Godzilla was the film that launched its own genre, the Japanese monster pictures. Not many films can claim that and not many countries have suffered more damage to their cities. You'd think that two atomic bombs would have been enough.
Actually in its own way and the original version was in fact trying to make a statement about the evils that could be launched from splitting the atom. Japan certainly was qualified to make such a film. Even the version that we in America saw contained that same message. Awakening this prehistoric evil into modern times could destroy mankind or at least Japan.
It was probably a good thing Godzilla was done in black and white. Later Japanese monster films in color showed some of the flimsiness of the cardboard and paper mache sets that the monster of the film would destroy as he was doing his thing be it Godzilla, Gammera, Rodan, Mothra, whomever.
It was thought that adding an American name would insure some box office. Raymond Burr was not yet Perry Mason, not yet Ironside, he was a well respected character actor who did play mostly villains. We're told his scenes were all shot in America and the Japanese players came over here to shoot with him. They do look like they were shoehorned into the film.
I'm not sure of the science involved in doing in Godzilla. It involved destroying all the oxygen in the water of Tokyo Bay and leaving it a bleached undersea graveyard. Godzilla's taken up residence there and rests during the day and prowls the city at night doing a lot of mayhem and destruction. The best part of the film is Godzilla's death scene, it's as dramatic as King Kong's. On that the special effects boys deserve a lot of credit.
Godzilla launched a genre as Japanese filmmakers looked to create bigger and better monsters who dealt in more and more death and destruction. What I never figured out is why it was always their cities?
Actually in its own way and the original version was in fact trying to make a statement about the evils that could be launched from splitting the atom. Japan certainly was qualified to make such a film. Even the version that we in America saw contained that same message. Awakening this prehistoric evil into modern times could destroy mankind or at least Japan.
It was probably a good thing Godzilla was done in black and white. Later Japanese monster films in color showed some of the flimsiness of the cardboard and paper mache sets that the monster of the film would destroy as he was doing his thing be it Godzilla, Gammera, Rodan, Mothra, whomever.
It was thought that adding an American name would insure some box office. Raymond Burr was not yet Perry Mason, not yet Ironside, he was a well respected character actor who did play mostly villains. We're told his scenes were all shot in America and the Japanese players came over here to shoot with him. They do look like they were shoehorned into the film.
I'm not sure of the science involved in doing in Godzilla. It involved destroying all the oxygen in the water of Tokyo Bay and leaving it a bleached undersea graveyard. Godzilla's taken up residence there and rests during the day and prowls the city at night doing a lot of mayhem and destruction. The best part of the film is Godzilla's death scene, it's as dramatic as King Kong's. On that the special effects boys deserve a lot of credit.
Godzilla launched a genre as Japanese filmmakers looked to create bigger and better monsters who dealt in more and more death and destruction. What I never figured out is why it was always their cities?