Japan, 1954
79m [USA], 98m
35mm film, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, English
A Japanese science fiction film directed by Ishirô Honda.
Premise
Following an American nuclear test, an ancient giant monster, Godzilla, is freed from its hibernation. It soon goes on the rampage, trashing Tokyo with its radioactive breath, and only the revolutionary Oxygen Destroyer stands in its way…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Ishiro Honda
Toho
Producer: Tanaka Tomoyuki
Planner: Iwao Mori
Production Manager: Teruo Maki
Script: Ishirô Honda, Takeo Murata
Story: Shigeru Kayama
Assistant Director: Koji Kajita
Director of Photography: Masao Tamai
Lighting: Choshiro Ishii
Stills Photographer: Issei Tanaka
Editor: Yasunobu Taira
Processing: Toho Laboratory; Kinuta Laboratory, Ltd.
Music by: Akira Ifukube
Sound Recordist: Hisashi Shimonaga
Sound Arrangement: Ichiro Minawa
Special Effects Director: Eiji Tsuburaya
Matte Processing: Hiroshi Mukoyama
Special Effects Art Director: Akira Watanabe
Special Effects Lighting: Kuichiro Kishida
Art Director: Takeo Kita
Set Designer: Satoshi Chuko
Technical Assistance: Maritime Safety Bureau
Cast
Akira Takarada (Naval Salvage Officer Hideto Ogata)
Momoko Kochi (Emiko Yamane)
Akihiko Hirata (Dr Daisuke Serizawa)
Takashi Shimura (Dr Kyohei Yamane)
Fuyuki Murakami (Dr Tabata)
Sachio Sakai (Reporter Hagiwara)
Toranosuke Ogawa (President of Nankai Shipping Company)
Ren Yamamoto (Masaji Sieji)
Miki Hayashi (Chairman of Diet Committee)
Takeo Oikawa (Chief of Emergency Headquarters)
Seijiro Onda (Mr Oyama)
Alternative Titles
Daikaijû no tai Nimon Mairu
G
Godzilla – Der sensationellste Film der Gegenwart – German (video)
Godzilla – international title
Godzilla – King of the Monsters – USA
Godzilla, monstret från havet – Sweden
Godzilla the Sea Beast – US version working title
Japón bajo el terror del monstruo – Spain
Kaijû o Gojira
O Monstro do Oceano PacÍfico – Portugal
Links
Sequels
Gojira no gyakushu (1955)
Sora no daikaijû Radon (1956)
Mosura (1961)
Kingu Kongu tai Gojira (1962)
Mosura tai Gojira (1964)
San daikaiju: Chikyu saidai no kessen (1964)
Kaiju daisenso (1965)
Gojira, Ebira, Mosura: Nankai no daiketto (1966)
Kaijuto no kessen: Gojira no musuko (1967)
Kaiju soshingeki (1968)
Gojira-Minira-Gabara: Oru kaiju daishingeki (1969)
Gojira tai Hedora (1971)
Chikyu kogeki meirei: Gojira tai Gaigan (1972)
Gojira tai Megaro (1973)
Gojira tai Mekagojira (1974)
Mekagojira no gyakushu (1975)
Gojira (1984)
Gojira vs. Biorante (1989)
Gojira vs. Kingu Gidora (1991)
Gojira vs. Mosura (1992)
Gojira vs Mekagojira (1993)
Gojira vs Supesugojira (1994)
Gojira vs. Desutoroia (1995)
Gojira ni-sen mireniamu (1999)
Gojira tai Megagirasu: Ji shometsu sakusen (2000)
Gojira, Mosura, Kingu Gidora: Daikaiju sokogeki (2001)
Gojira X Mekagojira (2002)
Gojira tai Mosura tai Mekagojira: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)
Gojira: Fainaru uozu (2004)
Shin Gojira (2016)
Gojira: Kaiju Wakusei (2017)
Gojira: Kessen Kido Zoshoku Toshi (2017)
See also
Always Zoku Sanchome no Yuh (2007)
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Godzilla (1976)
Godzilla (1978-1979)
Godzilla (1998)
Godzilla: The Series (1998-2000)
Godzilla (2015)
Godzilla Island (1997-1998)
Godzilla King of the Monsters (1954)
Godzilla v Kong (2020)
Ryusei Ningen Zone (1973)
Press
1956
Motion Picture Herald vol.203 no.5 (5 May 1956) p.883
Another monster is on the loose, more horrible in appearance and fierce in destruction than ever, and this is good news for the science fiction and horror fans […] There are some interesting glimpses of the Japanese countryside, and the special effects photography by Eiji Tsuburaya, Hiroshi Mukoyama, Akira Watanabe and Kuichiro Kishida is fearful in its realism. As for Godzilla, he holds his own with any of his predecessors for monstrous ugliness. – reviewer not known
Daily Film Renter no.7276 (13 December 1956) p.3
Extraordinary model-work and trick photography combine to make this an excellent example of its kind. There's enough horror and destruction to satisfy the most rabid SF and thriller fans, and the product should find ready audiences in situations where this type of film has proved has proved its box-office worth. – from a review by F.J.
Today's Cinema vol.87 no.7672 (13 December 1956) p.6
The scenes of destruction are excellently done, English dubbing where necessary is unobtrusive. Altogether a very satisfying piece of old-fashioned horror entertainment. – from a review by M.M.W.
References
Periodicals
- The Fantastic Fifties Special Edition no.2 (2018/2019) pp.10-15 – illustrated article (Gojira by Denis Meikle)
Books
- A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series by David Kalat pp.30-34 – chapter, credits
- Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films by Stuart Galbraith IV pp.7-14; 346-347 – review; credits
- Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda by Peter H. Brothers pp.72-87; 393 – illustrated; chapter; credits
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee pp.166-167 – credits
