Atragon (1963)

When an ancient underground civilization and their snake-like guardian plots to reclaim the surface world, those of the surface fights back.

Director:

Ishirô Honda

Writers:

Shin'ichi Sekizawa (screenplay), Shunrô Oshikawa (novel)

Stars:

Tadao Takashima, Yôko Fujiyama, Yû Fujiki

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tadao Takashima	...	Commercial Photographer Susumu Hatanaka
Yôko Fujiyama	...	Makoto Jinguji, the Captain's Daughter
Yû Fujiki	...	Yoshito Nishibe
Kenji Sahara	...	Uoto Unno - Journalist / Mu Agent
Ken Uehara	...	Retired Admiral Kusumi
Hiroshi Koizumi	...	Detective Itô
Jun Tazaki	...	Captain Hachiro Jinguji
Yoshifumi Tajima	...	Tome 'Amano' Amanoshome
Akihiko Hirata	...	Mu Agent #23
Hideyo Amamoto	...	High Priest of Mu
Susumu Fujita	...	Defense Commander
Minoru Takada	...	Government Official
Hisaya Itô	...	Shindo, Kidnapped Scientist
Ikio Sawamura	...	Taxi Driver
Tetsuko Kobayashi	...	Empress of Mu

Storyline

Several strange occurrences are taking place all over the world including the disappearance of two engineers. Also, former admiral Kosumi is nearly kidnapped along with his secretary, and goddaughter, Makoto Jinguji. The kidnap attempt is thwarted by photographer Susumu Hatanaka and his assistant Yoshito Nishibe. It is later revealed the Mu Empire, which disappeared 12,000 years earlier, are responsible for all the occurrences and are planning to invade the surface world to reclaim their supposed colonies. Also, the Muans manage to steal the I-403 submarine from embittered Captain Jinguji, Makoto's father, and in the process steal the plans for and even greater sub, Atragon (aka Gotengo). As the attacks by the Muans increase the world anxiously asks Jinguji for his help, even his daughter Makoto makes an impassioned plea for him to join the fight against Mu. Unfortunately, Jinguji is still bitter about the defeat of Japan in World War II and won't help. However, the fight becomes ...

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | submarine | submarine crew | japanese nationalist | mu civilization | 

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Taglines:

See! The terror swath of the deadly Astral Disks

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Did You Know?

Trivia

Media Blasters had originally intended to release the DVD of the film with not only the original Japanese version, but with the American International version, which was dubbed by Titra sound. However, when Toho heard their plans, they refused to give them permission, unless they put their internationally dubbed version on instead. Media Blasters acquiesced and the AIP version still has not had a proper DVD release.

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Goofs

When the Mu agent tosses the signaling device overboard, it is about the size of a golf ball, but when you see it sinking past the Mu submarine, it is considerably larger.

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Quotes

Captain Hachiro Jinguji: Let her go. Let her die with her nation.

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Connections

Referenced in Godzilla: Unleashed (2007)

User Reviews

The Japanese Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

This is one of the better non-Godzilla films from the minds of Honda, Tanaka, Tsubaraya and Ifukube. Even though this film pretty much covers the same ground as they did in the Mysterians (even using some stock footage from that film), it still was a great film. The special effect's work by Tsubaraya has to rank as some of his best and the story is better than average for this type of film. I loved how they pretty much showed how tortured Jinguji was as he was torn between his loyalty to Japan, his love for his daughter and the needs of the world as they were being attacked by the Mu Empire. Also, in an interesting bit of casting, Akihiko Hirata and Kenji Sahara play villains instead of their normal heroic roles. It also was interesting that the threat to Earth in this film didn't come outer space but from beneath the ocean by one of the most legendary lost civilizations after Atlantis. This is definitely a great film.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

11 March 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Atragon

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 89 min (English dubbed)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1