Rama Kong

I'm a fan of the 1933 version of "King Kong." Yet, nowhere in the film is this title ever used. Well, not in English, anyway. I saw my favorite flick when I was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. One could either go up in the balcony to hear it in English, watching the movie through a huge pane of glass, or join the Thais downstairs, who ate fried ants the way Americans would chomp on popcorn. Since I already knew the movie by heart, I didn't worry about having a translator. Besides, I studied Thai before I was sent to Southeast Asia for my one year tour of duty at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. As I watched "King Kong," I noticed that the tribal chief (played by Noble Johnson) used the Thai word for king, "rama," twice as he had a subordinate bang on a gong to summon Kong for his new bride, Ann Darrow (Fay Wray). In fact, his very last words are "Rama Kong," just before the giant gorilla makes his first appearance. I'm a film fanatic, child of the Sixties (and early Seventies), politically progressive, environmental activist, love music (especially live!), swim a mile every other day, weigh 5 pounds more than when I got out of the U.S. Air Force, and hope to hear from someone soon (especially females!). I'm definitely different, and for me, age is just a state of mind.