Horror From the Deep | The History Vortex

THE LEGEND OF GODZILLA
by
John Rocco Roberto

PART ONE: HORROR FROM THE DEEP

I was asked if I would take the role of “Godzilla” and I said “OK.”
My first impression was the feeling of something new and exciting.
– Haruo Nakajima

Godzilla! He is a treasured pop culture icon for some, a point of much humor and embarrassment for others. But despite one’s own personal feelings for this mutated rubber suited dinosaur, just about everyone has heard of him, and the Godzilla series of films are the second most successful film series after James Bond. In 1954, when Toho Studio director Ishiro Honda had an idea for the monster movie he had just been assigned, he could never have guessed at the popularity of the creation he was about to unleash. “Ever since I was little, I have been fond of the fact that there was once an awesome era of the Earth, when dinosaurs were living in the Jurassic and Cretaceous. When word went out about the production, images of dinosaur monsters were already brewing in my head.” Honda would take those images of dinosaur monsters and meld them with his own personal recollections of the atomic bombs. “What was most special was [the idea of] making radiation visual. By opening his maw and simply exhaling, Godzilla can vaporize an entire building. Ever since those days, I’ve felt that [this] ‘atomic fear’ would hang around our necks for eternity.”
When Gojira was released in 1954, Honda, special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya, and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, accomplished a feat unequaled in Japanese cinema at the time. In the guise of a typical Hollywood-style “monster movie,” they made Japan, and ultimately the world, experience the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki all over again. And in doing so, created a legend which has endured for 50 years.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)
Japanese Title: Gojira (1954)

Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka
Directed by Ishiro Honda
Screenplay by Takeo Murata and Ishiro Honda
Special Effects by Ejij Tusburaya
Music by Akira Ifukube

Japanese Version: Gojira opens with the mysterious disappearances of several Japanese fishing ships. Natives of nearby Ohto Island rescue the survivors of these shipwrecks. In the hopes of discovering the causes of these disasters the Japanese government sends a small research team to the island. While on the island, the research team observes a traditional ritual to appease a sea demon called Gojira. That night, during a storm, a strange force destroys several houses in the village.
On the mainland, the survivors of the night’s devastation describe the events to the Japanese officials. In a speech to the Japanese government, noted paleontologist Dr. Yamane advises the authorities to sponsor a full research team to the island. During the investigation the next morning Gojira appears over the hill tops. Meanwhile, Dr. Yamane’s daughter, Emiko, who is engaged to controversial research scientist Dr. Serizawa, has fallen in love with a sailor named Ogata. But when she tries to tell Serizawa of her love for another, he reveals to her the secret weapon he has developed – the Oxygen Destroyer – and swears her to secrecy. With this terrible knowledge, Emiko cannot bring herself to break off the engagement with Serizawa.
After the discovery of Gojira, Dr. Yamane begs the authorities to study the creature. Instead, the Japanese Defense Force attacks Gojira at sea with depth charges. That night, the citizens of Tokyo celebrate Gojira’s destruction, until the monster appears in Tokyo Bay and wrecks the dock area. The next day, the authorities surround Tokyo with electrical towers, but when Gojira returns that night, the monster pushes right through them and destroys the city. The next day, thousands of people are victims of Gojira’s rampage.
Emiko tells Ogata about Serizawa’s work; perhaps the only hope humanity has against Gojira. But later, when she and Ogata confront the doctor, the scientist refuses to use his invention. Finally, convinced that Gojira is a greater threat than his invention, Serizawa agrees to help Ogata plant the device. As Gojira sleeps in Tokyo Bay, the two detonate the Oxygen Destroyer. Serizawa remains behind to die, taking the secret of his ultimate weapon with him. As the sea foams, Gojira surfaces briefly, then sinks to the bottom, where the Oxygen Destroyer melts the flesh from his bones.

