| Article: 3840
From: clarinews@clarinet.com (RUTH YOUNGBLOOD)
Newsgroups: clari.news.movies,clari.news.features,clari.news.interest.animals
Subject: Godzilla celebrates 40th birthday in a crushing comeback
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 93 6:26:57 PDT
_U_P_I _N_e_w_s_f_e_a_t_u_r_e
TOKYO (UPI) -- Long before Japanese cars, electronics and trade
surpluses overwhelmed foreign markets, a rampaging mutant dinosaur from
Japan was spellbinding audiences around the globe.
With his 40th birthday approaching, Godzilla will be marking the
occasion with a colossal fight against a super high-tech robot.
Since emerging from the sea in his 1954 film debut, the behemoth with
a social conscience has smashed cities and buildings in defending Japan
against other beasts while raising such issues as nuclear power,
environmental pollution, energy dependence, genetic engineering and the
nation's soaring economic might.
With the next movie, ``Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla'' -- the 20th in
the Toho Co.'s series -- director Takao Okawara said, ``We want to make
this film especially memorable because of its double significance.''
The production climaxes with a battle between Godzilla and an ultra-
powerful high-tech bird robot.
Producer Shogo Tomiyama said the film not only will be action-packed
but a heartwarming story posing the question of whether it is possible
for the 330-foot (100-m) Godzilla and mankind to live together.
There's even the birth of a new character, ``Baby Godzilla,''
described by Okawara as ``a little eerie.''
Shinpei Ise, in charge of public relations for Toho, scoffed at
suggestions that the movie to be released in December will capitalize on
the dinosaur momentum generated by Steven Spielberg's ``Jurassic Park.''
``Godzilla has been around for so long adults who grew up watching
him are now bringing their own children,'' Ise said.
Some 78 million Japanese have viewed Godzilla movies and the films
have played in more than 50 countries.
Godzilla finally is getting his big break in Hollywood. Toho has
reached agreement with Tristar, the company which produced ``Bugsy,''
``Hook'' and ``Terminator II,'' for a production featuring Japan's
favorite monster in time for Christmas next year. The cost of the
thriller is expected to run as high as $40 million.
Film critics attribute the remarkable longevity of Godzilla's
popularity to scriptwriters who keep him up-to-date with controversial
issues.
From the start, Godzilla carried a strong anti-nuclear message. The
first film depicted his awakening from millions of years of sleep by a
U.S. hydrogen bomb test in 1954, the same year some Japanese fishermen
were exposed to fallout from U.S. nuclear tests in the Pacific.
Back in the days of dinosaurs, Godzilla was was a ``godzillasaurus,''
a fictional animal, and his enemy Radon was a pteranodon. Nuclear
contamination turned both of them into monsters.
An array of adversaries such a ``Mothra,'' a giant moth creating a
hurricane by beating its wings, and the inevitable clashes leveling
Tokyo, scared and delighted youngsters.
But it's Godzilla's emerging social awareness that has kept him
relevant to adults in his various incarnations.
Kenpachiro Satsuma, the actor who has worn the the 176-pound (80-kg)
rubber Godzilla suit to play the monster for the last eight years, said
Godzilla must be portrayed with a mixture of strength and sensitivity, a
challenge not presented by more conventional monsters.
``Godzilla is our very own hero,'' said film critic Sawako Omori.
``He has evolved into an exceptionally modern character with a hint of
humor. Unlike King Kong and Frankenstein portrayed in a few movies,
Godzilla's career spans four decades and he's still going strong.''
Despite recession in Japan, ``Godzilla vs. Mothra,'' released in
December, earned Toho more than 2.3 billion yen ($19.1 million) in box-
office receipts and an increase of 17 percent in revenues from film
distribution.
``Godzilla vs. King Ghidora,'' the 18th comeback, turned Tokyo's City
Hall into a victim with many disgruntled Japanese viewing the 38-story
building as an extravagant symbol of Japan's so-called ``bubble economy''
of the late 1980s, a period of soaring land prices beyond the grasp of
most families.
In a resounding finale, the edifice was demolished during combat
between Godzilla and King Ghidora, a three-headed dragon unleased by
time travelers from the future seeking to destroy Japan before it
emerged into the world's strongest economic power.
Omori, who recalled how frightened she was watching ``Godzilla vs.
