Classic Psychodrama 101

The 1960s were a time of great change for Godzilla. At the beginning of the decade he was still a frightening menace to Japan and indeed the world… by the end he had metamorphosed into a defender of the world, albeit a reluctant one. This change began in the first half of the Sixties, with a string of four films, each building on the last. Without ado let’s continue our trip through

Godzilla MAYhem 

Part II: The Early Sixties 

3. King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

The second castle to get trashed in a Godzilla movie - what's up with that?

This is where sings start to get a little silly (even director Ishiro Honda thought so). This is actually a rather disappointing film, for quite a few reasons. First is that the original Japanese version is not really available in the United States (where I am reviewing these from), and that it wouldn’t be optimal even if it were. For this marathon I made the decision to review the original Japanese versions of each film – not that I can speak Japanese, see, but often with the Godzilla movies some scenes were deleted and sometimes even added (as we have seen with the 1956 American version of the original) for the Americanized English dub versions, and I wanted to talk about the original products. However, because of litigious wrangling the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla is not legally available in the US and I don’t have the means to see it. All I have to go on is the American version (which was co-produced simultaneously) which is cheesy, cheesy, cheesy (and very white – “we can’t show this movie to American audiences unless it has white people in it!” – thus the white reporters and scientists in clunky UN cutaways) in addition to butchering the musical track by hacking out Akira Ifukube’s music and substituting generic fifties sci-fi schlock in its place. And the sad part is that even if the Japanese version were available legally over here it wouldn’t be in good shape – reportedly the original 35mm film stock was so badly kept that the only way that the parts exclusive to the Japanese version are available is from an old 16mm transfer, meaning an obvious drop in quality at those points in the movie while watching on DVD.

Yes, this really happens in the movie.

The saddest thing is that even if the Japanese version were available legally AND in good shape that it would probably still not be very good. This was a chance to pit the two biggest movie monsters of all time against each other in mortal combat (“finish him!”)… the first time two monsters from east and west would meet… it was the first time both monsters would be shown in color, and in widescreen… and the producers completely dropped the ball with the King Kong suit. The Kong used in this movie is unbelievably bad… you could probably go down to your local party store and rent a gorilla costume that would make a better Kong than the one used in this movie. Supposedly it was the American producer’s fault – he supplied the suit and Toho was obligated to use it, and it’s a dirty shame. This is especially so considering that the *Godzilla* suit used is great, looking really reptilian and menacing.

Japanese people in black face!  Progress!

 In the end because of this deficiency in special effects (in addition to the Kong suit being awful a lot of the blue screen work is too) and its silly plot (including some rather... outdated racial views) King Kong vs. Godzilla is a very disappointing missed opportunity… still, it’s the highest grossing Godzilla movie ever. Perhaps a remake is in order?


4. Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)

What’s *not* disappointing is this entry into the Godzilla mythos, which ends up being the second greatest Godzilla movie ever made right behind the first and actually manages to be better in some ways. The plot is somewhat similar to the original Mothra (from 1961), except that instead of greedy businessmen kidnapping Mothra’s twin fairy priestesses for exploitation and facing the wrath of the giant wool-eating kaiju they instead kidnap Mothra’s egg for commercial use and risk the safety of all in Japan when the contents of the egg hatch. Throw a pissed-off Godzilla into the mix and you have monster movie gold!

This is the film where the Godzilla series starts taking more of a turn towards the fantastic (you know, not that radioactive dinosaurs and giant gorillas were fantastic). This film includes not only a giant lepidopteran goddess and tiny, harmony vocalizing creatures that worship it but the notion that these beings would actually help the human race after being dumped on by them. The big dramatic center of Mothra vs. Godzilla is the puny human main characters begging Mothra and the shat-upon inhabitants of nuclear-devastated Infant Island to help them against the rampaging Godzilla – and she and they agree! It’s pretty weird when the character making the big dramatic decision is a giant moth, people.

