MIGHTY JOE YOUNG

US, 1949, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Robert Armstrong, Frank Mc Hugh, Douglas Fowley.
Directed by Ernest Schoedsack.

Mighty Joe Young is a pale imitation of King Kong. It was made by the makers of King Kong, especially special effects man Willis O'Brien and director Ernest Schoedsack. The young Ray Harryhausen was involved in the special effects. lie was to move on to success in British films in the '50s and '60s including Jason and the Argonauts, The Seven Voyages of Sinbad. The film is a sentimental replay of the King Kong theme, Africa, the loving hero, travel to America. However, the film ends sentimental, rather than in tragedy.

1. The makers of King Kong and their attempt to repeat their success? How effectively? Enjoyably?

2. Black and white photography, studio Africa, Hollywood and nightclubs, the burning building, the musical score?

3. Africa and Jill, finding the gorilla, getting it from the Africans, growing up and its being a pet? Her father?

4. Hollywood, nightclubs and plans, the entrepreneur, Greg and the cowboys, going to Africa, the encounter with Jill, the gorilla? Jill persuaded to go to America?

5. The nightclub, Joe Young's performance, the effect on the audience, on him, imprisoned, the passing of the weeks? The drunks and their taunting him? Breaking out? The uproar in the nightclub?

6. The decision to kill him, the escape, the chase, the importance of the burning orphanage and the rescue of the children?

7. O'Hara, big business, his helping? His assistant? Their watching the home movies at the end?

8. Jill as heroine, nice? Gregg as the strong silent type?

9. The happy ending and the home movie? Popular entertainment of the '40s?