kong does not heed the warning and continues scaling the tower, prompting Mechani-Kong to drop Susan. Fortunately, Kong catches her and sets her down on the observation deck before continuing to pursue Mechani-Kong. On Dr. Who's ship, Madame Piranha takes matters into her own hands and sabotages Mechani-Kong's remote controls, prompting Dr. Who to fatally shoot her in retaliation. Its remote controls destroyed, Mechani-Kong ceases to function just as the top of the tower breaks off, causing the robot to plummet to the street, where it breaks apart into pieces and explodes. Nomura makes his way up the collapsing tower to rescue Susan, and the two are able to successfully escape.
 
As day breaks, Dr. Who gives the order for his ship to leave immediately. Nelson, Nomura, and Susan pursue Kong with the JSDF as he makes his way to the harbor. Susan shouts at Kong to go after Dr. Who's ship before he gets away. Kong dives into [[Tokyo Bay]] and swims to the ship. He begins violently smashing it with his fists, causing it to break apart and begin flooding with water. Dr. Who is crushed to death by a desk just as the ship finally explodes and sinks. With Dr. Who defeated for good, Kong begins swimming off into the distance. Susan calls after him, but Nelson says Kong is going home to Mondo Island and has "had enough of what we call civilization." Everyone then watches as Kong swims out into the sunrise, victorious.
==Staff==
==Staff==
{{Main|King Kong Escapes/Credits}}
{{Staffs
{{Staffs
|Produced by|[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Directed by|[[Ishiro Honda]]
|Directed by|[[Ishiro Honda]]
|Written by|[[Kaoru Mabuchi]]
|Executive producer|[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Technical advisor|Arthur Rankin Jr.{{R|Rankin|group="lower-alpha"}}
|Music by|[[Akira Ifukube]]
|Music by|[[Akira Ifukube]]
|Special Effects by|[[Eiji Tsuburaya]]
|Cinematography by|[[Hajime Koizumi]]
|Written by|[[Takeshi Kimura]]
|Edited by|Ryohei Fujii
|Assistant Director of Special Effects|[[Teruyoshi Nakano]]
|Production design by|[[Takeo Kita]]
|Art Director|Takeo Kita
|First assistant director|[[Ken Sano]]
|Wireworks Director|Fumio Nakadai
|Director of special effects|[[Eiji Tsuburaya]]
|Special Effects Set Designer|Yasuyuki Inoue
|First assistant director of special effects|[[Teruyoshi Nakano]]
}}
}}
==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Cast
{{Cast
|Rhodes Reason|Commander [[Carl Nelson]] (Japanese voice actor: Kei Taguchi)
|[[Akira Takarada]]|Lt. Commmander [[Jiro Nomura]]
|[[Akira Takarada]]|Lt. Commander [[Jiro Nomura]] 
|Mie Hama|[[Madame Piranha]], foreign agent
|Linda Miller|Lt. [[Susan Watson]] (Japanese voice actor: Akiko Santou)
|[[wikipedia:Rhodes Reason|Rhodes Reason]]|Commander [[Carl Nelson]], captain of the [[United Nations]] nuclear research submarine ''[[Explorer (submarine)|Explorer]]''
|[[Hideyo Amamoto]]|[[Dr. Who]]
|[[wikipedia:Linda Jo Miller|Linda Miller]]|Lieutenant [[Susan Watson]], ''Explorer'' nurse
|Mie Hama|[[Madame Piranha]]
|[[Hideyo Amamoto]]|[[Dr. Who]], scientist
|Ikio Sawamura|Old Man of [[Mondo Island]]
|[[Yoshibumi Tajima]], Sachio Sakai|Dr. Who's assistants
|[[Yoshifumi Tajima]]|Chief
|Ryuji Kita|Chief Security Officer
|Nadao Kirino|Dr. Who's assistant
|[[Ikio Sawamura]]|old man of [[Mondo Island]]
|Sachio Sakai|Dr. Who's assistant
|[[Shoichi Hirose]]|''Explorer'' crew
|Kazuo Suzuki, [[Toru Ibuki]]|Dr. Who's henchmen
|Naoya Kusakawa|Dr. Who's assistant
|Naoya Kusakawa|Dr. Who's assistant
|[[Susumu Kurobe]]|Dr. Who's subordinate
|[[Susumu Kurobe]]|Dr. Who's henchman
|[[Toru Ibuki]]|Dr. Who's subordinate
|[[Haruo Nakajima]]|[[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|King Kong]] / curious spectator
|Kazuo Suzuki|Dr. Who's subordinate
|[[Hiroshi Sekita]]|[[Mechani-Kong]] / [[Gorosaurus]] / security headquarters guard
|Shigemi Sagawa|Dr. Who's subordinate
|Kei Taguchi|voice of Carl Nelson
|Yoshio Katsube|Dr. Who's subordinate
|Akiko Santo|voice of Susan Watson
|Haruo Suzuki|Dr. Who's subordinate
|Ryu Kuze|killer
|Jun Kuroki|Jet helicopter crewman
|Minoru Ito, Yoshio Katsube|Dr. Who's henchmen (uncredited)
|Takuya Yuki|Jet helicopter crewman
|Shigeo Kato|Transport ship crew, Dr. Who's henchman (uncredited)
|Masaki Shinohara|Carrier sailor
|Takuya Yuki, Jun Kuroki|Helicopter pilots, Dr. Who's henchmen (uncredited)
|[[Andrew Hughes]]|[[United Nations]] journalist
|Yutaka Oka, [[Osman Yusuf]]|''Explorer'' crew (uncredited)
|Al Kramer|United Nations journalist
|Tadashi Okabe|[[JSDF]] soldier / ''Explorer'' crew (uncredited)
|Ryuuji Kita|Police inspector
|Seishiro Kuno, [[Haruya Sakamoto]], Masaaki Tachibana|JSDF soldiers (uncredited)
|[[Shoichi Hirose]]|Submarine Explorer crewman
|Kamayuki Tsubono|security headquarters guard (uncredited)
|Rinsaku Ogata|Submarine Explorer crewman
|[[Andrew Hughes]]|United Nations reporter (uncredited)
|Ousmane Yusef|Submarine Explorer crewman
|[[Kathy Horan]]|United Nations reporter (uncredited)
|Yutaka Oka|Submarine Explorer crewman
}}
|Kazuo Hinata|Headquarters guard
===Glen Glenn Sound Company English dub===
|Akio Kusama|Headquarters guard
{{Cast|notice=no
|Masaaki Tachibana|[[JSDF|Self-Defense Force]] soldier
|Rhodes Reason|Commander [[Carl Nelson]]
|Tadashi Okabe|Self-Defense Force soldier
|[[wikipedia:Julie Bennett|Julie Bennett]]|[[Madame Piranha|Madame X]] / Lieutenant [[Susan Watson]]
|Hideo Shibuya|Self-Defense Force soldier
|[[wikipedia:Paul Frees|Paul Frees]]|[[Dr. Who]]
|Haruya Sakamoto|Self-Defense Force soldier
*[[Riley Jackson]]
|Keiichirou Katsumoto|Curious spectator
|[[Haruo Nakajima]]|[[King Kong]] / Curious spectator
|[[Hiroshi Sekita]]|[[Gorosaurus]] / [[Mechani-Kong]] / Headquarters guard
}}
}}
==Appearances==
==Appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Monsters===
===Monsters===
*[[King Kong]]
*[[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|King Kong]]
*[[Mechani-Kong]]
*[[Mechani-Kong]]
*[[Gorosaurus]]
*[[Gorosaurus]]
*[[Giant Sea Serpent]]
*[[Giant Sea Serpent]]
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Weapons, Vehicles, and Races===
===Weapons, vehicles, and races===
*[[Explorer]]
*''[[Explorer (submarine)|Explorer]]''
*[[Hover Car]]