American Version: The American version opens with the destruction of Tokyo, as United World News reporter Steve Martin digs himself out from the rubble. He is taken to a nearby hospital where he recounts his experiences to Dr. Yamane’s daughter Emiko. The film is then shown as a series of flashbacks, with Martin narrating the events of the story. It is during a brief stopover in Japan (on a fight from San Francisco to Cairo) that Japanese security officer Iwanaga questions Martin. Iwanaga informs Martin of the mysterious disappearances of several Japanese fishing ships, and he wishes to know if Martian anything strange from the window of his airplane during his flight. Although he is in Japan to visit his old college friend Dr. Serizawa, these disasters peak the reporter in him, and Martin gets permission to accompany the Japanese government’s research team to Ohto Island. While on the island, Martin questions several natives, all who seem unwilling to talk about the disasters. That night, Martin and the research team observe a traditional ritual to appease a sea demon called Godzilla. Later that evening, a “storm” destroys the research team’s camp, and several houses in the village.
On the mainland, the survivors of the night’s devastation describe the events to the Japanese officials as Martin looks on. In a speech to the Japanese government, noted paleontologist Dr. Yamane advises the authorities to sponsor a full research team to the island. Martin, who is an old friend of the family, convinces Yamane to grant him permission to attend. During the investigation the next morning, as Martin and Iwanaga accompany the research team through the forest, Godzilla appears over the hill tops.
Dr. Yamane begs the authorities to study the creature, but the Japanese Defense Force attacks the creature with depth charges. Meanwhile, Martian has telephoned the story into his Chicago news beau, being told by his editor to keep on the story. That night, the monster appears in Tokyo Bay and wrecks the dock area. The next day, the authorities surround Tokyo with electrical towers, but when Godzilla returns that night, the monster pushes right through them. Steve Martian, recording the events on tape from the Tokyo News Building, watches in horror as Godzilla destroys the city. The next day, Martian awakens in the hospital to find Emiko and Ogatta watching over him.
Emiko, who is engaged to scientist Dr. Serizawa, has fallen in love with Ogatta. But when she tried to tell Serizawa of her love, Serizawa revealed to her the secret weapon he has developed – the Oxygen Destroyer – and swears her to secrecy. Emiko tells Martian and Ogatta about Serizawa’s work, and Martian insists that the Oxygen Destroyer is perhaps the only hope humanity has against Godzilla.
Unable to see his college friend because of his injuries, Martian sends Emiko and Ogatta to confront the doctor. Serizawa refuses to use his invention at first, but convinced that Godzilla is a greater threat than his invention, agrees to help Ogatta plant the device. The next morning, as Godzilla sleeps in Tokyo Bay, Martian watches as his two friends detonate the Oxygen Destroyer. Serizawa remains behind to die, taking the secret of his ultimate weapon with him. As the sea foams, Godzilla surfaces briefly, then sinks to the bottom, where the Oxygen Destroyer melts the flesh from his bones.

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Gigantis, the Fire-Monster (1959)
U.S. Video Title: Godzilla Raids Again
Japanese Title: Gojira No Gyakushu (1955)
Godzilla’s Counterattack

Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka
Directed by Motoyoshi Oda
Screenplay by Takeo Murata and Shigeaki Hidaka
Special Effects by Ejij Tusburaya
Music by Masaru Sato

Tsukioka and Kobayashi are pilots for a small Japanese fishing fleet. While on patrol searching for schools of tuna, Kobayashi’s plane develops engine trouble and he is forced to land on remote Iwato Island. He is soon joined by Tsukioka, and the two men witness a terrible battle between two prehistoric monsters, one of which is Gojira.
Back in Osaka, the pilots tell the authorities about the creatures. Dr. Yamane warns that these two creatures, one of which is another Gojira, are as dangerous as the original Gojira, who wrecked Tokyo months before but was killed by the Oxygen Destroyer. This “new” Gojira soon approaches Osaka. The city is evacuated, but escaping prisoners from a local jail start a massive fire, which attracts the attention of both Gojira and the new creature Angilas.
The two battle in the heart of the city until Angilas is killed and its body is set afire by Gojira. The monster departs leaving the city in ruins. Tsukioka and Kobayashi are transferred to Hokkaido because the Osaka cannery has been destroyed. News soon follows that Godzilla has struck again, sinking one of the fishing ships. While on patrol, Kobayashi spots Gojira in a huge ice field. Radioing Gojira’s position, Kobayashi’s plane is hit by the monster’s fiery breath, and crashes into the icy mountain.
Though Gojira can not be killed, Tsukioka realizes that Kobayashi’s death may have given them an idea. Deciding to bury Gojira under tons of ice, in a second attack, jet fighters bomb the mountains around the creature. Tons of ice falls on Gojira in a huge avalanche, entombing the creature in ice, hopefully forever.

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King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)
Japanese Title: Kingu Kongu tai Gojira (1962)

Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka
Directed by Ishiro Honda
Screenplay by Shinichi Sekizawa
Special Effects by Ejij Tusburaya
Music by Akira Ifukube

Japanese Version: Mr. Tako of the Pacific Pharmaceuticals Company is concerned over the failing television ratings of his sponsored show. In the hopes of improving his ratings, he sends an expedition to Faro Island to find samples of a new medicinal berry. Meanwhile, the United States Submarine Sea Hawk has been sent to the Bering Sea to study abnormally high temperatures there. As soon as the Sea Hawk arrives, it is damaged by melting icebergs and sends out a distress signal. When a Air Force rescue helicopter arrives, its crew spots Gojira breaking out of an iceberg from which he has been entombed for seven years. The monster heads south toward Japan.
Back in Tokyo Tako, watching Gojira attack a Chinese military base on television, radios his men on Faro Island to capture the legendary monster of the island to boost his company’s visibility. Soon after the expedition begins its search, a giant octopus attacks the native village. A giant ape called Kingu Kongu dispatches the creature. Kongu then drinks the berry juice processed by the villagers and falls into a deep sleep. The expedition builds a raft and hauls Kong to Japan.
As Gojira ravages the Japanese countryside, Kong awakens and breaks free of the raft. The two monsters meet for a first battle, which Kongu loses. In the hopes of stopping Gojira, the Japanese military run a string of high-tension wires around the city. The power turns Gojira away, but Kongu, who draws power from electricity, then enters Tokyo and takes a women hostage. Again, the berries are used to knock Kongu out, and balloons lift the monster ape to Mt. Fuji, where Kongu is dropped on top of Gojira. A second decisive battle takes place. Both monsters plunge into the ocean, and Gojira disappears. Kong is seen swimming back to Faro Island, the victor of the battle.

