The Lost World and Willis O'Brien

[BlackLagoon]

I don't think the original is mentioned enough! Plus I love the film and have a few questions..so perhaps this can be all things O'Brien, Lost World and stop motion goodness!!

Ok..So 1st, Speilberg's Jurassic Park is in fact a "remake" of The Lost World...correct?? I mean it even said The Lost World on the movie poster, I just never really heard anyone say yes..Jurassic Park is a modernized Lost World.

2. I guess King Kong was thought up because of the success of Lost World?....Though there are so many scenes in Lost World..great stop motion dinosaur battles that could very easily have taken place on Skull Island.....which makes me think...

3. The Lost World really could have been Skull Island, and are we actually seeing Skull Island? A part of me thinks the other side of that Island is home to a giant monkey!

4. How much of Lost World and King Kong is Willis O'brien responsible for? His name is synonomous with these films. Is O'brien the sole creator of these gems? Just as important...who was responsible for the stop motion!?

[Creature Features]

I'd like to think The Lost World is indeed Skull Island. I love all that continuity stuff...

[Mike Scott]

Ok..So 1st, Speilberg's Jurassic Park is in fact a "remake" of The Lost World...correct??

Well, the 2nd JP movie (based on Michael Crichton's book), does have those inescapable similarities to Conan Doyle's "The Lost World", but not a remake.

I guess King Kong was thought up because of the success of Lost World?

I think Cooper's and Schoedsack's adventures as documentarians was the impetus of the idea for Kong. Some "Lost World" might have snuck into the story during development, though.

How much of Lost World and King Kong is Willis O'brien responsible for? Is O'brien the sole creator of these gems? Just as important...who was responsible for the stop motion!?

O'Brien was hired by Cooper to do the effects for KK after Cooper saw footage for the movie (the unfinished "Creation") that Obie was working on at RKO. O'Brien was the main animator on Kong (and LW), but had help from assistants like Orville Goldner and "Buzz" Gibson. Many other FX artists (model makers, matte painters, etc.) worked on the film, as well.

[BlackLagoon]

Good stuff, thanks Mike!!

[Mike Scott]

Here's a couple of good KK websites:
http://www.aboyd.com/kong/index.html
http://www.fullyarticulated.com/KongBoomer.html

For further reading, pick up a copy of "The Making of King Kong" (or the updated/expanded version, "Spawn of Skull Island"), or a copy of Cinefex #7 (all O'Brien issue).

[Ignatius Stone]

O'Brien was a true genius.

[Unknown Primate]

O'Brien didn't get a chance to make some of the movies he wanted to.  Damn shame.  He had some wild ideas for other giant monster movies that never made it past his imagination.  One that has always intrigued me was KING KONG VS FRANKENSTEIN.  Another Kong is discovered on Skull Island and brought to the USA, while elsewhere, a descendant of Frankenstein creates a giant quasi-human and brings it to America, also.  The super-intelligent promoters decide to exhibit them together and...  things don't work out!  Obie made some sketches from this idea.  Eventually, Toho got ahold of it and changed it to KK VS GODZILLA and then, later, of course, they did FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD.  

O'Brien was awesome!

[BlackLagoon]

That sounds pretty awesome! I know Kong and the giant Dinos from Lost World are a bit different then the "monsters" that go bump in the night...Skull Island and The Lost World are just as cool and amazing...both places capture the imagination and suck you right in just like Castle Frankenstein or Dracula.....plus, I can watch stop motion dinosaurs and giant primates pound on each other till the cows come home!!

[Unknown Primate]

I hear that!  I'm gonna have to pop in a double feature tonight!  KK ('33, of course) & F CONQUERS.