Super Monster (1980) Uchu kaijû Gamera (original title)

Director:

Noriaki Yuasa

Writer:

Nisan Takahashi

Release Date:

7 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

Using several clips from previous Gamera entries, this film deals with alien forces sending all the...

Plot Keywords:

Gamera | Alien | Self Sacrifice | Sequel | Tokusatsu

Cast

Mach Fumiake	...	Kilara
Yaeko Kojima	...	Marsha
Yoko Komatsu	...	Mitan
Keiko Kudo	...	Giruge
Koichi Maeda	...	Keiichi
Toshie Takada	...	Keiichi's Mother
Hiroji Hayshi
Makoto Ikeda
Kisao Tobita	...	Driver
Osamu Kobayashi	...	'Zanon' Captain (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yûzô Hayakawa	...	Policeman
Reiko Tajima	...	M38 alien (uncredited)

Directed by
Noriaki Yuasa

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nisan Takahashi

Produced by
Masaichi Nagata	....	executive producer
Hirozaki Ohba	....	producer
Shigeru Shinohara	....	producer
Yasuyoshi Tokuma	....	executive producer
Masaya Tokuyama	....	producer

Original Music by
Shunsuke Kikuchi

Cinematography by
Akira Kitazaki
Michio Takahashi
Akira Uehara

Art Direction by
Akira Inoue
Tomohisa Yano

Set Decoration by
Nobuhisa Iwata

Makeup Department
Chie Tshuchiya	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hiromi Munemoto	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Kimio Tobita	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Kazufumi Fujii	....	special effects director
Yuzo Kaneko	....	special effects director
Noriaki Yuasa	....	special effects director

Camera and Electrical Department
Tadaaki Shimada	....	lighting technician

Editorial Department
Zenko Miyazaki	....	editor: stock footage
Tatsuji Nakashizu	....	editor: stock footage
Shoji Sekiguchi	....	editor: stock footage

Other crew
Midori Kobayashi	....	script girl
Masaya Tokuyama	....	planner

Production Companies

• Daiei Studios

Distributors

• Filmways Home Video (Australia) (video)
• Shout! Factory (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Shôchiku Eiga (USA) (subtitled)

Special Effects

• Daiei Special Effects Department (director of special effects)

Other Companies

• Nihon Gakki Seizo  
• Office Academy  animated scenes courtesy of
• Toei Animation Company  animated scenes courtesy of

Also Known As:

"Uchu kaijû Gamera" - Japan (original title)
"Gamera Super Monster" - USA (TV title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Company:

Daiei Studios

Trivia:

Gamera knocks over a billboard at one point in the film. The camera zooms into the billboard, revealing it to be an advertisement for a Godzilla film.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs "Kamen Rider" (1971)

Not just any trip to Stock Footage Island

Gamera Super Monster is a strangely enjoyabe film, especially since it is just a bunch of old footage re edited into the story of a kid and his pet turtle, and good female aliens vs. bad female aliens. Die hard fans of the genre have something against the campy and cheesy, when the fact is not every giant monster movie is supposed to portray a grim message about nuclear weapons, or interfering with nature.

This movie is joyful through and through, never taking a break from action and (mis)adventure, with characters that are very fun to watch. The little boy, who most would find annoying, has a certain goofiness to his character. Remember people, this is a film for the children. This movie shows how cheap it is, but you aren't able to realize it because it gets you so caught up in the fantasy. This is one of the greatest escapist fantasies out there.

From the first battle with Barugan all the way to the destruction of Zigra, all Gamera's greatest fights are highlighted in this nonstop action packed adventure for the whole family. Also, watch for the anime characters! And if that is not enough, the enemy space ship may seem a little familiar to you....