*[[Hover Car]]
*[[Jet Helicopter]]
*[[Jet Helicopter]]
*[[Catamaran Transport Ship]]
*[[Type 61 Tank]]
*[[Type 61 Tank]]
*[[KV-107 II Helicopter]]
*[[Kawasaki-Vertol KV-107 II|KV-107 II Helicopter]]
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
==Production==
==Production==
Following the success of their animated series, ''[[The King Kong Show]]'', co-produced with Toei Animation, [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass]] approached another Japanese studio, [[Toho]], to produce a live-action film adaptation of the series. Toho, who had previously produced the hit film ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'' in [[1962]], began production on a film entitled ''[[Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah]]'', pitting [[King Kong]] against the giant lobster [[Ebirah]] on [[Letchi Island|a tropical island]] inhabited by a terrorist organization called the [[Red Bamboo]]. The film would have also featured Toho's popular monster [[Mothra]]. Rankin/Bass, however, felt the proposed film did not follow the animated series closely enough, and rejected the screenplay. Rather than completely discard the project, Toho repackaged it as a [[Godzilla (Franchise)|Godzilla]] film, replacing Kong with [[Godzilla]], and produced ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' in [[1966]]. Toho went back to the drawing board and attempted to produce a film closer to ''The King Kong Show''. Toho borrowed several concepts from the show, including the location of [[Mondo Island]] and the recurring villains [[Dr. Who]] and [[Mechani-Kong]], and produced ''King Kong Escapes'' in [[1967]].
{{Expand|s=section}}
Following the success of their animated TV series ''[[The King Kong Show]]'', co-produced with [[Toei|Toei Animation]], [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass]] approached another Japanese studio, [[Toho]], to produce a live action film adaptation of the series. Toho, who had previously produced the hit film ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'' in [[1962]], began production on a film entitled ''[[Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah]]'', pitting [[King Kong]] against the giant crustacean [[Ebirah]] on [[Letchi Island|a tropical island]] inhabited by a terrorist organization called the [[Red Bamboo]]. The film would have also featured Toho's popular monster [[Mothra]]. Rankin/Bass, however, felt the proposed film did not follow the animated series closely enough, and rejected the screenplay. Rather than completely discard the project, Toho repackaged it as a [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] film, replacing Kong with [[Godzilla]], and produced ''[[Ebirah, Horror of the Deep]]'' in [[1966]]. Toho then went back to the drawing board and attempted to produce a film closer to ''The King Kong Show''. Toho borrowed several concepts from the show, including the location of [[Mondo Island]] and the recurring villains [[Dr. Who]] and [[Mechani-Kong]], and produced ''King Kong Escapes'' in [[1967]].
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Main|King Kong Escapes/Gallery}}
{{Main|King Kong Escapes/Gallery}}
==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{{Main|King Kong Escapes (Soundtrack)}}
{{Main|King Kong Escapes/Soundtrack}}
==Alternate Titles==
==Alternate titles==
*'''''King Kong's Counterattack''''' (Literal Japanese Title)
*'''''King Kong's Counterattack''''' (literal Japanese title)
*'''''King Kong: Frankenstein's Son''''' (''King-Kong: Frankensteins Sohn''; Germany)
*'''''King Kong Escapes''''' ([[United States]])
*'''''The Revenge of King Kong''''' (''La Revanche de King Kong''; Belgium)
*'''''King Kong - Frankenstein's Son''''' (''King-Kong - Frankensteins Sohn''; West Germany)
*'''''King Kong: The Giant of the Forest''''' (''King Kong: Il Gigante della Foresta''; Italy)
*'''''The Revenge of King Kong''''' (''La Revanche de King Kong''; France, French Belgium; ''De Wraak van King Kong''; Dutch Belgium)
*'''''King Kong - The Giant of the Forest''''' (''King Kong - Il Gigante della Foresta''; Italy)
*'''''King Kong - The Son of Frankenstein''''' (''King Kong - Il Figlio di Frankenstein''; Italy)
*'''''Wrath of the Monsters''''' (''Canavarlarin Gazabi''; Turkey)
*'''''Wrath of the Monsters''''' (''Canavarlarin Gazabi''; Turkey)
*'''''The Return of King Kong''''' (''El Regreso de King Kong''; Mexico)
*'''''King Kong''''' (Turkey; reissue title)
*'''''The Return of King Kong''''' (''El Regreso de King Kong''; Mexico, Argentina; ''O Regresso de King Kong''; Portugal)
*'''''King Kong on the Island of Terror''''' (''King Kong Kauhun Saarella''; Finland)
*'''''King Kong on the Island of Terror''''' (''King Kong Kauhun Saarella''; Finland)
*'''''King Kong on Terror Island''''' (''King Kong på Skräckens ö''; Sweden)
*'''''King Kong on Terror Island''''' (''King Kong på Skräckens ö''; Sweden)
==Theatrical Releases==
*'''''The Escape of King Kong''''' (''A Fuga de King Kong''; Brazil)
*[[Japan]] - July 22, [[1967]]; December 20, [[1973]] (Re-release)
*'''''King Kong - The Eighth Wonder of the World''''' (''King Kong - La Octava Maravilla del Mundo''; Argentina)
*[[United States]] - June 19, [[1968]]
*'''''King Kong Against Dr Who''''' (''King Kong contre Dr Who''; French Belgium; reissue title; ''King Kong Tegen Dr Who''; Dutch Belgium; reissue title)
*'''''Reborns and Now: King Kong Escapes''''' (''Renace y Ahora: King Kong Escapa''; Spain; reissue title)
*'''''King Kong Returns to His World''''' (''King Kong vuelve a su mundo''; Spanish 8mm title)
*'''''King Kong Has Not Died''''' (''King Kong No Ha Muerto''; Mexico)
*'''''King Kong Gets Out''''' (''King Kong onsnapt''; the Netherlands)
*'''''King Kong Escaped''''' (''King Kong je pobjegao''; Yugoslavia; ''King Kong je pobegnil''; Yugoslavia (Slovenia))
==Theatrical releases==
*[[Japan]] - July 22, [[1967]]; December 20, [[1973]] ([[Toho Champion Festival]] version)
*United States - June 19, [[1968]]
*Canada - August 15, 1968
*France - November 13, 1968
*United Kingdom - 1969
*Brazil - May 26, 1969
*Spain - November 20, 1969
*Mexico - 1970
*Portugal - September 15, 1977
*Yugoslavia - 1978
*Egypt - 1988
 