King Kong'' as a child, noted that the Japanese have not become bored
with the monster or his enemies, who show up again and again. Godzilla,
who appeared to have been completedly defeated in a 1975 movie, re-
emerged on screen in 1984, resuscitated by popular demand.
``Even though there's familiarity in the story line, Japanese feel
comfortable with the great character and pattern of the plot,'' Omori
said. ``There's no question he's become more socially relevant and even
looks more appealing.''
The monster has a fan club, and there is a booming business in
Godzilla toys, trinkets, toddler outfits, comics, wine decanters and
even toilet paper dispensers. The studio arranged advertising tie-ups
with Nike Inc., the U.S. athletic shoe maker.
Although the advertising campaign for Godzilla's newest flick
proclaims, ``The Battle to End All Battles,'' Toho executives assure die-
hard fans there is no way its best-loved character will be killed off.
_r_e_l_e_a_s_e _a_t _w_i_l_l
|
| We've already met Godzilla's son, called either Godzouki or Minya.
And Godzilla's already fought Mecha-Godzilla twice!
The following lists describe each of the Godzilla movies.
enjoy,
- Jeff
Article 11077 of alt.cult-movies:
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From: dave@blackbox.cc.columbia.edu (David Milner)
Newsgroups: alt.cult-movies,rec.arts.sf.movies
Subject: GODZILLA FILMOGRAPHY
Summary: A Big List
Keywords: Godzilla Japanese Monster Filmography
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I received a few requests for this recently:
GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS (1956)
GOJIRA (1954)
This is the first, and by far the best, of the series.
Godzilla (Gojira) makes his appearance after the re-
peated testing of atomic bombs, and Raymond Burr is
there to tell us all about it. Great atmosphere and
music.
GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1959)
GOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU (1955)
This first sequel leaves much to be desired. Godzilla
meets and defeats his first foe, Angilas (Angiras),
and then is trapped in an ice slide. This is one of
the few in the series that takes place in Osaka,
rather than Tokyo.
KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1963)
KING KONG TAI GOJIRA (1962)
The first of the series filmed in color. After the
lackluster response to the previous film, it was
felt that a big name was needed to revive the series.
Both monsters are extremely unconvincing, and I won't
even bother to comment on the plot. Some scenes of
the two monsters fighting at the end are done well.
GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1964)
MOSURA TAI GOJIRA (1964)
This is the one that many consider to be the best of
the "vs." entries. Very good special effects, and
music. Mothra (Mosura) is done very well, and Godzilla
looks great.
GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1965)
CHIKYU SAIDAI NO KESSAN (1964)
Godzilla the hated monster becomes Godzilla the friend
of man. This film introduces Ghidrah (King Ghidora),
and brings back Mothra and Rodan (Radon), who'd starred
in his own film seven years before. Some of the shots
of Ghidrah destroying Tokyo are fantastic, but the
monster-to-monster conversation to decide whether or
not Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan will join forces to
defeat Ghidrah is pretty hard to take.
GODZILLA VS. MONSTER ZERO (1970)
KAIJU DAISENSO (1965)
Ghidrah appears in his first sequel as aliens from
Planet X try to, you guessed it, take over the Earth.
Godzilla and Rodan, however, team up to win the day.
Again, good shots of Ghidrah, but the monster fight
sequences are pretty bad.
GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER (1967)
NANKAI NO DAIKETTO (1966)
The sea monster, namely Ebirah (Ebira), is actually a
giant lobster who lives in the waters off a secret
island where a terrorist organization is making plans
to, you guessed it again, take over the world. Mothra
manages to rescue some enslaved natives, and Godzilla
destroys both Ebirah and the terrorists' base.
SON OF GODZILLA (1968)
GOJIRA NO MUSUKO (1967)
Minya (Minira) makes his first appearance. He doesn't
have dad's bad breath quite yet, but the smoke rings
he manages to spew help him to deal with a bunch of
tremendous praying mantises (Gimantis, or in Japan,
Kamakiras), and a giant spider named Spiga (Kumonga).
Godzilla looks pretty bad, but some of the best
special effects of the series are in this one.
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1969)
KAIJU SOSHINGEKI (1968)
Eleven monsters (Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, Angilas,
Minya, Ghidrah, Spiga, Varan (Baran), Baragon (same),
Manda (same), and Gorosaurus (same)) all manage to
get into the act in this one. Aliens called Kilaaks
gain control over the monsters and send them off to
destroy all of the world's major cities. Godzilla
comes to New York and destroys the U.N. building.
