Italian King Kong poster added to the collection

You gotta give it those Italians–they sure do know how to make a movie poster. I recently got this beauty on eBay, and I think I’m in love…

This poster is huge! American movie posters are 27″ x 41″, but Italian posters like this one are 39″ x 55″ and take up a good bit of wall space. This is an image I have seen before in my research of King Kong paraphernalia, but I have never seen it up for sale before. When I saw it on eBay, I pounced on the “Buy It Now” price because I just had to have it. The seller is VERY reputable, and I have purchased items from him in the past. He sells all kinds of amazing vintage pop culture items, but I think he may have made a mistake in this particular listing…

The seller listed this as a 1985 reprint, which can’t be right. The Roman numeral date on the left side is MCMXXXV — correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s 1935 not 1985. I have plenty of vintage movie posters spanning several decades, and it’s obvious that this poster’s paper is too old and too “right” to be from the 80’s. The original King Kong movie came out in 1933, but maybe the 1935 date refers to the italian release–I don’t know. I’d love to think this is a 1935 poster, but I suspect it was probably produced in the 50’s or 60’s. Regardless of when it was printed, I love it!

One of the things I love about King Kong movie posters is how the fair damsel in distress is depicted. Rarely does she look like Fay Wray, and where have all her clothes gone?! She is downright nekkid in this poster, with nothing but her flowing blonde locks of hair blocking her goods from view. If I recall correctly, Fay Wray had pretty short hair in the movie, which would have made a more accurate rendering on the poster downright scandalous!

Kong looks great standing so tall and vicious in this poster. The natives flee in fear and the whole poster captures that particular scene from the movie better than many of the other posters that have been made for the film. One day, I will proudly display this one next to my other, even larger, Italian 2P King Kong poster. one day…