Mighty Joe Young

Mighty Joe Young (1949) is an adventure fantasy directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack, and you can watch online on iFILM. It comes from the same crew that built King Kong, swapping dread for warmth. Jill Young raised the giant gorilla Joe from a tiny cub on her father's ranch in Africa.

Years on, a smooth-talking showman coaxes Jill (Terry Moore) into hauling the animal to Hollywood. Joe becomes the headliner of a glitzy nightclub, hoisting a bandstand on his palm and out-pulling a tug-of-war team of strongmen. But the lights, the crowds and a few too many drinks wear the gentle beast down, and one night he snaps. Jill and cowboy Gregg (Ben Johnson) race to save him before someone puts a bullet in him.

The picture took home the very first Academy Award given for visual effects — Joe was brought to life frame by frame by Willis O'Brien, with a young Ray Harryhausen cutting his teeth alongside him. A treat for anyone who loves the soft-hearted spectacle of golden-age Hollywood and wants to trace the roots of every giant-ape movie that followed. Stream Mighty Joe Young (1949) online on iFILM.