Gojira (1954)

American nuclear weapons testing results in the creation of a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast.

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writers:

Ishirô Honda, Shigeru Kayama (story),

Stars:

Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi, Akihiko Hirata

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Akira Takarada	...	Hideto Ogata
Momoko Kôchi	...	Emiko Yamane
Akihiko Hirata	...	Daisuke Serizawa-hakase
Takashi Shimura	...	Kyohei Yamane-hakase
Fuyuki Murakami	...	Professor Tanabe
Sachio Sakai	...	Newspaper Reporter Hagiwara
Toranosuke Ogawa	...	Nankai Shipping Company Manager
Ren Yamamoto	...	Masaji Sieji
Kan Hayashi	...	Chairman of Diet Committee
Takeo Oikawa	...	Chief of Emergency Headquarters
Seijirô Onda	...	Parliamentarian Oyama
Tsuruko Mano	...	Mrs. Sieji
Toyoaki Suzuki	...	Shinkichi Sieji
Kokuten Kôdô	...	The Old Fisherman
Kin Sugai	...	Ozawa-san

Storyline

A 164-foot-tall (50-meter-tall) monster reptile with radioactive breath is revived, thanks to nuclear testing. It goes on a mad rampage, destroying Tokyo - can it be stopped? Should it be killed?

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Plot Keywords:

monster | japan | gojira | nuclear weapon | death of title character | 

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Taglines:

Mightiest monster! Mightiest melodrama of them all!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Classic Media [us] Rialto Pictures [us]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

7 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Godzilla

Filming Locations:

Toba, Mie, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

JPY 100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$38,030 (USA) (7 May 2004)

Gross:

$412,520 (USA) (17 December 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Film (Eiga) Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scenes of the troops going to the coast to face Gojira were actual Japanese Defense Force troops. They were on maneuvers when Honda shot the footage of them.

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Goofs

It's nine years after the dropping of atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but the "authorities" cannot recognize radiation burns.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Kyohei Yamane-hakase: I can't believe that Godzilla was the only surviving member of its species... But if we continue conducting nuclear tests... it's possible that another Godzilla might appear somewhere in the world again.

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Connections

Referenced in 'Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty' - Making of the Hollywood Game (2002)

User Reviews

Why in God's Green Earth Isn't This Version Shown More?

Finally, I had the pleasure of finally seeing the original Japanese version of this classic and I have to say that it is much better than the "Raymond Burr" version. This film pretty much makes one think about what we are doing to mother Earth with all the pollution and war going on. Perhaps the thing that made this film great was that not only did it have great effects, but it also had a great story that made a great social commentary on what could have happened if the arms race continued to go unchecked. Besides the story about Gojira, you also had a pretty decent love story. Akihiko Hirata, does a good job of playing Serizawa, who is really the tragic figure in this film who must decide whether or not to use his weapon, which potentially was more dangerous than the monster itself. This film is definitely one of the all time classics and fortunately the original version will be released on DVD in September 2006.