==[[United States|U.S.]] release==
[[File:Kong cartoon 05.jpg|thumb|right|200px|U.S. ''King Kong Escapes'' poster]]
''King Kong Escapes'' was distributed theatrically in the United States by [[Universal Pictures]]. The film was dubbed into English under the supervision of [[Riley Jackson]], with [[wikipedia:Rhodes Reason|Rhodes Reason]] dubbing over his own performance as [[Carl Nelson]] and [[wikipedia:Paul Frees|Paul Frees]] voicing [[Dr. Who]] and most of the film's other male characters. It had eight minutes cut. Two brief scenes that were cut from the Japanese version were reinserted: an introductory scene for [[Susan Watson]] and a longer conversation between Carl Nelson and [[Madame Piranha]]. Two of the characters' names were changed in the U.S. version. [[Mechani-Kong]] is referred to as "Robot Kong," while the film's promotional materials and end credits renamed Madame Piranha "Madame X."


==[[United States|U.S.]] Release==
''King Kong Escapes'' opened in the United States on June 19, [[1968]]. Contemporary U.S. reviews were mixed. ''The New York Times'' film critic Vincent Canby gave it a particularly insulting review, calling Toho's Kong an "Uncle Tom," and commenting "The Japanese...are all thumbs when it comes to making monster movies like 'King Kong Escapes.' The [[Toho]] moviemakers are quite good in building miniature sets, but much of the process photography—matching the miniatures with the full-scale shots—is just bad...the plotting is hopelessly primitive..." The July 15, 1968 issue of ''Film Bulletin'', however, gave it a more positive review, saying "Grown-ups who like their entertainments on a comic-strip level will find this good fun and the Universal release (made in Japan) has plenty of ballyhoo angles to draw the school-free youngsters in large numbers..."
[[File:Kong cartoon 05.jpg|thumb|right|200px|American ''King Kong Escapes'' poster]]
''King Kong Escapes'' opened in the [[United States]] in June [[1968]] on a double-bill with the Don Knotts comedy, ''The Shakiest Gun in the West''. Contemporary American reviews were mixed. ''New York Times'' film critic, Vincent Canby gave it a particularly insulting review, calling Toho's Kong an "Uncle Tom," and commenting, "The Japanese... are all thumbs when it comes to making monster movies like 'King Kong Escapes.' The Toho moviemakers are quite good in building miniature sets, but much of the process photography—matching the miniatures with the full-scale shots—is just bad... the plotting is hopelessly primitive..."


The July 15, 1968 Film Bulletin, however, gave it a more positive review, saying "Grown-ups who like their entertainments on a comic-strip level will find this good fun and the Universal release (made in Japan) has plenty of ballyhoo angles to draw the school-free youngsters in large numbers..."
==Video releases==
{{Clear}}
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2001)
==DVD & Blu-ray Releases==
*'''Region:''' 2
Toho DVD (2001)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Mono)
*Region: 2
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono)
'''Universal''' DVD/Blu-Ray (2005/2014)[3]
*Region: 1 (DVD) or A/1 (Blu-Ray)
*Discs: 1
*Audio: English (2.0 Mono)
*Special Features: None
*Notes: French and Spanish subtitles are included. The DVD is sometimes packaged with [[King Kong (2005 film)|''King Kong'' (2005)]] and ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''.


Though ''King Kong Escapes'' is not available on Blu-ray in Japan, an HD version of the film can be rented or purchased on the Japanese versions of Amazon Video and iTunes.
'''[[Universal Pictures|Universal]]''' DVD/Blu-ray (2005/2014)
*'''Region:''' 1 (DVD) or A (Blu-ray)
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Audio:''' English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Special features:''' None
*'''Notes:''' French and Spanish subtitles are included. The DVD is sometimes packaged with both [[King Kong (2005 film)|''King Kong'' (2005)]] and ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''.
 
