#1000a/#594: HONDA, Ishiro: Godzilla (1954)
HONDA, Ishiro (Japan)
Godzilla [1954]
Spine #1000a/Spine #594
Blu-ray
Godzilla (a.k.a. Gojira) is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population's fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning almost thirty sequels. A thrilling, tactile spectacle that continues to be a cult phenomenon, the original, 1954 Japanese version is presented here, along with Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 "Americanized" version.
96 minutes
Black & White
Black & White
Monaural
in Japanese
1:37:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2012
Director/Writers
Original story by Shigeru Kayama.
Screenplay by Takeo Murata and Ishiro Honda.
Honda was 43 when he directed Godzilla.
Other Honda films in the Collection:
#1000c: King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1963)
#1000d: Mothra Vs. Godzilla (1964)
#1000e: Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster (1964)
#1000f: Invasion Of Astro-Monster (1965)
#1000i: Destroy All Monsters (1968)
#1000j: All Monsters Attack (1969)
#1000o: Terror Of Mechagodzilla (1975)
The Film
Other Honda films in the Collection:
#1000c: King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1963)
#1000d: Mothra Vs. Godzilla (1964)
#1000e: Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster (1964)
#1000f: Invasion Of Astro-Monster (1965)
#1000i: Destroy All Monsters (1968)
#1000j: All Monsters Attack (1969)
#1000o: Terror Of Mechagodzilla (1975)
The Film
Film Rating (0-60):
The Booklet
#594: Eighteen-page booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman.
60
The ExtrasThe Booklet
#594: Eighteen-page booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman.
#1000a: Thirty-six page book featuring an essay by Steve Ryfle and essays on the films by Ed Godziszewski.
Commentary
For both movies by film historian David Kalat.
Interviews
High-definition digital restoration
Of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
Of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
For both movies by film historian David Kalat.
Interviews
With actors Takarada and Nakajima and special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai.
Interview 1
Interview 1
With legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube.
Featurette
Featurette
Detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects, introduced by special effects director Koichi Kawakita and special effects photographer Motoyoshi Tomioka.
Interview 2
With Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato.
The Unluckiest Dragon
Interview 2
With Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato.
The Unluckiest Dragon
An illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo Fukuryu Maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla,.
Trailers
Trailers
For Godzilla and Godzilla, King of the Monsters.
Extras Rating (0-40):
Extras Rating (0-40):
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