All hail the King of Destruction! This is one of the landmark and very best sci-fi horror films the 50’s has to offer. But it went overlook here in the states due to a shoddy---but lovable---re-edited version we have all seen. ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ was cut by nearly 40 minutes with 20 minutes of spoiler filled Raymond Burr inserts, that gives away all the suspense and mystery that is in the original version. It’s an interesting way of bringing it to America without doing any dubbing but just doesn’t compare. If you haven’t seen it by now, director Ishirô Honda’s Uncut Japanese masterpiece is not only radically different, its vastly superior. A true classic among classics.

Being a fan since I was a child, I was absolutely delighted that I got to see it for the first time in the theatre [the Angelika in Dallas on Friday, July 02, 2004: 1:05 PM showing]. Can you believe it took 50 years, 50 freakin’ years to get a proper release of the original version here in the U.S.? But finally this sci-fi horror excellence did see a well deserved DVD release thanks to Classic Media.

In the American version Raymond Burr blows it by telling us straight away what the menace to Tokyo is, while here the festivities start with series of ships exploding and sinking under mysterious circumstances. Following several attacks scientist correctly come to believe a giant dinosaur---with fiery death breath---has been created from atomic testing. Soon Godzilla comes ashore to wage a campaign of destruction that turns the city of Tokyo into fiery rubble, leaving wide scale destruction and serious property damage city wide. The only hope is in trying to convince scientist Dr. Serizawa to use his powerful new invention, a super weapon, the dreaded ‘Oxygen Destroyer’ for a truly compelling and ironically somber ending. With more character development here, this shows more of the anti-war theme, human suffering and helplessness that was lost in the American version.

Special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya wanted to use stop motion f/x, but to do so in the same tradition of ‘King Kong’ would have taken about 7 years. Obviously time and money didn’t allow it so the man in a suit monster was born in Japan with a host of miniatures to be destroyed. Sure they are low budget and obviously models but it’s easily overlook.

While Godzilla went on to often become campy, kid friendly and even comical [Highland Fling anyone?], the original is a grim and serious film concerning the horrors of the H-Bomb, Radiation and Massive Destruction it can and did cause with Gojira - Godzilla as a metaphor. The film met with plenty of success spawning many sequels and numerous giant monsters that stomped Japan in to oblivion for many many years to follow, while the original ‘Gojira’, is the still reigning KING. Again, if you are a fan of the Big G and haven’t seen this Japanese version, I urge you to do so. It’s well worth the time spent.

Classic Media DVD has released an excellent 2 Disc [Hell Yeah] Edition in a kickass little book bound case with a 16 Page Booklet.

Disc: 1
The Original Uncut 98 minute Japanese Version in a Native Hi-Definition Master from the 35mm Print shot in crisp black & white at Fullframe.
Godzilla Story Development, a 12 minute Featurette explaining how the story came about with numerous Stills and Storyboards.
Making of the Godzilla Suit, a 13 minute Featurette that explores the F/x and the idea going with the man in the suit monster which I had never been done prior.
Audio Commentaries by Steve Ryfle & Ed Godzisewski.
Original Japanese Trailer.

Disc: 2
The 80 minute American Version.
Audio Commentary
The weak Original American Trailer

A Few Trivia Notes:
- Godzilla’s Monolithic Hellish Roar was created by dragging a resin-coated leather glove up and down the strings of a countrabass [double bass] and slowing it during playback. I for one think is fantastic.
- Eiji Tsuburaya, the film's special effects director, originally envisioned Godzilla as a giant octopus. [Thankfully that changed].
- The name Gojira is a combination of the Japanese words for gorilla (gorira) and whale (kujira).
- There was a common misconception that the name "Godzilla" was Americanized by its US distributors from Gojira. The name Godzilla was actually the idea of Tôhô Studios and its international market.

Godzilla Filmography under the U.S. titles. Most of which where re-edited with American footage.
First Wave
1. Godzilla
2. Gigantis: The Fire Monster
3. King Kong vs. Godzilla
4. Godzilla vs. The Thing
5. Ghidorah-The Three Headed Monster
6. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero
7. Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster
8. Son of Godzilla
9. Destroy all Monsters
10. Godzilla’s Revenge
11. Godzilla vs. Hedorah
12. Godzilla vs. Gigan
13. Godzilla vs. Megalon
14. Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla
15. Terror of MechaGodzilla

Second Wave
16. Godzilla 1985
17. Godzilla vs. Biolante
18. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
19. Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth
20. Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla 2
21. Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
22. Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

New Millennium
23. Godzilla 2000
24. Godzilla vs. Megaguirus
25. Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monster All Out Attack
26. Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla
27. Godzilla Tokyo S. O. S.
28. Godzilla: Final Wars

I wouldn’t mind having this Original 1 Sheet

But the asking price $5,595.00 is.…yeah!

Classic Media DVD Promotion Trailer

Original Japanese Trailer