The snipe on the back of one of these photographs states that Fay Wray, "is one of filmdom's most unusual actresses". The reason? "In practically every picture she has been the only feminine player in the cast". To which I say, when you've got fabulous Fay, who needs one!
These two studio shots are from the lens of RKO photographer, Ernest A. Bachrach, after her role in THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME and while she was filming KING KONG.
Fay Wray had just finished filming the thriller, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, when this photo appeared in MODERN SCREENs October 1932 issue. and announces that her next film will be "Kong". In just a few sentences it lists her celebrity vitals, including the statements that she has "one of the best figures in Hollywood", "likes sunbathing", and "has great physical courage". She'd need it to make it through the filming of KING KONG. The photo is by Ernest A. Bachrach, RKOs staff photographer.
BONUS! A page from FILM DAILY Wednesday, December 28 1932 shows a full-page ad for THE VAMPIRE BAT, a film Fay Wray made with Lionel Atwill, Melvyn Douglas and Dwight Frye that would be released the following January 21 1933.
So rang Robert Armstrong as Carl Denham's epitaph that ended the final few frames of KING KONG in 1933. The "beauty" that he was speaking of was Ann Darrow, played by the radiant Fay Wray (1907-2004).
The Canadian-born actress was photographed in 1934 -- after the release of KING KONG -- by Ernest A. Bachrach, the head of RKO photography from 1929 through the 1957. Bachrach photographed many famous lovelies, including Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner, Carole Lombard and Rita Hayworth, but few shots were as stunning as this one of Fay Wray.
