Meat-Eater

Meat-Eater Alternate names Tyrannosaurus rex, Man-eater Species Dinosaur Played by Stop-motion First appearance Latest appearance King Kong (1932) King Kong (1933)

The Meat-Eater is a dinosaur monster that makes a brief appearance in the 1933 film King Kong, after appearing in the 1932 novelization based on its script.

Name

The Meat-Eater is never given a proper name in any medium, but is referred to as "the meat-eater" in the 1932 novelization as well as the film's script. Its name comes from the fact that it has a meat-based diet.

Design

The Meat-Eater bears the approximate design of what a Tyrannosaurus rex was thought to have looked like at the time of its release. Its skin is shown to be brown and covered in bumps in the colorized version of the film, however the novelization's dust jacket portrays it with smooth green skin and a a crest of spines running down its back. Its supple, serpentine, neck supports its head. its mouth is filled with sharp teeth, and it has two small, nearly useless arms that are described as only being useful for putting food into its mouth. Its strong hind legs allowed it to move around through a series of short hops.

History

King Kong (1933)

The Meat-Eater in King Kong (1933)

The Meat-Eater was among the prehistoric creatures living on Skull Island in 1933. As King Kong was travelling across Skull Island with his 'bride', Ann Darrow, he realized that the crew of the Venture were following him, and so he set Ann down atop a tree while he went to attack the expedition. While Kong was distracted by this, the Meat-Eater appeared from the jungle and began to menace Ann, intent on eating her. After hearing Ann's screams, Kong rushed to her aid, and began fighting the dinosaur. After a long and drawn-out battle, Kong snapped the Meat-Eater's jaws, incapacitating it, before continuing on his way with Ann. A short time later, Jack Driscoll encountered the Meat-Eater, still breathing but barely alive. As he watched, the dinosaur finally died.

Books

King Kong (1932)

After hopping out of the jungle, the Meat-Eater saw Ann Darrow in a tree while Kong was distracted by shaking the crew of the S.S. Venture off of a log bridging a chasm. After Ann screamed in terror, Kong threw the log into the pit and sprang on the Meat-Eater. The dinosaur quickly kicked Kong off with its incredible hind leg strength, but Kong was able to circumvent this by injuring one of its legs. Kong then easily overpowered the Meat-Eater and pried open its jaws, leaving them broken, and the creature dead.

Gallery

King Kong (1933)

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  Tyrannosaurus rex battling Kong

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King Kong (1932)

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  The Meat-Eater on the back cover

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