Mighty Joe Young (1949 film)

Mighty Joe Young
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Merian C. Cooper Ernest B. Schoedsack
Screenplay by	Ruth Rose
Story by	Merian C. Cooper
Produced by	Merian C. Cooper
Starring	Terry Moore Ben Johnson Robert Armstrong Frank McHugh Douglas Fowley
Cinematography	J. Roy Hunt
Edited by	Ted Cheesman
Music by	Roy Webb
Production company	Argosy Pictures
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	July 27, 1949 (1949-07-27)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.8 million[1]
Box office	$1.95 million[2]

Mighty Joe Young (also known as Mr. Joseph Young of Africa and The Great Joe Young) is a 1949 American black and white fantasy film distributed by RKO Radio Pictures and produced by the same creative team responsible for King Kong (1933). The film was produced by Merian C. Cooper, directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack, and Ruth Rose wrote the screenplay. It stars Robert Armstrong (who appears in both films), Terry Moore, and Ben Johnson in his first credited screen role. Animation effects were handled by Ray Harryhausen, Pete Peterson and Marcel Delgado.^[3][4]

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 large gorilla, from an infant and years later brings him to Hollywood seeking her fortune in order to save the family homestead. It was later remade in 1998 with Charlize Theron and Bill Paxton.