'''[[Universal Pictures|Universal]]''' DVD/Blu-ray (2017)
*'''Region:''' 2 (DVD) or B (Blu-ray)
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Audio:''' English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Special features:''' None
 
'''[[Toho]]''' Blu-ray (2021)
*'''Region''': A
*'''Discs''': 1
*'''Audio''': Japanese (DTS HD Master Audio Mono and 5.1)
*'''Subtitles''': Unknown; presumed to be Japanese only
*'''Special features''': Message from actress Linda Miller, the [[Toho Champion Festival]] edit of the film, theatrical trailer, still gallery, audio commentary
==Videos==
==Videos==
{{videos|
{{videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSQBkg-NKaM</youtube>|Japanese '' King Kong Escapes'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">sK2ovipa3ck</youtube>|Japanese trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">nuu_l24zQv4/youtube>|American ''King Kong Escapes'' trailer and TV spot}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">HPODk7cV5KA</youtube>|Textless Japanese trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FHgZfQvxbI</youtube>|German ''King Kong Escapes'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">vSks5ahjNj0</youtube>|U.S. trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">6KnhiOZ-wX8</youtube>|U.S. TV trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">m4EcSzYRsls</youtube>|U.S. TV spots}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">UMYNP-4RFbQ</youtube>|U.S. radio spots}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">4FHgZfQvxbI</youtube>|West German trailer}}
}}
}}
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*''King Kong Escapes'' was released as part of [[Toho]]'s 35th anniversary celebration.
[[File:0002123020.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|Advertisement for ''King Kong Escapes'' and ''Ultraman'']]
*[[Akira Ifukube]] would later reuse and rewrite [[Mechani-Kong]]'s theme for his score to ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]''.
*''King Kong Escapes'' was one of eight films released by [[Toho]] throughout 1967 as part of the studio's 35th anniversary celebration.
*In this film, the dinosaur monster [[Gorosaurus]]' name is never spoken. He is only referred to by name in the [[1968]] film, ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]''.
*The film was released in [[Japan]] as a double feature with ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman: Monster Movie Feature|Ultraman]]'', a feature-length compilation of episodes 1, 8, 26, and 27 of the [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman (series)|television series of the same name]].
*[[Mechani-Kong]] was Toho's first robot duplicate monster, and inspired [[Mechagodzilla/Showa|Mechagodzilla]] in the 1970's.
*The film was re-released at the Winter [[Toho Champion Festival]] on December 20, 1973, with a cut-down runtime of 59 minutes. It was accompanied by a theatrical release of [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Burn On! The Six Ultra Brothers|episode 25]] of ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Ultraman Taro (series)|Ultraman Taro]]'' titled ''Ultraman Taro: [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Burn!_The_6_Ultra_Brothers!|Burn! The 6 Ultra Brothers!]]''; ''Samurai Giants: Burn Up, Ban Bamba''; ''Fables of the Green Forest: The Big Boast''; ''Aim for the Ace! Cinderella of the Tennis Kingdom''; and ''Gatchaman: Renzilla, the Electric Monster''.
*After plans for a [[Godzilla vs. King Kong|remake of ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'']] in the 1990's fell through, Toho planned to produce a [[Godzilla vs. Mechani-Kong|film]] pitting Mechani-Kong against [[Godzilla]]. However, Toho found they would be unable to utilize even King Kong's likeness for the film, and it was scrapped.
*[[Akira Ifukube]]'s [[Mechani-Kong]] theme served as the basis for [[Mechagodzilla (Heisei)|Mechagodzilla]]'s theme in his score for ''[[Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II]]''.<ref name="Toho Kingdom">[https://www.tohokingdom.com/cd/godzilla_vs_mg2_2cd_toshiba.htm CD: Complete Recordings: Akira Ifukube Toho Special Effects Movie Music 10]</ref>
*[[King Kong]]'s battle with Gorosaurus is a restaging of the famous battle in the [[King Kong (1933 film)|original ''King Kong'']] between Kong and the [[Tyrannosaurus rex]]. The two battles have many similarities, in particular the conclusion where Kong defeats his opponent by breaking its jaw. The battle with the [[Giant Sea Serpent]] is also reminiscent of Kong's bout with the [[Elasmosaurus]] in the original film.
*In this film, the dinosaur [[Gorosaurus]]'s name is never mentioned. He is only referred to by name in his second appearance in the [[1968]] ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' film ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]''.
**The battle with Gorosaurus also has echoes of Kong's battle with [[Godzilla]] in ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]'', most noteworthy is that Gorosaurus utilizes a drop-kick, a reference to Godzilla's famous stop-motion drop kick. This "kangaroo-kick" would later become a trademark of Gorosaurus' character, as he utilized one at a critical moment in the battle against [[King Ghidorah]] in ''Destroy All Monsters''.
*[[Mechani-Kong]] was Toho's first robot duplicate of a monster, and inspired the creation of [[Mechagodzilla (Showa)|Mechagodzilla]] in the 1970s.
*The King Kong suit from this film would later be reused for the monster [[King Kong#Go! Greenman|Gorilla]] in the ''[[Go! Greenman]]'' episode, ''[[Greenman vs. Gorilla]]''.
**Mechani-Kong later fought alongside Mechagodzilla against Godzilla in [[Kodansha]]'s [[1993]] ''[[Godzilla, King of the Monsters (Kodansha manga)|Godzilla, King of the Monsters]]'' manga.
*''King Kong Escapes'' was re-released at the Winter Toho Champion Film Festival on December 20, 1973 alongside a theatrical version of episode 25 of ''[[w:c:ultra:Ultraman Taro (series)|Ultraman Taro]]'' titled ''Burn On! The Six Ultra Brothers'', and various cartoons.
**Kong would later go on to encounter and fight Mechagodzilla in the [[2021]] film ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]''.
*After plans for a [[Godzilla vs. King Kong|remake of ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'']] in the 1990s fell through, Toho planned to produce a [[Godzilla vs. Mechani-Kong|film]] pitting Mechani-Kong against [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]]. However, Toho found they would be unable to utilize even King Kong's ''likeness'' for the film, and it too was scrapped.
*[[King Kong (King Kong Escapes)|King Kong]]'s battle with Gorosaurus is a restaging of the famous battle in the [[King Kong (1933 film)|original ''King Kong'' film]] between Kong and the [[Meat-Eater]]. The two battles have many similarities, in particular the conclusion where Kong defeats his opponent by tearing its jaw in two. Kong's battle with the [[Giant Sea Serpent]] is also reminiscent of his battle with the ''[[Elasmosaurus]]'' in the original film.
**The battle with Gorosaurus also has echoes of [[King Kong (King Kong vs. Godzilla)|Kong]]'s battle with Godzilla in ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''; most noteworthy is that Gorosaurus utilizes a drop kick, a reference to Godzilla's famous stop-motion drop kick in the previous film. This "kangaroo kick" soon become Gorosaurus's signature move, as he utilized one at a critical moment in the battle against [[King Ghidorah (Showa)|King Ghidorah]] in ''Destroy All Monsters''.
*The King Kong suit from this film would later be reused for the monster [[Gorilla]] in the ''[[Go! Greenman]]'' episode "[[Greenman vs. Gorilla]]."
 
