The Lost World (1925)

Harry Hoyt's 1925 silent film, The Lost World, was one of the first sci fi adventure type films made that featured dinosaurs.

Much of its plot was re-worked in King Kong, made a decade later. Taken from the story by Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, the tale is much the same.

A captured dinosaur- a Brontosaurus, is brought back to a big city (this time London) and havoc ensues. The beast escapes, and the man who captured it loses all- a future, money, and his love.

King Kong was not the only film to borrow this plot, but few films can be claimed to have started a genre in film.

The Lost World, while an important film, in the sense just mentioned, is not a great film, even by the more lax standards of the silent film form. But, it is a fun film, and because it is in the public domain, you can watch it all here, at Cinemension.

Mighty Joe Young

16 years after King Kong, Ray Harryhausen took up his mentor Willis O'Brien's lead, and did the effects work on Mighty Joe Young.

As a child, this was long a staple on Thanksgiving afternoon tv film festivals, along with King Kong and Son Of Kong.

It's not a great film, but it is better than given credit for, and better than the 1998 remake (Charlize Theron notwithstanding).

Here's a peek:

King Kong Vs. Godzilla

Ok, here it is (albeit in black and white trailer vs. color film). This is the film that took the monster vs. monster genre to new heights, literally. No more Dracula against the Wolfman crap, or Frankenstein meets the Invisible Man. This was mano a mano monster.

In America, King Kong bested Godzy, although the filmmakers had to give Kong powers he lacked in the original film, plus making Kong about ten times bigger. They also made Godzy more evil looking than in other films. It was clearly a Japanese sellout to try to make it big in American markets. And it worked.

Legend has it that there was a Japanese version of the film in which Godzilla kicked the King's ass. But, the supposed version of the film has never been found, despite being thought of as the 'Director's Cut'.

Let's face it, though, in reality (and let us fancify it), there is no way Kong could have beaten Godzy. The Big Green Stomper would have simply fried Kong's fur off.

Oh well, leave it to me to root against my own country's hero.

King Kong (1933)

Movie monster camps split into two fairly equal portions over which monster is the greatest in film history: America's King Kong or Japan's Godzilla. Forget the 1960s set-to between them (it was rigged in Kong's favor)- Godzilla rules!

But, Kong came first, so give him his due. The 1976 and 2006 remakes pale in comparison.

Here's a peek at one of the climactic moments:

The Lost World (non-Spielberg)

Based on Arthur Conan Doyle's book, this silent film was really popular due to the stop motion animation of Willis O'Brien, mentor to Ray Harryhausen.

It's about on par with O'Brien's later work on King Kong- give or take several improvements, but the tale slices rather thin. Still, enjoyable fare from the silent era.

Here's the trailer: