MovieChat Forums > Mighty Joe Young (1949) Discussion > This film is amazing....

This film is amazing....

posted 18 years ago by Skye_Reynolds
9 replies | jump to latest

I thought it was going to be a tongue in cheek Kong without the dinosaurs. Basically, I thought he'd be a big fish in a small pond, a giant combatant without a credible opponent. Yet, the film really impressed me. It didn't have quite the action of Kong, but it was a laugh a minute film. And what action it did have was pretty entertaining. Joe was the strongest character in the film, but it was still entertaining to watch his struggles with the ropers, the strong men, the drunks, the lions, the police and even an uncontroled fire. It's amazing how they vilified a non-living object. One of the best parts was the way they actually made you feel for Joe. When the drunk through a bottle and cracked Joe in the side of the head, I yelled out "Hey!" in disgust. He's a special effect and yet we sympathize with him when he's locked in a cage, exploited in the cafe or abused by the drunkards.

I'm also very surprised that the climactic ending is not one of Hollywood's memories. Gregg, Jill and Joe rescuing the children from the building that is engulfed in flames and falling appart should rate up there with Indiana Jones running away from the giant rolling ball. I loved the way that when the tree fell, Joe appeared to be out. He was so big and so strong, yet he was down and out when the tree fell...until the little girl needed him and then he was able to pick himself up and rescue her just as the wall collapsed.

Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen had an amazing team. John Ford, Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack and Ruth Rose struck gold with this film. It's just a shame that it never went over big. As I've said before, a film is only as good as it's preview. It doesn't matter how good a film is if people don't see it. I would hope that this film at least got a cult following once VHS was invented. I think that if people gave the film a chance, they would have enjoyed it.

[–] Big G-2 18 years ago

John Ford, Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack and Ruth Rose struck gold with this film.

For years, it was assumed that John Ford's name was only there in the credits for publicity purposes (he and Cooper formed Argosy Pictures and together they did MJY and their cavalry trilogy - FORT APACHE, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON and RIO GRANDE, all during this same time). A couple of years ago, I saw MJY on big screen with both Terry Moore and Ray Harryhausen on hand. And both stated that Ford actually contributed a lot to the picture. So much so, that director Ernest Shoedsack become upset when Ford was interfering with the "tug-of-war" scene, and told Ford to bud out. Nobody spoke to John Ford like that (not even John Wayne). But at 6'6, Schoedsack himself was an imposing figure and had no fear of Ford.

[–] Skye_Reynolds 18 years ago

I don't know if it was a tough guy thing. Schoedsack was 6,6 but he was also near blind. He opened up the cockpit in flight during WWII and his eyes froze. He was extremely near sighted after that (I think possibly entirely blind in one eye) and could only see well when it was rainy. Terry Moore said that Mr. and Mrs. Schoedsack would invite her over to their house whenever it was a rainy day and Monty could see well.

[–] Big G-2 18 years ago

Ironically, Ford also suffered an eye injury during WWII, leaving him partially blind in one eye (he would end up wearing an eye patch later on). But Schoedsack was indeed upset with Ford, during that "tug-of-war" scene, telling him how would he like if someone walked onto one of his sets and tried to take over his picture. Coop and Ford were indeed like brothers, but Schoedsack thought Ford as a cocky, arrogant and unfriendly person.

[–] Skye_Reynolds 18 years ago

I don't doubt it.

[–] rudeboy8080 17 years ago

'Mighty Joe Young' flopped at the box office? That's too bad as it's a good movie. Then again, time's been kind to it. There was a 1998 remake with Bill Paxton and Charlize Theron. Isn't Stephen Foster's 'Beautiful Dreamer' played when Joe takes a nap. There's a reprise in the nightclub when Joe holds a piano over his head. It was also used in 'Batman'(1989) when The Joker becomes smitten with Vicky Vale.

I like Joe and I'd want him as a friend. Joe is much nicer than Kong. King Kong would probably put me in his mouth, chew me like gum, and spit me out!

[–] Big G-2 17 years ago

Isn't Stephen Foster's 'Beautiful Dreamer' played when Joe takes a nap. There's a reprise in the nightclub when Joe holds a piano over his head. It was also used in 'Batman'(1989) when The Joker becomes smitten with Vicky Vale.

I've heard that song in several movies as well. Ironically, I've heard it in SHANE (1952), which featured Ben Johnson (MJY's Greg Johnson) and PAYTON PLACE (1957), which happen to feature Terry Moore (Jill Young).

[–] raincoatriver 17 years ago

I always loved "Beautiful Dreamer". Believe it or not, Slim Whitman has a wonderful version of it.

"gonna throw, my raincoat in the river...gonna toss, my umbrella in the sea"...Sammy Turner.

[–] flan99 16 years ago

It just aired on TCM.

Surprise it wasn't a big hit when released.

Wonderful film.

Joe's character really comes out well.

[–] prbronx5 12 years ago

Yes Joe's rampage & destruction of the nightclub and the burning orphanage sequences are some of the best effects I've seen from this period. I'm surprised that this movie doesn't get the props it deserves. It's one of my favorite movies I watched during my childhood. It still holds up today.

PS: The remake is excellent as well.