Rodan (1956)

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

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writers:

David Duncan, 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:

kaiju | tokusatsu | japan | monster | miner | 

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Taglines:

Most horrifying hell creature that ever menaced all mankind!

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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:

Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$500,000, 4 August 1957

Gross USA:

$500,000

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

D.C.A. (Distributors Corporation of America) released this film in the United States as a pre-packaged double feature. At the bottom of the double bill was the British war film "Hell in Korea" (1956) (aka "A Hill in Korea").

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Goofs

The American version mistakenly credits director Ishirô Honda as "Inoshiro Honda"

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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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Alternate Versions

In the original version, the news reporter is only talking about the sightings of the "mysterious UFO". However, in the American version it is edited to sound like he is talking about not only the UFO but the pending eruption of Mt. Aso/Mt. Toya.

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Connections

Follows Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

User Reviews

Fun Monster Movie

Japanese miners are killed by giant prehistoric insects awakened by nuclear testing. After dealing with the bugs, the military discovers an even bigger threat has been awakened by the tests. Yup, it's Rodan, a pterodactyl-like monster that flies at super-sonic speeds. Soon another Rodan shows up and the two wreak havoc. What in the world will Japan do?

Great Japanese giant monster movie with anti-nuke message; a classic of its type. Not on the level of the original Godzilla (or Gojira, if you insist) but better than many of the cheesy sequels that came out later. It's cool that it was filmed in color. The special effects and action scenes are lots of fun. Love the music. It's a good way to pass the time.