Japan Release: 1974
Running Time: 84 minutes

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

ゴジラ対メカゴジラ
[Gojira Tai Mekagojira]

According to legend in Okinawa: when a black mountain appears above the clouds, a monster will appear to destroy the earth. The prophecy is discovered on a statue, recently uncovered and said to belong to the protector King Caesar. The prophecy's importance is quickly discovered, though, when Godzilla emerges after a black mountain visage is seen in the clouds. As Anguirus appears not long afterwards, Godzilla attacks and defeats him, causing confusion in onlookers for assaulting his close ally. The truth is shortly uncovered as a second, and the true, Godzilla emerges to reveal an alien invasion using a mechanical Godzilla...

Live Action Science Fiction KaijuGodzilla

Titles

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla

Godzilla vs. Bionic Monster
US Distributor: Cinema Shares (1977) / Time: 80 Minutes

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
[Literal translation]

Godzilla vs. Cosmic Monster
[Revised US Title]

King Kong vs. Godzilla
[German]

Godzilla vs. Robot
[Italian]

Monsters

Aliens, SDF & Misc.

Staff

Cast

Posters

Box Office

Toho Stock Footage

DVDs and Blu-rays

CD Soundtracks

Background and Trivia

• Toho submitted the film to the US copyright office on April 22nd, 1988 with the registration number of PA0000382933. The movie was submitted under its international title, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and a modified Romaji title of Godzilla tai Mechagodzilla that has the creatures' names in English.
• The film's sequel, Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), shows a map where the remains of Mechagodzilla are predicted. Although it covers a wide range of area, it is closest to the coast of Cape Maeda. It is also close to Zanpamisaki, where the lost project Giant Monsters Converge on Okinawa! Showdown in Zanpamisaki would have taken place. This is interesting as the distance between either Zanpamisaki or Cape Maeda and the Mechagodzilla base at the Gyokusen caves (often called Gyokusen-do) is over 45 kilometers. This would mean Mechagodzilla traveled a great distance by foot before arriving to battle King Caesar.
• Special Effects director Teruyoshi Nakano has stated that his favorite three films from his work, in terms of execution of the special effects, are Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla along with Submersion of Japan (1973) and The Return of Godzilla (1984). This detail is cited in Age of the Gods (self-published).
• The movie features stock music from Judo Saga (1965) and Son of Godzilla (1967).
• Cinema Shares got the US distribution rights and announced the movie as Godzilla vs. Bionic Monster in December of 1976. However, in a July 1977 issue of Variety it was reported that Universal Television, which was in the midst of the successful runs of The Six Million Dollar Man and its spin off The Bionic Woman, threatened legal action against Cinema Shares. They claimed that the usage of "bionic" in the title was a trademark infringement. Rather than fight it, Cinema Shares avoided the potential legal battle and changed the name to Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster. Mentioned in Japan's Favorite Mon-Star (ISBN: 1550223488).

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