In the end, the aliens' control over the monsters
is broken, and the Kilaaks are then defeated. This
is a favorite of many not only for its many monsters,
but also for its great special effects. Tokyo was
never destroyed so well.
GODZILLA'S REVENGE (1970)
ORU KAIJU DAISHINGEKI (1969)
The creator of Godzilla, Eiji Tsuburaya, died during
the shooting of this film, and so a lot of stock footage
was used. The only new scenes involve Godzilla show-
ing Minya how to fight (and use his breath), and a
fight between the two and Gaborah (Gabara), a bully
monster. This is purely a very young children's film,
and as such isn't bad.
GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER (1972)
GOJIRA TAI HEDORAH (1971)
Pollution spawns a hideous monster who is able to
change form at will. Hedorah (Hedora) is able to
swim, walk, and even fly, all while spewing poison-
ous sulphuric acid gas. Godzilla, of course, comes
along to save the day, eventually taking to flying
himself thanks to his breath. Not a bad first out-
ing for Tsuburaya's successor, Teruyoshi Nakano,
although his forte was in demolition, rather than
making believable-looking monsters.
GODZILLA VS. GIGAN (1978)
GOJIRA TAI GAIGAN (1972)
Godzilla and Angilas team up to fight space aliens
as well as Ghidrah and Gigan (Gaigan), a bird-like
monster with a buzz-saw on his belly. Godzilla
looks good, but the rest of the monsters, particul-
arly Ghidrah, look pretty bad. Some of the effects
are done well.
GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1974)
GOJIRA TAI MEGARO (1973)
Seatopia, an underwater empire, sends Megalon (Megaro)
to destroy mankind because atomic bomb experiments are
destroying it. A robot, Jet Jaguar (Jet Jagar), is
sent to summon Godzilla from his home on Monster Island,
so Gigan is brought in by the Seatopians to help Mega-
lon. A battle between the two and Godzilla, assisted by
the robot, follows. Needless to say, Godzilla wins and
Seatopia is defeated. This is unquestionably the worst
of the series. Godzilla does karate, shakes hands with
Jet Jaguar at the end of the battle, etc.. A very few
scenes of Megalon destroying a damn are nice, though.
GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA (1975)
GOJIRA TAI MEGAGOJIRA (1974)
Godzilla, along with King Seesar (King Seasar), a Chinese
dragon-like monster, fights his mechanical double. Space
aliens decide that the only way to defeat Godzilla, and,
of course, take over the Earth, is to construct a robot
just like him. Even though this film is only slightly
better than the one previous to it, its special effects
are really pretty good.
TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1977)
MEGAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU (1975)
Space aliens decide to try again with a new and improved
MechaGodzilla, and just to make sure he gets it right
this time, they enlist Titanosaurus (Chitanosaurus), a
monster who's able to create whirlwinds with his tail,
to give him a hand. Again, a slight step up, with good
effects.
GODZILLA 1985 (1985)
GOJIRA (1984)
A return to Godzilla's bad boy days. Raymond Burr returns
as well. Much improved all around. Certainly up there
with the best in the series.
GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (199?)
GOJIRA TAI BIORANTE (1989)
Godzilla cells are genetically combined with those of a rose to
create Biollante (Biorante), a giant rose that eventually
turns into the most hideous monster Godzilla has ever faced.
This film represents, in many ways, a return to the "vs."
film type, and, despite some great special effects, is inferior
to GODZILLA 1985.
GODZILLA VS. GHIDRAH (199?)
GOJIRA TAI KING GHIDORA (1991)
Ghidrah returns, this time as the servant of Americans from
the year 2204 trying prevent Japan from becoming the world's
foremost economic superpower. We see Godzilla before his
mutation by radiation, while he is still a "gojirasaur." Very
fast paced, some good acting, but more of a children's film
than either GODZILLA 1985 or GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE.
David Milner Columbia University
inet: dave@blackbox.cc.columbia.edu
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Article 12874 of alt.cult-movies:
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From: dave@blackbox.cc.columbia.edu (David Milner)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.movies,alt.cult-movies
Subject: GODZILLA FACTOIDS
Summary: Everything you ever wanted to know...
