The 1976 remake of King Kong took the basic premise of 1933 classic and made it more in line with the 1970s. Instead of a ragtag film crew on a mission to make an unsanctioned movie, it’s a greedy capitalize on an oil barge hauling a stowaway scientist to discover an unknown island. Little do they know, it’s not oil hidden on the island. This week, the blockbuster Godzilla vs. King Kong opens in theaters and on HBO Max. Meanwhile, we spent a week with Rolex’s newest Submariner. 124060, taking it on a tour of King Kong’s playground, New York City.
What’s the connection between the two? Look no further than Jeff Bridges, who starred as scientist Jack Prescott in the 1976 film. In the film, he plays a bushy-tailed paleontologist bent on discovering the mysterious primates rumored to exist at “Skull Beach.
Bridges is actually a known Rolex enthusiast who has worn many different watches – including the two-tone Submariner – both on and off-screen. In King Kong, Bridges wears what appears to be a Rolex Submariner 5513 with an oyster strap. In the 1970s, this was still very much a tool watch – and without the expensive price tag. If you were to choose a watch to travel to the middle of the Indian Ocean to meet a giant monkey, this would be a reasonable choice.
The film opens at a shipping terminal in Indonesia. The camera introduces us to a group of dirty characters ready to enter the open water. On cue, “The Dude” himself stumbles out of a cab, wearing a skin-tight T-shirt appropriate to the era – with a conspicuous submarine on his wrist. He proceeds to bribe security and slip aboard, where his adventure begins.
Late in the film, as King Kong dismantles the New York City subway, Bridges and co-star Jessica Lange ride off on a motorcycle. The two inexplicably find time to enter an empty bar for a drink and a conversation about the state of their relationship. It’s hard not to notice the sub, both inside and outside the bar. Bridges’ character doesn’t wear many shirts with sleeves in the movie (and when he does, they’re rolled up), so the watch gets a lot of screentime – particularly in the scenes where he’s filming some sort of ritual on the island.
The ’70s King Kong is a relic, but it’s still fun to revisit – especially if you’re excited about the new King Kong movie. It features Jeff Bridges at the top of his game before Lebowski, Jessica Lange in her screen debut, and comedian Charles Grodin as the villain. Plus Submarines and, of course, a great ape.