King Kong
1933
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Merian C. Cooper was an American filmmaker, actor, producer, and former aviator who served in World War I and the Polish-Soviet War. He co-invented Cinerama and directed King Kong, among other movies.
Learn about the life and career of Merian C. Cooper, a military veteran, adventurer, and Hollywood legend who co-created King Kong and other classics. See his biography, filmography, awards, trivia, and more on IMDb.
- January 1, 1
- Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- January 1, 1
- San Diego, California, USA
Sep 24, 2018 · Learn about the life and career of Merian C. Cooper, the man behind the iconic film King Kong and other Hollywood classics. From his childhood in Jacksonville to his daring exploits in World War I and beyond, Cooper was a true pioneer of cinema and exploration.
- Chasing A Dream
- World War I
- Polish-Soviet War 1919-1921
- Career
- The War Again…
- Recognition and Death
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Merian C. Cooper was born in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. He was the youngest of his siblings and at the age of six, he started to dream about exploration and adventures, a common dream among future aviators. Then he studied at the United States Naval Academy, but didn’t finish it and became a journalist. It was not enough to satisfy his t...
In autumn 1917, Cooper went to France as a rookie, then learned the skills of a bomber pilot in Issoudun, France, and served with the 1st Day Bombardment Group. On one of his missions in 1918, he was shot down over Germany and suffered burns and injured his hands. His general signed a death certificate for him, but that’s not the end of the story. ...
In Poland, he often discussed the importance of the air force in modern warfare. Cooper also had a second motive to help Poland – as he often mentioned, his grandfather John Cooper served under Casimir Pulaski in the Siege of Savannah and considered him as a friend. Merian wanted to repay this debt and the possibility was soon on the horizon. With ...
Cooper wrote “Things Men Die For” during his time as a prisoner-of-war. It was a hapless autobiography published in 1927. Why was it hapless? In 1928, Merian started to regret releasing some details about “Nina” (Małgorzata Słomczyńska) as it was proof of his relationship outside the wedlock, so he bought back over 5,000 copies of the manuscript, a...
World War II for the United States started in 1941. Cooper was 47 years old, yet he re-enlisted and was commissioned a colonel in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He served with Colonel Robert L. Scottin India and also worked as logistics liaison for the Doolittle Raid. He later served in China as chief of staff for General Claire Chennault of the China A...
He was awarded the Order of Virtutti Military, Poland’s highest military decoration for heroism and courage and also the Polish Cross of Valour. Additionally, he was awarded the Mexican Border Service Medal, the World War I Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Also awarded the Distinguished Service ...
Learn about the extraordinary life of Merian C. Cooper, who fought in World War I and II, helped Poland in the Polish-Soviet War, and co-wrote and co-directed the classic movie King Kong. Discover his adventures, achievements, and challenges in this comprehensive article.
Oct 24, 2023 · Learn about the incredible life of Merian C. Cooper, who flew combat missions in World War I and II, escaped from a Soviet POW camp, and made the classic movie 'King Kong'. Discover how his adventures inspired his vision of a giant ape fighting biplanes atop the Empire State Building.
- Blake Stilwell
Learn about the life and career of Merian C. Cooper, the producer of King Kong (1933) and other classic films. He was also a pilot, a soldier, and a friend of John Ford.
Learn about the life and career of Merian C. Cooper, an American aviator, adventurer, and film producer. He is best known for his 1933 classic King Kong and co-inventing the Cinerama process.
