Japan Release: 1964
Running Time: 81 minutes

Dogora

宇宙大怪獣ドゴラ
[Uchu Daikaiju Dogora]

A television satellite is mysteriously destroyed in orbit above Japan. Not long after, a mysterious creature suddenly appears on Earth and interrupts a burglary by the International Diamond Robbery Ring. Their targets, precious diamonds, vanish as a result of the creature. As the gang sets their sight on other targets, this alerts the police. However, humanity is also tracking reports of incidents caused by the space monsters. For example, a coal truck was lifted off the ground by an unknown force and taken into the atmosphere. It's eventually deduced that the space creature is after carbon, targeting sources like the diamonds and coal. Meanwhile, the International Diamond Robbery Ring heightens their efforts after a string of failed attempts, while the giant space monster Dogora appears likely to make a strike over Dokaiwan Bay...

Live Action Science Fiction Kaiju

Titles

Dogora

Dagora, the Space Monster
US Distributor: AIP (1965) / Time: 79 Minutes

Space Monster Dogora
[Literal Translation]

Space Monster Dogora
[Japan English Title]

Monsters

Aliens, SDF & Misc.

Staff

Cast

Posters

Toho Stock Footage

DVDs and Blu-rays

CD Soundtracks

Background and Trivia

• Toho submitted the film to the US copyright office on August 9th, 1989 with the registration number of PA0000435879. The movie was submitted under its international title, Dogora, and Romaji title, Uchu-Daikaiju Dogora.
• The initial concept depicted in storyboards for the movie was more futuristic, similar to Gorath (1962) and Atragon (1963). In these storyboards, a large space station appears similar to Space Station JSS-3 from Battle in Outer Space (1959). This, along with space ships, simply referred to as "rocket planes" in the storyboards, appear in the film and are destroyed by the creatures. In addition, Markalite Cannon-like weapons, called Beta-ray Generators, are what destroy the Dogoras by blasting them into another substance. This is documented in the Space Mons lost project, which became Dogora.
• During an interview, actor Robert Dunham projects that filming for the movie lasted about six to eight weeks. Mentioned in Japan's Favorite Mon-Star (ISBN: 1550223488).
• Mentioned during an interview with actor Robert Dunham, Toho was very excited about the Mark Jackson character in the movie. In fact, they envisioned making a series of films featuring the character. They had such faith in the idea that they sent the actor, Robert Dunham, to Hollywood to both negotiate a distribution deal for the movie Dogora and kindle interest in a series on the character. Unfortunately, Dunham accounts how he was given a lowball offer for Dogora while the prospect of more movies on Mark Jackson was dashed when it was noted that he wasn't a name actor and it was hard to gauge his performance with the dubbing. He believes this is why Nick Adams, who was known in the States, was picked for later movies like Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965). Noted in Japan's Favorite Mon-Star (ISBN: 1550223488).

Concept Art

Reviews