Mighty Joe Young (1949 film)
| Mighty Joe Young | |
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| Directed by | Ernest B. Schoedsack |
| Produced by | Merian C. Cooper |
| Screenplay by | Ruth Rose |
| Story by | Merian C. Cooper |
| Starring |
Terry Moore Ben Johnson Robert Armstrong Frank McHugh Douglas Fowley |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | J. Roy Hunt |
| Edited by | Ted Cheesman |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
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Release date
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July 27, 1949 |
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Running time
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94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,800,000 |
Mighty Joe Young (a.k.a. Mr. Joseph Young of Africa and The Great Joe Young) is a 1949 American black-and-white fantasy film from RKO Radio Pictures made by the same creative team responsible for King Kong (1933). Produced by Merian C. Cooper, who wrote the story, and Ruth Rose who wrote the screenplay, the film was directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and stars Robert Armstrong (who appears in both films), Terry Moore, and Ben Johnson in his first credited screen role.
Mighty Joe Young tells the story of a young woman, Jill Young, living on her father's ranch in Africa, who has raised the title character, a giant gorilla, from an infant and years later brings him to Hollywood seeking her fortune so she can save the family homestead.
In 1937 Tanganyika Territory, Africa, eight-year-old Jill Young (Lora Lee Michel) is living with her father on his ranch. While in her yard, two Africans come by with an orphaned baby gorilla; Jill so wants a pet that she trades her toys and money for him, vowing to always care for the gorilla.
Twelve years later, Max O'Hara (Robert Armstrong) and sidekick Gregg (Ben Johnson) are on a trip to Africa looking for animals to headline in O'Hara's new Hollywood nightclub. The two men have captured several lions and are about to leave Tanganyika Territory when gorilla Joe Young appears, now 12 feet (3.7 m) tall and weighing 2,000 pounds (910 kg). When a caged lion bites Joe's fingers, he goes on a rampage. Visualizing Joe as their big nightclub attraction, Max and Gregg try to rope him, but he throws both men from their horses and breaks free of their ropes. A grown Jill Young (Terry Moore) arrives, calming Joe down. She is furious with both men and storms off with Joe.
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