Kaitei gunkan (1963)

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writers:

Shigeru Komatsuzaki (novel)
Shunro Oshikawa (novel)

Release Date:

11 March 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Ride the JUGGERNAUT of destruction from the depths of the Seven Seas to the Outer Limits of Space!

Plot:

Several strange occurrences are taking place all over the world including the disappearance of two engineers...

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | Monster | Battleship | Sunken Continent | U Boat

Cast

Tadao Takashima	...	Commercial Photographer Susumu Hatanaka
Yôko Fujiyama	...	Makoto Jinguji, the Captain's Daughter
Yû Fujiki	...	Yoshito Nishibe
Ken Uehara	...	Retired Admiral Kosumi
Jun Tazaki	...	Captain Hachiro Jinguji
Kenji Sahara	...	Journalist / Mu Agent
Hiroshi Koizumi	...	Detective
Yoshifumi Tajima	...	Tome 'Amano' Amanoshome
Akihiko Hirata	...	Mu Agent #23
Eisei Amamoto	...	High Priest of Mu
Tetsuko Kobayashi	...	Empress of Mu
Hisaya Ito	...	Shindo, Kidnapped Scientist
Minoru Takada	...	Government Official
Susumu Fujita	...	Defense Commander
Ikio Sawamura	...	Taxi Driver

Also Known As:

Atoragon: Flying Supersub
Atragon (USA)
Flying Supersub Atoragon
Undersea Battleship (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

96 min | USA:89 min (English dubbed version)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The role of Jinguji was written for Toshirô Mifune, but his prior commitment to Akira Kurosawa's Akahige (1965) made it impossible for him to participate.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In some of the scenes were Atragon (aka. Gotengo) is flying, the strings holding the model are visible.

Quotes:

Captain Hachiro Jinguji: Let her go. Let her die with her nation.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Gojira: Fainaru uôzu (2004)

Good movie for it's time

I remember seeing this movie as a preteen-ager at a drive-in in the early-mid 1960's. I watched it again years later on DVD and still found it entertaining. I would consider it a Japanese retelling of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

An eccentric ultra-patriotic World War II Japanese naval genius has built a super sub in secret to restore the glory of the World War II Japanese Empire. However a new enemy has now emerged; an aggressive underwater kingdom called Mu and it's giant monster god.

This is a good movie with a decent plot and some very attractive Japanese women! The bikini shot of Akemi Kita early in the movie definitely wins the award for "The Best Bikini in a Japanese Movie". The Captain's daughter and the Mu Empress definitely rate a 9+ on the "hotness" scale as well. ;)

This movie is classic TOHO made during the heyday of Japanese science fiction. Although the special effects doesn't stand up to today's standards, for it's time they were above average. I remember watching this movie as a kid and being mesmerized by it. The musical score is very good as well.

The American release DVD quality is excellent. It is dubbed in English and about 89 minutes long. The colors are rich and vibrant. A very good presentation for this very good movie.

Definitely worth a look. I recommend it.