Mighty Joe Young
1949 · Movie · NR · 94 min · ★ 6.4 · 78% critics
Raised alongside a gorilla from infancy on an African ranch, a young woman brings her unusually large companion to Hollywood, where he’s billed as a new sensation. Fame and show business pressures soon test their bond, as people’s greed and rough treatment push the gentle animal toward chaos.
Also known as Mr. Joseph Young of Africa
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Details
- Years
- 1949
- Release date
- 1949-07-13
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Critic score
- 78/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.4/10 (122 votes)
- Box office
- $1,950,000
- Budget
- $1,800,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a family-friendlier giant-creature adventure with heart, lively mayhem, and a clear message about exploitation, especially if you like King Kong; not for you if you need realism or subtle drama.
Pros: charming creature personality; exciting action set pieces; memorable classic effects | Cons: simple repetitive story; uneven acting; dated cultural attitudes
Themes
- africa
- gorilla
- wrestler
- decoy
- black and white
- ape
- exotic pet
- team roping
- giant ape
- king kong
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Special Effects · 1950
- Academy Award — Best Special Effects · 1950 · nominated
Cast & crew
Terry Moore
as Jill Young
Ben Johnson
as Gregg Johnson
Robert Armstrong
as Max O'Hara
Frank McHugh
as Windy
Douglas Fowley
as Jones
Denis Greene
as Crawford
Paul Guilfoyle
as Smith
Nestor Paiva
as Brown
Regis Toomey
as John Young
Lora Lee Michel
as Jill (as a child)
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack