Thursday, October 6, 2011

Godzilla (or Gojira): The Reigning King of the Monsters

In the ocean waters of Tokyo, Japan, a couple of boats mysteriously disappear with few survivors. Two rescue ships likewise do not return. Some villagers are quick to attribute their misfortune to Gojira, monster of the sea, and when a hurricane destroys homes and ends lives, reports claim that a large animal is responsible for the destruction. The day after the hurricane, paleontologist Professor Yamane (Takashi Shimura) finds footprints with a radioactive signature and the body of the long-extinct trilobite. The professor theorizes that an atomic explosion may have upset the habitat of a creature from the Jurassic period, a theory proven correct when Gojira comes ashore and attacks the city. Yamane wishes to study the unknown creature, which seems to absorb radiation, but citizens and officials alike are looking for ways to kill Gojira.

Gojira (1954) -- better known as Godzilla -- was directed by Ishiro Honda, who also helmed several of the Godzilla sequels, as well as other films of the kaiju (roughly translated as “monster”) genre, including Rodan (1956), The War of the Gargantuas (1966), and Mothra (1961), the latter a kaiju nearly as popular as Godzilla and featured in numerous series entries and her own films. (“Kaiju” is the name of the genre, though Godzilla and Mothra are more specifically daikaiju: “giant monsters.”) The creatures in Honda’s films are different from the spider in Tarantula (1955) and the giant ants in Them! (1954), animals made monstrous by atomic radiation. In the case of Gojira, the titular beast is provoked by nuclear warfare, with the insinuation that he was previously content in his subaquatic existence. Professor Yamane represents the sympathy viewers may feel for Gojira, much like the monster in James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Insects that have grown to astronomical size are monsters, but Gojira is an animal merely seen as a monster by the people who fear him. In the 1954 movie, everyone is terrified of Gojira before many of them have actually seen the creature do anything.

With the suggestion in the film that Godzilla/Gojira has been awakened, so to speak, by an atomic explosion, one can clearly see a connection to World War II and Hiroshima. However, the tragedy of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon 5), a Japanese fishing boat, is most often cited as the inspiration for Godzilla and the kaiju films. In 1954, the U.S. tested a hydrogen bomb, and the nuclear fallout from the detonation was so severe that the crewmen of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru suffered radiation poisoning, one of the men dying months later. The film opens with a fishing boat attacked by Gojira, unseen and signified by a glow on the water’s surface and explosive results.

Gojira initially received a very limited U.S. release in its original form. In 1956, it was released as Godzilla, King of the Monsters! It was heavily cut and inserted sequences with an American protagonist, reporter Steve Martin (Raymond Burr). The film opens with the aftermath of Godzilla’s assault, and a flashback with a voice-over from Steve provides most of the story. Burr interacts with new characters as well as characters from Gojira, such as Yamane’s daughter, Emiko (Momoko Kochi), via doubles and help from the English dubbing. Unfortunately, many of the excised scenes include further development of Yamane’s desire to study Godzilla and the love triangle among Emiko, Ogata (Akira Takarada) and Dr. Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata). The additional sequences were so extensive that Honda had to share directing credit with Terry Morse, but despite the new footage, King of the Monsters! still managed to be 16 minutes shorter than Gojira.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! is generally considered a wholly different film from Gojira, the original proving far superior. However, it was the truncated U.S. version that played overseas and made Godzilla an international star. The edited version was a box office success and performed well in other countries, even Japan. Gojira was a merging of the Japanese words, gorira (“gorilla”) and kujira (“whale”), as the film’s star features traits from both animals. Some fans argue that “Gojira” is the proper anglicized rendering of the creature’s name and that the American name was possibly a mistranslation, while others claim that “Godzilla” was suggested for the U.S. film version by the Gojira studio, Toho. Whatever the case, the creature became known as Godzilla across the globe, and Toho has trademarked and copyrighted the worldwide moniker.

Actor Takashi Shimura had starred in numerous films from famed Japanese auteur, Akira Kurosawa, including Rashomon (1950), Seven Samurai (1954) and Yojimbo (1961). Director and kaiju storyteller Honda likewise worked as an assistant director for Kurosawa in films such as Stray Dog (1949), Kagemusha (1980) and Ran (1985), the former two movies also featuring Shimura.

It’s a popular misconception that Godzilla breathes fire. As his power is essentially derived from radiation, the creature is in actuality exhaling what’s been called atomic or radioactive breath. Many times, before Godzilla releases his atomic breath, his dorsal fins will glow. This causes explosions and buildings and vehicles to catch fire, leaving the city in ruins and often in flames. However, in the 1978-79 animated series, a Japanese/American co-production and broadcast in both countries, Godzilla did indeed emit fire (possibly to simplify his power, as the show was aimed at young children).

