King Kong Quotes

Carl Denham Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the beast!

Carl Denham Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here tonight to tell you a very strange story — a story so strange that no one will believe it — but, ladies and gentlemen, seeing is believing. And we — my partners and I — have brought back the living proof of our adventure, an adventure in which twelve of our party met horrible death. And now, ladies and gentlemen, before I tell you any more, I'm going to show you the greatest thing your eyes have ever beheld. He was a king and a god in the world he knew, but now he comes to civilization merely a captive — a show to gratify your curiosity. Ladies and gentlemen, look at Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Denham Now Ann, in this one, you're looking down. When I start to crank, you look up slowly. You're quite calm. You don't expect to see a thing. Then you just follow my directions. All right? Camera. Look up slowly, Ann. That's it. You don't see anything. Now look higher. Still higher. Now you see it. You're amazed. You can't believe it. Your eyes open wider. It's horrible, Ann, but you can't look away. There's no chance for you, Ann. No escape. You're helpless, Ann, helpless. There's just one chance, if you can scream. But your throat's paralyzed. Try to scream, Ann. Try. Perhaps if you didn't see it, you could scream. Throw your arms across your eyes and scream Ann, scream for your life!!!

Driscoll What's he think she's really gonna see?

Theatre Patron #1 Hey, what's this show about, anyway?

Theatre Patron #2 I don't know — they say it's some big gorilla.

Theatre Patron #1 Oh, geez — ain't we got enough of them in New York?

Taglines Out-leaping the maddest imaginings! Out-thrilling the wildest thrills!

Carl Denham You won't find that island on any chart. That was made by the skipper of a Norwegian barque...A canoe full of natives from this island was blown out to sea. When the barque picked them up, there was only one alive. He died before they reached port, but not before the skipper had pieced together a description of the island and got a fairly good idea of where it lies.

Carl Denham Don't be alarmed, ladies and gentlemen. Those chains are made of chrome steel.

Denham Wait a minute. What about Kong?

Driscoll Well, what about him?

Denham We came here to get a moving picture, and we've found something worth more than all the movies in the world.

Captain What?!

Denham We've got those gas bombs. If we can capture him alive.

Driscoll Why, you're crazy! Besides that, he's on a cliff where a whole army couldn't get at him.

Denham Yeah, if he stays there. But we've got something he wants .

Driscoll Yep, something he won't get again.

Carl Denham Wait a minute! Hold on! He thinks you're attacking the girl!

Carl Denham * Note: Ranked #84 in the ] in American cinema.

Taglines The strangest story ever conceived by man.

Carl Denham It's money and adventure and fame. It's the thrill of a lifetime and a long sea voyage that starts at six o'clock tomorrow morning.

Carl Denham I'd have got a swell picture of a charging rhino but the cameraman got scared. The darned fool, I was right there with a rifle. Seems he didn't trust me to get the rhino before it got him. I haven't fooled with cameramen since, I do it myself.

Taglines The Most Awesome Thriller Of All Time!

Denham Let me through, officer, my name's Denham...Lieutenant, I'm Carl Denham.

Passerby Denham? He's the one that captured the monster!

Police Lieutenant Well, Denham, the airplanes got him.

Denham Oh no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.

Denham Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here tonight to tell you a very strange story — a story so strange that no one will believe it — but, ladies and gentlemen, seeing is believing. And we — my partners and I — have brought back the living proof of our adventure, an adventure in which twelve of our party met horrible death. And now, ladies and gentlemen, before I tell you any more, I'm going to show you the greatest thing your eyes have ever beheld. He was a king and a god in the world he knew, but now he comes to civilization merely a captive — a show to gratify your curiosity. Ladies and gentlemen, look at Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Denham And now I want to introduce Miss Ann Darrow; the bravest girl I have ever known

Denham There the Beast. And here the Beauty. She has lived through an experience no other woman ever dreamed of. And she was saved from the very grasp of Kong by her future husband. I want you to meet a very brave gentleman, Mr. John Driscoll.

Denham And now before I tell you the full story of our voyage, I'm going to ask the gentlemen of the press to come forward, so the audience can have the privilege of seeing them take the first photographs of Kong and his captors. All right boys.

Denham Mrs. Darrow first alone. Please stand in front of Kong.

Reporter All set, Jack. Okay boys, make it a good one!

Denham Don't be alarmed, ladies and gentlemen. Those chains are made of chrome steel.

Driscoll It's alright, Ann.

Denham Get them together, boys! They're going to be married tomorrow!

Reporter Put your arm around her Driscoll!

Denham Hey wait a minute! Wait a minute! Hold on! He thinks your attacking the girl!

Reporter Ah, let him roar! It's a swell picture!

Reporter IT'S LOOSE!!!

Carl Denham I want to introduce Miss Ann Darrow; the bravest girl I have ever known...There the Beast. And here the Beauty. She has lived through an experience no other woman ever dreamed of. And she was saved from the very grasp of Kong by her future husband. I want you to meet a very brave gentleman, Mr. John Driscoll.

Denham Oh, you have gone soft on her, eh? I've got enough troubles without a love affair to complicate things. Better cut it out, Jack.

Driscoll Love affair! You think I'm gonna fall for any dame?

Denham I've never known it to fail: some big, hard-boiled egg gets a look at a pretty face and bang, he cracks up and goes sappy.

Driscoll Now who's goin sappy? Listen, I haven't run out on ya, have I?

Denham No, you're a pretty tough guy, but if Beauty gets you, ya...Huh, I'm going right into a theme song here.

Driscoll Say, what are you talkin about?

Denham It's the idea of my picture. The Beast was a tough guy too. He could lick the world. But when he saw Beauty, she got him. He went soft. He forgot his wisdom and the little fellas licked him. Think it over, Jack.

Denham That licks us.

Driscoll There's one thing we haven't thought of.

Police Officer What?

Driscoll Airplanes. If he should put Ann down, and they could fly close enough to pick him off without hitting her...

Police Officer You're right, planes...

Weston I can't send a young pretty girl such as you ask on a job like this without telling her what to expect...To go off on a trip for no one knows how long, to some spot you don't even hint at, the only woman on the ship with the toughest mugs I ever looked at.

Denham Listen, there are dozens of girls in this town tonight that are in more danger than they'll ever see with me.

Driscoll Yeah, but they know that kind of danger.

Denham Holy Mackerel. Do you think I want to haul a woman around?...Because the Public, bless em, must have a pretty face to look at...Well, isn't there any romance or adventure in the world without having a flapper in it?...Makes me sore. I go out and sweat blood to make a swell picture and then the critics and the exhibitors all say, If this picture had love interest it would gross twice as much'. All right. The Public Wants a Girl, and this time, I'm gonna give em what they want. I'm gonna make the greatest picture in the world, something that nobody's ever seen or heard of. They'll have to think up a lot of new adjectives when I come back. Now I'm going to find a girl...even if I have to marry one.

Carl Denham * To the photographers taking Ann's pictures

Denham A wall...built so long ago that the people who live there have slipped back, forgotten the higher civilization that built it. That wall is as strong today as it was centuries ago. The natives keep that wall in repair. They need it.

Driscoll Why?

Denham There's something on the other side of it, something they fear.

Captain A hostile tribe.

Denham Did you ever hear of...Kong?

Captain Why, yes. Some native superstition isn't it? A god or a spirit or something?

Denham Well anyway, neither Beast nor man. Something monstrous. All powerful. Still living. Still holding that island in a grip of deadly fear. Well, every legend has a basis of truth. I tell you, there's something on that island that no white man has ever seen.

Captain And you expect to photograph it?

Denham If it's there, you bet I'll photograph it.

Driscoll Suppose it doesn't like having its picture taken?

Denham Well, now you know why I brought along those cases of gas bombs.

Denham Well, the whole world will pay to see this.

Captain No chains will ever hold that.

Denham We'll give him more than chains. He's always been King of his world. But we'll teach him fear! We're millionaires, boys, I'll share it with all of you. Why, in a few months, it'll be up in lights on Broadway: Kong — the Eighth Wonder of the World!

Dock night watchman ...that crazy fella that's a runnin it....They say he ain't scared of nothing. If he wants a picture of a lion, he just goes up to him and tells him to look pleasant.

Jack Driscoll I think Denham's off his nut taking you ashore today...Denham's such a fool for risks, there's no telling what he might ask you to do for this picture....He's crazy enough to try anything. When I think what might have happened today. If anything had happened to you...I'm scared for you. I'm sort of, well I'm scared of you too. Ann, uh, I, uh, uh, say, I guess I love you...Say, Ann, I don't suppose, uh, I mean, well you don't feel anything like that about me, do you?

Charlie All hands on deck! Everybody on deck! Everybody on deck! All hands on deck! Everybody on deck! Everybody on deck!

Captain Englehorn Serve out the rifles! Man the boats!