“The Eighth Wonder of the World!”
In the classic film King Kong (1933), Carl Denham, the filmmaker turned exhibitor, introduced his captured, prehistoric giant ape as “Kong, the eighth wonder of the world.” Well, for some of us, film could also be labeled as one of the world’s wonders. Before we get into discussing film’s impact on learning, let’s have some fun swapping stories about our most wonderful films. I’ll go first.
While growing up in southern New Jersey with my brother and five sisters, the film King Kong would appear on television once or twice per year. When it did, life would halt for two hours as we watched what we believed was the greatest movie ever made. I was only five years old the first time I watched King Kong. All seven of the Clayton kids, sprawled across the couch and the living room floor, along with our parents sitting in their two comfortable chairs, would watch this Clayton family classic. Before I was old enough to read, my father, one of the great practical jokers ever, told me that he was the Director of the movie. I replied, “no way, Dad, you’re a salesman, not a movie Director.” He explained that he directed King Kong before he became a salesman. As the film’s opening credits approached the end, he would say, “ok, now look Douglas, there’s my name, you see, it says ‘directed by J.B. Clayton’.” I didn’t know how to read and I was a trusting little fella, so, I totally believed my Dad. Without my Dad’s knowledge, the next week I told my friends, my teachers, and our adult neighbors on East Knight Avenue that my father was the world famous director of King Kong. My friends wanted my Dad’s autograph, my school’s principal wanted my Dad to speak about Hollywood film making at a special Parent Teacher Association school assembly, and my neighbors would simply shake their heads and walk away from me mumbling something about “that poor little Clayton boy.”
As we watched the movie, my siblings and I would reenact the scene where Kong killed the scary tyrannosaurus rex by cracking and ripping open the T-rex’s jaw. My sibs always made me play T-rex while they would take turns playing Kong. It may have taken a week or two, but, eventually feeling would return to my jaw and it would operate normally. My sibs were into realism.
The movie’s most memorable scene captured the climactic battle that Kong waged against several military airplanes equipped with machine guns, while he balanced himself 102 stories atop of the Empire State Building in New York City. We cheered when he was able to grab one plane and smash it against the building. And we cried when Kong, bleeding from bullet wounds, looking confused and hurt, fell to his death. My sibs always made me play the airplane while they, once again, would take turns playing Kong, throwing me off the couch (the Empire State Building) onto the living room floor. As I mentioned, they were into realism.
Watching King Kong was a physical, emotional and fun event. It’s the film that kicked off what would become my budding love affair with movies.
I’d love to hear about your first, most memorable movie. What was it? Where were you when you watched it? What made it so memorable… or such a wonder?
Hi, Doug. Best wishes for a successful, entertaining, fun blog. I’m looking forward to receiving more entries. How exciting!
Thanks big sister! Glad you’re a part of this. One of my earliest most fond vivid memories of actually going to a movie was when you took me to see Mary Poppins in Philadelphia. I was probably 6 or 7 years old. Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…”. The theatre was huge and magical. You were always a thoughtful big sister. Now, what was your first movie that you recall?
The first movie that I recall is Disney’s animated SONG OF THE SOUTH. We were living in South Carolina — I was 5 years old — and on a quite warm summer evening, Uncle Sal & Aunt Marty took me (and Bud, Doreen?) to the local drive-in to see it. I remember that it had a very happy feel about it, especially when the characters sang the Zippidy-Do-Dah song. Also, the colors in the movie were so vibrant. All of the Disney films back then were simply the best. You could easily get lost in them.
Justine, the Disney animation teams were incredible artists who added so much to the story, which often contained positive morals. I still remember in Pinocchio (1940), the animators actually gave the viewers the sense of heat from a fireplace by animating heat waves into the frame. Incredible for that time. Your film, Song of the South (1946), was my son Daniel’s first film. We went to the Deptford movie theater for his 4th birthday. He was excited as he heard about “going to the movies with Dad” from his older brothers. However, barely 20 minutes into the film, he polished off a box of popcorn and a Coca Cola, looked up at me and said, “ok Dad, I’m done, lets go home now.” His first film experience was way different than your vivid memory ;-). By the way, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah won an Oscar for original song.
Doug,
Congrats on the blog! If this blog is anything like your travel stories, we’re all in for a treat.
Where do I begin – so many favorite movies to choose from! My earliest favorite movie ends up being a whole series: Gidget!!! (Yipes, did I just admit that publically?) I remember coming home from school to watch the daily broadcast of the “afternoon movie” and once a year, they ran Gidget Week!! Oh how I wished for a DVR!
I was probably only 9 years old. Yes, Gidget is pretty cheesy! (Who doesn’t love a little cheese?) The “Gidge” showed a young woman who was challenging the idea of what a girl was “allowed to do” and that determination and hard work could let her be as good as the boys. My childhood was different from my friends in school. Gidget made the statement that good things come to those who are different and quirky. Oh yeah, and Moon Doggie was kinda cute. 🙂
So, can you name them all of the Gidget movies without cheating?
Sandy, thanks for your thoughtful post. My sisters were fans of Gidget, the tv show with Sally Field and the movie with Sandra Dee. Because we only had one television in our house, I was lulled into watching Gidget. I gotta say, it was a pretty cool tv show and movie. I didn’t pick up on the significance or social value, but, as a young boy I was totally attracted to Gidget and her friends. They were “cool chicks”. And as for Moondoggie (played by James Darren in the movie), who she ends up marrying at the end of the novel, to this day it’s one of my favorite nicknames of any tv show or movie; he was “groovy cat”. I remember asking my Dad if he would start calling me Moondoggie. He took a long drag from his cigarette and said, “son, I have a better idea. How about if I send you to the moon?” So, no nickname for me. It’s terrific that Gidget, at some level, inspired you. You’re a successful, independent, sophisticated woman; so, from a learning standpoint, it looks as if the “cheesy” show had an impact on you 😉
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