King Kong figurine used in 1930s movie up for sale

[October 10, 2009]  LONDON (AP) -- A skeletal figurine used to create one of the 1930s' most memorable movie monsters is going up for sale.

Christie's auction house says the 22-inch (56-centimeter) metal figurine was used to represent King Kong in the climactic scene where the giant ape scales New York's Empire State Building.

"King Kong" wowed audiences with what for the time were astonishingly realistic special effects. The titular monster's movements were created using stop-motion animation.

At time of the 1933 movie's filming the skeleton was clad in cotton, rubber, liquid latex and rabbit's fur. Christie's spokeswoman Jo Swetenham said Friday that the covering had since rotted off.

Christie's says the figurine will go up for sale late next month.

[Associated Press]

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