Often perceived as the first Hollywood blockbuster, King Kong casts an undeniably long shadow upon movie history. Its special effects, soundtrack, and emphasis on larger-than-life spectacle established precedents that big tentpole movie releases still follow to the modern day. A number of its images rival Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Singing in the Rain, and The Wizard of Oz when it comes to Golden Age Hollywood iconography. Kong has never gone away, as evidenced by the barrage of sequels, reboots, remakes, rip-offs, and parodies that have proliferated in the decades since its 1933 release.

Ryan is joined by Rachel for an analysis of this towering figure in celluloid. Conversational topics include the movie's thorny relationship with colonialism, the story's perceived parallels with the history of American chattel slavery, how the franchise reflects notions of masculine exceptionalism, and why Kong gradually transitioned from villainous beast to monstrous hero.