The Human Vapor (1960)
"Gasu ningen dai ichigo" (original title)

A librarian is subject to a scientific experiment which goes wrong and transforms him into 'The Human Vapour'. He uses his new ability to rob banks to fund the career of his girlfriend, a ... See full summary »

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writer:

Takeshi Kimura

Stars:

Tatsuya Mihashi, Kaoru Yachigusa, Yoshio Tsuchiya

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tatsuya Mihashi	...	Detective Okamoto
Kaoru Yachigusa	...	Fujichiyo Kasuga
Yoshio Tsuchiya	...	Mizuno, the Librarian / The 'Vapor Man'
Keiko Sata	...	Reporter Kyoko
Hisaya Itô	...	Police Scientist
Yoshifumi Tajima	...	Sergeant
Yoshio Kosugi	...	Mean Detective
Fuyuki Murakami	...	Dr. Sano
Bokuzen Hidari	...	Jiya (Fujichiyo's Attendant)
Takamaru Sasaki	...	Police Chief
Minosuke Yamada	...	Official
Tatsuo Matsumura	...	Editor Ikeda
Kô Mishima	...	Detective Fujita
Kôzô Nomura	...	Kyoko's Fellow Reporter
Ren Yamamoto	...	Nomura the Robber

Storyline

A librarian is subject to a scientific experiment which goes wrong and transforms him into 'The Human Vapour'. He uses his new ability to rob banks to fund the career of his girlfriend, a beautiful dancer. The Human Vapour is ruthless in his quest for money and kills anyone who stands in his way, especially police. He soon becomes Tokyo's most wanted criminal. Can he be stopped before he kills again?

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Plot Keywords:

dancer | police | dance recital | suffocation | doomed love | 

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Taglines:

Is he man? Or ASTRO-MAN?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

20 May 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Human Vapor

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Crossfire (2000)

User Reviews

Entertaining with a lot of depth

The title may suggest a bad sci-fi movie, but this film is actually quite dramatic and well produced. Part mystery and part science fiction, it is well acted and the special effects of the man turning into the vapor is expertly done. The segments of the Vapor traveling about the city and telling of his experiences are a high point of the movie, and explain what it would feel like to actually be a cloud of gas. The central story, of the attraction between the Vapor and the dancer, is well written and effectively developed on screen. This is an example of a Japanese science fiction film that often gets overshadowed by the likes of Godzilla and Rodan, but is quite good on its own merits. Watch it if you get the chance!