Carl Denham
Carl Denham is one of the main characters in almost every film version of King Kong. In the 2005 version, he was played by comedian Jack Black. This version changed the character’s story around a little in order to create more entertaining film for the audiences. Denham is a film director in depression-era New York City. After a few mediocre films, the studio decides to back out of his new film project. Denham is determined to not let his film career end.He steals camera equipment and sets sail on a ship with his crew. Through a series of constant lies, Denham is able to make the crew believe they are going to film the movie in Singapore. However, Denham has a map of an uncharted island. Here is where he wants to shoot his picture. The ship manages to get stuck on a rock formation a few miles off-shore of the island. Denham and his crew arrive on the island and are attacked by natives.
Denham also witnesses a large gorilla-looking beast. When one of his actors is kidnapped, Denham and the rest of the group head in to find her. They encounter pre-historic animals and a civilization lost to history. All throughout the search, Denham films as much as he can. He basically is using this kidnapping as a chance for him to get his movie made. After his camera is destroyed, Denham becomes determined to catch the large gorilla. With the help of his crew, they are able to knock the beast unconscious and transport him back to New York City. Carl’s name is cleared and he is back in show business. At his first showing of the beast, the gorilla gets loose and terrorizes New York City. The gorilla climbs the Empire State Building and is killed by airplanes. When the beast hits the ground, Denham is there and he says the famous line “It was beauty killed the beast.”