==Notes==
{{Notelist|lower-alpha}}
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
 
===Bibliography===
{{Kaiju Movies}}
*{{cite book|last1=Ryfle|first1=Steve|last2=Godziszewski|first2=Ed|title=[[Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa]]|date=3 October 2017|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|isbn=9780819577412}}
{{King Kong Escapes}}
{{Kaiju Movies|tab=Kong}}
{{Comments}}
{{Era|TOH|RB|UNI|SHO|FIL|KK|GOR|GSS|MKK}}
{{Era|TOH|RB|UNI|SHO|FIL|KK|GOR|GSS|MKK}}
[[Category:Kaiju Films]]
[[Category:Kaiju Films]]
Line 175: Line 235:
[[Category:King Kong Films]]
[[Category:King Kong Films]]
[[Category:Universal]]
[[Category:Universal]]
[[Category:Kiryu Saga Continuity]]
[[Category:Kiryu series continuity]]
[[Category:Collaborative films]]
[[Category:Collaborative films]]
[[Category:Films dubbed into English twice]]
[[Category:Films dubbed into English twice]]
[[Category:Toho Champion Festival releases]]
[[Category:Showa Continuity]]

Latest revision as of 05:05, 31 December 2023

Article.png
Image gallery for King Kong Escapes
Credits for King Kong Escapes
King Kong Escapes soundtrack


King Kong films
King Kong vs. Godzilla
King Kong Escapes
King Kong (1976)
King Kong Escapes
The Japanese poster for King Kong Escapes
Alternate titles
Flagicon Japan.png King Kong's Counterattack (1967)
See alternate titles
Directed by Ishiro Honda[a]
Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka[a]
Written by Kaoru Mabuchi
Music by Akira Ifukube
Production company Toho
Distributor TohoJP, Universal PicturesUS
Rating GUS
Budget ¥170 million[2]
Box office $3 millionUS
Running time 104 minutesJP
(1 hour, 44 minutes)
96 minutesUS
(1 hour, 36 minutes)
59 minutesTCF
Aspect ratio 2.35:1
Rate this film!
4.04
(27 votes)

The electronic monster Mechani-Kong boldly challenges the ruler of the South Seas, King Kong!! (電子怪獣メカニ・コングに敢然と挑戦する南海の王者キングコング!!)
„ 

— Tagline

The Arctic, South Seas and Japan―three enraged giant monsters of the century! Amazing! A breathtaking duel! (北極・南海そして日本―怒り狂う世紀の三大怪獣!すごいッ!息づまる驚異の大決闘!)
„ 

— Tagline

The mightiest of all creatures pitted against his exact duplicate in a colossal struggle of monster vs. robot
„ 

— International tagline[3]

The fate of the world hangs in the balance as King Kong fights the King Kong Robot! ... two King Kongs fight to the DEATH! All New!
„ 

— American tagline

King Kong Escapes (キングコングの逆襲,   Kingu Kongu no Gyakushū, lit. King Kong's Counterattack) is a 1967 tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Ishiro Honda and written by Kaoru Mabuchi, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced by Toho in partnership with Rankin/Bass, it is a loose adaptation of episodes of Rankin/Bass and Toei Animation's animated TV series The King Kong Show. The film stars Akira Takarada, Mie Hama, Rhodes Reason, Linda Miller, and Hideyo Amamoto. Toho released it to Japanese theaters on July 22, 1967, and Universal to American theaters on June 19, 1968.

During a research expedition in their submarine the Explorer, a United Nations crew led by Commander Carl Nelson encounters the legendary giant ape King Kong living on the remote Mondo Island. Meanwhile, the evil scientist Dr. Who has completed his own robot duplicate of Kong: Mechani-Kong. Who intends to use the electronic robot to mine the deadly Element X for his benefactor Madame Piranha, but when Mechani-Kong fails to do so, he decides to kidnap the real Kong to do the job himself. It is up to Nelson, Lt. Commander Jiro Nomura, and Lieutenant Susan Watson to foil Who's plan and help Kong escape, which leads to a final confrontation in Tokyo between Kong and his robot doppelganger. King Kong Escapes was the last King Kong film produced for nearly a decade, with the next being Dino De Laurentiis's King Kong remake in 1976.

Plot

The United Nations research submarine Explorer is on a mission in the Java Sea, under the command of Carl Nelson. Nelson sits in a room conversing with Lt. Commmander Jiro Nomura, where they are joined by the ship's nurse, Lieutenant Susan Watson. She asks if they are discussing gorillas when she sees them looking at a diagram of one, remarking that she finds them dull. Nelson asks if she still finds gorillas dull even if one is 60 feet tall. He explains that he has spent a great deal of time researching a legendary giant goriila-like ape said to live in this area, known as Kong. He and Nomura show Susan photographs of a gigantic staircase and underground tunnel from the nearby Mondo Island, and explain that they are believed to have been built by Kong. Susan asks if they can visit Mondo Island, but Nelson responds that they unfortunately cannot because of their mission.

In a secret base in the Arctic, the diabolical Dr. Who prepares to show his mysterious benefactor Madame Piranha his latest invention: Mechani-Kong. He states that he created this robot using schematics he stole from his former colleague, Carl Nelson. He claims that Mechani-Kong can do anything the real Kong can do, but Madame Piranha asks how this is going to help her nation obtain Element X. Dr. Who replies that other nations have only been able to find a few small pieces of Element X in the world, because they are unaware of a huge deposit which exists in the Arctic. Mechani-Kong, he says, is designed specifically to withstand the intense radiation given off by Element X and directly mine it from under the ice. Dr. Who and Madame Piranha observe from a helicopter as Mechani-Kong exits the hangar and makes its way to a crevice in the ice. The robot jumps into the fissure and lands on a ledge overlooking a deep chasm. Mechani-Kong begins tearing off bombs from its utility belt, then activates them and drops them into the hole below. After several explosions, the ice gives way and Mechani-Kong drops to the bottom. It then begins to dig through the ice before finally reaching a large deposit of Element X, which emits a bright radioactive glow. As Mechani-Kong continues to dig, it suddenly malfunctions and collapses. Dr. Who is surprised that even his Mechani-Kong could not withstand the radiation of Element X. Dr. Who returns to his base where he instructs his men to work on repairing Mechani-Kong and figuring out what caused it to break down. He sees Madame Piranha leaving the base and tries to convince her to give him more time to retrieve Element X. She eventually agrees, saying she will convince her country to give Dr. Who one more chance.

An unexpected underwater rockslide damages the Explorer, forcing it to ascend and anchor near an island for repairs. As Nelson, Nomura, and Susan observe the island from a distance, Nelson states that Susan got her wish after all because the island happens to be Mondo Island. The three travel to the island in a Hover Car and disembark. They note that the island seems to be uninhabited, before an elderly native man appears over a hill and begins to shout at them. Nelson recognizes his speech as a Javanese dialect, and says he is telling them they must not proceed any further as it is taboo to encroach on the domain of Kong. Nelson notes that the man calls Kong Bon Kong, which in this dialect means "King Kong." Nelson and Nomura try to follow the man and instruct Susan to stay behind with the Hover Car. As Susan waits, the colossal dinosaur Gorosaurus emerges from the jungle and notices her. Susan screams, which gets the attention of Kong as he rests in a cave. Nelson and Nomura hear Susan's scream and try to make their way back, where they see Gorosaurus menacing her. Soon, Kong emerges from the jungle. He immediately takes an interest in Susan, grabbing her in his hand and lifting her up. After admiring her for a few moments, Kong sets Susan down safely in a nearby tree and prepares to battle Gorosaurus. Kong begins pummeling Gorosaurus with his fists, but the dinosaur leaps into the air and delivers a series of powerful kangaroo kicks that knock Kong down. The monsters continue to grapple, with Kong eventually gaining the upper hand by getting on top of Gorosaurus and repeatedly punching him in the head. Gorosaurus finally goes limp, and Kong stands and beats his chest victoriously. He grabs Susan again, and she begs Kong to put her down. Finally understanding, Kong gently sets Susan on the ground where she reunites with Nelson and Nomura. Suddenly, Gorosaurus stirs back to life and bites down on Kong's leg. Nelson says now is the time to escape back to the Explorer, but Susan protests and declares they cannot just leave Kong like this. Still, they are forced to get back into the Hover Car and make their way back to the sub. Kong manages to free his leg by grabbing Gorosaurus' jaws and prying them apart. Kong continues to pull apart Gorosaurus' jaws, causing the beast to foam at the mouth. Finally, Kong breaks his enemy's jaws and Gorosaurus is defeated. Kong then makes his way into the sea and pursues the Hover Car. A Giant Sea Serpent suddenly surfaces and begins to approach the Hover Car, but Kong intercepts it and begins to battle the serpent. The Hover Car escapes in the confusion and the three get back aboard the Explorer. Kong dispatches the serpent and swims to the Explorer. Nelson asks if the ship is ready to leave, but is informed that repairs are not yet complete. Kong begins to shake the Explorer, prompting Susan to volunteer to go out and try to calm him down. Nelson and Nomura protest at first, but she convinces them that this is the best way to buy them time. Susan goes above deck and tells Kong to stop shaking the ship. Kong, still infatuated by Susan, picks her up in his hand again. She tells Kong to put her down, but this time he does not listen. Susan is forced to leap out of Kong's hand into the water below, prompting Kong to momentarily panic and snatch her back out of the water. She again asks Kong to take her back to the ship, and he finally complies. Nomura helps Susan back below deck, where Nelson gives the order to dive now that repairs are complete. As the Explorer departs, Kong watches it go and then swims back to Mondo Island.

Nelson delivers a report at the United Nations building in New York City. He says that Mondo Island was home to not only the mythical Kong, but also other prehistoric creatures. Madame Piranha, posing as a reporter, asks why Kong was so interested in Lieutenant Watson, to which Nelson responds that Kong is simply a male while Susan is obviously a female. Nelson concludes the press conference and states that he plans to make a return trip to Mondo in the Explorer to continue observing Kong. Madame Piranha enters a restroom and activates a hidden communicator on her lipstick. She contacts Dr. Who and explains that Kong is confirmed to be on Mondo Island and that Susan is the key to getting him to do what they want. Dr. Who is pleased and prepares to head to Mondo with a fleet of helicopters to capture the real Kong and force him to dig for Element X. The choppers arrive on the island and Dr. Who disembarks with a few of his men. The elderly native approaches them and gives a warning about proceeding further, but Dr. Who simply shoots the man several times. He orders his men to capture Kong quickly before the Explorer arrives. The choppers circle Kong in the jungle, dropping bombs filled with knockout gas around him. Kong tries to fight back, swatting at the choppers and throwing a tree at them, but to no avail. Kong finally succumbs to the gas and collapses onto his back. Dr. Who's men attach shackles connected to the helicopters around Kong's limbs and airlift him off the island to Dr. Who's base in the Arctic. When the Explorer arrives and its crew comes ashore, they find the jungle damaged as if a fight occurred there, while Nelson finds several shell casings. He concludes that Kong's enemy was human beings. Susan comes upon the dying native man, and tries to tend to his injuries, though she knows she cannot save him. She is joined by Nomura and Nelson, who listen to the man's final words before he passes away. Nelson interprets the man's dying words and says he said that a "foreign devil" kidnapped Kong. Nelson concludes that the "devil" he described could only be his former colleague and infamous international criminal, Dr. Who. They are contacted by the U.N. and instructed to make their way to a ship docked off the coast of Japan, where they will be airlifted to a UN office in Tokyo. They comply, and the Explorer meets the ship near Japan. Nelson, Nomura, and Susan come aboard and enter the helicopter supposedly bound for Japan. They quickly realize that the pilots of the helicopter are not Japanese, and realize they are being taken somewhere else.

