Merian C. Cooper

Producer

About

Read More

Also Known As

Merian Caldwell Cooper, Merian Cooper

Birth Place

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Born

October 24, 1894

Died

April 21, 1973

Biography

Read More

Director, with Ernest Schoedsack, of exotic adventure films in the 1920s and 30s, most notably "King Kong" (1933). Cooper subsequently concentrated on producing, often in collaboration with John Ford, and received a Special Academy Award in 1952 for his "many innovations and contributions to the art of motion pictures."...

Filmography

Read More

King Kong (1933)

The Four Feathers (1929)

Gow the Headhunter (1928)

Grass; A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

Grass; A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

Photos & Videos

View All

Searchers, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Let's Go Home

Searchers, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) We've Seen Scalps Before

Family & Companions

Read More

Dorothy Jordan

Wife

Actor.

Biography

Director, with Ernest Schoedsack, of exotic adventure films in the 1920s and 30s, most notably "King Kong" (1933). Cooper subsequently concentrated on producing, often in collaboration with John Ford, and received a Special Academy Award in 1952 for his "many innovations and contributions to the art of motion pictures."

Filmography

Director (Feature Film)

King Kong (1933)

The Four Feathers (1929)

Gow the Headhunter (1928)

Grass; A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

Cast (Feature Film)

Grass; A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

Cinematography (Feature Film)

The Four Feathers (1929)

Director of Photography

Gow, the Head Hunter (1928)

Director of Photography

Grass; A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

Director of Photography

Writer (Feature Film)

King Kong (2005)

Based on a Story by

Mighty Joe Young (1998)

The Mighty Kong (1998)

Mighty Joe Young (1998)

King Kong Lives (1986)

Characters As Source Material

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

King Kong (1933)

Idea conceived by

The Lost Empire (1924)

Producer (Feature Film)

The Best of Cinerama (1963)

The Missouri Traveler (1958)

Executive Producer

The Searchers (1956)

Executive Producer

The Quiet Man (1952)

This Is Cinerama (1952)

This Is Cinerama (1952)

Wagon Master (1950)

Rio Grande (1950)

Mighty Joe Young (1949)

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

3 Godfathers (1949)

Fort Apache (1948)

The Fugitive (1947)

The Toy Wife (1938)

Dancing Pirate (1936)

Executive Producer

This Man Is Mine (1934)

Executive Producer

Finishing School (1934)

Executive Producer

Man of Two Worlds (1934)

Executive Producer

Sing and Like It (1934)

Executive Producer

Keep 'Em Rolling (1934)

Executive Producer

The Meanest Gal in Town (1934)

Executive Producer

Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934)

Executive Producer

Spitfire (1934)

Executive Producer

Two Alone (1934)

Executive Producer

Long Lost Father (1934)

Executive Producer

Crime Doctor (1934)

Executive Producer

Success at Any Price (1934)

Executive Producer

The Lost Patrol (1934)

Executive Producer

Diplomaniacs (1933)

Executive Producer

Emergency Call (1933)

Executive Producer

Lucky Devils (1933)

Associate Producer

Headline Shooter (1933)

Executive Producer

After Tonight (1933)

Executive Producer

Morning Glory (1933)

Executive Producer

Before Dawn (1933)

Executive Producer

Flaming Gold (1933)

Executive Producer

The Son of Kong (1933)

Executive Producer

Ann Vickers (1933)

Executive Producer

Midshipman Jack (1933)

Executive Producer

Flying Down to Rio (1933)

Executive Producer

The Silver Cord (1933)

Executive Producer

Cross Fire (1933)

Executive Producer

No Marriage Ties (1933)

Executive Producer

Little Women (1933)

Executive Producer

Professional Sweetheart (1933)

Executive Producer

The Right to Romance (1933)

Executive Producer

If I Were Free (1933)

Executive Producer

One Man's Journey (1933)

