Gappa the Triphibian Monsters (1967)

An expedition in the South Pacific lands on a tropical island where the natives worship the mysterious deity Gappa. An earthquake opens up an underground cavern and a baby reptile is ... See full summary »

Director:

Hiroshi Noguchi

Writers:

Iwao Yamazaki (screenplay by), Ryûzô Nakanishi (screenplay by) (as Ryuzo Nakanishi)

Stars:

Tamio Kawaji, Yôko Yamamoto, Yuji Kodaka

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tamio Kawaji	...	Hiroshi Kurosaki (as Tamio Kawachi)
Yôko Yamamoto	...	Itoko Koyanagi
Yuji Kodaka	...	Daize Tonooka
Kôji Wada	...	Mashida
Tatsuya Fuji	...	George Inoue
Keisuke Inoue	...	President Funazu
Zenji Yamada	...	Captain of the Kamome-maru
Bumon Koto	...	Chieftain
Kôtarô Sugie	...	Reporter #1
Saburô Hiromatsu	...	Hosoda
Binnosuke Nagao	...	Cmdr. Riku
Masaru Kamiyama	...	The Professor
Kokan Katsura	...	Saburo Hayashi
Shirô Oshimi	...	Oyama
Yoko Oyagi	...	Aihara

Storyline

An expedition in the South Pacific lands on a tropical island where the natives worship the mysterious deity Gappa. An earthquake opens up an underground cavern and a baby reptile is discovered inside. The natives warn the foreigners to leave the hatching alone, but they don't listen and take it back to a zoo in Japan. Soon after, moma and papa Gappa start smashing Tokyo looking for their kidnapped child.

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Plot Keywords:

underwater earthquake | psychotronic film | monster movie | creature feature | cave | 

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Taglines:

Even mightier than 'King Kong'!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

April 1967 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Gappa the Triphibian Monsters

Company Credits

Production Co:

Manson Corporation, Nikkatsu

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There was an urban legend that Nikkatsu's international English prints originally had a racist line, "The monsters are attacking Tokyo. Fortunately they are attacking the Negro section of town" (and that the line was changed). This was untrue.

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Quotes

President Funazu: Like it? I call it Playmate Land.

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Alternate Versions

In all English versions of the film, the rock & roll "Great Giant Beast Gappa" theme (heard in the opening credits and ending of the original Japanese version) is replaced by standard orchestral music. Also, the Japanese version features a song called "Keep Trying, Baby Gappa!" (in the scene where the Gappas are reunited with their offspring). In all English versions, the song's vocals are omitted, and is thus instrumental.

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Connections

Featured in Son of Svengoolie: Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (1967) (1982)

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Soundtracks

Ganbare Ko Gappa
("Keep Trying, Baby Gappa!")
Music by Seitarô Ômori
Arrangement by Iwao Shigematsu
Lyrics by Ryô Nagahara
Performed by Danny Iida & Paradise King

User Reviews

OK semi-remake of Gorgo{1961},good monster fun for fans of the more juvenile Godzilla movies

If you like the Japanese Godzilla movies of the 60s and {especially}the 70s made by Toho Studios, than you're probably like this effort, a not totally successful but fun attempt by Shockiku Studios to get in on the act.

King Kong obviously inspired the early section of the film,but oddly enough the film mostly bases it's plot on the British 1961 monster movie Gorgo {itself a Godzilla imitation},with a baby monster captured by humans and it's angry parent wrecking havoc to get him back. However,unlike Gorgo's one vengeful parent,here we have both mum and dad monsters attacking poor Japan {one wonders why anyone still bothers to live there in these films,since it's always being destroyed by giant monster year after year}.

The film lacks the polish of the Toho films,with the miniatures lacking in detail and some rather drab photography and poor editing. Music is mediocre although the two songs {only in the subtitled version}are memorable for the wrong reasons. However,the family Gappa are uniquely weird monsters,the action is pretty continuous after the first half an hour and the final reunion scene involving the monsters is touching. There are some amusing touches which gently mock the genre. Feminists be warned though-the end scene where the human heroine realises her role in life will probably offend you greatly!

Hardly a classic of monster movies but silly and entertaining anyway. A good one to introduce young kids to the genre.