Mighty Joe Young is the King Kong sequel Son of Kong should have been. Actually, it's not a sequel at all, but given the cast, directors, and writers, it should be. The final oversized ape epic to come from the team of Schoedsack, Cooper, and O'Brien, Young is just a small notch below the original Kong.
With over a decade to hone their skills, it's the special effects that mesmerize. Though credit is given to O'Brien (he did some animation), it's a young Ray Harryhausen taking on his first major special effects role, and it was already obvious how talented he was. It's a remarkable upgrade from the films from the 30s, and exquisite detail in each set piece is just stunning.
In fact, the sequence where Joe Young snaps and destroys a nightclub should be considered one of the premiere special effects sequences ever created. Yes, right up there with the Death Star trench run in Star Wars or the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. That's only one sequence of pure special effects bliss though, and some shots were so good, they were recycled for later films (Valley of Gwangi borrowed the roping scene included here). The reactions on Joe's face are also remarkable, showcasing a wide range of believable expressions with every move he makes.
Unfortunately, that's only one character in the story. Robert Armstrong takes on a role similar to the one he was given in King Kong, just slightly sleazier and more corrupt. That puts the film in familiar territory, even before the ape makes an appearance. Terry Morse is fine in the lead, just without much to do other than tell a special effect what to do. Ben Johnson, who would go onto great things, is disappointing here in one of his earliest roles, wooden and lacking any emotion.
Even though a few other films earn credit for starting the 1950s creature film set, Mighty Joe Young truly was the beginning of that cycle. It's a bonus that it's right up there with the original Kong in terms of thrills. It's a shame the original garners so much praise while Young is left behind. Kong deserves it, but so does Joe. (**** out of *****)
Article comments
1 - larry
i saw mighty joe young. iloved
it. it. im not sure if was the same movie that was filmed at the the pike in long beach ca. long
gone, but not forgotten. larry