Talkback Thread #3: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

[Gojira-Fan]

While the Japanese version of KING KONG VS. GODZILLA is good, I think it is my least favorite Honda Godzilla film.

[Giga Kaiju]

King Kong Vs Godzilla is easily one of my favorites in the Showa Series,
when i first saw i love it from beggining to end is just so awesome (not more than Mothra Vs Godzilla,
Ghidrah, or the others) but still a really Good One in my Opinion.

[TokyoVigilante]

My favorite Godzilla film (of all time), as I recently discovered. I'm speaking of course of the Japanese cut.

This film is nothing short of incredible. It's as ambitious and groundbreaking as Gojira while being the exact opposite of that film. While Gojira is a dark and brooding film that works on a very small scale, dealing with serious global political issues, King Kong vs. Godzilla on the other hand is a brightly colored spectacle on a grand and epic scale (befitting the wide-screen format) and deals instead with relevant social issue in japan at the time.

Acting wise, the performances are all around solid. Osamu Sakurai (Tadao Takashima) and Kinsaburo Furue (Yu Fujiki) shine as the films protagonists; two employees of Pacific Pharmaceuticals that reluctantly agree to exploring Faro Island. While individually there isn't a whole lot note-worthy about either of them, together they have great chemistry. With the cynical straight man Sakurai playing off the cowardly Furue very well. It's no surprise that these two would be brought together for similar roles a year later in Atragon. Kenji Sahara gives a rather placid performance as the pleasant inventor boyfriend Kazuo Fujita. But the real star of the films human cast is Ichiro Arishima as Mr. Tako. This maniacal character is the closest the film ever gets to an antagonist, but Mr. Tako doesn't have a mean bone in his body, despite how frenzied and obsessed he becomes, taking the media circus that Godzilla creates as a personal insult as it pushes his explorers out of the lime light. You also get two future Bond Girls Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama who don't get a lot to do, and Jun Tazaki and Akihiko Hirata pop in to say hello through the course of the film.

Story wise, the film starts out sharp and efficient, but between Godzilla's clash with the high tension wires and the re-capture of Kong in Tokyo, the film seems to lose itself. The pacing dips and we jump around not sure of what to focus on, but luckily composure is regained for the final act. Sekizawa's writing would become much more focused for pretty much every subsequent film after this one, but none would be quite as grand in scale. While the jumping around is something that hurts the film for the middle portion, it's this moving around during the first act that sets up the film that gives it this scope that no other film in the franchise would be able to achieve.

Much like the writing, the special effects also lack refinement. But they do have variety. Men in suits, live animals, stop motion animation, hand puppets, and traditional animation are all present and it's all fascinating to look at and makes every scene (combined with the ever changing scenery) always fresh and interesting to look at.

Monster wise, we have the fantastic Godzilla suit here. A gleefully destructive brute that gushes personality. While the Kong suit lacks the same level of detail the Godzilla suit has, it's not without its charm. I've always liked it's Ogre-ish appearance, but much like the mid-Showa Rodan, all it has going for it is some subjective charm that I enjoy. It's unfortunately lacking, but the only real stand out special effects blunder in the film.

Musically speaking, this has my favorite score by Ifukube. Much like the scenery and effects, it's shines in the department of variety but it's also a pretty simple score and fits each scene in the film perfectly.

Thematically, the film is a satire of media sensationalism and commercialism, which is a stand out and unique direction to take a monster movie. Sekizawa routinely enjoyed combining elements show business with giant monsters (Mothra, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidora, Godzilla vs. Gigan) but this is the most unfiltered and blunt presentation of this idea and I think it's fascinating.

This film is far from perfect, but it's still my favorite for the variety of special effects, the originality of the screen play, the epic scale, and it's thematic content. I love this movie. 10/10, 5 thumbs out of 5, 100% rotten stars, two meta-critics up, etc. whatever.

Also, the final battle on Mt. Fuji is easily the best kaiju confrontation, if not one of the best, in the entire franchise (if not genre).

[Tamura]

Ichiro Arishima as Mr. Tako reminds me of Claude Rains' performance as Professor Challenger in Irwin Allen's THE LOST WORLD. That's not meant as an insult at all. I absolutely ADORE Mr. Tako!



