Heads Up, Ears Down

This blog accurately identifies depictions of violence and cruelty toward animals in films. The purpose is to provide viewers with a reliable guide so that such depictions do not come as unwelcome surprises. Films will be accurately notated, providing a time cue for each incident along with a concise description of the scene and perhaps relevant context surrounding the incident. In order to serve as a useful reference tool, films having no depictions of violence to animals will be included, with an indication that there are no such scenes. This is confirmation that the films have been watched with the stated purpose in mind.


Note that the word depictions figures prominently in the objective. It is a travesty that discussions about cruelty in film usually are derailed by the largely unrelated assertion that no animals really were hurt (true only in some films, dependent upon many factors), and that all this concern is just over a simulation. Not the point, whether true or false. We do not smugly dismiss depictions of five-year-olds being raped because those scenes are only simulations. No, we are appalled that such images are even staged, and we are appropriately horrified that the notion now has been planted into the minds of the weak and cruel.


Depictions of violence or harm to animals are assessed in keeping with our dominant culture, with physical abuse, harmful neglect, and similar mistreatment serving as a base line. This blog does not address extended issues of animal welfare, and as such does not identify scenes of people eating meat or mules pulling plows. The goal is to itemize images that might cause a disturbance in a compassionate household.


These notes provide a heads-up but do not necessarily discourage watching a film because of depicted cruelty. Consuming a piece of art does not make you a supporter of the ideas presented. Your ethical self is created by your public rhetoric and your private actions, not by your willingness to sit through a filmed act of violence.

King Kong

King Kong. Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933.
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Edition screened: Warner 2-Disc Special Edition DVD, released 2005. English language. Runtime approximately 104 minutes.
Summary: Fantasy animal battles.

It seems trivial to enumerate instances of violence in King Kong, perhaps even disrespectful to the film. Much of the action takes place on a fantastic primitive island where ferocious dinosaurs battle to the death and the mighty Kong suffers no trespass. This differs from nature documentary of actual animal fights in that King Kong was conceived in the minds of men purely for entertainment purposes. Fantasy animals die in these violent conflicts, but the implication is more like forces of nature crashing against one another, showing displays of awesome power rather than gore. King Kong’s famous conclusion shows the distraught giant ape brought down from the Empire State Building by military airstrike. Sadness and loss are the only victors.

As Rush Limbaugh has said, “Oh!, Oh! … So it’s fine for animals to rip each each other to shreds, but disgraceful for humans to hunt them as we’ve done for thousands of years.” Yes, that is correct. I’m glad he gets it.

Despite a rather plodding beginning, I am amazed by the thematic quality and entertainment value of this film. It is exciting and spectacular, with mesmerizing special effects that expose current computerized efforts as childish bores.

This Warner Special Edition includes a good biographical feature I’m King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper.

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