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

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writer:

Shin'ichi 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:

Rodan | Godzilla | Alien | Astronaut | Space Exploration

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
Mitsuo 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)

Directed by
Ishirô Honda		(as Inoshirô Honda)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Shin'ichi 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
Ryôhei 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
Hisashi Shimonaga	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Tadashi 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:

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

Filming Locations:

Lake Myojin, Kochi, Japan

Company:

Toho Company

Trivia:

After the enormous success of the U.S. release of _San daikaiju: Chikyu saidai no kessen (1964)_, some publications ran articles and photographs of this sequel as an upcomeing release under the title "Invasion of Astro-Monster". However, this film was not released in the U.S. until the summer of 1970 under the title "Monster Zero".

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Astronaut K. Fuji:[about King Ghidorah] Can't you drive it away?
Controller of Planet X:If you have an idea how to do it, won't you tell us?

Movie Connections:

Edited from Mothra (1961)

You can dance if you want to....

This film is close to the last of the quality Godzilla films where a budget is evident, and the future of the series became apparent. This film is a sequel to GHIDDORAH: THE THREE HEADED MONSTER and story elements went into the classic, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. Goji completely went into his Earth defender mode in this story of alien domination against our planet.

This film is a great representation of the series and and Japan's desire and attitude for the times, coupled with our realization that everything is completely impossible. The best way to watch any Godzilla film is to believe that you are watching an alternate universe where all nations are equally powerful and those future dreams of the past did become possible.

For Godzilla fans, there is a lot of love about this film. There are interesting characters and many consider this Nick Adams' best film; which may not be true, but his co-star is BIGGER. For me, it is the images of the two monsters being lifted from the lake and hauled off to Planet X. The battle on the planet is now considered a classic moment too, as Goji does a victory dance(referred to as The Godzilla Shie). Godzilla always seemed to have a personality, but that dance cemented this notion, as he also demonstrates emotions in this story.

The fact that you are reading this review, demonstrates that you may have your own ideas and feelings about this film. This review is for the cinefile who believes in Godzilla and many of the other movies that came from Toho Studios. My recommendation is that you watch DESTROY ALL MONSTERS after this film, and then go play the two Godzilla video games that are now available.