
SEYMOUR — King Kong will beat the tar out of Godzilla Saturday night in “KONGFRONTATIONS,” a double feature with America’s best-known giant ape.
It’s part of “Sci-Fi At The Strand,” an effort by Ansonia’s John Marini to show old-school science fiction and monster movies in the All-American Naugatuck Valley.
“King Kong vs Godzilla” and “King Kong Escapes” will be shown at The Strand Theater (165 Main St.) Saturday, March 7. The shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and will benefit the community projects supported by The Knights of Columbus, the group that owns The Strand Theater.
Click here to purchase tickets.
“King Kong vs Godzilla” was released in 1962 by Toho Studios, a Japanese motion picture company. It’s one of the most popular monster movies of all time. Click here for its Wikipedia page. The movie has been remade, and is scheduled to be released by the end of the year.
“King Kong Escapes,” which involved the Kong and a metal suit, was released in 1967. It’s “the silliest King Kong movie ever made and one of the most enjoyable,” according to movie critic Matt Zoller Seitz.
A few weeks back Marini called into ‘Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast,’ to tell people about the screening.
You can listen to the interview here.
Marini calls in at the 9 minute mark of the recorded interview.
If you’re scared of podcasts, here’s a condensed Q&A. It’s been edited.
Valley Indy: You’re going to have raffles and give aways at the door. What are some of the prizes?
Marini: “We have tons of King Kong toys, tons of Godzilla toys. We also have a grand prize: a signed picture of Linda Miller, who starred in ‘King Kong Escapes’ (click here to check out Miller’s Facebook page. She makes a ton of appearances at fan conventions).

Actress Linda Miller in “King Kong Escapes.”
Valley Indy: Did Toho Studios purposefully make King Kong look so goofy in these movies? Godzilla looks cool, Kong looks weird. Didn’t he have red hair in those movies, too?
Marini: “Well, he was in black and white in movies before (this), so nobody really knew what King Kong looked like. Both of these movies are Japanese productions. ‘King Kong Escapes’ is a little bit of a mix of Japanese and American actors, but they didn’t know. So they got a little creative.”
Valley Indy: I think there was a little bit of a Japanese anti-Kong bias happening. He’s not very intimidating. He looks kind of hung over, while Godzilla looks tough.

Marini: “I think there’s a cartoonish take on both monsters. It was the 60s. Things were colorful, a little cartoonish. I don’t think it was really anything against King Kong.”
Valley Indy: Where does the money from the box office go?
Marini: “Most of the money goes to local charities, and also to the upkeep of the Strand … a highlight of the downtown area.”
Valley Indy: A few weeks back President Trump complained about “Parasite,” a foreign film winning the Academy Award for best picture …
Marini: “Is (“Parasite”) the 80s movie with Demi Moore? I have that on VHS. That’s a great movie!”
Valley Indy: I think Trump’s OK with that version. Is there any concern that President Trump could object to this screening, since these are foreign movies?
(Seymour First Selectman Kurt Miller, a Republican along with Marini, remarked that he would blame Marini if there’s controversy)
Marini: “I think we’re doing the right thing. Who objects to Godzilla and King Kong?”
Click here for The Strand’s Facebook page.

Toho Studios
King Kong (left) and Godzilla.