Seven-year-old Jill Young is a solitary girl who spends her days on her father's farm in the heart of Africa. One fateful day, she seizes the opportunity to barter for a friend: a baby gorilla being carried by two African natives. Fast forward twelve years, and a New York nightclub entrepreneur, Max O'Hara, has dreams of establishing an African-themed nightclub in Hollywood. Among those intrigued is Gregg Johnson, a champion roper from Oklahoma whose recent rodeo career has come to a close. Inspired by O'Hara's audacious idea of having a cowboy lasso lions, Gregg eagerly proposes a trip to Africa, and to his delight, O'Hara agrees.
Upon arriving in Africa, O'Hara's camp is situated near the Young farm, where the now-grown gorilla named Joe takes note of the newcomers. The cowboys attempt to rope Joe, ignoring the warning from the local agent, Crawford, who declares, > “You can't rope a gorilla!” This ignorance leads to a chaotic, wild-west style showdown as cowboys and horses chase after Joe, who easily breaks free from their ropes as if they were nothing more than wet mop strings! Just at that moment, Jill, now a striking nineteen, appears on the scene. O'Hara, recovering from the spectacle, is left in awe as he witnesses Jill commanding Joe to obey her every instruction. Enthralled by Jill's connection with the gorilla, O'Hara convinces her to accompany him to Hollywood, where they plan to showcase Joe as "Jill the Jungle Queen."
As O'Hara anticipated, the grand opening night of the nightclub is met with overwhelming success. The curtain rises with Jill performing "Beautiful Dreamer," which happens to be Joe's favorite song, as he lifts a grand piano held aloft with Jill on top! Subsequently, Joe participates in an unprecedented tug-of-war challenge against ten real-life strongmen, including famed figures like Killer Karl Davis, Man Mountain Dean, the Swedish Angel, and ex-boxer Primo Carnera, easily tossing them into the audience with dramatic flair!
However, as time passes, the initial allure begins to fade. Joe is confined to a dreary gray cage in the basement, leading to a decline in both his appetite and Jill's spirit. After ten long weeks filled with tears, Jill confides in Gregg, lamenting, > “It seems like ten years!” She reaches a breaking point and contemplates quitting. Nevertheless, O'Hara manages to dissuade her from leaving, persuading her that brighter days are ahead.
Weeks crawl by and another act—a performance by an organ-grinder—goes disastrously wrong. During the mayhem, three inebriated men sneak backstage, plaguing Joe with alcohol; one even burns him with a cigarette, triggering Joe's primal instincts. In a fit of rage, he wreaks havoc, and a court ruling issues a decree for Joe to be shot. In a desperate bid to save Joe, O'Hara devises a daring escape plan. The plot thickens as O'Hara feigns illness, causing the guard to abandon his post, allowing Jill the chance to free Joe.
In a heart-pounding chase, they attempt to make their escape in a moving van, just as a transient spot Joe and alerts the police. The tension escalates when Joe is hastily shifted to a truck while O'Hara distracts the authorities. The climax reaches a fever pitch when the truck approaches a burning orphanage, prompting Jill and Gregg—utilizing his rope skills—to bravely rescue two children hidden away in a closet. In a final act of heroism, Joe climbs a tree to save a little girl stranded on a ledge, but as the flames lick at the branches, he takes a harrowing fall. Jill reaches the tired and battered Joe in the aftermath, as an unknown voice reassures her, > “Nobody in the world is gonna shoot Joe now!”
The story concludes with O'Hara, several months later back in New York, watching footage taken by Crawford that documents the adventures of Gregg, Jill, and Joe. With a bittersweet farewell, he reflects, "They're back in Africa where they belong." And thus, we say goodbye to the unforgettable Joe Young.
