Mighty Joe Young (1949)

In Africa, Jill Young trades a baby gorilla with two natives and raises the animal. Twelve years later, talkative and persuasive promoter Max O'Hara organizes a safari to Africa with Oklahoma cowboy Gregg to bring attractions to his new Hollywood nightclub. They capture several lions, and out of the blue they see a huge gorilla near their campsite and try to capture it. However, teenage Jill Young stops the men who intended to kill her gorilla. Max seduces Jill with a fancy life in Hollywood and she signs a contract with him in which the gorilla Joseph "Joe" Young would be the lead attraction. Soon she realizes that her dream is a nightmare to Joe and she asks Max to return to Africa, but he persuades her to stay in show business a little longer. But when three alcoholic costumers give booze to Joe, the gorilla destroys the spot and is sentenced by the justice to be sacrificed. Will Jill, Gregg, and Max succeed in saving Joe?