King Kong

Delos Lovelace's novelization was published by Grosset & Dunlap in late December 1932—months ahead of the film's historic March 1933 theater premiere—serving as a crucial promotional tool. The narrative masterfully translates the film's roaring spectacle, tracking the ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham as he leads an expedition to the prehistoric uncharted wilderness of Skull Island. There, they capture a colossal, ape-like colossus whose tragic, ill-fated affection for the down-on-her-luck starlet Ann Darrow ultimately leads to his dramatic, chains-shattering escape and final stand atop the New York skyline. 

Because the original 1932 copyright on the text was famously left unrenewed by the estate, Lovelace’s novelization fell cleanly into the public domain. This legal status sparked a massive publishing renaissance in 1976, deliberately timed to capitalize on the media frenzy surrounding Dino De Laurentiis's high-budget cinematic remake starring Jessica Lange and Jeff Bridges. Returning to the book's original publisher, Grosset & Dunlap issued a beautifully redesigned, 219-page hardback trade edition that revived Lovelace's unedited 1932 text for a brand-new generation of monster lore enthusiasts. Rather than updating the setting to the 1970s, this specific vintage printing preserved the gritty, classic 1930s atmosphere of the original screenplay. It was further elevated by the inclusion of striking, black-and-white interior illustrations and nostalgic stills from the original 1933 masterpiece, making it an instant favorite for collectors of mid-century film memorabilia.

Pictorial hardcover with white lettering and yellow spine with black lettering. Some bumping to head and foot of spine. Overall fine condition.