Godzilla vs. Alyssa Milano

07.14.10 | Irv Slifkin | Staff NotesPrint this Post

Can you believe the big green monster is 56 years old?

No, we’re not talking about the left field wall at Fenway Park. We’re talking about the people-chompin’, Tokyo- stompin’, planes, trains and automobiles-whompin’ monstrosity known as Godzilla, King of the Monsters.

This beast made its debut in 1954 with a beauty. Originally tagged in Japan as “Gojira,”(Create-A-Caption) the 150-foot critter was blown out of hibernation in the sea after Earth-shattering nuclear testing. The behemoth rises from the watery depths with a really bad temperament and radioactive breath that 1 million gallons of Listerine couldn’t cure.  The monster’s appearance affects the lives of everyone in Tokyo, but the film hones in on four people: a paleontologist, his daughter, and two guys who dig her, a soldier and a scientist.

Like many of the mutated critters cycle of American science fiction films of the 1950s like Them! or Tarantula, Gojira and many of its sequels and spin-offs not-so subtly delved into the horrors of nuclear and atomic bombs. But since the setting was Japan, not too long after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the devastation held more impact for filmgoers, especially in that part of the world. The story is told by director Ishiro Honda in straightforward fashion, grimly in black-and-white. Its success skyrocketed Toho Films to large profits, with over 9 million admissions in Japan alone. Of course, the movie was changed fairly radically when released a few years later for American audiences. Ten minutes were clipped, 20 minutes of new footage featuring Raymond Burr as a reporter were added, and Gojira was rechristened Godzilla, King of the Monsters.

The film’s international success spurred all sorts of big monster extravaganzas from Japan, many badly dubbed in their English versions and high in camp value. Godzilla battled (Movie Poll: Who's Your Favorite Godzilla Foe?) King Kong, a big moth named Mothra, and freaky prehistoric creatures galore.  In 1998, Americans got into the act with German-born director Roland Emmerich ’s version of the story, in which the Not-So-Jolly Green Giant caused more ruckus in Madison Square Garden than Lady Gaga at a Yankees game.

So, as it gets ready to blow out the candles—easy, fella—on its 56^th birthday, where does Godzilla stand? The last outing for the creation was 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars, intended to send Godzilla—now a good dino—to Jurassic Retirement Park.

But wait! An American company is talking about a reboot, in hopes of erasing the memory of Emmerich’s elephantine opus that scored big at the box-office but not with critics.

Ho Godzilla! Guess you just can’t keep a good beast down.

Interested in Godzilla collectibles? Take a minute and enjoy our Humorous video on what your Godzilla collectibles are worth.

Dr Strangefilm reviews the classic 1967 Godzilla movie Godzilla's Revenge and manages to make a unique comparison between James Cagney and Godzilla.