King Kong (1933) & Fay Wray: The Making of the Original Scream Queen — RKO, Damsels in Distress, and Hollywood's Impossible Spectacle

When They Were Making It explores the life of Fay Wray and the production of King Kong (1933) in a dual narrative. The episode traces Wray's journey from a poverty-stricken Canadian childhood through her rise in Hollywood—from Hal Roach shorts and the WAMPAS Baby Stars program, through silent-era work including Erich von Stroheim's The Wedding March, to her established status as a busy leading lady at Paramount. It then follows her casting in The Most Dangerous Game before the RKO gamble that became King Kong. The production story covers the filmmaking itself: Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack's direction, Willis O'Brien's groundbreaking stop-motion effects, Ruth Rose's screenplay, Max Steiner's score, and the film's event-scale 1933 release. A central theme is the paradox of Wray's fame: King Kong made her an icon, but not through the conventional path of stardom. The episode examines how one role among many came to define her public identity across decades—through theatrical reissues, television broadcasts, and the film's growing cultural reputation. The show notes also promise broader context about the film's legacy, tracing its influence from the original 1933 version through Godzilla to the 1976 remake and Peter Jackson's 2005 version. The episode is part of a four-week October Halloween series focused on classic Hollywood's darker and stranger stories. The show is written, produced, and hosted by Patrick Rankin, with original artwork by Simone Beech and original music by Lionel Ziblat.

Verdict: A well-researched, thematically rich exploration of a classic film and its star that delivers on its promise with solid production craft knowledge and a compelling central paradox about fame.

TV & Film rubric

• Critical insight 4/5 20%

  The episode examines the paradox of Wray's fame—how one role defined her identity against her will—suggesting thematic depth beyond simple biography or production history.

• Behind-the-scenes knowledge 4/5 20%

  Covers specific craft details (Willis O'Brien's stop-motion, Ruth Rose's screenplay, Max Steiner's score) and production context (RKO's gamble, the film's release strategy), indicating research into filmmaking and industry history.

• Entertainment 3/5 15%

  Show notes promise engaging dual narrative (Wray's life plus production) and thematic resonance, but without hearing the episode, entertainment value is inferred rather than confirmed.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Dense material covering Wray's full career arc, detailed production elements, and cultural legacy across multiple remakes; the 96-minute length suggests substantial content rather than padding.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title promises 'The Making of the Original Scream Queen' and the episode explicitly covers both Fay Wray's story and King Kong's production in detail, plus its lasting cultural impact.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  96 minutes is substantial; without hearing pacing, it's unclear if the dual narrative maintains momentum or includes slower stretches, so a middle score is appropriate.

How we score TV & Film

Worth it if you're interested in classic Hollywood history, the making of iconic films, or how a single role can define an artist's legacy in unexpected ways.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.