Godzilla (1954)
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 "Godzilla was baptized in the fire of the H-bomb and survived. What could kill it now?" - Dr. Kyohei Yamane
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"If nuclear testing continues, then someday, somewhere in the world, another Godzilla may appear."
— Kyohei Yamane
Godzilla is a 1954 Japanese science fiction and horror film distributed by Toho Pictures. After hydrogen bomb testing awakens a giant prehistoric creature, it goes on a rampage through the heart of Tokyo, killing the population and infecting any survivors with radiation. Only the young Dr. Daisuke Serizawa knows of a possible way to stop the monster, but he has a moral conflict over using his Oxygen Destroyer to kill the monster. Initially made to fill a slot left by a cancelled Indonesian-Japanese co-production, Godzilla became a hit and launched not only the kaiju genre, but also propelled special effects forward with revolutionary techniques still in use to this very day.
Plot
After a giant reptile attacks two fishing trawlers, a fact finding party ventures out to Odo Island to confirm the claims of a giant creature. Traces of irradiation are detected and soon the party locates the creature, known to the Odo Islanders as Godzilla. Paleontologist Kyohei Yamane speculates Godzilla, a prehistoric reptile from the Jurassic period, was awakened via hydrogen bomb testing and wants to preserve the creature.
Scientist Daisuke Serizawa shows Kyohei's daughter Emiko his new invention, Micro Oxygen, which has incredibly destructive capabilities. Soon after, Godzilla trashes a trainyard and port on the coastline. Eventually, the Japanese Self Defence Force is mobilised and powerlines are erected upon the coastline to deter the monster. It eventually breaks through and rampages through Tokyo, causing a large loss of life. Anyone not killed outright by the monster's destruction is given a death sentence via fatal doses of radiation.
Emiko, sworn to secrecy by Serizawa, breaks her vow and tells her partner, Hideto Ogata about Micro Oxygen. Initially refusing due to his fear of Micro-Oxygen being manipulated as a weapon, via the Oxygen Destroyer, a larger device Serizawa created that uses Micro Oxygen. Eventually he is moved to tears by a televised Prayer for Peace. He burns his research and only agrees to deploy the Oxygen Destroyer once. And use it once he does, sacrificing himself to prevent Micro Oxygen being used as a weapon later on. Dr. Yamane is hurt by the loss of his pupil and the death of Godzilla, pondering that if nuclear testing continues, another Godzilla will awaken...
Why This Film Reigns As King
- Takeo Murata and Ishiro Honda created a story that almost plays out like a documentary, introducing the human leads and the main "antagonist" Godzilla, and following them until the end of the movie.
- While actively portrayed as an antagonist, Godzilla is less of a villain and more of a tragic figure. Disfigured by nuclear testing, he seeks revenge on humanity.
- Out of all the actors, Akihiko Hirata stands out the most as Daisuke Serizawa, bringing an angle of mystery and tragedy to the film. He breaks the mold of the "mad scientist" role by being not only quite sane, but upholding a policy of pacifism and peacefulness throughout the movie. When he chooses to incite pain, he pays the ultimate price.
- Akira Ifukube's score lead to one of the most unique movie soundtracks ever, inciting many emotions in the viewer like fear, dread and even grief and sadness.
- The special effects shots as directed by Eiji Tsuburaya are truly the highlight of the movie. Despite being at such a miniscule scale (~1:35 scale) they are incredibly well detailed and almost look like their larger counterparts.
- Haruo Nakajima's performance as Godzilla is unique in the best possible way. After having studied bears and elephants and struggling through the 200lb suit, he delivered a physical performance once could describe as legendary.
- The messaging against nuclear warfare lingers over the whole movie in the best possible way, leaving an impression on every viewer, be it a first time viewer or a seasoned veteran of the genre.
Irradiating Qualities
- For as impressive the actual suit is, the shots of the hand puppet have aged the worst. Having no weight and moving around with incredible ease, they can be very immersion breaking for the average viewer.
- Dr. Yamane is a terrible paleontologist, as he estimates the Jurassic period as occuring two million years ago instead of 200-145 million years ago.
- It's a relatively minor fault, but nobody turns on the television before the Prayer for Peace scene in Serizawa's laboratory.
Trivia
- Godzilla was created because the Toho-Perfini co-production In the Shadow of Glory was cancelled in pre-production. Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka brainstormed the idea of Godzilla on his flight back to Japan.
- An American version of the film was released in 1956 in America and 1957 in the UK and Australia as Godzilla: King of the Monsters!. It was edited down to 80 minutes and features American actor Raymond Burr playing reporter Steven Martin spliced into the film.
- A Filipino version of the film was released in 1957 as Tokyo 1960. It allegedly discards the drama unit footage in favour of new footage of local actors. The film is lost, likely decayed by the humid weather of the Phillipines.
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