{{short description|1968 Italian adventure film}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = Kong Island | image = Kong Island.jpg | caption = Italian theatrical release poster | director = Roberto Mauri | writer = Walter Brandi<br>Ralph Zucker<br>Roberto Mauri | producer = Walter Brandi<br>Ralph Zucker<br>Dick Randall<br>Brad Harris | starring = Brad Harris<br>Esmeralda Barros<br>Marc Lawrence | cinematography = Mario Mancini | editing = Nella Nannuzzi | music = Roberto Pregadio | distributor = Better Television Distribution | released = {{Film date|1968|09|29|df=yes}} | runtime = 92 min | country = Italy | language = Italian | budget = }} '''''Kong Island'''''<ref>{{Citation |last=Mauri |first=Roberto |title=Eva, la Venere selvaggia |date=1968-09-29 |type=Action, Adventure, Horror |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062946/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |others=Brad Harris, Esmeralda Barros, Marc Lawrence |publisher=Three Star Films}}</ref> (original Italian title: ''Eva, la Venere selvaggia''; translated as '''''Eva, the Savage Venus''''') is a 1968 jungle adventure film (with a science fiction element) directed by Roberto Mauri (billed as Robert Morris). The film was promoted in the U.S. as '''''King of Kong Island'''''.
==Plot synopsis== {{expand section|date=January 2014}} The story takes place in the jungles of Kenya and its capital city Nairobi. Despite the English-language title, there is no island (and no "Kong"). Mad scientist Albert Muller is experimenting with small radio transmitters implanted in the brains of gorillas that control their minds. These are test subjects with the ultimate goal of doing this to humans.
Diana, the daughter of bar owner Theodore (no last name is mentioned), is abducted by gorillas. Burt also has a personal motive---he was shot and left for dead by an ex-partner who he suspects is behind the situation. Hostile natives attack his group, and Burt is captured along the way. After he escapes, Burt meets a legendary white jungle girl the natives call the Sacred Monkey (In the English dubbed version, he first calls her Eve, but later everyone refers to her as Eva).
Eva is a Tarzan-like orphan who grew up alone in the jungle. She wears only a leather loincloth, and her waist-length black hair covers her breasts. She does not speak English but can communicate with animals and has a pet chimpanzee. She has one of Diana's bracelets and eventually leads Burt to a cave where she is being held prisoner by Muller. This is where the final conflict and resolution takes place---a rather convoluted mess that leaves Burt and Diana as the only survivors.
Unlike virtually every other film which features a jungle girl character, this story concentrates on Burt and his love interest Diana, with Eva confined to a marginal supporting role.
This film, though the name is very closely related to a very popular movie franchise, is not related in any form to King Kong. It is a translation of an Italian film Eva, la Venere Selvaggia, which translates as ''Eve the Savage Venus'', leading to the alternate English-language title ''Eve the Wild Woman''. This gives a better approximation of the film being closer one of the female Tarzan copies such as ''The Perils of Nyoka'' (1942) or tv’s ''Sheena, Queen of the Jungle'' (1955-6).
==Cast== * Brad Harris as Burt Dawson * Esmeralda Barros as Eve * Marc Lawrence as Albert Muller * Ursula Davis as Diana * Adriana Alben as Ursula * Marc Fiorini (credited as Mark Farran) as Robert * Aldo Cecconi as Theodore (credited as Jim Clay) * Paolo Magalotti as Turk (credited as Paul Carter) * Mario Donatone as Forrester * Gianni Pulone<ref>Poppi, R; Pecorari, M. (1992). Dizionario del Cinema Italiano Vol. 3. Gremese Editore. Pg.203.</ref> * Miles Mason as Malik The Gorilla
==Legacy== Contrary to popular belief, this film has nothing to do with King Kong and does not take place on an island. The film is in the public domain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.desertislandfilms.com/products-page/new-public-domain-films/king-of-kong-island-3/|title=King of Kong island|website=desertislandfilms.com|accessdate=20 January 2008}}</ref>
==See also== * List of films in the public domain in the United States
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.dbcult.com/movie-database/eva-la-venere-selvaggia-1968/ ''Eva, la Venere selvaggia (1968)''] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20150529172112/http://www.dbcult.com/ DBCult Film Institute] * {{IMDb title|0062946|Kong Island}} * {{YouTube|uBSfRvxLPdA|''Kong Island'' complete film available}}
Category:1968 films Category:1960s science fiction adventure films Category:1968 Italian-language films Category:Films directed by Roberto Mauri Category:Films set in Kenya Category:Mad scientist films Category:Films about apes Category:1960s exploitation films Category:Jungle girls Category:Films about gorillas Category:Italian science fiction adventure films Category:Films scored by Roberto Pregadio Category:1968 Italian films Category:1968 science fiction films Category:Films about mind control Category:Italian-language science fiction adventure films