At his Arctic base, Dr. Who has imprisoned Kong and attached a mind-control device to one of his ears through which he can relay orders. A hypnotic light is lowered in front of Kong, which seems to bring him under Dr. Who's control. Dr. Who orders Kong to dig for Element X, and sends the giant ape through a tunnel directly to the Element X deposit. Kong digs furiously through the ice before finally reaching Element X. Kong seems unaffected by the radiation, but the device in his ear begins to malfunction. Kong finally regains his free will, tears off the device and begins charging back through the tunnel. A gate is lowered in front of Kong to prevent him from escaping, leaving the ape pounding angrily at the metal bars. The helicopter arrives with Nelson, Nomura, and Susan, and Dr. Who comes to greet them. He acts cordially toward Nelson and says it is good to see him again, but Nelson is well aware Who has sinister ulterior motives. Dr. Who explains that he needs their help to get Kong to obey him so he can make him mine Element X. Nelson and the others refuse to help him, so Dr. Who has them taken to a prison cell. Dr. Who's men later come to retrieve Nelson and bring him to Dr. Who's quarters, where he is met by Madame Piranha. She attempts to seduce Nelson, who does not fall for her methods and asks what country she is from. She denies that she is from any world power such as the United States, the Soviet Union, or China. When her attempts to seduce Nelson fail, he is taken back to the cell, where Dr. Who arrives to retrieve him again, saying it has been too long since the two of them last played chess. Dr. Who brings Nelson to a panel on the wall, where he activates vents that leak freezing cold air into the cell. He threatens Nelson saying that for every second he does not help him, Nomura and Susan will be closer to freezing to death. Dr. Who brings Nelson to his quarters where the two share a tense game of chess. Nelson still refuses to break, which frustrates Dr. Who even further. He and his men make their way back to the cell and come inside. Dr. Who tells Nomura and Susan that Nelson is dead. but they can still save themselves if they comply. Both continue to refuse, prompting Dr. Who to grab Susan by the throat and threaten to push her face into the icy walls of the cell and see if she is still beautiful after that. Just then, Kong manages to break through the gate and escapes. Dr. Who and his men run out of the cell, but leave the key to Nomura's shackles behind. Susan frees him and they try to find a way out. They are confronted by Madame Piranha, who to their surprise leads them to Nelson. Dr. Who deploys the repaired Mechani-Kong to try and stop Kong from getting away, but the robot is too slow to catch Kong before he leaps into the icy water and begins swimming away. In Dr. Who's quarters, Madame Piranha explains to Nomura, Susan, and Nelson that she simply wanted to help make her country a better place by helping it obtain a nuclear arsenal, but she quickly realized how ruthless and bloodthirsty Dr. Who was. Just then, Dr. Who and his men enter the room, and he decides to bring them all aboard his ship to pursue Kong.

As Dr. Who's ship tracks Kong down to Tokyo, Madame Piranha enters the room where Nelson and the others are being held and frees them from their bonds. They insist that she come with them, but she says that she must stay behind. She helps them onto a raft and tells them to head to shore now, just as one of the guards sees them escaping and tries to stop them. Madame Piranha pushes the guard's gun aside so the bullets do not hit the raft. Dr. Who's men capture Madame Piranha and bring her to the control room, where she is kept under close observation. Kong comes ashore in Tokyo, with the JSDF scrambling to combat him. Nelson meets with the government and tells them not to attack Kong, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Nomura and Susan make their way to the streets and tell the JSDF not to shine lights on Kong. Susan sees Kong and runs toward him, allowing him to pick her up. Dr. Who releases Mechani-Kong in Tokyo to try and subdue Kong. When Kong sees his robot double approaching, he sets Susan down and prepares to fight it despite Susan telling him not to do that because it isn't alive. The two Kongs exchange blows, and seem to be evenly matched. Mechani-Kong uses the flashing light on its head to mesmerize Kong, only for Nomura to shoot it out with his rifle. After more intense hand-to-hand combat, Mechani-Kong grabs Susan and begins to climb Tokyo Tower, with Kong in pursuit. Dr. Who broadcasts his voice through loudspeakers in Mechani-Kong's mouth, telling Kong to surrender and come back to the ship or else he will drop Susan. Kong does not heed the warning and continues scaling the tower, prompting Mechani-Kong to drop Susan. Fortunately, Kong catches her and sets her down on the observation deck before continuing to pursue Mechani-Kong. On Dr. Who's ship, Madame Piranha takes matters into her own hands and sabotages Mechani-Kong's remote controls, prompting Dr. Who to fatally shoot her in retaliation. Its remote controls destroyed, Mechani-Kong ceases to function just as the top of the tower breaks off, causing the robot to plummet to the street, where it breaks apart into pieces and explodes. Nomura makes his way up the collapsing tower to rescue Susan, and the two are able to successfully escape.

As day breaks, Dr. Who gives the order for his ship to leave immediately. Nelson, Nomura, and Susan pursue Kong with the JSDF as he makes his way to the harbor. Susan shouts at Kong to go after Dr. Who's ship before he gets away. Kong dives into Tokyo Bay and swims to the ship. He begins violently smashing it with his fists, causing it to break apart and begin flooding with water. Dr. Who is crushed to death by a desk just as the ship finally explodes and sinks. With Dr. Who defeated for good, Kong begins swimming off into the distance. Susan calls after him, but Nelson says Kong is going home to Mondo Island and has "had enough of what we call civilization." Everyone then watches as Kong swims out into the sunrise, victorious.

Staff

Main article: King Kong Escapes/Credits.

Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.

Cast

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

Glen Glenn Sound Company English dub

Appearances

Monsters

Weapons, vehicles, and races

Production

Pencil-icon.gif Please help improve this section by contributing useful information or discussing ideas on its talk page.