I also admire the film for its sheer scale. There are TONS of extras, recognizable faces, detailed miniatures, an amazing Ifukube score and so much more. The combination of 'scope, color and 4-track magnetic stereo reminds me of the huge Hollywood epics of the mid '50s to the early '60s.

And the ending fight is just classic.

[TokyoVigilante]

That grand Ben-Hur feeling of high adventure and scope is what stands out more to me then its distinct straight comedic tone. To be that kind of film and one that doesn't rely on sci-fi tropes like space rockets and alien invaders? Incredible. I wish more Godzilla films were done like that.

[Rockzilla]

I finally watched the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla for the first time this year. It was Tamura's awesome restoration.

Now I can say I officially love the movie again. As a kid I loved the John Beck version, but when I picked up the recent Universal dvd I didn't feel that same fondness I had as a kid. The Japanese version is definitely a better film. I was quite surprised to find out the American actors were actually dubbed over in the John Beck version. I can't say I blame them since they were horrible. It was really cool to hear GOJIRA in english though heh.

[Space Hunter M]

I was quite surprised to find out the American actors were actually dubbed over in the John Beck version. I can't say I blame them since they were horrible.

"Captain!, the atomic fuel rod is damaaaged!"

[Tamura]

Here is the exciting US theatrical trailer which uses stock THIS ISLAND EARTH cues to good effect, giving it a great, '50s Universal monster atmosphere. I recreated the trailer without text:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlu6dOqKBEE

[RedZillaKing]

I've always been a bit sad that this Godzilla suit was a one shot. It's just beautiful and reptilian and bulky and far more intimidating than anything else in the Showa series. Part of the reason the Godzilla 2000 suit is so f****** fantastic is because it seems to draw
(some) inspiration from the 62 suit.

[Goji]

Here is the exciting US theatrical trailer which uses stock THIS ISLAND EARTH cues to good effect, giving it a great, '50s Universal monster atmosphere. I recreated the trailer without text:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlu6dOqKBEE

This is bad ass man. Nice work!

[Tamura]

Thanks! You may notice that it is longer than the splicy copy featured on the ALL MONSTER ATTACK compilation.

[Ethan]

Restoring the trailers is a great idea. Do you think there's a way to replicate the text/transitions in them? Because until prints of these trailers are found this is the best way to go.

Speaking of which, I've noticed some music from It Came From Outer Space and The Deadly Mantis in there.

[Tamura]

I don't know how to replicate the font of the text very easily, but I'm good at adding gate weave, which makes the text look more like optical supers.

[Space Hunter M]

Here is the exciting US theatrical trailer which uses stock THIS ISLAND EARTH cues to good effect, giving it a great, '50s Universal monster atmosphere. I recreated the trailer without text:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlu6dOqKBEE

Oh man, that's some great recreation work you did there.
The U.S. trailer alone, from what I've seen, is better and more exciting than the John Beck cut itself.

You should seriously consider doing this with more trailers.

[RogueShuffler]

Love this movie and I always will. Awesome plot, awesome characters, and the acting isnt as terrible as some later G films. Even some of the dubbing is acceptable (havent seen the japanese version yet) I actually really like the Godzilla suit in this movie something about it just really clicks with me, dunno what it is. Kong and Godzilla both have a lot of personality here too, and when they fight it is something that really just grabs your attention. One of the best Showa films in my opinion

[Space Hunter M]

Concerning the trailer, any chance I can secure a copy for my own, personal viewing?

[Tamura]

Don't you all just love Pashin Boy?

[King Caesar]

.

"After years of work, I found the square root of nine is threeee!!"

Now that I've had my fun, KKvG is probably one of my favorite early Godzilla movies. It may not have the glitz and glamour of Mothra vs Godzilla or the original, but I just like this movie for so many reasons...I grew up on it really. (Along with MvG, but I think the lack of campy-ness kept me from liking it when I was younger)

[Goji]

^ Spoken for truth.

With that said though, I can't bear to watch the John Beck version anymore, which is odd, because I'm a sucker for nostalgia, and it was the second Godzilla film I ever saw. I think it's because the film's editing/pacing/changes in music are so much more jarring to me now that I'm older, that it almost ruins the film for me at times.

Hell, I can't even watch the R2 anymore after Tamura's restoration of the JP version. Nothing compares. I really am curious to see how Toho handles an eventual BD release..

[Space Hunter M]

I really am curious to see how Toho handles an eventual BD release..

I think they'll probably just use the HD broadcast.