Keywords: Godzilla Japanese Monster
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GOJIRA
1) Considered by Japanese critics to be the second greatest
domestic film ever produced
2) The name Gojira, chosen by Tomoyuki Tanaka, was taken from a
nickname given to a Toho employee combining the words gorilla
and kujira, the Japanese word for whale
3) Inspired by a 1954 incident in which the crew of the Fukuryu
Maru became ill after eating fish contaminated by radiation,
resulting in a panic that swept throughout Japan
4) Originally titled KAITEI NIMAN MAIRU KARAKITA NO DAIKAIJU
(THE GIANT MONSTER FROM 20,000 MILES UNDER THE SEA), playing on
the titles of both the Ray Harryhausen film THE BEAST FROM
20,000 FATHOMS and Jules Verne's 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
5) Based on an original story by Shigeru Kayama entitled simply G,
which eventually became a best-selling novel
6) Serialized on radio from July 17, 1954 to September 25, 1954
7) Akira Takarada, who played Ogata, and Akihiko Hirata, who played
Dr. Serizawa, were originally cast in each other's roles
8) Eiji Tsuburaya's original concept was to produce a film
featuring a giant octopus that attacks Japanese fishing vessels
9) Akira Ifukube created the voice of Godzilla by rubbing a coarse
leather glove across a piano contrabass string; the sound of
Godzilla's footsteps was created by hitting a Japanese taiko
drum with a knotted rope
0) GOJIRA was the most successful, and most expensive, film ever
produced in Japan until the release of KINGU KONGU TAI GOJIRA
in 1962
GOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU
1) Known by several different names in the US, including GIGANTIS,
THE FIRE MONSTER; COUNTERATTACK OF GODZILLA; and GODZILLA RAIDS
AGAIN
2) Explains that the creature seen in the film is different from,
but a member of the same species as, the one seen in GOJIRA
3) Toho was curious to see how different combinations of people
would work out, explaining the personnel change from GOJIRA
4) The role of Tsukioka, played by Hiroshi Koizumi, was originally
slated by director Moyotoshi Oda for Yoshio Tsuchiya
5) Many of the scenes of the two monsters fighting were
accidentally shot at standard or slow speed; Eiji Tsuburaya
liked the effect, and so the scenes were not done over
6) For the first time, the eyes in the monster suits could move
7) Warner Brothers, the US distributor of the film, had the rights
to the film for three years before releasing it
8) Warner Brothers originally was going to call the film GODZILLA
RAIDS AGAIN, and then GODZILLA'S REVENGE, but legal concerns
over the use of the name Godzilla eventually caused the change
to GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER, despite the fact that Toho owned
the name
9) A US version of the film called THE VOLCANO MONSTERS, written
by Ib Melchior, in which the two monsters are found in a dormant
Japanese volcano and sent to San Francisco for study, was
planned but never produced
0) GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER was released on a double bill with
TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE
KINGU KONGU TAI GOJIRA
1) Produced as part of the Toho 30th anniversary celebration
2) The first of the series to be shot in color and widescreen
3) Based on Willis O'Brien's KING KONG VS. FRANKENSTEIN script,
which was changed to both KING KONG VS. THE GINKO and KING
KONG VS. PROMETHEUS before being used as a vehicle for Toho
to bring back Godzilla
4) A twelve-tone piece written by composer Akira Ifukube is heard
during the entrance of the giant octopus
5) The first in the series that Koichi Kawakita worked on;
he was an assistant to Teisho Arikawa and Eiji Tsuburaya
6) Haruo Nakajima, who played Godzilla, and Katsumi Tezuka, who
played King Kong, choreographed the final battle between the
two monsters
7) The first in the series that Teruyoshi Nakano, who'd just
married Tomoyuki Tanaka's daughter, worked on; he was
credited as an "assistant special effects director"
8) Rumors of different US and Japanese endings are false; the two
versions of the film end exactly the same way
9) The giant ape in the film is supposed to be related to the one
seen in KING KONG in name only
0) This film was the most successful film of the series in Japan
GOJIRA TAI MOSURA
1) Footage in which Godzilla is attacked on a beach by US Navy
ships was included only in the US version of the film
2) This film is considered by many to be the best of the "vs."
