King Kong and Cable Cars

Hume Kading · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2005 4:17 pm

STAN J wrote:

I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD A MOVIE AFFECT ME SO POSITIVELY AS PETER JACKSON'S KING KONG.

And now I know a lot more about how New York streetcars were powered.

Yes, to the best of my knowledge, the New York street scenes were quite accurate. I thought the tramp steamer scenes were great. And the dinosaurs were very accurate and realistic, even if some of the behavior wasn’t.

Glad I wasn't the only one who liked it. And, yeah, I learned a lot about streetcars, including that there was actually a real one in the movie.

Why did they have to go to Australia/New Zealand to get a streetcar, and one that wasn't conduit capable to boot?

Anyway, kudos to the producers for the historically accurate NY city. And yeah, a proportionately sized gorilla that tall would have trouble even standing up. If you don't like it go see Narnia.....

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2005 7:00 pm

Peter Jackson is from New Zealand, and he like to work at home and bring the money to his native country. Just like Lord of the Rings, most of King Kong (maybe all?) was shot there, not in North America.

So the Australian car was, relatively speaking, local to where the film was being made already.

Dave · **Posted:** Sun Dec 25, 2005 7:16 pm

Erik Ledbetter wrote:

So the Australian car was, relatively speaking, local to where the film was being made already.

Well, they did have to ship it over from the West Island, a not inconsiderable distance.

Dodging bricks from Graeme.

dave

SB3583 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 29, 2005 5:13 am

The Brisbane dreadnought car 133 is resident at the Wellington Tramway Museum, and the filming of the streetcar scenes took place at Seaview - about 25km away. 133 is still in "New York" condition and is being promoted as an attraction at the tramway over the summer holiday. Sadly it can't run.... the museum line is 4 foot gauge, while 133 is standard gauge.. the museum also has Brisbane drop centre 236, which runs in Christchurch, on lease to the Tramway Historical Society in that city, whose running line is standard gauge. The ship used in King Kong is originally a mid 1950's Dutch built coastal freighter - it was "dressed up" to look "30's" for the movie. While shooting off the coast from the tramway museum, it sprung a leak and the film crew were helicoptered off... ship made it back to port but hasn't sailed again. Its been suggested it be sunk as a dive wreck (all the dressing has been removed, along with the original funnel !) The Curtis Helldivers in the movie are non flying replica's.... one will go to the flight museum at Omaka, near Blenheim (top of South island) fate of other unknown. Peter Jackson is WW1 aircraft buff, with a number of "toys" - Fokker Eindecker, Fokker Triplane.... tried to get our 1925 AB Mack restored for movie but failed.

Peter Rendall