The happy convergence of World Book Day and the recent 80th anniversary of the premiere of King Kong seems a perfect opportunity to dust off one of the eccentric gems on the shelves at the BFI Reuben Library.
This 1974 volume, Homenaje a King King (Homage to King Kong), is a Spanish anthology compiling writings on the classic monster film, which premiered at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on 2 March 1933. Alongside images from the film, which work as a flickbook, pieces range from the original New York Times review to analysis (translated into Spanish) by various French and American critical heavyweights.
Not that you’d guess the serious contents from the tome’s cheery cover, which depicts Kong’s giant head looming above the Manhattan skyline and allows the reader to wiggle Kong’s eyes and tongue. Tipping our hat to the great ape, 80 years young and still one of film history’s best-loved monsters, we present the cover here in animated form. For optimum jungle experience, turn on the sound in the top right of the player window.
