Editing King Kong (1933 film) (section)

=== Ann's relationships ===
The film has been called sexist in its portrayal of women. [[Jay Telotte|J. P. Telotte]] claims that the film "sets up a pattern of repression" in the largely male ship crew as well as with Denham's and Jack's "antiromantic remarks".{{Sfn|Telotte|1988|pp=389–390}} According to author Joseph Andriano, the film attempts to reduce the idea of sexism by creating a relationship between King Kong and Ann. He adds that this attempt does not work because Ann is portrayed as helpless. Because Kong's eventual downfall results from "feminine charm", Andriano suggests that the film implies a "helpless female" is more powerful than an able male.{{Sfn|Andriano|1999|p=50}} According to Rhona Berenstein, screaming women are "central to [the] jungle-horror" genre.{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|pp=186–187}} Denham coaches Ann's screaming when there is nothing to scream at. Berenstein remarks that this coached screaming may bleed into her reaction to Kong, rendering it a performance.{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|p=188}} She furthers the argument by stating that the practiced screaming indicates that Ann's and Kong's relationship "is not simply that between a victim and a monster",{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|p=188}}  adding that Ann's victimization via Kong comes only after she seeks independence.{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|pp=193–194}}

Berenstein parallels Ann's sacrifice to Kong with Denham's Kong exhibit in New York City, suggesting that this makes Ann and Kong "both doubles and adversaries".{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|p=189}} She views the film as creating a relatability between "people of color, a white woman, and a simian monster".{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|p=192}} Mark Rubinstein parallels Kong's New York rampage to his efforts to protect Ann on Skull Island, remarking that Kong both protects Ann and acts as if she belongs to him.{{Sfn|Rubinstein|1977|pp=5–6}} Rubinstein argues that the proverb appearing at the film's beginning warns about love, specifically that if a man is romantically attracted to a woman he will experience a "downfall".{{Sfn|Rubinstein|1977|p=8}} He argues that Ann does not return Kong's affection.{{Sfn|Rubinstein|1977|p=8}} Wray herself claimed that Ann had no romantic feelings for Kong but instead feared him.{{Sfn|Lloyd|Robinson|1985|p=57}}

It has also been suggested that Ann is under Denham's control. Erb remarks that while Kong seeks a romantic relationship with Ann, Denham seeks to earn money because of her.{{Sfn|Erb|2009|p=105}} She explains that Denham appears "control-oriented" to modern viewers, whereas to 1930s viewers he would have appeared "more as the enterprising showman".{{Sfn|Erb|2009|p=104}} According to Rony and Berenstein, Ann is controlled by Denham,{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|p=187}} who uses her "as an object of trade and of spectacle", subjecting her to the male gaze while practicing her screams under Denham's direction.{{Sfn|Rony|1996|pp=172, 176}} Snead remarks that in the film women become "a sort of visual capital" rather than "people or potential partners".{{Sfn|Berenstein|1996|p=191}}