A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
|
Who is your favorite movie monster?
My favorite monster is the original King Kong from 1933. It's still one of my favorite movies ever, a prototypical film that opened up all kinds of effects possibilities while turning the classic beauty and beast theme into a cinematic symphony. Fay Wray is a fine damsel, but the star of the show is the terrifyingly misunderstood Kong, who has the teeth of a pit bull and the heart of a teddy bear.
Wiki lists the particulars of the film, which was directed and produced by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack:
The screenplay by James Ashmore Creelman and Ruth Rose was from an idea conceived by Cooper and Edgar Wallace. It stars Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot and Robert Armstrong, and opened in New York City on March 2, 1933 to rave reviews.
...Kong is distinguished for its stop-motion animation by Willis O'Brien and its musical score by Max Steiner.
I was delighted to discover that Merian Cooper got the idea for the story from reading W. Douglas Burden's book,
The Dragon Lizards of Komodo. Dragons are always inspirational. Originally, Cooper considered a Komodo Dragons v. African Gorillas showdown, but decided ultimately on one giant gorilla, several
dinosaurs, and a beautiful blonde, who silenced the critics that said his earlier films lacked a love story.
O'Brien's crew had previously worked on the 1925 film, The Lost World, another F/X groundbreaker. For King Kong, they constructed four full body models of Kong and one bust, as well as two versions of his right hand, a nonarticulated one and an articulated one whose fingers could grip Ms. Wray. They also made a leg without articulation for stomping on unfortunate victims. Wiki notes:
Marcel Delgado constructed Kong (or the "Giant Terror Gorilla" as he was then known) per designs and directions from Cooper and O'Brien on a one-inch-equals-one-foot scale to simulate a gorilla 18 feet tall. Four models were built: two jointed 18-inch aluminum, foam rubber, latex, and rabbit fur models (to be rotated during filming), one jointed 24-inch model of the same materials for the New York scenes, and a small model of lead and fur for the tumbling-down-the-Empire-State-Building scene. Kong's torso was streamlined to eliminate the comical appearance of the real world gorilla's prominent belly and buttocks. His lips, eyebrows, and nose were fashioned of rubber, his eyes of glass, and his facial expressions controlled by thin, bendable wires threaded through holes drilled in his aluminum skull. During filming, Kong's rubber skin dried out quickly under studio lights, making it necessary to replace it often and completely rebuild his facial features.
A huge bust of Kong's head, neck, and upper chest was made of wood, cloth, rubber, and bearskin by Delgado, E. B. Gibson, and Fred Reefe. Inside the structure, metal levers, hinges, and an air compressor were operated by three men to control the mouth and facial expressions. Its fangs were 10 inches in length and its eyeballs 12 inches in diameter. The bust was moved from set to set on a flatcar. Its scale matched none of the models and, if fully realized, Kong would have stood thirty to forty feet tall.
Kong battles a number of dinosaurs in the film, but the iconic image is Kong atop the Empire State Building swatting at machine gunning biplanes. It was a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions when Kong fell to his death defending the winsome Wray. It is one of the great final scenes in cinematic history with actor Robert Armstrong delivering one of the greatest last lines:
Carl Denham: Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes...it was Beauty killed the Beast.
There have been two remakes. The
1976 version starring Jessica Lange, Jeff Bridges, and Charles Grodin is not my favorite film, but it had one redeeming feature besides the luscious Ms. Lange: The villain was a greedy, rapacious oil company.
Peter Jackson's 2005 rendition stars a very sexy Naomi Watts (R), Adrien Brody, and Jack Black. While the special effects are state-of-the-art, it lacks the
je ne sais quoi of the original, IMHO.
Still, there are lots of great movie monsters left to choose from. From 2001's HAL9000 to Alien, from Chucky to The Fog, monsters come in all types. I suppose some folks even consider dragons to be monsters, though I can't imagine why. These days, teenage girls swoon over vampires; zombies are apocalyptic; and Godzilla, that worldwide favorite who terrorized Tokyo, is making another comeback. So how about you?
Who (or what) is your favorite movie monster?
Image Credits:
King Kong poster courtesy imdb.com
King Kong's hand and Fay Wray courtesy bobbyriverstv.blogspot.com
King Kong sees Fay Wray courtesy horrornews.net
King Kong atop Empire State Building courtesy fanpop.com
Naomi Watts courtesy criticsatlarge.ca
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Three Star Kossacks & Nashville KosKats Meet-up
by marykk ♥ for Three Star Kossacks
The Three Star Kossacks and the Nashville KosKats met Saturday, March 8th for dinner and then a show afterward to welcome Sandy on Signal to town. About 15 people attended. The organizer marykk said it was the most well attended and succesful event yet for her Kossacks. State Senate Candidate Mary Mancini attended as well as a representative from Planned Parenthood due to an upcoming amendment to the state Constitution which would allow more restrictive abortion legislation.
Here's a couple of photos:
L-R: Patrick is Lucky, sow hat, Mr. sow hat, Sandy on Signal
L-R: Mr & Mrs JKTownsend
You can join Three Star Kossacks, which includes the entire state of Tennessee, by sending a Kosmail to marykk.