films in the series
3) American International considered calling the film both
GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA and GODZILLA VS. THE GIANT MOTH before
deciding upon the more exploitive title of GODZILLA VS. THE
THING
SAN DAIKAIJU CHIKYU SAIDAI NO KESSAN
1) An alternate to the scene in which Ghidrah first appears
with more colorful animation and no explosions was produced
but rejected
2) The film was produced in the same year that China tested its
first atomic bomb, possibly explaining the design of Ghidrah
3) The Princess Mas Dorino Salno, called Selina Salno in the US
version of the film, is supposed to be from Venus in the
Japanese version of the film, but from Mars in the US one
4) Inoshiro Honda originally cast Yoshio Tsuchiya in the role of
Malmess, called Malness in the US version of the film, but
scheduling conflicts forced him to be replaced by Hisaya Ito
5) Ghidrah was originally multi-colored; his body was spotted in
blue, red, and gold, and his wings were rainbow-striped
6) Eiji Tsuburaya originally envisioned Ghidrah as being red
7) GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER was released on a double bill
with the Elvis Presley film HARUM SCARUM
8) Hiroshi Miyagawa composed the song CALL HAPPINESS; the credit
is given to Yasushi Miyagawa in the US version of the film
9) Kenji Sahara appears in the film only because he had a day off
from the one he was working on at the time
KAIJU DAISENSO
1) The film was not released in the US until 1970
2) MONSTER ZERO was released on a double bill with WAR OF THE
GARGANTUAS
3) The film is a Toho and UPA co-production; UPA, headed by Henry
G. Saperstein, is identified as Benedict Productions in the
credits
4) Nick Adams was under a three-film deal with Toho/UPA first
offered to David Jansen; the other films Adams starred in are
FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD and THE KILLING BOTTLE, a
spy-thriller never released in the US
5) The "Gojira Shie," or "Godzilla Jig," was copied from AHSO
MATSUKUN, a popular comic in which the main character would
dance whenever excited; the idea was suggested by Yoshio
Tsuchiya to Eiji Tsuburaya in order to give Godzilla some wit
and win some audience sympathy for him
6) Yoshio Tsuchiya, who wrote the few lines in the film spoken in
the supposed language of the natives of Planet X, looked to
"French, German, Japanese, and the water demon Kappa" for
inspiration
NANKAI NO DAIKETTO
1) The film was released directly to television in the US
2) Godzilla and Ebirah curse at each other, and Godzilla serenades
Daiyo, the native girl, in the Thai version of the film
3) The script originally featured King Kong instead of Godzilla,
explaining why Godzilla shows such an interest in Daiyo
4) The name of the paramilitary organization working on obtaining
nuclear weapons in the film is the Red Bamboo
5) Masaru Sato was hired to do the score at the urging of Jun
Fukuda; he was Fukuda's favorite collaborator
6) Hal Linden dubbed the voice of Akira Takarada, who played the
bank robber
GOJIRA NO MUSUKO
1) The film was released directly to television in the US
2) FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND publisher Forrest J. Ackerman
suggested that Minira be given the name Tadzilla in the US;
the name never took hold, but it did eventually appear in a
few Japanese texts
3) The film is Jun Fukuda's favorite of his own science fiction
films
4) The model of Kumonga was extremely difficult to control,
causing long production delays
KAIJU SOSHINGEKI
1) The scientists on Ogasawara Island were originally going to be
involved in breeding and cross-breeding the monsters, as well as
just studying them, but this idea was never explored due to
budgetary constraints
2) During the filming of the attack on Tokyo, a scene in which
Godzilla battles Manda was shot but not used
3) The film is Toho's 20th genre entry, explaining why so many
monsters were featured
4) Gorosaurus is identified as Baragon during his attack on Paris
because the Baragon suit was not completed in time for the shot
5) Music from KING KONG NO GYAKUSHU was used to fill in spots Akira
Ifukube left without scoring
6) A Varan suit was never constructed; only a model of him was used
7) Toho created the name DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
8) A bigger budget was originally planned for the film because it
was an anniversary one
ORU KAIJU DAISHINGEKI
1) Eiji Tsuburaya was near death during production; Haruo
Nakajima and Inoshiro Honda directed most of the special
effects footage
2) The US title of the film was originally going to be MINYA, SON
