FAY WRAY AND ROBERT RISKIN: A HOLLYWOOD MEMOIR

"How would you like to star opposite the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood?" Enticed by these words, brunette leading lady Fay Wray dyed her hair blonde and accepted the role of Ann Darrow in King Kong -- and stayed with the project even after learning that her "leading man" was a 50-foot ape.

When the amazing King Kong was unleashed onto moviegoers 80 years ago there truly was no cinematic event that matched its grand scale and unbridled imagination. This thrilling tale of a band of intrepid filmmakers, and a young actress (Fay Wray), who discover a giant ape on a remote island, then bring him back to New York with disastrous results is awe-inspiring, but what sets King Kong apart and helps it achieve its all-time classic status is a simple story wrought with complicated themes and emotions, much of which is embodied in the vivid performance of Fay Wray, the hypnotic beauty that steals Kong's heart.