Movie Cosmos - Mighty Joe Young

Description:

A young woman, Jill Young, grew up on her father's ranch in Africa, raising a large gorilla named Joe from an infant. Years later, she brings him to Hollywood to become a star.

Top Cast >

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)

James Flavin

As Schultz

Mary Field

As Secretary (uncredited)

Ellen Corby

As Orphanage matron (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

As Nightclub patron (uncredited)

Iris Adrian

As Gloria (uncredited)

Jack Pennick

As Sam (uncredited)

Joyce Compton

As Alice (uncredited)

Byron Foulger

As Jones (uncredited)

Addison Richards

As Attorney (uncredited)

Henry Kulky

As Strong Man (uncredited)

Dwayne Hickman

As Boy (uncredited)

Richard Farnsworth

As Cowboy (uncredited)

Charles Lane

As Producer (uncredited)

Kermit Maynard

As Red (uncredited)

Irene Ryan

As Southern Belle at the Bar (uncredited)

William Schallert

As Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

Fay Wray

As Woman's Scream (uncredited)

Ivan Rasputin

As Strongman (uncredited)

Harry Strang

As Policeman with Tramp (uncredited)

William 'Wee Willie' Davis

As Strongman (uncredited)

Robert Tafur

As Headwaiter (uncredited)

Archie Twitchell

As Reporter

Jacqueline Dalya

As Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)

Sammy Menacker

As Strong Man

Herschel Graham

As Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

As Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

Top Crew >

Ernest B. Schoedsack

Director

Merian C. Cooper

Story, Producer

Ruth Rose

Screenplay

John Ford

Executive Producer

Ted Cheesman

Editor

J. Roy Hunt

Director of Photography

Roy Webb

Original Music Composer

Ray Harryhausen

Visual Effects

Mel Berns

Makeup Artist

John L. Cass

Sound

Howard Richmond

Assistant Art Director

James Basevi

Art Direction

Adele Balkan

Costume Design

C. Bakaleinikoff

Music Director

Walter Elliott

Sound Editor

Clem Portman

Sound

Linwood G. Dunn

Visual Effects

Harold E. Stine

Visual Effects

Willis H. O'Brien

Visual Effects

Bert Willis

Visual Effects

Reviews:

John Chard (8/10)

Listen you guys, cut out the rough stuff or I'll feed you to the lions.

Unfairly chastised in some quarters for being a kiddie friendly King Kong, Mighty Joe Young is as charming as an Autumnal day. Many of the team from King Kong reteam to make this film, and undoubtedly it's pretty much the same plotting only with a different resolution.

However, the effects work is still magical, harking back to a time when geniuses like Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen sweated buckets to make the magic move on the screen. Mighty Joe, the huge Gorilla of the title, is beautifully realised, full of expressions and emotions, he even has time for some sense of humour traits.

Action is never far away, with models and sets destroyed with brute force, while plenty of beings get flung about to emphasise the madness of it all. Narratively like Kong there's still themes of greed and ignorance, the tampering with Mother Nature a big mistake, which all leads to a thrilling finale that in turn leads to something to savour.

Kiddie Kong? Who cares! A wonderful film of skill and guile, of charm and brains. Go Joe Go! 8/10

2015-06-22