Editing King Kong (1933 film) (section)

=== Contemporary ===
''King Kong'' received generally positive reviews upon its release. Meehan of ''Motion Picture Herald'' predicted it would be "one of the sensational pictures of the year", opining that "no more thrilling climax ever was filmed".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meehan |date=February 18, 1933 |title=King Kong |url=https://archive.org/details/motionpictureher110unse/page/n627 |journal=Motion Picture Herald |volume=110 |issue=8 |page=27 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> A reviewer for ''The Hollywood Reporter'' claimed the film "bears all the earmarks of a winner", predicting it would make "plenty of money".<ref>{{Cite journal |date=February 15, 1933 |title='King Kong' a Winner: Radio Production Should Be Answer to Exhibitor Prayers – Exploitation Value Limitless |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodreporte1215wilk/page/n273 |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |volume=XIII |issue=23 |pages=1, 6 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Another review in the same periodical declared it was "superbly produced-acted", a "great piece of imagination, hatched in the brain of a showman for showmen".<ref>{{Cite journal |date=February 15, 1933 |title='King Kong' Excellent Pix Superbly Produced-Acted: Fay Wray Shines; Rest of Cast Good |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodreporte1215wilk/page/n275 |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |volume=XIII |issue=23 |pages=3 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> A ''Motion Picture Herald'' review by McCarthy called ''King Kong'' "imagination-stunning" and praised the "buildup of suspense", dubbing it "a showman's picture".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McCarthy |date=February 25, 1933 |title=King Kong |url=https://archive.org/details/motionpictureher110unse/page/n705 |journal=Motion Picture Herald |volume=110 |issue=9 |pages=37, 40 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' called it "one of the most original, thrilling and mammoth novelties to emerge from a movie studio."<ref>{{cite news |date=April 23, 1933 |title=Monster Ape Packs Thrills in New Talkie |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |location=Chicago |page=Part 7, p. 8}}</ref> [[The New York Times]] gave readers an enthusiastic account of the plot and thought the film a fascinating adventure.<ref>Hall</ref> The ''[[New York World-Telegram]]'' said it was "one of the very best of all the screen thrillers, done with all the cinema's slickest camera tricks."<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 7, 1933 |title=New York Reviews |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |location=Los Angeles |page=2}}</ref> 

''The Film Daily'' wrote, "The picture has plenty of shocker stuff, and the terror is heightened by [Fay Wray's screaming], while the film's musical score adds its blare to keep the audience in a state of turmoil." The reviewer cautioned that "some women and children" might dislike the film's intensity.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=February 25, 1933 |title=King Kong |url=https://archive.org/details/filmdailyvolume66162newy/page/304 |journal=The Film Daily |volume=LXI |issue=46 |pages=4 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>  [[John Mosher (writer)|John Mosher]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' called it "ridiculous," but wrote that there were "many scenes in this picture that are certainly diverting."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mosher |first=John |author-link=John Mosher (writer) |date=March 11, 1933 |title=The Current Cinema |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |location=New York |publisher=F-R Publishing Corporation |page= 56 }}</ref> Joe Bigelow of [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] thought the film held "power" once a viewer got used to the "phoney atmosphere". He remarked that "a few details were too strong to swallow the picture" and the technical innovations overshadowed the plot and acting. The film's "many flaws", he added, were "overcome by the general results".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Bigelow |first=Joe |date=1933-03-06 |title=King Kong |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117792322 |access-date=February 20, 2010 |magazine=Variety}}</ref> ''Newsweek'' wrote that Cooper and Schoedsack were no longer "scientists" because the film was "exaggerated in its faked views of wild life".{{Sfn|Erb|2009|p=48}}

''The Hollywood Reporter'' included a multi-page booklet in its March issue, featuring production stills and concept sketches alongside critical praise for the film.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 6, 1933 |title=King Kong |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodreporte1215wilk/page/n431 |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |volume=XIII |issue=39 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The booklet was the program for the film's Los Angeles premiere.{{sfn|Erb|2009|p=32}}  [[File:King Kong Booklet Ad front.png|left|thumb|Front cover of ''King Kong's'' Los Angeles premiere program included in the 1933 edition of ''Hollywood Reporter''.]]