Mighty Joe Young
Brief Synopsis
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To most people, Joe is a myth and a legend; a huge gorilla, a sacred guardian and defender of the natives of a small African village. To his only friend Jill, he is a protector and companion. Together they are the only family each has had since their respective mothers were killed by poachers 20 years ago. Now, when zoologist Gregg O'Hara, who is exploring the remote Pangani Mountains in Central Africa, comes upon the awesome 15-foot gorilla, he and Jill rescue the strong yet innocent creature from human predators by moving him into safety of a California animal conservancy. However, Joe is not safe for long. His notoriety makes him a target for an enemy from his past... a ruthless hunter who eager to steal Joe for his unique value on the endengered species black market. Feeling threatened and confused in his man-made confines, Joe finally escapes. As this powerful force of nature attempts to traverse the metropolis of Los Angeles, he leaves a trail of destruction and chaos in his wake.
Cast & Crew
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Ron Underwood
Director
Bill Paxton
Charlize Theron
Rade Serbedzija
Naveen Andrews
David Paymer
Film Details
Also Known As
Joe - Jättegorillan, Mighty Joe, Mon ami Joe
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Adventure
Family
Release Date
1998
Distribution Company
Walt Disney Studios Distribution
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA; Hawaii, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 54m
Synopsis
To most people, Joe is a myth and a legend; a huge gorilla, a sacred guardian and defender of the natives of a small African village. To his only friend Jill, he is a protector and companion. Together they are the only family each has had since their respective mothers were killed by poachers 20 years ago. Now, when zoologist Gregg O'Hara, who is exploring the remote Pangani Mountains in Central Africa, comes upon the awesome 15-foot gorilla, he and Jill rescue the strong yet innocent creature from human predators by moving him into safety of a California animal conservancy. However, Joe is not safe for long. His notoriety makes him a target for an enemy from his past... a ruthless hunter who eager to steal Joe for his unique value on the endengered species black market. Feeling threatened and confused in his man-made confines, Joe finally escapes. As this powerful force of nature attempts to traverse the metropolis of Los Angeles, he leaves a trail of destruction and chaos in his wake.
Director
Ron Underwood
Director
Cast
Bill Paxton
Charlize Theron
Rade Serbedzija
Naveen Andrews
David Paymer
Regina King
Cynthia Allison
Richard Riehle
Damien Leake
Laurie Kilpatrick
Janet Eilber
Jenilee Deal
Judson Mills
Robert Wisdom
Theodore R Hartley
Lily Mariye
Vicki Davis
Tracey Walter
Bethany Bassler
Ken Taylor
Terry Moore
Liz Georges
Reno Wilson
Richard Mcgonagle
Tommy Samona
Lead Person
Ray Harryhausen
Matt Deal
Hernan Ruiz
John T Bower
Wiley Pickett
Deborah Kellner
Larry Brandenburg
Neal Kopit
Christian Clemenson
John Alexander
Mika Boorem
Marguerite Moreau
Geoffrey Blake
Lawrence Pressman
Flo Dire
Tony Genaro
Hannah Swanson
Dina Merrill
Linda Purl
Kaylan Romero
Cory Buck
Peter Firth
Gary Hecker
Crew
Brian Adams
Visual Effects
Eddie Adolph
Accountant
Ellen Adolph
Production Accountant
John Agalsoff
Video Assist/Playback
Charlie Ajar Jr.
Other
Barbara S Allen
Casting Associate
David Alstadter
Foley Editor
Erik C Andersen
Assistant Editor
John R. Anderson
Other
Mike Anderson
Best Boy Grip
Ron Annunziata
Assistant Camera Operator
Gordon Antell
Assistant Editor
Audie Aragon
Dolly Grip
Jeffrey Arnold
Visual Effects
Ron Aston
Music
Suzanne Augusta
Production
Bob Badami
Music Editor
Chris Bailey
Animation Supervisor
Alice Baker
Assistant Set Decorator
Brydon Bertram Baker Iii
Boom Operator
Rick Baker
Other
Rick Baker
Visual Effects Designer
Stephen Baker
Animator
William Ballard
Transportation Captain
Cory Barlog
Animator
Janice Barnes
Hair
Hank Barrio
Other
Craig Barron
Visual Effects Supervisor
Robert Batha
Assistant Sound Editor
Ron Batzdorff
Photography
Travis Baumann
Visual Effects
Scott Beattie
Miniatures
Jon Bell
3-D Models
Leila Ben-joseph
Graphics
Barry Benefield
Production Assistant
Scott Benton
Assistant
David Bernstein
Assistant Director
Earl Beyer
Other
Ken Beyer
Production
Chris Biggs
Cgi Artist
Patricia Blau
Other
James Blevins
Effects Assistant
Chris Borelli
Video
Roger Borelli
Art Department
Bob Bornstein
Music
Merideth Boswell
Set Decorator
Melissa Bretherton
Assistant Editor
Mark Brown
Props Assistant
Travon Brumfield
Apprentice
Sue Brunell-edwards
Production Accountant
Kat Bueno
Grip
Ted Bukowski
Special Effects
Carey Burens
Graphics
Tim Burgard
Storyboard Artist
Steward Burris
Animator
Cathy Burrow
Visual Effects
Rob Burton
Visual Effects
David Bush
Effects Assistant
Kelly Cabral
Sound Editor
John Munro Cameron
Other
