GOW(1931,63min.)isnotonlyatruecuriositybutalsoinmanywaysakeyinfluenceoflaterCooperandSchoedsackproductionsincludingKingKong.ThefootageinGowwasproducedbyEdwardA.Salisbury,awealthyBritishadventurer,whoin1920setsailinan80-tonyachtequippedwithamotionpicturelaboratoryto,inhiswords,catchandholdforhistoryaphotorecordofthefast杁isappearingracesoftheSouthSeasIslands�.CooperandSchoedsackwereamongthecameramenonthistwo-yearexpeditionthatdocumentedgenuinehead-huntersandcannibalsalongitsroute.ThematerialwasoriginallyreleasedasfourseparatefilmsinthesilenteraandwasconsolidatedasthefilmGow,TheHeadhunterforanillustratedlecturebyexpeditionmemberWilliamPeck.Peckrecordedhisowncringe-inducingcommentaryin1931.Gowwasreissuedasanexploitationfilmintothe1950sunderthetitleCannibalIsland,butitwasmadewithaseriouspurpose.TruetoSalisbury抯intent,itindeeddocumentsvanishedculturesandisbrilliantlyilluminatedherewithanexclusiveaudioessaybyMatthewSpriggs,ProfessorofArchaeologyattheAustralianNationalUniversityandauthorofTheIslandMelanesians.Gowismasteredforthiseditioninhighdefinitionfromtheoriginal35mmfinegrainmasterpositive.
