36 King Kong ( 1933 )

This  is  such  an  iconic  film  that   outlining  the  plot  seems  rather  superfluous . An  overambitious  film  director  Car  Denham  ( Robert  Armstrong )  sails  to  a  remote  island  in  search  of  a  mythical  beast  "Kong". The  natives  kidnap  his  leading  lady  Anne  Darrow  ( Fay  Wray  in  the  role  that  made  her  a  screen  legend )  to  be  their  regular  sacrifice  to  Kong  who  turns  out  to  be  a  dinosaur-sized  gorilla. Anne  is  saved  from  numerous  perils  either  by  her  beau  Driscoll ( Bruce  Cabot ) or  by  Kong  himself  who's  taken  a  shine  to  her. Knocked  out  by  gas  bombs  Kong  is  taken  to  New  York - the  film  sidesteps  the  practicalities  of  that - Where  he  runs  amok  and  takes  Anne  for  a  trip  to  the  top  of  the  Empire  State  Building.

The  film  was  an  enormous  success  for  its  groundbreaking  special  effects  largely  achieved  by  stop-motion  animation. Besides  sequels  it's  had  two  big  budget  remakes  but  the  original's  still  the  best.

Robert  Armstrong  as  Denham   shows  that  he  doesn't  really  have  that  annoying  voice  he  used  in  The  Most  Dangerous  Game .


Fay  Wray  ( as  Anne Darrow ) 

Sex: Fay is  lightly  clad  for  most  of  the  film  but  especially  so  after  Kong  peels  off  some  of  her  dress  to  get  a  better  look  at her legs.

Death : Survives

At  the  age  of  96  Fay  was  approached  by  Peter  Jackson  to  take  a  cameo  role  in  his  2005 re-make. She  declined  the  offer  but  did  agree  to  talk  to  her successor  Naomi  Watts. She  died before filming  commenced.

Sandra  Shaw  ( as  Hotel  Woman )

Sex : No

Death : Splattered  on  the  pavements  of  Manhattan  as  Kong  lets  her  fall  on  realising  that  she's  not  Anne

Sandra  only  has  a  few  bit  parts  to  her  credit  but  is  remembered  as  Mrs  Gary  Cooper  from  1933  until  his  death  in  1961.