Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) Kaijû daisensô (original title)

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writer:

Shinichi Sekizawa

Release Date:

29 July 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Aliens from Planet X request the use of Godzilla and Rodan to fight off King Ghidorah, but have a better use for the three monsters.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Godzilla | Rodan | Astronaut | House On Fire

Cast

Nick Adams	...	Astronaut Glenn Amer
Akira Takarada	...	Astronaut K. Fuji
Jun Tazaki	...	Dr. Sakurai
Akira Kubo	...	Tetsuo Teri
Kumi Mizuno	...	Miss Namikawa
Keiko Sawai	...	Haruno Fuji
Yoshio Tsuchiya	...	Controller of Planet X
Takamaru Sasaki	...	Chairman of Earth Committee
Gen Shimizu	...	Minister of Defense
Kenzô Tabu	...	Commander from Planet X
Yoshifumi Tajima	...	General
Nadao Kirino	...	Military Aide
Kôji Uno	...	Namikawa's Associate
Tôru Ibuki	...	Xian
Kazuo Suzuki	...	Xian
Fuyuki Murakami	...	Councilman
Noriko Sengoku	...	Female Delegate
Senshô Matsumoto	...	Buddhist Priest
Kamayuki Tsubono	...	Councilman
Toki Shiozawa	...	Tetsuo's Mother
Yasuhisa Tsutsumi	...	Official
Rinsaku Ogata	...	Scientist
Yutaka Oka	...	Reporter
Saburô Iketani	...	News Reader
Yoshizo Tatake	...	Xian
Mitzuo Tsuda	...	Xian
Masaaki Tachibana	...	Xian
Hideki Furukawa	...	Xian
Ryôji Shimizu	...	Xian
Minoru Itô	...	Xian
Takuzô Kumagai	...	Xian
Tadashi Okabe	...	Reporter
Haruo Nakajima	...	Gojira
Masaki Shinohara	...	Radon
Shôichi Hirose	...	Kingugidora
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marvin Miller	...	Fuji (voice: English version)
Gorô Naya	...	Councilman (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Ishirô Honda

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shinichi Sekizawa

Produced by
Reuben Bercovitch	....	executive producer
Henry G. Saperstein	....	executive producer
Tomoyuki Tanaka	....	producer

Original Music by
Akira Ifukube

Cinematography by
Hajime Koizumi

Film Editing by
Ryohei Fujii

Production Design by
Takeo Kita

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Koji Hashimoto	....	assistant director
Kôji Kajita	....	chief assistant director

Sound Department
Wataru Konuma	....	sound recordist
Sadamasa Nishimoto	....	sound effects

Special Effects by
Shinobu Koike	....	special effects production manager
Fumio Nakadai	....	special effects wire work
Teruyoshi Nakano	....	chief assistant director of special effects
Masao Suzuki	....	special effects production manager
Eiji Tsuburaya	....	special effects director
Akira Watanabe	....	special effects art director

Visual Effects by
Sadamasa Arikawa	....	special effects cameraman
Sadao Iizuda	....	special effects opticals
Kuichirô Kishida	....	special effects lighting
Yukio Manoda	....	special effects cameraman
Hiroshi Mukoyama	....	special effects opticals
Sokei Tomioka	....	special effects cameraman

Stunts
Haruo Nakajima	....	special effects stunt choreography

Camera and Electrical Department
Shoshichi Kojima	....	lighting technician

Editorial Department
Richard Krown	....	post-production (US version only)

Production Companies

• Toho Company
• United Productions of America (UPA)

Distributors

• Maron Films (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Astral Films (1970) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Simitar Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Simitar Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Kuk Dong
• Paramount Home Video (video)
• Topodis Video (????) (France) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Toho Studios  sound stages

Also Known As:

"Kaijû daisensô" - Japan (original title)
"Godzilla vs. Monster Zero" - USA (video title)
"Monster Zero" - USA

Runtime:

Germany:81 min | Japan:74 min (re-issue) | USA:93 min | Japan:96 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Lake Myojin, Kochi, Japan

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

After its initial U.S. showings, the film was advertised in some venues under the title "Invasion of the Astros", although the actual prints used still carried the "Monster Zero" title.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In several scenes the strings holding Rodan, Ghidorah and the flying saucers are clearly seen.

Quotes:

Glenn:Mutual trust is a beautiful thing
Astronaut K. Fuji:That won't buy groceries.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in So war das S.O.36 (1985)

Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965) ***

This was one of the first Godzilla films I can recall watching on prime-time network television when I was growing up (back then it went under its Americanized title of simply, MONSTER ZERO). Though pretty far-fetched, it's still a highly enjoyable offering in the Toho series and gives us another chance to see Godzilla and Rodan join forces against the popular three-headed King Ghidorah (Monster Zero).

This time the widescreen English dubbed version is an asset, as American actor Nick Adams adds some spice to this one, since it's always fun to hear his nasal Brooklynese voice delivering such entertaining macho lines of gibberish as: "you stinkin' rats! What have you done to her?" Adams plays one of two astronauts sent to the newly discovered "Planet X" where he meets an alien civilization forced to live underground in order to avoid frequent attacks by Ghidorah up on the surface. The leaders ask our heroes to help them obtain the services of Earth monsters Godzilla and Rodan to help them vanquish 'Monster Zero'. But all may not be quite as it seems...

Some fans don't like the fact that the monster battles are kept to a minimum this time, but they're pretty good when they arrive and it's an added kick seeing the desolate looking Planet X in outer space, with its mountains, craters and dark, star-lit skies. The addition of aliens, flying saucers and double-crosses help make this a good time for Godzilla lovers.