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Mighty Joe Young (1949) Casting From Original Oversized Max O'Hara's Nightclub Coin Production Mold

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Memorabilia Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Mighty Joe Young (1949) Casting From Original Oversized Max O'Hara's Nightclub Coin Production Mold
Mighty Joe Young (1949) Casting From Original Oversized Max O'Hara's Nightclub Coin Production Mold - "Mighty Joe Young" (1949) was Merian C. Cooper's answer to having created the ultimate movie icon in King Kong ten years earlier. Again, a giant ape takes center stage. This time, raised by a young African girl, Jill, (Terry Moore), who grows up with Joe Young, a loveable ape grows twice the size of Kong! Again, Joe Young is transferred to the United States, this time by a cowboy, Greg (Ben Johnson) was is hired by promoter Max O'Hara (Robert Armstrong, who was also in "King Kong") to bring back exotic animals for his Hollywood nightclub. In many ways, "Mighty Joe Young" is a superior movie in story and effects, due mainly to the brilliant stop-motion work of Ray Harryhausen. He makes Joe Young into such a beautifully realized three-dimensional character with deep feelings, especially in his expressive eyes, that many movie reviewers of the time actually praised Joe Young's acting ability (it didn't hurt that he was listed in the credits as "Mr. Joseph Young - Himself")! In a key scene, Joe Young is to perform on the stage of the nightclub as if he's an organ grinder monkey, complete with hat and cup, as Jill grinds music next to him. Everyone in the nightclub is given oversize "penny's" to toss to Joe Young on stage. They have "Max O'Hara's Golden Safari - One Cent" printed around the edge, with Joe Young's portrait in the center. However, the mostly drunken crown begins to fling the large "coins" like flying saucers, and they slam into Joe Young. He tries to deflect them, however, several drunken producer's (is there any other kind?), having run out of "coins" start throwing their empty liquor and wine bottles at Joe Young. Young naturally flies into a rage, and destroys the club, and its patrons (who deserve all they get!). This results in Young being driven away from the police by Jill and Greg, and takes us to the famous end sequences at the burning orphanage. This is a rare casting of these iconic oversize Max O'Hara's pennies taken directly from the original molds used in the production. This wonderful treasured memorabilia from this beloved classic movie comes from legendary Jerry Neeley's collection. Neeley was the well known film historian, writer, collector and owner of the famous "Jerry's Video" in Los Feliz, CA. Customers, collectors and throngs of directors, writers and industry people would come from around the world to talk to Jerry, whose knowledge and memory of film, especially when it came to Sci-Fi, was encyclopedic, and also to visit his famous collection. Also included is a Letter of Provenience from Jerry Neeley's widow and co-owner of his various video and memorabilia shops. The casting made from the original coin mold is approx 9" in diameter.