The Man Behind 'King Kong'

Fresh Air | By Terry Gross

Published December 9, 2005 at 12:00 AM EST

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Writer Mark Cotta Vaz's new book is Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, Creator of King Kong.

Cooper was an explorer, war hero, filmmaker and cinema pioneer who brought King Kong to the silver screen. This new biography of Cooper tells of a larger-than-life personality who created a larger-than-life gorilla.

Author Vaz has written several other books about Hollywood productions, including The Art of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Behind the Mask of Spider-Man.

Terry Gross

Combine an intelligent interviewer with a roster of guests that, according to the Chicago Tribune, would be prized by any talk-show host, and you're bound to get an interesting conversation. Fresh Air interviews, though, are in a category by themselves, distinguished by the unique approach of host and executive producer Terry Gross. "A remarkable blend of empathy and warmth, genuine curiosity and sharp intelligence," says the San Francisco Chronicle.

See stories by Terry Gross

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