Son of Kong
Sequel to King Kong, released nine months later.
The Son of Kong (often shortened to *Son of Kong*) is a 1933 American Pre-Code adventure monster film from RKO Pictures. Ernest Schoedsack directed, with special effects by Willis O'Brien and Buzz Gibson. The cast includes Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, and Frank Reicher. Released only nine months after *King Kong*, it serves as that film's sequel and the second installment in the King Kong franchise.
One month after Kong's rampage in New York, filmmaker Carl Denham faces so many lawsuits he is nearly bankrupt. He leaves the city on the *Venture* with Captain Englehorn, who would also face prosecution if he stayed. Their attempts to earn money shipping cargo around Asia fail. In the Dutch East Indies port of Dakang, Denham and Englehorn watch a monkey show featuring a young woman named Hilda Petersen, who sings "Runaway Blues." Denham is immediately drawn to her.
That night, Hilda's father, who runs the show, drinks with a Norwegian skipper named Nils Helstrom, who lost his ship under suspicious circumstances. They argue and fight; Petersen is killed, and his tent burns down. Distraught, Hilda frees all the monkeys. Denham and Englehorn later meet Helstrom, who had sold Denham the map to Kong's island. Helstrom convinces them treasure lies there, and they agree to sail. Denham meets Hilda as she tries to recapture her monkeys and attempts to comfort her, but refuses to take her along. She stows away after the ship departs.
Helstrom convinces Hilda to stay quiet, then incites a mutiny. The sailors force Helstrom, Denham, Englehorn, Hilda, and the cook Charlie into a lifeboat. They land on Skull Island, where natives blame Denham for Kong's destruction, forcing the group inland. They split into two groups. Denham and Hilda encounter a giant albino gorilla, less than half Kong's height but still over twice a man's. The ape is stuck in quicksand; Denham frees him and bandages his injured finger, earning the ape's trust. Denham believes this is Kong's son and names him "Little Kong."
Elsewhere, Englehorn, Charlie, and Helstrom are chased by a Styracosaurus into a cave. Denham and Hilda are attacked by a giant cave bear, but Little Kong fights it off. Helstrom had invented the treasure story for a free ride, but with the ape's help, Denham and Hilda find a real treasure: a large jewel on a giant stone idol. Little Kong, Denham, and Hilda are attacked by a Notho
- Release year
- 1933
- Director
- Ernest Schoedsack
- Special effects
- Willis O'Brien and Buzz Gibson
- Stars
- Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack, Frank Reicher
- Genre
- Adventure monster film
- Production company
- RKO Pictures
- Sequel to
- King Kong (1933)
Lore & Background
The film follows filmmaker Carl Denham, who, a month after Kong's destruction in New York, is bankrupt from lawsuits. He leaves the city aboard the Venture with Captain Englehorn. In the Dutch East Indies port of Dakang, Denham meets Hilda Petersen, a young woman whose father runs a monkey show. After her father is killed in a fight, Hilda stows away on Denham's ship. The group eventually lands on Skull Island, where they encounter a giant albino gorilla, less than half the height of Kong, whom Denham names 'Little Kong' and believes to be Kong's son.
Reader's Guide
The Son of Kong was a modest success following the massive success of King Kong. Script writer Ruth Rose intentionally made no attempt to make a serious film, stating, 'If you can't make it bigger, make it funnier.' Robert Armstrong, who played Denham, preferred the sequel, saying it offered more character development for Carl Denham. The film features stop-motion animation by Willis O'Brien, though less extensive than in the original. Some models from King Kong were reused, including the 'long face' Kong armature for Little Kong. The film ends with Little Kong sacrificing himself to save Denham as the island sinks during an earthquake and hurricane.
Did You Know?
- Helen Mack's character is never referred to as 'Hilda' in the film; the name appears only in the credits.
- Little Kong was called 'Kiko' during production, and the name was also used in some publicity materials.
- The Brontosaurus model used in the sea during the island's sinking is the same model used in the swamp scene of King Kong, not the raft scene.
More in Lost world films 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record