King Kong & World War I

‘King Kong’ is a favorite of many Americans and a cultural icon yet ‘King Kong’s’ connection to WWI may be less well known, or misunderstood by many Americans. Merian C. Cooper, a former pilot in WWI co directed the original 1933 film version of ‘King Kong.’ In the film, the planes used to fight King Kong are WWI planes. The gorilla in King Kong also closely resembles the gorilla in used in a WWI propaganda poster. The poster depicts a giant gorilla, representing Germany, holding a struggling woman representing Europe, and urges American men to join the army to “Destroy this mad brute.”
In King Kong it appears that Cooper is making a similar allusion to Germany only he seems to be more specifically alluding to Germany and Russia. The female lead, Ann, is described by a jungle chief as “the beautiful golden woman!”(Imdb 1) The Golden Woman of Ugra is a Russian myth. The male lead’s final words, “It wasn’t airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.”(Imdb 1) suggests that it was not the Allied forces attacks on Germany and technological superiority that ended World War I ,but Germany’s decision to invade Russia (the golden woman).
The release of ‘King Kong’ on March 4, 1933 also coincided with Hitler’s rise to power from 1932-1933. Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. This makes lead male character Denham’s anger at Kong all the more interesting when he says of Kong, “He’s always been king of his world. But we’ll teach him fear!”(Imdb1) These words may show the feelings of some Americans towards Germany at the time or perhaps just Cooper’s and Hollywood’s way of urging Americans to war against Germany. However, Kong creates a direct link to Americans bitter feelings towards Germany over WWI and shows Americans’ disillusionment with Germany leading up to WWII.
Another interesting thing to note about ‘King Kong’ and WWI is the 2005 remake of ‘King Kong’ directed by Peter Jackson. Jackson is a WWI enthusiast and his short film ‘Crossing the Line’ released in 2007 also deals with the conflict of WWI. Jackson may come out with a full length movie about WWI and yet another epic movie and new take on WWI to look forward to.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024216/synopsis
http://flagspot.net/flags/pl_tem18.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Captain+Merian+C.+Cooper&start=10&sa=N
http://ascalecanadian.blogspot.com/2007/10/peter-jacksons.html
http://www.world-mysteries.com/pstonehill_1.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERchron.htm

Pan-Germanism & Liberte

The images of Pan-Germanism and the French Liberty bear a striking resemblance and show nationalist fervor at the time. It is interesting that both show the state as a woman and as conquering. Both also seem to hearken back in their depictions to the ancient Greeks or Romans in a goddess like depiction of the state and of liberty. The weapons show the fight to create, protect and maintain nationalism while the scroll seems to symbolize new French principles and the German flag shows nationalism. These two pictures are strikingly similar depictions of nationalism and revolutionary fervor.The image of the Statue of Liberty also shows America's connection to Europe and European Nationalism.

Alliances and Harry Potter

The Triple Entente, the Triple Alliance, the Dual Entente, the League of 3 Emperors; All are complicated political agreements that seemed to ally nations based on the politics of the moment yet, ultimately set the stage for World War I. I often find myself confused by these agreements. However, it is these very alliances that seem so crucially important in establishing the cause and the outcome of World War I. As a student, I find descriptions of World War I and World War II in American history often seem somewhat lacking because they only superficially examine the crucial element of European politics that led to World War. As an American, I find myself feeling distinctly isolated from modern European culture yet at the same time inevitably linked to it both historically through the settling of the American colonies and also in modern culture and literature. Today, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter seems to allude to World War I with Dumbledore's flicking on and off of the lights near Harry's house like the "Lamps . . going out," in World War I. World War I and World War II clearly had an important effect on world politics and power that ultimately helped volt the U.S. to becoming a superpower and led to the world as we know it today. These are just a few ways the political maneuvering leading to World War I had a greater affect on the modern world than at first seems apparent and calls one to examine how the unique dynamics of European politics inevitably affected America and still plays a crucial role in America today.

Image: http://static.zooomr.com/images/8431028_8e510e94b7.jpg