You must read different history books than I do. Except for early, fannish publications like FMOF and a few horror history books aimed at children like the Crestwood series, I've NEVER seen anything but contempt for the '31 version. "It's just a B-movie about a horny chimp" is a common complaint that I've seen repeated verbatim. Casual horror fans or internet celebrities like James Rolfe or the Phantom Reviewer seem to like the 1931 version, but they're a minority compared to the "film scholars" who don't necessarilly like horror. Those people, fawn over the 1941 version so much it's sickening. The late Richard Valley of SCARLET STREET once said on the SS board that he'd watch the 1941 version any day, but that he'd rather kill himself than see the 1931 version in his lifetime. When he died I made a crack about that statement over there that got me banned.

Listening to some of the people on IMDb's film general board, you'd think the '31 version was MONSTER A-GO-GO and that the 1941 version was THE SEVENTH SEAL. There was a huge flame war on the IMDb horror board a few months ago about which film should have a higher rating, and people said the 1931 version was overrated.

Basically, I've heard nothing but praise for the 1941 version. Too much praise in fact. But rest assured, you're in the majority, not the minority.