Executive Producer

Melody Cruise (1933)

Executive Producer

Blind Adventure (1933)

Executive Producer

Flying Devils (1933)

Executive Producer

Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men (1933)

Executive Producer

Ace of Aces (1933)

Executive Producer

Bed of Roses (1933)

Executive Producer

Double Harness (1933)

Executive Producer

Chance at Heaven (1933)

Executive Producer

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

Associate Producer

The Phantom of Crestwood (1932)

Associate Producer

Gow the Headhunter (1928)

Grass; A Nation's Battle for Life (1925)

Editing (Feature Film)

The Lost Empire (1924)

Film Production - Main (Feature Film)

Gow the Headhunter (1928)

Production Companies (Feature Film)

The Sun Shines Bright (1953)

The Quiet Man (1952)

The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)

Stingaree (1934)

King Kong (1933)

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

King Kong (1976)

Life Events

1919

Left Air Force; joined Polish Army to fight Reds

1920

Member of Kosciusko's Squadron; shot down and reported dead

1930

Dirctor of Pan American Airways

1931

Joined RKO

1933

Made vice president in charge of production at RKO Pictures

1933

Co-founded Pioneer Pictures with Jock and C.V. Whitney

1935

Became executive director of Pioneer

1936

Merged Pioneer with Selznick-International; made vice president of Selznick-International Pictures

1937

Formed Argosy Pictures with John Ford; first Argosy film, "The Long Voyage Home" (1940)

Photo Collections

King Kong - Merian C. Cooper Publicity Stills

Here are a few publicity stills taken of Merian C. Cooper, the producer and co-director of RKO's King Kong (1933).

Videos

Searchers, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) Let's Go Home Significant SPOILER here in a landmark picture, Natalie Wood as the mature Debbie is rescued from five years captivity by her adoptive brother Marty (Jeffrey Hunter) from the Comanche chief Scar (Henry Brandon), as his partner Ethan (John Wayne), leading an attack with Rev. Clayton (Ward Bond), appears determined to execute her, in John Ford’s The Searchers, 1956.

Searchers, The (1956) -- (Movie Clip) We've Seen Scalps Before Big reveal here as Mexican trader Figueroa (Antonio Moreno) leads the title characters (John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter as Ethan and Martin) to meet Comanche chief Scar (Henry Brandon), who is suspected of holding kidnapped Debbie (who’s grown up to be Natalie Wood), and who brandishes a medal long ago given to the girl, in John Ford’s celebrated Western The Searchers, 1956.

Silver Cord, The (1933) -- (Movie Clip) Have You Had Many Frances Dee as Hester and Eric Linden as younger-brother and fiancè Robert have stepped forward in the family drama, she having nearly offended his well-heeled mother, causing a more forthright discussion than she expected, in director John Cromwell’s The Silver Cord, 1933, from Jane Murfin’s script based on Sidney Howard’s hit play.

Last Days Of Pompeii, The -- (Movie Clip) Greatest Man In Judea Once virtuous blacksmith turned gladiator turned horse and slave trader Marcus (Preston Foster), still devoted to his adopted son (David Holt), pursuing a prophesy that the greatest man in Judea would come to their aid, visits Pontius Pilate (Basil Rathbone, just introduced, in an atypical hairdo), in The Last Days Of Pompeii, 1935.

Last Days Of Pompeii, The (1935) -- (Movie Clip) In Caesar's Name! SPOILER except the title suggests Vesuvius will erupt, more special effects are deployed as Marcus (Preston Foster) chooses his wounded Christian son (John Wood) over his Roman prefect master (Louis Calhern) and his troops, in the disaster epic from RKO’s King Kong team (Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack), The Last Days Of Pompeii, 1935.

