El gran gorila

A wonderfully entertaining slant on "King Kong" by Kong's creators, Cooper and Schoedsack (along with John Ford). Much better than Kong's 1934 sequel, "Son of Kong", which was hurriedly made. The creators put a lot of thought and effort into this worthy follow-up and it shows. More superb special effects from Willis O'Brien as technical director, featuring the budding talents of protege, Ray Harryhausen.

In Africa, the girl Jill Young trades a baby gorilla with two natives and raises the animal. Twelve years later, the talkative and persuasive promoter Max O'Hara (Robert Armstrong) organizes a safari to Africa with the Oklahoma cowboy Gregg (Ben Johnson) to bring attractions to his new night-club in Hollywood. They capture several lions and out of blue, they see a huge gorilla nearby their camping and they try to capture the animal. However, the teenager Jill Young (Terry Moore) stops the men that intended to kill her gorilla. Max seduces Jill with a fancy life in Hollywood and she signs a contract with him where the gorilla Joseph "Joe" Young would be the lead attraction. Soon she realizes that her dream is a nightmare to Joe and she asks Max to return to Africa. However he persuades her to stay a little longer in the show business. But when three alcoholic costumers give booze to Joe, the gorilla destroys the spot and is sentenced by the justice to be sacrificed. Will Jill, Gregg and Max succeed in saving Joe?

"Mighty Joe Young" is a surprisingly excellent movie, with a story that entwines drama, romance and adventure and with awesome special effects for a 1949 movie. I bought this DVD a couple of years ago, but I was expecting a lame rip-off of King Kong based on the awful Brazilian title. However, the plot is engaging, with lots of emotions and many plot points and Joe's runaway is spectacular. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monstro de um Mundo Perdido" ("Monster of a Lost World")

When many people bring this film up, many of them want to compare it to its predecessor King Kong. However, if they would let this film stand on its own they would see that this is a good film about a young girl and her pet gorilla. Joe is almost childlike and is even lovable. Also, the human cast is fine especially Terry Moore and Robert Armstrong in what pretty much is a repeat of his role of impresario Carl Denham in the original Kong.

But, lets not forget the special effects. Willis O'Brien and his protégé, a young Ray Harryhausen do a remarkable job with Joe. The pretty much show him as being a more rounded character than Kong and you can see the aforementioned childlike qualities they bring to him. This is definitely a great film.

Of all the great ape films, this one made by the same folks that brought us King Kong and Son of Kong has to be the most charming. The story is simple enough about a young girl that raises a gorilla from infancy in the wilds of Africa to be wooed and wowed by an American showman looking for acts in Africa. The showman sees her gorilla and the way she can make it listen and do tricks...and soon both beast and beauty are off to the US to star in a night club act of all things. Terry Moore is a real cutie portraying the girl. The showman is played by...well who else but the same man responsible for bringing King Kong to New York City 16 years earlier...Robert Armstrong. The rest of the cast is adequate with Nestor Paiva in a small but crucial role standing out. The real star, however, is the ape itself and the special effects centered around it. This gorilla is brutish yet humane. He is playful and yet serious and somber at times. Willis O'Brien has done it again with the effects and his stop motion animation, with a great deal of improvement since Kong. The best thing about this movie is its heart, and the heart shown between the young girl and her pet/child. Some scenes are very striking in the film. One that stands out the most is the introduction of Mighty Joe Young in the night club with Terry Moore playing the piano. It looks like Busby Berkley choreographed it. Another very powerful scene involves Joe with an orphanage on fire. The scene is tremendous and even tinted red. Very impressive for its release. A True Classic!

"Mighty Joe Young" was the third of Producer Merian C. Cooper's giant ape trilogy following "King Kong" and "Son of Kong" both released in 1933. It was directed by Cooper's old pal Ernest B. Schoedsack, who also had directed the first two. At this time Cooper was producing pictures in partnership with John Ford. Ford's influence can be seen in this film. Ford's protégé of the time, Ben Johnson is cast in the lead, Ford regular Jack Pennick appears in a bit as a truck driver and the "Fordian" humor is evident, particularly in the nightclub sequence.

Robert Armstrong, who had played a similar role in the Kongs, returns as Max O'Hara a fast talking promoter who was reportedly based on producer Cooper. This film also marked the passing of the torch from legendary stop motion animator Willis O'Brien to the then young Ray Harryhausen.

The film opens in Africa where the young Jill Young "buys" a baby gorilla and names him Joe. Fast forward 12 years where Max O'Hara is planning to go to Africa to capture wild animals for his African themed restaurant. A young wrangler, Glenn Johnson (Ben Johnson) applies for a job and accompanies the group to the Dark Continent. Suddenly their camp is turned upside down by the now 12 foot tall "Mighty Joe Young". Amid the confusion, the now grown Jill (Terry Moore) emerges and calms the ape.

O'Hara seeing an opportunity, convinces the girl to bring the ape to America to perform in his nightclub. Along the way Jill and Glenn become an item. Following a successful introduction in "civilization", Joe is taunted by three drunks (Douglas Fowley, Nestor Paiva, Paul Guilfoyle). They then sneak down to where the gorilla is caged and feed him liquor. Well..you know what happens next. Joe escapes and runs amok in the nightclub, releasing the lions and wrecking the joint.

Jill, Glenn and O'Hara seeing the plight of Joe decide to take him back to his home. The police having been ordered to destroy the beast in pursue them. Along the way, they come upon a fire (filmed in a red sepia tone) in a children's orphanage. Joe becomes a hero and everyone lives happily ever after.

One cannot comment upon "Mighty Joe Young" without praising the special effects. Under the supervision of O'Brien, Harryhausen creates some amazing effects. Gone are the jerky movements of the Kongs. The facial expressions of the ape are simply amazing. Its movements are very realistic and convincing. The wrecking of the nightclub and the orphanage sequence are unbelievable. In spite of the sanitized script (no one is actually killed), the effects carry the day.

For both Johnson and Moore, this was their first leading roles. Johnson who at this time as an actor made a great cowboy, went on to a distinguished career lasting almost 50 years (including an Oscar in 1971). Moore, who provides an informed commentary (along with Harryhausen)on the DVD, became more famous for her alleged marriage to the then middle aged playboy, Howard Hughes.

Also on board are Frank McHugh as O'Hara's assistant, Regis Toomey as Jill's father and a number of then famous wrestlers playing the strongmen in the night club sequence: Primo Carnera, Carl "Killer" Davis, William "Wee Willie" Davis, Man Mountain Dean and Henry Kulky who went on to a acting career of his own. Also watch for Ellen Corby and Charles Lane in bits.

Not in the same class as "King Kong" but an entertaining film nonetheless.