NBC presented the 1976
John Guillermin-directed/
Dino deLaurentis-produced
King Kong remake as a 3-hour television "event" - complete with additional footage not included in the theatrical release (nor any subsequent home video edition I'm aware of). I've confessed my affection for this movie here on the site before, and have to admit that I'm curious about the extra footage.
I first saw this
Kong on television while on vacation in Canada. I can't recall if it was this 3-hour NBC version, or a cut-down, 2-hr presentation. In any case, I certainly don't - after all these years - remember any of the extra TV footage. Anybody know what was added?
I think there was a scene with him in the fog fighting a giant Python. Can't remember if that was in the original or not. Been years sice I saw it, but that scene sticks out in my mind.
ReplyDeleteThe battle with the snake is also in the original theatrical version - though I suppose it's possible that the extended TV cut had a longer version of the scene.
DeletePerhaps it aired once in two parts, and again in one night, the ad states for the first in one night, as opposed the the earlier two part showing
DeleteI have the French DVD, the second disk has some of the TV scenes in widescreen, it also comes with a cool book with lots of color behind the scenes pics, strangely one of the pics is from King Kong lives(2). But all the text is in french, and i studied German at school lol
There is a little bit about what was different on the Wiki page.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong_%281976_film%29#Extended_television_version
Check out this site for all the info on the tv version
ReplyDeletehttp://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=520761
Interesting. The article at that link says the Extended Version only aired once, as a two-night/two-part event, but the ad above clearly says that it was a one-night/3-hour airing. Hmmm.
DeleteMost people's memories are that there was a two part four hour airing of a very extended cut in 1978 and a one night three-hour airing of a slightly extended cut of the film in November 1980. Both extended versions contained scenes that were not in the theatrical release. There has also been a claim that the two-part version aired on an additional date some months prior to the November 1980 3-hour Sunday Big Event airing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity that there isn't a date on the ad, so we could actually tell to which airing the ad above is referring.
The ad states "For the first time in one TV night". The wording of the ad is ambiguous. Should the emphasis in meaning be on the "first time" or on the phrase "in one TV night"?
If the very extended cut had previously aired over two nights, and the slightly extended cut aired over one night a couple years or even a few months later, then the phrase "for the first time in one TV night" is technically accurate if slightly misleading.
Judging by the NBC logo at the bottom, the ad's from the 1980 version. (That was right about the time they were transitioning back to the peacock logo from the stylized 'N'.)
DeleteWait a sec...
ReplyDeleteIf that's Kong holding Jessica Lange. Then who's that at the top of the tower?
I have a bootleg DVD of the 3 hour version that somebody video taped from a Dallas Texas station.The quality and sound are okay but not great their is alot of footage I saw total 20 minutes through out the film
ReplyDeleteThe French region 2 DVD edition of the movie features a lot of those deleted scenes, which appeared in the TV broadcast of the movie.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately they aren't integrated into the film itself on the DVD, but are available to watch separately.
Last time I checked, most of the deleted footage was on YouTube.
It would be easy to edit the footage back to the movie, i think ill give that a go
DeleteI saw Dino Kong on network TV a couple times when I was young but can't remember what was extra footage because I never saw the film in the theater beforehand. The first airing was when I was in the third grade, which was either 1979 or 1980. The second was in 1983 or 1984, and the network filled time after the movie ended with a preview for V The Final Battle.
ReplyDeleteThe original NBC TV version ran 186 minutes without commercials and the "night 2 recap" material. The Region 2 DVD and overseas Blu-Ray only include a fraction of the deleted scenes.
ReplyDeleteChris if you want me to send to the 2 disc dvd of the 3 hour version I have you could make a copy for yourself and then send my copy back to me?
ReplyDeleteThanks, but no. I'm not to be trusted to turn it around quickly, and I'm lousy at remembering to mail stuff to people. I've got too much to keep track of as it is. :)
Delete"King Kong" (extended TV version) was The "NBC BIG Event" that went toe to toe up against rival ABC, who was premiering "Battlestar Galactica" that same night! It was Sunday September 17, 1978! here is a cool promo spot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCKXFlTBSg&feature=share&list=PL91FD8AC8C93DD3E5
ReplyDeleteI remember that too! The first night was no problem, but I was conflicted (and pissed at NBC) for airing part 2 against Battlestar Galactica! Of course, I had to go with the brand new, Star Wars caliber effects fest as opposed to a movie I had already seen.
DeleteI too have a great deal of affection for this version. Anyone who doesn't get it simply has no sense of humour. And John Barry's score is as magnificent as Jessica Lange's legs.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Chris B