Rodan (1956)

A large mining accident sets loose prehistoric Insects and giant pterosaur's on Japan.

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writers:

David Duncan (english version), Takeshi Kimura

Stars:

Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Akihiko Hirata

Cast

Credited cast:
Kenji Sahara	...	Shigeru Kawamura, colliery engineer (as Kenji Sawara)
Yumi Shirakawa	...	Kiyo, Shigeru's lover
Akihiko Hirata	...	Professor Kyuichiro Kashiwagi (biology)
Akio Kobori	...	Police Chief Nishimura
Yasuko Nakada	...	Female Honeymooner
Minosuke Yamada	...	Colliery Chief Osaki
Yoshifumi Tajima	...	Izeki, reporter of Seibu Nippou
Kiyoharu Onaka	...	Male Honeymooner, Sunagawa's friend (as Kiyoharu Ohnaka)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ichirô Chiba	...	Chief of police station
Mike Daneen	...	American Soldier Typing
Tsurue Ichimanji	...	Haru, Kiyo's neighbor (as Tazue Ichimanji)
Saburô Iketani	...	News Reader
Saburô Kadowaki	...	Sunagawa's colleague
Tateo Kawasaki	...	Tsunesan, miner
Kanta Kisaragi	...	Suteyan, miner

Storyline

In the Japanese mining village of Kitamatsu, miners ares starting to disappear deep inside shaft number 8. Some of the men sent to investigate are killed but one who has managed to escape brings back a tale of a giant insect. Soon, the giant prehistoric insects are attacking the village. Not long after, something traveling faster than the speed of sound is found flying in the sky. It is Rodan, a giant flying prehistoric reptile that has come to life. It spreads terror throughout Japan and is seemingly invincible to any weapon they may throw at it.

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Plot Keywords:

rodan | kaiju | tokusatsu | japan | monster | 

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Taglines:

Thundering out of unknown skies--The super-sonic hell-creatuire no weapon could destroy!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese Mandarin Tagalog

Release Date:

6 August 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rodan

Filming Locations:

Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$500,000, 6 August 1957

Gross USA:

$500,000, 6 August 1957

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Film (Eiga) Co. Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min 70 min (16 mm television syndication prints) 72 min (English dubbed)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Perspecta Sound encoding) (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The King Brothers attempted to add footage of American Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships firing their main guns and anti-aircraft batteries at the Rodans (the Kings had switched the city from Fukuoka, which had no naval facilities, to Sasebo, which had them). The brothers wanted footage of joint American-Japanese naval gunfire exercises, but the Pentagon refused, to avoid the Soviets seeing training techniques. A year later, in 1957 with The Mysterians (1957), the Pentagon would freely offer stock footage for public relations purposes.

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Goofs

K Squadron attacks Rodan with four jets. Two are clearly shown being destroyed by Rodan, yet the lead pilot tells headquarters he's only lost one plane. Indeed, three planes are shown going after Rodan at Sasebo Bridge.

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Crazy Credits

In the U.S. version, special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya's name is misspelled "Eiji Tsuburya."

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Connections

Referenced in Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005)

User Reviews

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

Taking a break from Godzilla, Inshiro Honda and Toho Studios went to another giant monster...this time a prehistoric pair of flying reptiles that can soar at sonic speeds. Unearthed in a volcano and brought to life by a mistake by an American ship, these two bird-like reptiles love to eat humans and leave only bones after they dine. Understandably, the Japanese are somewhat ill at ease and want these two flyers grounded. Toho's first monster film in color is a success. The mood is effective, and the color really adds to the action(even though at some parts you can tell the reptiles are nothing more than men in suits). It does not have the chilling doom, dread, and destruction of the first Godzilla, but it certainly has its share of cities being toppled, etc... The acting is okay, and the dubbing in the American version is not as irritating as with some Godzilla films. The ending is well-executed and even a bit ironic as the love of these two creatures plays a central role in their future.