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Lobby card vintage movie poster for the 1949 fantasy film
Mighty Joe Young, directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack. The film was produced by the same creative team behind the 1933 classic King Kong, including producers Merian C. Cooper and John Ford.
Film Overview
The story follows Jill Young, a young woman who raised a giant gorilla named Joe on her father's ranch in Africa. She is persuaded by showman Max O'Hara to bring Joe to Hollywood as a nightclub attraction. Eventually, Joe escapes, leading to a heroic climax where he rescues children from a burning orphanage.
Cast and Credits
Terry Moore: Stars as Jill Young.
Ben Johnson: In his first credited screen role as the cowboy Gregg.
Robert Armstrong: Plays Max O'Hara, a character similar to his role as Carl Denham in King Kong.
Willis O'Brien: Served as the Technical Creator and supervisor of the stop-motion animation.
Ray Harryhausen: Worked as a first technician under O'Brien in his first feature film; he is estimated to have completed 80–90% of the actual animation.
Awards and Legacy
The film is celebrated for its groundbreaking special effects and won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects in 1950. While it was not an immediate box office hit, it became a stop-motion classic and was later remade in 1998 starring Charlize Theron |
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