Carl Denham's Expedition

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Lore & Background

Upon reaching Skull Island, Denham attempted to establish peaceful relations with the natives, learning the native word for 'friend,' but was not particularly successful. After the natives captured Ann Darrow and delivered her to Kong, Denham accompanied Jack Driscoll and other crew members in a rescue mission. While searching, Denham and his team encountered various dinosaurs, with Denham being the first man to recognize the beasts for what they were. After surviving various attacks, Denham decided to switch his plan from producing a film to capturing Kong and sailing him to New York City, expecting this to be a very profitable idea.

In Their Own Story

As a film director, Denham had some success, but he had always been told his films would be even more profitable if he had a woman present. For that reason, he tried to get an actress to accompany him on his next documentary, but no agent would send him anyone due to the risks involved. Eventually, he discovered Ann Darrow on the streets. She was at first concerned about Denham's advances, but Denham reassured her that the job would involve no 'funny business.' During the voyage, Denham saw Jack Driscoll become tender towards Ann and suggested a love interest for the film's theme, remarking, 'Some big hard-boiled egg gets a look at a pretty face and bang - he cracks up and goes sappy.'

Reader's Guide

The primary purpose of Carl Denham's Expedition was to film a documentary on Skull Island, later shifting to capturing Kong for display in New York City. The group traveled aboard a ship captained by Captain Englehorn. Denham had obtained a map of Skull Island and kept their destination secret until the ship was well on its way. Upon landing, Denham attempted to make peaceful contact with the natives using the native word for 'friend,' but this failed when the natives captured Ann. After surviving dinosaur attacks, Denham shifted his plan from filming to capturing Kong alive using chloroform. The expedition resulted in Kong being transported to New York, where he escaped, rampaged, and was killed by aeroplanes. Denham famously remarked over Kong's body, 'Oh no, it wasn't the aeroplanes. It was beauty killed the Beast.'

Did You Know?

• Carl Denham was based on Merian C. Cooper, the real-life creator of King Kong, who also filmed nature footage in dangerous territories.
• In the 1933 film, Denham was the first man to recognize the dinosaurs they encountered on Skull Island for what they were.
• Denham's famous line 'It was beauty killed the Beast' was spoken after Kong was killed by aeroplanes in New York City.
• Within a month of the Kong debacle, Denham was almost bankrupt due to being bombarded with lawsuits.
• In The Son of Kong, Denham discovers a smaller giant ape who appears to be Kong's son and befriends it.

Character Origins and Portrayals

Carl Denham is a fictional character in the films King Kong and The Son of Kong (both released in 1933), as well as in the 2005 remake of King Kong, and a 2004 illustrated novel titled Kong: King of Skull Island. The role was played by Robert Armstrong in the 1933 films and by Jack Black in the 2005 remake. In The Mighty Kong, he was voiced by Dudley Moore. The original Denham was based on Merian C. Cooper, creator of King Kong; both were brave men of action who made names for themselves filming nature footage in the most dangerous of territories. While bold and willing to take risks, the original Denham is honest, putting his people in danger but never asking more of them than he does of himself. In The Son of Kong, he shows great remorse for what he has done and sorrow at the loss of Kong. As the only main character to appear in both films, he is essentially the protagonist of the duology.

The Quest for Skull Island

As a film director, Denham had some success, but he had always been told his films would be even more profitable if he had a woman present. For that reason, he tried to get an actress to accompany him on his next documentary, but no agent would send him anyone due to the risks involved. Even his usual agent Weston could not supply him with anyone. Eventually, he discovers Ann Darrow on the streets. She is at first concerned about Denham's advances, but Denham reassures her that the job will involve no 'funny business.' Denham had obtained a map of Skull Island and opted to produce his next film there. He had heard of the legend of the god or spirit Kong and set out to make a film about it, believing the legend must have some basis in fact. He is, however, very secretive of the nature of the film and their destination, keeping it from his crew until the ship is well on its way to Skull Island. Upon reaching the island, Denham attempted to establish peaceful relations with the natives, learning the native word for 'friend.' He was not particularly successful in this attempt.

The New York Rampage and Aftermath

After Kong escaped and rampaged through New York City, the creature kidnapped Ann once again but was killed by aeroplanes. Upon observing the creature's corpse, Denham famously rejected a policeman's remarks that the planes had killed him, 'Oh no, it wasn't the aeroplanes. It was beauty killed the Beast.' The aftermath of the Kong debacle was not good for Denham. He was bombarded with lawsuits to such a degree that within a month he was almost bankrupt. Eventually, he is approached by Captain Englehorn, his old friend who had captained the ship that originally went to Skull Island. He, too, is having financial difficulties and they decide to skip town together and start fresh somewhere else.

Legacy in The Son of Kong

After traveling around a while, Denham and Englehorn come to an island where Denham discovers a beautiful young woman, named Hilda Petersen, singing for the locals. While he is instantly attracted to Hilda, he soon has a new purpose, as he gets word from a man named Nils Hellstrom (the same man who provided him with the map of Skull Island) that there was treasure on the island. Hellstrom is lying in an attempt to get away after having caused the death of Hilda's father, but Denham and Englehorn believe him and set out to return to Skull Island. Following a mutiny, Denham, Hilda, Englehorn, Hellstrom and Charlie the Chinese cook find themselves on the island, where the natives are obviously none too happy to see them and drive them away. Landing on a different part of the island, Denham discovers another giant ape (much smaller this time), who appears to be Kong's son. Denham and Hilda befriend the ape, who helps them through several difficulties. Eventually, Denham does find treasure on the island, but also realizes that it is sinking into the ocean. A desperate escape is made, but 'Little Kong' is drowned while rescuing Denham. It was Denham's intention to split the fortune four ways (Denham, Hilda, Englehorn and Charlie), but Hilda convinces him that three ways is just fine, indicating that she is throwing her fortunes in with Denham for the long haul.