OF GODZILLA
3) The film was released in the US on a double bill first with WAR
OF THE GARGANTUAS and then ISLAND OF THE DAMNED
4) Tomoyuki Tanaka instructed Shinichi Sekizawa to write a
screenplay that would allow for the extensive use of stock
footage
GOJIRA TAI HEDORA
1) The budget was cut during production because of the domestic
recession created by the international oil crisis
2) A sequel was planned but never produced; Godzilla and a new
Hedorah were to do battle in Africa
3) Tomoyuki Tanaka, not directly involved with the production of
the film due to ill health, was quite displeased with Yoshimitsu
Banno's portrayal of Godzilla when he did finally see footage
from the film
4) Yoshimitsu Banno was chosen to direct because of his involvement
with Eiji Tsuburaya and Akira Ifukube on the production of BIRTH
OF THE JAPANESE ISLANDS, a genre film released in Japan in 1970
CHIKYU KOGEKI MEIREI GOJIRA TAI GAIGAN
1) The US distributor of the film was originally going to be
American International, but the company went under just before
the film, originally titled GODZILLA VS. GIGAN, was going to be
released
2) Cinema Shares, the US distributor, did not release the film
until 1977
3) The Ghidrah suit used in the film was also used in two episodes
of Tsuburaya Productions' RYUSEI NINGEN ZON television series
4) The music heard while the opening credits are seen was
originally composed for BIRTH OF THE JAPANESE ISLANDS
GOJIRA TAI MEGARO
1) The Godzilla suit used in the film was also used in five
episodes of the ZONE FIGHTER television series; the Gigan
suit was also used in one episode of the series
2) Robert Dunham was paid more for the use of his car, a sports
model resembling a Model T Ford seen during a chase sequence,
than for his role in the film
3) The entire film was produced in less than two weeks; the special
effects work took ten days
4) Hiroyuki Kawase obtained the role as the younger brother of the
creator of Jet Jaguar by auditioning for it; the fact that he
played Ken Yano in GOJIRA TAI HEDORA did not automatically win
him the role
5) Soon after the release of the film in the US, two parodies were
done on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE featuring John Belushi as Godzilla;
one, entitled KRAMER VS. GODZILLA, was a takeoff on the film
KRAMER VS. KRAMER, and the other was a supposed interview with
Godzilla conducted by Gilda Radner as Baba Wawa
GOJIRA TAI MEKAGOJIRA
1) The film originally was going to be titled GODZILLA VS. THE
BIONIC MONSTER in the US, but the name was changed after the
producers of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN threatened to sue
2) The film marked the 20th anniversary of Godzilla
MEKAGOJIRA NO GYAKUSHU
1) The film was released directly to US television in 1978 as
TERROR OF GODZILLA; it included a brief history of Godzilla
which was removed from the home video version of the film
2) Inoshiro Honda was brought in late in the project
3) The script was worked on by a number of different people,
explaining its inconsistent style
GOJIRA
1) The role of Professor Hayashida was originally offered to Yoshio
Tsuchiya, but he turned it down
2) The design of the Super X was based on the idea of a MekaHedora
3) Akira Ifukube was asked to compose the score to the film, but
he declined because of ill health
4) The title of a manuscript seen on the desk of Steve Martin,
played by Raymond Burr in the US version of the film, is CAIRO
VIA TOKYO; Steve Martin was on his way to Cairo before stopping
off in Tokyo in GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS
5) There was a commercial tie-in with Dr. Pepper in the US; several
Dr. Pepper commercials were produced in which Godzilla is
placated only when he is given Dr. Pepper to drink
6) A music video titled I WAS AFRAID TO LOVE YOU featuring clips
from the US version of the film was produced
7) The scene in which Godzilla crashes into the glass Yurakucho
Mullion building in Tokyo's Ginza district was shot in tribute
to the album cover of Makoto Inoue's GODZILLA LEGEND album
painted by Yuji Kaida
8) Some shots seen during the battle between Godzilla and the Super
X were derived from Steve Miner's unfilmed GODZILLA, KING OF THE
MONSTERS IN 3-D, written by Fred Dekker
9) The film marked the 30th anniversary of Godzilla
0) A "Godzilla scream" contest was held to help publicize the film
in Japan; it was won by Demon Kogure, the lead vocalist of the
rock group SEKIMAGUMI, or HOLY CLAN OF EVIL, who later appeared
in GOJIRA TAI BIORANTE
GOJIRA TAI BIORANTE
1) Kazuki Omori was hired because of his previous successes
at the box office, despite the fact that he felt monster