American Version: United Nation’s television news reporter Eric Carter opens his daily report with a story on the United Nation’s submarine Sea Hawk, which has been sent to the Bering Sea to study abnormally high temperatures there. As soon as the Sea Hawk arrives, it is damaged by melting icebergs and sends out a distress signal. When a rescue helicopter arrives, its crew spots Godzilla breaking out of an iceberg. The monster heads south to Japan.
Meanwhile Mr. Tako of the Pacific Pharmaceuticals Company is concerned over the failing television ratings of his sponsored show. Seeing Godzilla attack a military base on the news, he sends an expedition to Faro Island to find samples of a new medicinal berry. He also wants to capture the legendary monster of the island to boost his company’s visibility on television. Soon after the expedition arrives, a giant octopus attacks the native village. A giant ape called King Kong dispatches the creature. Kong then drinks the berry juice processed by the villagers and falls into a deep sleep. The expedition builds a raft and hauls Kong to Japan.
Back in New York, the United Nation has called in the help of Dr. Arnold Johnson, head of the New York Museum of Natural History, to advise on ways to stop Godzilla. Dr. Johnson explains that Godzilla might shy away from electrical power, and the Japanese government runs a string of high-tension wires around the city. As Godzilla ravages the Japanese countryside, Kong awakens and breaks free of the raft. The two monsters meet for a first battle, which Kong loses. Kong, who draws power from electricity, then enters Tokyo and takes a women hostage. Again, the berries are used to knock Kong out, and balloons lift the monster ape to Mt. Fuji, where Kong is dropped on top of Godzilla. A second decisive battle takes place. Both monsters plunge into the ocean, and Godzilla disappears. Kong is seen swimming back to Faro Island, the victor of the battle.

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Godzilla vs. The Thing (1964)
U.S. Video Title: Godzilla vs. Mothra
Japanese Title: Mosura tai Gojira (1964)

Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka
Directed by Ishiro Honda
Screenplay by Shinichi Sekizawa
Special Effects by Ejij Tusburaya
Music by Akira Ifukube

A violent storm destroys an industrial park and washes a huge egg ashore in Japan. Reporter Sakai and his photographer Junko are taking pictures of the devastation when they find a strange organic object, which they give to Professor Miura, who has been called in to examine the giant egg.
The owner of the industrial park, a man named Kumayama, buys the egg from the fishermen who retrieved it. He plans to build a huge incubator in his new amusement park, Happy Enterprises, where the egg will hatch. But as Kumayama is making plans with his partner Torahata, the Twin Fairies from Infant Island appear in their hotel room, begging the men to return Mothra’s egg to its island home. Instead, the two ruthless businessmen try and capture the Fairies, who narrowly escape.
The Fairies next seek out Sakai and Junko and beg them for help. The reporters try to assist by talking to Kumayama and Torahata, but the appeal falls on deaf ears. Professor Miura, meanwhile, has discovered that the organic object found at the industrial site is highly radioactive. He returns to the park and finds more evidence of radiation. Suddenly the ground quakes and Godzilla rises from the muddy soil.
The Japanese government calls in the help of the United States Navy, who attack Godzilla with Frontier Missiles. The missiles prove useless and Godzilla goes on a rampage. [Note: the Frontier Missile scene is not in the Japanese version]
As Godzilla continues its rampage the egg is endangered. The reporters fly to Infant Island and beg the Twin Fairies for help. The tiny women send Mothra, who battles with Godzilla but is killed. After the adult Mothra’s death, the egg hatches and two larvae emerge. These wormlike creatures corner Godzilla and wrap him in a silk cocoon, dumping the creature into the ocean. Godzilla is defeated and the Twin Fairies return with the Mothra larvae to their island home.
For the diehard fans of the Godzilla films, Godzilla vs. The Thing marked the end of Godzilla’s serious nature. Some extremist have even gone as far as to say that Godzilla is finally killed after his battle with the two Mothras, and it is indeed very easy to view the first four films as a continuing series which had now come to an end. After this point Godzilla would no long be represented on film in the same manner as he had in the first four films, as Toho realized it needed to change Godzilla’s nature. But for most fans Godzilla vs. The Thing only marked a turning point in the film series. When Godzilla would take to the big screen again at the end of 1964, he would once again remain a menace to Japan, but this time he would have competition for that title, in the form of a creature from deep space.