Aaron Campbell
Animator
Douglas J Campbell
Effects Assistant
Kevin A Canamar
Medic
Marc Canas
Rerecording
Frank Capra
Assistant Director
Guy Paul Caputo
Electrician
Jim Carlton
Grip
Debbie Lee Carrington
Other
Angelica Casillas
Visual Effects
Tony Castagnola
Other
Robert Caven
Production Assistant
Lanny Cermak
3-D Artist
Jessi Chan
Cgi Artist
Melissa Chang
Electrician
Bob Chapin
Visual Effects
Denise Cheshire
Other
Jim Chory
Associate Producer
Jim Chory
Assistant Director
Dave Christensen
Lighting
Arthur Cipollone
Production Assistant
Chris Claisse
Effects Coordinator
Bernard Clark
Production Assistant
Christian J Clark
Assistant Director
Jeffrey T Cline
Assistant Director
Eugene Collier
Stunts
Kyle Cooper
Titles
Merian C. Cooper
Story By
Merian C. Cooper
From Story
Michael Corcoran
Graphic Artist
Michael Corenblith
Production Designer
Theresa Corrao
Effects Coordinator
Ken Corvino
Production
Becky Cotton
Costumes
Jay Cox
Color Timer
Kevin Cox
Special Effects
Steve Craft
Camera Assistant
Suzanne Cranfill
Costumes
Janna Crawford
Costume Department
Christina Criswell
Makeup Artist
Trudy Cruser
Production Assistant
Michael Culbert
Assistant
Kevin Culhane
Animator
Douglas Cumming
Assistant Art Director
Julie D'antoni
Production Assistant
Charlie Daboub
Art Director
Missy Dallas
Production Assistant
Toby Dalsgaard
Other
John Damiani
Makeup
Craig Davies
Other
Michael Davis
Storyboard Artist
Mohammed Davoudian
Cgi Artist
Mark Dawson
Other
Sandy De Crescent
Music Contractor
Ray De La Motte
Camera Operator
Vincent De Quattro
Other
Curtis Decker
Special Effects
Lawrence Decker
Special Effects
Doug Delaney
Rerecording
Doug Delaney
Camera
Dan Deleeuw
Visual Effects Supervisor
Laura Deluisa
Hair
Krystyna Demkowicz
Visual Effects
Matt Dessero
Visual Effects
Mitch Devane
Makeup Artist
Scott Devereaux
Assistant Location Manager
Dino Dimuro
Sound Effects Editor
Pam Dixon Mickelson
Casting
Darryll Dodson
Special Effects
Thomas E Doherty
Best Boy Grip
Malcolm Doran
Key Grip
Roxanne Dorman
Projectionist
Frank Dorowsky
Rigging Gaffer
Randolph Meredyth Drake
Production Assistant
Rob Dressel
Animator
Steven S Duncan
Transportation Coordinator
Richard Dwan
Dialogue Editor
Colin Eckart
Cgi Artist
Cheryl Eckelberry
Stand-In
Jared Eddo
Stunts
Paul A. Edwards
Camera Operator
Jon Eichelberger
Other
Mike Elizalde
Electrician
John Elliott
Construction Coordinator
Mike Ellis
Visual Effects
Chrissie England
Other
Roy Erickson
Visual Effects
Edwin Escobar
Special Effects
Robert Espinoza
Special Effects
Johnnie Espiritu
Art Department
Nicholas Esposito
Electrician
Christopher Evans
Visual Effects
Mary Fanto
Art Department Coordinator
Tod Feaster
Production Manager
Tom Fejes
Graphics
Cynthia Feyrer
Negative Cutting
Vic Finster
Other
Julie Fischer
2-D Artist
Keith Fisher
Production Assistant
Michael G Fisher
Music
Kevin Fitzgerald
Motion Control
Claire Flewin
Costume Designer
Scott Floren
Key Grip
Nancy Fogarty
Music
John Ford
Special Thanks To
Stephen Foster
Song
Steven Foster
Special Effects Supervisor
Steven Foster
Special Effects Foreman
Michael Fottrell
Unit Production Manager
Michael Fottrell
Coproducer
Carl Frederick
Visual Effects Supervisor
Rob Freitas
Art Department
David Fuhrer
Visual Effects
Alex Funke
Director Of Photography
Alex Funke
Dp/Cinematographer
Rick Galinson
Electrician
Daniel Garab
Sound
Christopher G Garcia
Assistant Camera Operator
Tim Geideman
Other
Gary Gero
Animal Trainer
Giacomo Ghiazza
Visual Effects
Richard Gibbs
Song Performer
Richard Gibbs
Song
John Giffoni
Effects Assistant
Hector Gika
Sound Effects Editor
Troy Gilbert
Stunts
Tom Gilliland
Makeup Artist
Michael Gleason
Editor
Audrey Goetz
Costume Department
Holly Goldberg Sloan
Screenplay
Dave Goldfarb
Assistant Director
Richard Bryce Goodman
Sound Mixer
Trevor Goring
Storyboard Artist
Connie Grayson
Hair
William Green
Grip
Tim Greenwood
Projectionist
Rod Gregory
Visual Effects
Glen Griffin
Art Department
Gene Anthony Grijalva
Special Effects
Mike Gunning
Production Manager
Ed Gutentag
Assistant Camera Operator
Film Details
Also Known As
Joe - Jättegorillan, Mighty Joe, Mon ami Joe
MPAA Rating
Genre
Adaptation
Adventure
Family
Release Date
1998
Distribution Company
Walt Disney Studios Distribution
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA; Hawaii, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 54m
Award Nominations
Best Visual Effects
1998
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter December 25, 1998
Released in United States on Video March 23, 1999
Remake of the RKO Radio Pictures film "Mighty Joe Young" (USA/1949), directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack.
Film was temporarily halted for several days in early July when director of photography Don Peterman and camera operator Ray De La Motte were injured during production.
Began shooting May 26, 1997.
Completed shooting mid December 1997.
Released in United States Winter December 25, 1998
Released in United States on Video March 23, 1999