films were beneath him
2) A story contest was held to get new ideas for the series;
five runners up along with the winning entry were set aside
for possible future use
3) Koji Hashimoto was involved in the production of the film at
first, but left due to an incompatibility with Kazuki Omori
4) The character of Miki Saegusa, the psychic girl, was not
included in the original version of the story
5) The film had "standing room only" audiences during the first
two days of its release
6) Kazuki Omori promised a highlight every ten minutes
7) The film, originally scheduled for release in 1986, was
delayed because of the commercial failure of KING KONG ESCAPES
8) Katsuhiko Sasaki is standing among the army soldiers seen in
several different shots at the end of the film
9) Tomoyuki Tanaka felt the film could not be fully enjoyed by
children
0) Shooting wrapped on November 2, 1989
GOJIRA TAI KINGU GIDORA
1) Koji Hashimoto again was involved in the very early stages of
production, but left after the second draft of the script was
completed, this time for good
2) Akira Ifukube, who was signed on March 18, 1991, recorded the
score using a 61 piece orchestra in less than two days
3) Kenji Sahara was a last minute addition to the cast
4) Special effects shooting began on May 9, 1991 and continued for
80 days; live action shooting began on June 20, 1991 and wrapped
on September 15, 1991
5) Tomoyuki Tanaka asked Shinichi Sekizawa to write the script, but
he declined due to ill health and a disinterest in the series
6) Kazuki Omori completed the first draft of the script on December
24, 1990; Koji Hashimoto, Akira Ifukube, and Koichi Kawakita
were all disappointed by it
7) Drats are supposed to be the result of the genetic combination
of a bat and a cat
8) M11 was played by Kazuki Omori's English interpreter, Robert
Scottfield
9) A concert featuring many of the pieces Akira Ifukube wrote for
the series was performed the day before the film opened to help
promote it
0) The film was produced as part of Toho's 60th anniversary
celebration
David Milner Columbia University
inet: dave@blackbox.cc.columbia.edu
usenet: ...rutgers!columbia!blackbox!dave
...rutgers!columbia!blackbox.cc.columbia.edu!dave
Article 6747 of alt.cult-movies:
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From: dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Sam Conway)
Newsgroups: alt.cult-movies
Subject: Re: GODZILLA and friends...(as complete a list as I can provide)
Keywords: monsters,list
Message-ID: <1991May24.040932.17425@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>
Date: 24 May 91 04:09:32 GMT
References: <3407@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx>
Sender: news@dartvax.dartmouth.edu (The News Manager)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 161
In article <3407@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx> al146046@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx (Alfredo Abbud Terrazas) writes:
>Hello all:
> I was wondering is someone has done a list of all the monsters that
>have appeared in all of Godzilla's movies with some kind of description about
>them.
*taking a deep breath*
Well.........
GODZILLA (Gojira): Needs no description!
ANGUIRUS: A spiny-looking critter who first showed up in "Gigantis", or
whatever passed for the second Godzilla movie where you come from.
MINYA: Known privately as "Garyzilla" for his resemblance to Gary Coleman,
this was ostensibly Godzilla's son. He looks like a miniature 'zilla
with an insufferably cute face.
RODAN (Radon): A giant pterodactyl, or a reasonable facsimile thereof. One of
a set of twins who hatched out of an egg (must've been two
eggs, I guess).
MEGANURON: Buggy-eyed crawly things which preceded the arrival of Rodan.
They were preying on Japanese miners before they themselves got
eaten by Rodan...who then turned to eating people himself when he
ran out of meganurons......
MOGERA: A giant "samurai robot" with a pointy nose, who showed up in "The
Mysterians".
VARAN (Baran): A spiny critter similar to Anguirus, but with bat-like folds
of skin in his forelegs that allowed him to fly (these scenes
did not show up in the US version). He was annoyed by
scientific testing in a lake where he was sleeping, and
decided to go on a rampage.
ODAGO: A giant octopus who made a cameo appearance in several films. Mind
you, this was a real octopus, not the fanciful walking-on-two-tentacle
ones that show up later.
DOGORA: (Can you spot the similarity?) something of an outer-space jellyfish.
MOTHRA (Mosura): A giant caterpillar which turns, eventually, into a giant
moth.