Following the success of their animated TV series The King Kong Show, co-produced with Toei Animation, Rankin/Bass approached another Japanese studio, Toho, to produce a live action film adaptation of the series. Toho, who had previously produced the hit film King Kong vs. Godzilla in 1962, began production on a film entitled Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah, pitting King Kong against the giant crustacean Ebirah on a tropical island inhabited by a terrorist organization called the Red Bamboo. The film would have also featured Toho's popular monster Mothra. Rankin/Bass, however, felt the proposed film did not follow the animated series closely enough, and rejected the screenplay. Rather than completely discard the project, Toho repackaged it as a Godzilla film, replacing Kong with Godzilla, and produced Ebirah, Horror of the Deep in 1966. Toho then went back to the drawing board and attempted to produce a film closer to The King Kong Show. Toho borrowed several concepts from the show, including the location of Mondo Island and the recurring villains Dr. Who and Mechani-Kong, and produced King Kong Escapes in 1967.

Gallery

Main article: King Kong Escapes/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: King Kong Escapes/Soundtrack.

Alternate titles

  • King Kong's Counterattack (literal Japanese title)
  • King Kong Escapes (United States)
  • King Kong - Frankenstein's Son (King-Kong - Frankensteins Sohn; West Germany)
  • The Revenge of King Kong (La Revanche de King Kong; France, French Belgium; De Wraak van King Kong; Dutch Belgium)
  • King Kong - The Giant of the Forest (King Kong - Il Gigante della Foresta; Italy)
  • King Kong - The Son of Frankenstein (King Kong - Il Figlio di Frankenstein; Italy)
  • Wrath of the Monsters (Canavarlarin Gazabi; Turkey)
  • King Kong (Turkey; reissue title)
  • The Return of King Kong (El Regreso de King Kong; Mexico, Argentina; O Regresso de King Kong; Portugal)
  • King Kong on the Island of Terror (King Kong Kauhun Saarella; Finland)
  • King Kong on Terror Island (King Kong på Skräckens ö; Sweden)
  • The Escape of King Kong (A Fuga de King Kong; Brazil)
  • King Kong - The Eighth Wonder of the World (King Kong - La Octava Maravilla del Mundo; Argentina)
  • King Kong Against Dr Who (King Kong contre Dr Who; French Belgium; reissue title; King Kong Tegen Dr Who; Dutch Belgium; reissue title)
  • Reborns and Now: King Kong Escapes (Renace y Ahora: King Kong Escapa; Spain; reissue title)
  • King Kong Returns to His World (King Kong vuelve a su mundo; Spanish 8mm title)
  • King Kong Has Not Died (King Kong No Ha Muerto; Mexico)
  • King Kong Gets Out (King Kong onsnapt; the Netherlands)
  • King Kong Escaped (King Kong je pobjegao; Yugoslavia; King Kong je pobegnil; Yugoslavia (Slovenia))

Theatrical releases

  • Japan - July 22, 1967; December 20, 1973 (Toho Champion Festival version)
  • United States - June 19, 1968
  • Canada - August 15, 1968
  • France - November 13, 1968
  • United Kingdom - 1969
  • Brazil - May 26, 1969
  • Spain - November 20, 1969
  • Mexico - 1970
  • Portugal - September 15, 1977
  • Yugoslavia - 1978
  • Egypt - 1988

U.S. release

U.S. King Kong Escapes poster

King Kong Escapes was distributed theatrically in the United States by Universal Pictures. The film was dubbed into English under the supervision of Riley Jackson, with Rhodes Reason dubbing over his own performance as Carl Nelson and Paul Frees voicing Dr. Who and most of the film's other male characters. It had eight minutes cut. Two brief scenes that were cut from the Japanese version were reinserted: an introductory scene for Susan Watson and a longer conversation between Carl Nelson and Madame Piranha. Two of the characters' names were changed in the U.S. version. Mechani-Kong is referred to as "Robot Kong," while the film's promotional materials and end credits renamed Madame Piranha "Madame X."

King Kong Escapes opened in the United States on June 19, 1968. Contemporary U.S. reviews were mixed. The New York Times film critic Vincent Canby gave it a particularly insulting review, calling Toho's Kong an "Uncle Tom," and commenting "The Japanese...are all thumbs when it comes to making monster movies like 'King Kong Escapes.' The Toho moviemakers are quite good in building miniature sets, but much of the process photography—matching the miniatures with the full-scale shots—is just bad...the plotting is hopelessly primitive..." The July 15, 1968 issue of Film Bulletin, however, gave it a more positive review, saying "Grown-ups who like their entertainments on a comic-strip level will find this good fun and the Universal release (made in Japan) has plenty of ballyhoo angles to draw the school-free youngsters in large numbers..."

Video releases

Toho DVD (2001)

  • Region: 2
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono)

Universal DVD/Blu-ray (2005/2014)

  • Region: 1 (DVD) or A (Blu-ray)
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: English (2.0 Mono)
  • Special features: None
  • Notes: French and Spanish subtitles are included. The DVD is sometimes packaged with both King Kong (2005) and King Kong vs. Godzilla.

Universal DVD/Blu-ray (2017)

  • Region: 2 (DVD) or B (Blu-ray)
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: English (2.0 Mono)
  • Special features: None

Toho Blu-ray (2021)

  • Region: A
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (DTS HD Master Audio Mono and 5.1)
  • Subtitles: Unknown; presumed to be Japanese only
  • Special features: Message from actress Linda Miller, the Toho Champion Festival edit of the film, theatrical trailer, still gallery, audio commentary

Videos

Japanese trailer
Textless Japanese trailer
U.S. trailer
U.S. TV trailer
U.S. TV spots
U.S. radio spots
West German trailer

Trivia

Advertisement for King Kong Escapes and Ultraman

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Arthur Rankin Jr. is falsely credited as director and producer in the U.S. version, giving the impression that he was in charge of the film.[1]

References

This is a list of references for King Kong Escapes. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

Bibliography

  • Ryfle, Steve; Godziszewski, Ed (3 October 2017). Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819577412.

Comments

Showing 26 comments. When commenting, please remain respectful of other users, stay on topic, and avoid role-playing and excessive punctuation. Comments which violate these guidelines may be removed by administrators.

Loading comments...
Era Icon - Toho.png
Era Icon - Rankin Bass.png
Era Icon - Universal.png
Era Icon - Showa.png
Movie
Era Icon - King Kong.png
Era Icon - Gorosaurus.png
Era Icon - Mechani-Kong.png