Last Days Of Pompeii, The (1935) -- (Movie Clip) The Physical Setting Of This Picture Make no mistake about your epic scale, as producer Merian C. Cooper and director Ernest B. Schoedsack (of King Kong fame, two years earlier) bank their hefty set and special effects costs, with an unusual prologue attributing the story, and we meet Lucius and Gaius (Marc Loebell, Frank Conroy), opening The Last Days Of Pompeii, 1935.

Last Days Of Pompeii, The (1935) -- (Movie Clip) Just About What The Job Is Worth We’ve established the city of Pompeii, in what must be the early years Anno Domini, when gladiator wrangler Cleon (William V. Mong) needs an assist from top-billed Preston Foster (introduced here as blacksmith Marcus), Gloria Shea his wife, and Frank Conroy as interested nobleman Gaius, early in RKO’s The Last Days Of Pompeii, 1935.

3 Godfathers (1948) -- (Movie Clip) Opening, Dedication Opening sequence to John Ford's 3 Godfathers, 1949, starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz and Harry Carey Jr., with a famous dedication to Ford's friend Harry Carey.

3 Godfathers (1948) -- (Movie Clip) By The Way Of New Jerusalem We’ve just met Hightower, Fuerte and Kearny (John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, Harry Carey Jr.) and heard of their plan to rob the bank in an Arizona town, and they ride in for a funny (if grossly sexist) visit with Ward Bond and Mae Marsh as the Sweets, early in John Ford’s sentimental re-make, 3 Godfathers, 1948.

Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934) -- (Movie Clip) Keep Romance Alive Some parody and invention in the opening from director Mark Sandrich (and writers Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Edward Kaufman), plus RKO ingenues, but mostly a quick route to singing star Ruth Etting, with a tune also by Kalmar and Ruby, opening the Bert Wheeler-Robert Woolsey comedy team vehicle Hips, Hips, Hooray!, 1934.

Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934) -- (Movie Clip) You Can Eat The Lipstick Fetching window model Daisy (Dorothy Lee) is getting no traction with cosmetic sales, with some neat shooting by director Mark Sandrich, when we meet stars Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey (“Dr. Dudley” and sidekick) stealing her audience, early in RKO’s Hips, Hips, Hooray!, 1934.

Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934) -- (Movie Clip) Meet That Man And Merge Shady lipstick salesmen Dr. Dudley and Andy (the RKO comedy team, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey) have hijacked an office hoping they, with ally Daisy (Dorothy Lee), can trick her better-financed boss (Thelma Todd as Miss Frisby) into a merger, in Hips, Hips, Hooray!, 1934.

Phantom of Crestwood, The - (Original Trailer) Five men have to prove their innocence when a blackmailer is murdered in The Phantom of Crestwood, 1932, from producer David O. Selznick.

Flying Down to Rio - (Original Trailer) A dance-band leader finds love and success in Brazil. The first Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers movie.

Searchers, The - (Original Trailer) An Indian-hating Civil War veteran tracks down the tribe that slaughtered his family and kidnapped his niece in director John Ford's masterpiece, The Searchers, starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood.

Son Of Kong - (Original Trailer) Producer Carl Denham returns to Skull Island in search of more monsters in the sequel to King Kong, Son Of Kong (1933).

King Kong (1933) - (Re-issue Trailer) A film crew discovers the "eighth wonder of the world," a giant prehistoric ape, and brings him back to New York where he wrecks havoc in King Kong (1933) starring Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong.

Fort Apache - (Re-issue Trailer) An experienced cavalry officer (John Wayne) tries to keep his new, by-the-books commander from triggering an Indian war in John Ford's Fort Apache (1948).

Meanest Gal in Town, The - (Original Trailer) A stranded carnival girl comes between a lady show owner and the town barder in The Meanest Gal in Town (1934) starring Zazu Pitts.

3 Godfathers (1948) - (Original Trailer) Three outlaws on the run risk their freedom and their lives to return a newborn baby to civilization in 3 Godfathers (1948).

Companions

Dorothy Jordan

Wife

Actor.

Bibliography

By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use