Godzilla’s influence is indisputable. It’s difficult for films of the giant monster variety, such as Cloverfield (2008), to not draw comparisons to the famous kaiju, and place any person, child or adult, in front of a model-sized city, and one will witness a quick transformation into a roaring beast stomping its hefty feet to crush the tiny buildings. Ishiro Honda’s original 1954 movie is immensely entertaining, a superb debut for a creature who deserved his own series. If possible, viewers should seek the Japanese version, Gojira, in lieu of Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, but they should also appreciate the U.S. edit, if for nothing else than introducing the world to the colossal film star. Godzilla may tower over us all, but he easily fits inside our hearts.

13 comments:

  1. My sons and I have always loved Godzilla in all his forms and genres! The only one we didn't like was the modern one in which he didn't look like Godzilla at all, but a Juraissic park runaway -- the movie was fun, but it just wasn't Godzilla. When my kids were young, they loved the Godzilla cartoon ("Up From the Depths, 30 Stories High..."), but they were always embarrassed by Godzuki--that was for babies, they decided.

    I have never seen the original and would be interested in it. I have always thought that the stuck-in parts with Raymond Burr actuall stuck out like a sore thumb, and now I know why -- he wasn't even IN the actual original. Very interesting history about the background of our favorite giant creature (you are quite right, Godzilla wasn't a monster!)

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  2. I agree with Becky because I love the Godzilla movies too. My older son is the biggest Godzilla fan I have ever known. He has toy Godzillas, Godzilla shirts, posters, and had a huge 6 foot card board Godzilla in his bedroom for years! My father video taped every Godzilla movie for him. He watched those movies for many years. He would never give away one of those videos his grandfather taped...never. The original is my personal favorite. I love the sound he makes. I think how he dies in the film is very unique. I watched all the movies with my son. A mother remembers special times like that. Classic movies every one of them. Excellent article Sark and I so enjoyed it.

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  3. Sark I like most of the Godzilla films except Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster. Maybe it's because I lived in Southern California.

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  4. Great post about a truly iconic monster! Gojira is an amazing film, but Godzilla - King of the Monsters is not without its charms. It's certainly a different beast (pun intended) from the original.

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  5. Sark, this is a fabulous start to Mutant Monster Month (which should be sponsored by the 3M Company)! I adore how you focused on the Japanese GOJIRA, which is indeed a richer film than the U.S. edit (though I have seen the latter far more often). In retrospect, it's hard to think of a more influential monster film than GOJIRA. Not only did it spawn a slew of sequels that spanned six decades, but--as you pointed out--it invented the kaiju genre. Not even iconic creatures such as King Kong or the Frankenstein Monster can match that claim. (Interestingly, both Kong and a Frankenstein-like creature wound up in kaiju films: Kong in KING KONG VS. GODZILLA and KING KONG ESCAPES; the heart of the Frankenstein Monster in FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD.) I agree that GOJIRA presents a more sympathetic monster that's responding to the folly of man (sending the same warning as Klaatu...but in a destructive manner). Though several of the sequels are entertaining, it's somewhat of a bummer that Godzilla lost his edge...he was one angry dude in GOJIRA. As for his radioactive breath, I just have to mention SON OF GODZILLA, where the little tyke tries to imitate Pops and can only blow smoke rings...always thought that was pretty funny. Hope the rest of this month's reviews are as enjoyable and edcational as this one.

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  6. I heart Gojira! It has been a long time since I have seen one of his movies. I am glad that Rick mentioned "Son of Godzilla," too, because I thought the smoke rings were cute. Toho had quite a run with their large creature films. Loved your post and this blog!

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  7. Sark, I have never seen a Godzilla/Gojira movie. I've always wanted to see the one where he battles Mothra because, well, I like the name Mothra. I enjoyed reading your article. Rick's right, what a way to start off the mutant monster event.

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  8. Sark, I forgot to mention in my comment that my son showed my husband and me the original Gojira. So I have seen both films. I like them both too. My son never missed a Godzilla movie and I watched everyone with him.

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  9. Sark - Gojira/Godzilla is definitely the undisputed "King of the Monsters". The original does seem to have a better flow to it than the Americanized version. Nice post ...

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  10. I agree with Rick: the original (Japanese) version of GOJIRA is a much richer and more philosophical film than its American edited version, GODZILLA. The character of the scientist who devises a method to destroy Gojira is really the heart of that film - it's a fascinating look at how science is used in both destructive and constructive aspects. It also, as I recall, has a more intricate narrative structure, with embedded flashbacks. In spite of the guy-in-monster-suit premise, it's really a serious film.

    Terrific post - looking forward to the rest of Mutant Monster Month!

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  11. Great GOJIRA post, Sark! Team Bartilucci, especially Vinnie, is all about that King of Monsters in all its forms (except maybe the Matthew Broderick version :-)) Very thoughtful, detailed review, getting Mutant Monster Month off to a grand start!

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  12. Godzilla films are great, but Mothra is my favorite of the giant monsters. She's got her own theme song, after all!

    http://forgottenfilmcast.wordpress.com/

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  13. While it's true that Mothra has the Alilenas (famous for talking in unison), I think that Godzilla, Jr. (with his li'l smoke rings) almost makes up for that.

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