#1976 films

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

King Kong (1976) / Jessica Lange as “Dwan” (Ann Darrow?)

Although this film was given a contemporaneous 1970s setting, the dress Dwan/Ann wears for the climactic performance where she ends up getting carried off to the top of a tall building (the World Trade Center, in this version) has a definite nod to the styles of the 1933 original film. It’s backless, with a geometric, sort of Art Deco-style belt. The display mannequin shows wrist cuffs that match the belt as well, but in the actual film she just wears a diamond bracelet.

When she first arrives, Dwan/Ann briefly wears a filmy cape over the dress, but it is quickly removed. Later, while hanging out in a deserted bar after escaping from Kong for the first time, she randomly tries on a fur coat over it too.

I had never seen this movie before discovering the dress. The giant ape effects are occasionally stiff, but overall, they’re really not bad for the era! The gowns were done by Anthea Sylbert, who also costumed Chinatown.