Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Striking! Startling! Staggering! On an expedition to Africa, show business promoter Max O'Hara meets Jill Young, who has raised her pet gorilla, Joe, since she was a child. The Hollywood showman convinces Jill to bring Joe to America--a decision both Jill and Joe soon regret. In Hollywood, Joe stars in a breathtaking stage production--lifting Jill and her grand piano over his head as she play. But when not on stage, Joe is confined to a cage. One night, enraged over mistreatment, Joe escapes, for which the police condemn him to death. Jill helps Joe to elude the authorities and to make a run for the harbor and a boat back to Africa. On the way, though, Joe rescues an orphan from a burning building, proving that the Mighty Joe has a heart of gold. Academy Award for Best Special Effects.