Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)

Ape-like aliens build a robotic Godzilla to destroy Japan, and the true Godzilla may not be powerful enough to destroy it.

Director:

Jun Fukuda

Writers:

Jun Fukuda, Masami Fukushima (story)

Stars:

Masaaki Daimon, Kazuya Aoyama, Reiko Tajima

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Masaaki Daimon	...	Keisuke Shimizu
Kazuya Aoyama	...	Masahiko Shimizu
Reiko Tajima	...	Saeko Kanagusuku
Akihiko Hirata	...	Professor Hideto Miyajima
Hiromi Matsushita	...	Ikuko Miyajima
Hiroshi Koizumi	...	Professor Wagura
Masao Imafuku	...	Tengan Kunigami, the Azumi Royal Family High Priest
Bellbella Lin	...	Nami Kunigami, the Azumi Royal Family Princess (as Barbara Lynn)
Shin Kishida	...	Interpol Agent Nanbara
Gorô Mutsumi	...	Alien Supreme Leader Kuronuma
Daigo Kusano	...	Yanagawa, Alien Agent #1
Takayasu Torii	...	Interpol Agent Tamura
Kenji Sahara	...	Ship's Captain
Yasuzô Ogawa	...	Construction Foreman
Takamitsu Watanabe	...	Alien Henchman # 1

Storyline

Aliens intend to take over the planet and, just in case Godzilla tries to interfere, have built a mechanical version of him to put an end to his interference. The Earth humans summon the legendary King Seesar to assist Godzilla in the battle.

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Plot Keywords:

godzilla | alien | giant robot | robot | robot monster battle | 

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Taglines:

Put the Monster to the Metal!

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Genres:

Action | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

March 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

Filming Locations:

Okinawa, Japan

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,873,268

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company,Toho Eizo Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Universal Studios, responsible for both the The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) and the The Bionic Woman (1976), threatened to sue Cinema Shares Releasing over the title (Godzilla Vs. the Bionic Monster), the movie was quickly re-titled Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster.

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Goofs

During Godzilla's confrontation with Mechagodzilla at the oil refinery, several flashes of light cause the two monsters to cast shadows against the sky, revealing the sky to be a matte painting.

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Quotes

Saeko Kaneshiro: Do you notice the color of the moon?

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Alternate Versions

The older US television and video version (and no longer used) released by Cinema Shares had the "Godzilla vs the Cosmic Monster" title (red background with title written in white letters in an almost circular pattern). Also, in the beginning of the film when they show Anguirus in Siberia, the Cinema Shares version is slightly bright, enabling you to see Anguirus and to see the snow on the mountain. The Japanese version is the same. In addition, the Cinema Shares version cuts the ending out and ends a few seconds after the huge explosion and when King Seesar re-seals himself back in the mountain. The end title shows a statue of King Seesar on the left and shows a red background with the words "The End" on the right. Later video re-releases use the newer "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla" title in the US and has the Siberia scene exceptionally dark, making it hard to see Anguirus. But, this newer video version restores the full ending of the film, where you see the characters putting the King Seesar statue back in place (without this full ending, it would appear the heroes also die in the explosion).

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Connections

Referenced in Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002)

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Soundtracks

Beat Mechagodzilla
("Mekagojira Wo Yattsukero")
Music by Masaru Satô
Lyrics by Jun Fukuda
Performed by Bellbella Lin
Published by Toho Music Publishing

User Reviews

One of Godzilla's greatest movies.

Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla or Godzilla vs The Cosmic Monster, despite what many "fans" of Godzilla say this is one of his greatest films. The movie revolves around 2 main themes, one centering on an ancient prophecy that says a monster will appear to destroy the world and that 2 others will come to save it. This will all lead up to the introduction of a new monster King Caesar, not one of Toho's best. But as always the other story is that of aliens that want to take over the earth and have now constructed the ultimate weapon to do it...Mechagodzilla.One by one the prophecies come true and the cast finds out that ape faced Space aliens from the 3rd planet from the black hole are behind the whole thing. Mechagodzilla rampages through Japan, beating Anguirus and then confronting Godzilla in what's become one of Godzilla's most famous scenes of them trading there own ray weapons culminating in a huge explosion. Godzilla appears to lose, but Mechagodzilla is revealed under his fake skin. Eventually the Heroes along with some interpol agents, James bond types recover the statue of King Caesar and awaken him to do battle with Mechagodzilla. Caesar gets thrashed, but is saved by a newly revived Godzilla with magnetic powers and in a titanic and bloody fight destroys Mechagodzilla. Godzilla goes back to monster island, Caesar goes back to sleep and the aliens base is destroyed before they return in the next film.

In Godzilla's 2nd to last outing in the 70's Mechagodzilla is introduced and becomes one of Godzilla's strongest enemies and best created characters ever. This is by far a superior movie than the lackluster and badly made 93' version. Although the story is a bit of the same Alien invasion thing it really makes very little difference. Its very entertaining and more on the serious side rather then what he had been years before watching out for his kid and jumping around like and idiot. King Caesar is a bit of a let down. The lion guardian of Okinawa is built up throughout the movie, but in the end fails to really bring anything new to the table. Not to say that I hate Caesar, but he's not the greatest. Anguirus is also brought out for his last appearance to this day, but unfortunately does not do well in the movie. Jun Fukuda directed this one, along with a handful of other Godzilla movies that have been widely hammered by Godzilla Fans. Fukuda does an excellent job with the amount of money that Toho was willing to give the Godzilla franchise at the time. All of the fight seen were well done and for the most part did not look to cheesee. With regards to the special effects Teruyoshi Nakano also did a fine job on the budget and for the time. This is by far the best Godzilla suit of the Showa series, that would also be used in the sequel to this. A bit stupid would have to be the ape faced aliens. I'm sure you will get a few laughs from them. Be warned though this is probably the bloodiest of the Godzilla films to be made, which also added to the more serious view of the movie rather then it being for kids. Although the actors to me usually take a back seat to the monsters in these films, I was always impressed with the cast in this. The secret agent type stuff that goes on is a bit funny, considering they couldn't have made Agent Nanbara stand out anymore if they tried. I have been watching this movie probably since 1985 and have never grown tired of it and still think its one of his greatest films. Overall as a huge Godzilla fan I have to give this a 10/10.