Okay, now it's just a fetish.

Everything clicks in this movie. The acting is decent all around, the villains are appropriately smug and slimy, and the visuals are great. The compositing is much better than the last film, although still a little bit blurry. The Godzilla suit used for the movie is the best ever made, and looks truly evil and menacing. The score is wonderful. If you are a Godzilla fan you already own this movie. If you are just getting into Godzilla this is one of the movies you want to start with. Even if you just like fantasy films this is one to get. Watch this movie.


5. Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster (1964)

This film, released the same year as the last one, marks the first time Godzilla helps humanity, albeit at the very end and very reluctantly. It also marks the first multiple giant monster battle, with four kaiju taking part in the final battle. The plot is, at its core, simple. A foreign princess disappears from her plane midflight then shows up in Japan claiming to be a Venusian prophetess and foretelling doom. Meanwhile a mysterious meteorite lands in the mountains and later releases King Ghidorah, the titular tricephalic titan of terror who proceeds to lay waste to everything in its path. With the help (once again!) of the twin priestesses of Mothra (who happened to be in Japan on a Mothra PR Tour), the humans must convince Godzilla as well as Rodan to team up with the giant bug to put the hurt on Ghidorah and save the world.

"King Ghidorah is coming to kill us all.  Also, I'm English."

This is actually one of the Godzilla movies that I never saw as a kid and didn’t see until it came out on DVD a few years ago. As such I didn’t have any nostalgia for it when I sat down to watch it as an adult – but you know what, I still liked it. It’s not as good as the previous installment, but it is still a very entertaining little Japanese fantasy film. The plot about the princess/prophetess (played by Akiko Wakabayashi) is entertaining enough. The singing duo The Peanuts are back again as the twin fairies and are always a hoot. The design of Ghidorah is impressive, what with his three spastic heads, genuinely scary look and weird shrieking cry. You can actually believe that it would take a team-up of the world’s strongest monsters to beat him.

Sadly, Godzilla himself isn’t quite as good looking this time around, as Eiji Tsuburaya chose to give him bigger eyes in order to make him look friendlier as befitted his new anti-heroic role. Also, some of the fight scenes are kinda goofy, including some of the antics in the final showdown with King Ghidorah. Oh well. It’s a movie with men in rubber monster costumes hitting each other – I’m not gonna be too picky.

6. Invasion of Astro Monster (1965)

It's still better looking than Plan 9 From Outer Space.

Oy. The plot of this one is rather loose and makes little sense. Full of wacky inventors, dancing monsters, flying saucers, duplicitous aliens who look like members of the Smart Patrol, mind control, and Nick Adams, this strange film is more style than substance – you will be repeatedly wondering about plot holes large enough to fit a rocket ship through. But what style! The monster fights are once again great, the story (even if it has the aforementioned holes)is entertaining and American actor Nick Adams gives more effort than a movie like this probably deserves.

It also doesn’t hurt that he has good chemistry with co-stars Akira Takarada and Kumi Mizuno (Adams and Mizuno had worked together earlier that year in Frankenstein vs. Baragon, aka Frankenstein Conquers The World). The film also continues the slow slide into silliness for the franchise, as Godzilla is shown dancing a jig after his first fight with Ghidorah on Planet X (only when reviewing a movie like this could I type a line like that). Instead of giving you a picture of it though I’ll let you get the movie and see for yourself. Ah, who am I kidding, you’ll probably just watch it on Youtube.

Are we not men? (old joke)

Invasion of Astro Monster is a fun enough romp even if objectively it’s not as coherent as the film that preceded it. If you have kids or are a kid you will want to get it – I enjoyed it very much as a child and still do to a certain extent.





Well, there’s the four Godzilla movies of the early Sixties, aka the Golden Age of Godzilla. After this the cracks would begin to show with kid-friendlier content and the increasing heroism of the title monster chipping away at what made the series great to begin with. The movie would still be enjoyable though, but that’s a tale for next time.