iirc there is a removed scene where Kong rips Wrays clothes off and you see her topless

@CaseyJones said:

iirc there is a removed scene where Kong rips Wrays clothes off and you see her topless

I'm pretty sure King Kong was filmed at a time before they had what eventually became the MPAA. So basically all lines of decency were left up to the filmmakers and they sorta governed themselves and kinda knew how far they could take it without being too vulgar. Which is why you don't see any "nip shots" like that by the time the early 40s rolled around and they made such a huge deal with The Outlaw and Russell's cleavage.

But I woulda loved to see that scene. Wray was friggin hot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZk0eYOI4tg

ok not topless, it has been a long time since last I watched the uncensored version

@CaseyJones said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZk0eYOI4tg

ok not topless, it has been a long time since last I watched the uncensored version

Thanks for the link. Someone in the comments mentions that the scene was in the original release but cut out in the re-release in the late 30s which makes sense because it was about mid 1930s that the MPAA started to feel pressure from the religious groups to be a bit more strict with the decency code. This is why you see so many scenes in films from the 20s and early 30s that there is no way you would see in films between 40s and early 60s.

Yep, 1 July 1934 was the precise date when the Production Code began being strictly enforced. Prior to then, during the beginning of the sound era, is what's today known as Pre-Code, when directors and studios liked to make a point to get away with as much as they could. So lots of racy dialogue, sexual situations, happily cohabiting, no bras, lots of shots of women showing bare leg while removing their stockings, characters doing bad things and getting away with it, etc.

@genplant29 said:

Yep, 1 July 1934 was the precise date when the Production Code began being strictly enforced. Prior to then, during the beginning of the sound era, is what's today known as Pre-Code, when directors and studios liked to make a point to get away with as much as they could. So lots of racy dialogue, sexual situations, happily cohabiting, no bras, lots of shots of women showing bare leg while removing their stockings, characters doing bad things and getting away with it, etc.

Thanks for validating that. I knew I heard or read about it somewhere. Its exactly as you say, I have seen some stuff on the silent and early talkies that made me go "Hmm, now THAT was interesting! LOL" that you would never see fly in the 1950s (for example). I was watching King Kong yesterday and the Wray nipple practically bursting through her shirt made me think of it.

Watch Tarzan and His Mate (released on 20 April 1934). In that, Maureen O'Sullivan (actually her body double), as "Jane", has an extended (minute or so) swimming scene where she is definitely 100% stark naked (not in a flesh-toned body stocking), as you get an array of quick flashes of "the goods" as she whizzes on by. It's none of it meant in a sexual way, simply is her swimming au naturale.

@genplant29 said:

Watch Tarzan and His Mate (released on 20 April 1934). In that, Maureen O'Sullivan (actually her body double), as "Jane", has an extended (minute or so) swimming scene where she is definitely 100% stark naked (not in a flesh-toned body stocking), as you get an array of quick flashes of "the goods" as she whizzes on by. It's none of it meant in a sexual way, simply is her swimming au naturale.

I just added it to my DVD queue. When I first read Maureen O'Sullivan I was like "NO WAY!" as she was known as a prude but then I saw "body double" and then I was like, that makes more sense.

Yeah, I wouldn't normally think of the words "Maureen O'Sullivan" and "swimming butt naked on film" as belonging in the same sentence together. lol