Also, you can join Nashville KosKats by sending a Kosmail to ZenTrainer which is for the city of Nashville.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, March 15th
LAKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for shanikka!
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: City Tavern
9739 Culver Blvd. • Culver City
ORGANIZER: Send Dave in Northridge a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. shanikka (Guest of Honor)
3. jakedog42
4. Gay CA Democrat
5. Otoelbc
6. susans
7. gmats
8. Mugwumpblues
9. Shockwave
10. SanFernandoValleyMom
11. Roman Smith
12. recoveringConservative
13. mooremusings
|
Maybees:
homogenius
Former Chicagoan Now Angeleno
BruinKid
|
Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks - Rolling out the Red Carpet for Shanikka - March 15, Culver City
Saturday, March 15th
Sacramento/Central Valley Kossacks, Silicon Valley Kossacks and the SFKossacks Demonstrate at "Don't Frack California"
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: California State Capitol lawn
1315 10th St. • Sacramento
YOU CAN FIND US GATHERED AROUND OUR DAILY KOS 7 ft. BANNER
-courtesy of tmservo433.
After the protest ends we'll be heading over to a local watering hole. Meet us at KBar at 1000 K Street, a couple of short blocks north of the Capitol building.
The Don't Frack California website has also arranged for buses from all over California. Places as far away as San Diego and Los Angeles. Check out their ride board and buy a ticket STAT.
RSVPs:
1. Anthony Page aka SecondComing
2. mrsgoo
3. Dan Bacher
4. smileycreek
5. paradise50
6. navajo
7. Meteor Blades
8. dsb
9. Where4Art
10. remembrance
11. Glen the Plumber
12. TLO™
13. Lusty
14. kimoconnor
15. stagemom
16. cooper888
17. gotmooned
18. aitchdee
19. ybruti
20. Lusty
|
Maybees:
jpmassar
dharmasyd
Glescagal
|
Latest diary: The California Frack Wars: Episode 3 Revenge Of The Greed
Quick re-mention of March 15 statewide "Don't Frack California" demonstrations
Sunday, March 16th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
UPDATE: Special Guest Star! It's Juliana Forlano, known on DailyKos as IronicNews. She's a political satirist and the host of the news parody series Absurdity Today.
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. rubyr
3. joanbrooker
4. belinda ridgewood
5. MBNYC
6. jfdunphy
7. communitygis
8. No Exit
9. Its the Supreme Court Stupid
10. Denise Oliver Velez
11. Mets102
12. plf515
13. IronicNews
14. Ian Reifowitz
|
Maybees:
Laura Clawson
Rosalie907
kathny
Bethesda 1971
David Nir
wader
|
Latest diary: NYC Meetup This Sunday, March 16 - Plus NEW EVENT News!
Saturday, March 22nd
Motor City Kossacks Welcome Dave in Northridge to Town
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Downtown Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate
2. Dave in Northridge
3.
|
Maybees:
ChemBob
Amber6541
|
Latest diary: Motor City Kossacks Meet-up! Sa 3/22, 6:00 PM, downtown Detroit (venue TBA). WSG: Dave in Northridge
Thursday, March 20th
DC, VA and MD Kossacks Welcome Chaucounne to Town
TIME: TBD PM
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send mimi a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. mimi
2. Chaucounne
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Announcing DC Kossack Welcome Meeting for Chacounne
Monday, March 24th
NYC Kossacks Welcome Chaucounne!
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex-3rd) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to RSVP
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Chaucounne
3. thankgodforairamerica
4.
|
Maybees:
Avilyn
|
Latest diary: NEW EVENT: NYC Meetup 3/24– Dinner with Chacounne!
Saturday, March 29th
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Fadi's Mediterranean Grill
4738 Beechnut Street • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. htowngenie
3. Libby Shaw
4. MarciaJ720
5. Bree Davis
6. krwheaton
7. Mary (Honorary Kossack)
8. Alan (Honorary Kossack) |
Maybees:
Mr. Libby Shaw
|
Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, March 29 (plus a note on future meet-ups)
Saturday, April 5th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon - 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send EagleOfFreedom a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. EagleOfFreedom
2. Reetz
3. John Crapper
4. John Crapper's S.O.
5. WisePiper
6. bleeding blue
7. mlharges
8.
|
Maybees:
Ojibwa
otto
|
Latest diary: Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks April Meeting
Saturday, May 3rd
DKos Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. GulfGal 98
8. Otteray Scribe
9. flwrightman
10. people power granny
|
Maybees:
Audri
Mr Audri
|
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Tuesday, May 13th
SFKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for LeftOfYou & Expat Okie
TIME: 11:00 AM, Early lunch!
LOCATION: Yank Sing
Rincon Center, 101 Spear St. • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. LeftOfYou
3. Expat Okie
4. side pocket
5. Justice Putnam
6. dharmasyd
7. Lorikeet
|
Maybees:
annieli
|
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.