ANIMATED RESPONSE

Jon Burlingame reviewed a new recording of Max Steiner’s score for “King Kong” and basically stated that the music is what made that a great film (Film Clips, March 8).

Steiner’s score is indeed magnificent, but it is the icing on an already awesome cake, not the whole cake as Burlingame would lead the reader to believe. “King Kong” was a tour de force on many levels, not least of which was Willis O’Brien’s special effects. Fred Steiner’s assertion that it is the music that is mainly responsible for people feeling sympathy for Kong at the end of the film is taking credit away from O’Brien’s incredible animation.

DAVID A. LATHRAP

San Diego