MAGMA: A giant walrus which you did NOT see in the movie "Gorath", unless
you happened to catch the Japanese version. Even in the US version,
there are some scenes where you can still make out the outline of
the monster behind various and sundry explosions.
MANDA: A giant snaky-thing that appeared first in "Atragon".
KING GHIDORAH: 3 heads, two tails, wings, lightning breath, bad disposition.
BARAGON: A subterranean thing that looked a bit like a giant puppy (well,
at least to me) with big teeth and a horn on its head.
FRANKENSTEIN: A very tall, rather ugly, atomically-mutated Frankenstein,
specifically. He kept Baragon from doing too much permanent
damage to Japan.
GAIRA: The Green Gargantua. Basically a big hairy green man-like creature.
SANDA: The Brown Gargantua. Basically a big hairy brown man-like creature.
EBIRA: A giant shrimp, guardian of an island where a group of evildoers had
set up shop.
GOROSAURUS: One of my favorites, even though he only had a few cameos. He is
the most straightforward monster, being simply a very outsized
tyrannosaurus rex.
DAI-UMIHEBI: A giant sea-snake, less fanciful than Manda, who showed up briefly
in "King Kong Escapes".
DAI-CONDOR: A giant bird, ostensibly a condor, who menaces Godzilla briefly
prior to his climactic battle with Ebira.
KAMAKIRAS: A giant praying mantis.
KUMONGA: A giant spider (also "Spiga", in some sources).
GEZORA: A giant cuttlefish who walks around on two tentacles. This and the
next two were the creatures from what was shown here as "Yog, Monster
from Space."
KAMEBA: A giant snapping-turtle.
GANINA: A giant lobster.
GABARA: A giant....well, thing with a lion-like head, the personification of
the temperament of the bully who menaced the hero of "Godzilla's
Revenge".
HEDORA: The smog monster! Sometimes a walking blob of mucous, sometimes a
swimming blob of mucous, sometimes a flying blob of mucous.
GAIGAN: A cybernetic horror with a single eye which emits a laser beam, a
beak with two insect-like mandibles, and a buzz-saw in his belly.
Also had only hooks for hands and feet.
MEGALON (Megaro): An upright insectoid thing that spat explosive loogies at
enemies. One of the absolute worst ever dreamed up.....
JET JAGUAR: A giant, constantly grinning robot who showed up with Megalon.
MECHAGODZILLA: A mechanical version of Godzilla, sent by aliens to assist in
their conquest of Earth.
KING SISAU: A stylized lion with three eyes, who helped defeat Mechagodzilla
in his first film.
TITANOSAURUS: A bizarre seagoing dinosaur with a vaguely equine head, and a
large fin built into his tail.
KING KONG: The Japanese version of the giant ape.
MATANGO: Not a giant monster, but still one of my favorites. A mushroom
that takes over the body of whoever eats it, which is why I do NOT
eat mushrooms to this very day.
GAPPA: A birdlike reptile, known sometimes as "The Triphibian Monster" from
"Monster from a Prehistoric Planet". This was a GOOD one, IMHO...!
GUILALA: The weirdest buggy-eyed space monster ever to sport a set of
deelyboppers! I don't think I can describe him -- you have to
have seen him! He was known here as "The X From Outer Space".
BIOLLANTE: First a rose, then......something else!
GAMERA: The giant flying turtle, who spouted fire from the openings in his
shell and spun around like a flying saucer. Stop laughing.
He fought his own gaggle of monsters:
BARUGON: a four-legged, rather plain monster with a long tongue that
froze anything it touched.
GYOS: the closest I can come is a giant reptilian vampire bat, who
developed a taste for human blood.
GUIRON: A living butcher-knife.
VIRAS: An intelligent space-squid who lived in a flying saucer
designed by Voigt.
JIGER and ZIGRA, whom I am always getting mixed up, so I won't try.
YONGARY: Actually, this was Korea's answer to Godzilla, and was a passable
attempt, all told.
That's as many as I can think of at 1:00 AM on a Friday morning. Any
additions/corrections?
*eat your heart out, Dave!* ;-)
--
Sam Conway * "And if you give us any more
dragon@eleazar.dartmouth.edu * trouble I shall visit you in the
Chemistry Dept., Dartmouth College, NH * small hours and put a bat up your
Vermont Raptor Center (VINS) * nightdress!" -- Basil Fawlty
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