ENDED

50 years ago, Tomoyuki Tanaka, a producer for the Toho Motion Picture Co., Japan’s leading film studio, had a brainstorm: why not make the first home-grown monster-on-the-loose movie? Employing the most special effects ever for a Japanese movie, the ensuing production was even more costly than Toho’s other epic that year, Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai. But Tanaka’s gamble paid off: Gojira (that’s Godzilla to us) proved to be box office gold, spinning off fifty years (and still counting) of sequels and a whole new genre — the kaiju eiga, or Japanese monster movie. Tanaka and his original Godzilla team — director Ishiro Honda, composer Akira Ifukube, special effects genius Eiji Tsuburaya, et al. — were the key talents behind a new Toho universe that would also spawn Rodan, Mothra, King Ghidorah, and all their over-sized cousins. . . as well as legions of devoted fans around the world. This sampling of 50 years of Toho monsters, from the very first Godzilla (in both Japanese & U.S. versions) to the New York premiere of its 26th sequel, includes some films screening for the first time ever in their original Japanese (and English-subtitled) versions.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SHOZO WATANABE, MASAHARU INA, MASAKI FUJIWARA, TETSUSHI SUDO (TOHO CO. LTD.), MICHAEL SCHLESINGER, SUSANNE HOLZMAN (SONY PICTURES REPERTORY), ERIC DI BERNARDO (RIALTO PICTURES), BOB O’NEIL & PAUL GINSBURG (UNIVERSAL PICTURES), DENNIS BARTOK (AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE) AND THESE ACE KAIJU EIGA AFICIONADOS FROM ACROSS THE NATION: STEVE RYFLE (AUTHOR OF JAPAN’S FAVORITE MON-STAR), KEITH AIKEN (HENSHINONLINE.COM), LEE KAPLAN, GREG PFLUGFELDER (COLUMBIA UNIV.), AND ED GODZISZEWSKI (PUBLISHER OF JAPANESE GIANTS).

PROGRAMMED BY BRUCE GOLDSTEIN & WILLIAM HOHAUSER

GODZILLA®, ALL RELATED CHARACTERS AND THE CHARACTER DESIGNS ARE TRADEMARKS OF TOHO CO., LTD.
PHOTOS: © 1954-2003 TOHO CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF ALL FILMS BY DATE & TITLE

LINKS:

• VIEW THE GODZILLA TRAILER
• POSTERITATI Presents JAPANESE MONSTERS; Film Poster Exhibition August 10 - September 7
• GODZILLA RETURNS (San Francisco Chronicle)
• A MONSTER MOVIE CAREER (San Francisco Chronicle)
• A GODZILLA TIME LINE (San Francisco Chronicle)
• GODZILLA IN HIS GLORY (New York Daily News)
• INTERVIEW WITH "THE MAN IN THE SUIT" (New York Press)
• GODZILLA REVIEW IN THE VILLAGE VOICE
• GODZILLA REVIEW IN THE NEW YORKER
• GODZILLA POSTER EXHIBITION AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

GODZILLA: THE UNCUT ORIGINAL
(SUBTITLED)
(1954, ISHIRO HONDA) H-Bomb tests unleash a giant radioactive Jurassic-era monster whose Tokyo temper tantrum can’t be stopped by conventional weapons. But what about the mysterious Dr. Serizawa and his “Oxygen Destroyer?” Re-edited for U.S. release, this is the uncut, undubbed and uncensored Japanese original — with 40 minutes of footage deleted from the “Raymond Burr version” (see Sept. 1). “Magnificent. . . Visionary . . . The great movie monster of the post World War II era. ” – J. Hoberman, Village Voice. Approx. 98 min.
2:45, 6:25, 10:05
Click here for more information about GODZILLA & film trailer.

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!
(1968, ISHIRO HONDA) Mt. Fuji-based aliens from the planet Kilaak use their remotes to destroy New York, Peking and Moscow — via Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan. An all-star Toho monster mash, with Anguirus, Baragon, Spiega, and multi-headed King Ghidorah just for starters! “The ultimate Japanese monster movie!” – Michael Weldon, The Psychotronic Encyclopedia. Approx. 89 min.
1:00, 4:40, 8:20

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MOTHRA
(SUBTITLED)
(1961, ISHIRO HONDA) When two identical six-inch twin princesses, guardians of a mysterious giant egg, are kidnapped and forced to sing in a Japanese nightclub, the egg’s larva transforms into a really pissed-off giant moth. One of the best-loved of all kaiju eiga, with the memorable title song performed by “The Peanuts.” Approx. 101 min.
1:00, 4:35, 8:10

GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER
(SUBTITLED)
(1966, JUN FUKUDA) The original Japanese sub-title says it all: Great Battle in the South Seas. The Big G teams with Mothra to battle Ebirah, a giant crab-like crustacean, and nuke-toting terrorists “The Red Bamboo.” “An underrated entry in the Godzilla canon.” – Steve Ryfle. Approx. 87 min.
2:55, 6:30, 10:05

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BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE
(1960, ISHIRO HONDA) When Earth is attacked by flying saucers in the year 1965, a new super-weapon is sent to clash with the alien invaders. Featuring an Akira Ifukube score and impressive Eiji Tsuburaya special effects, including the destruction of the Golden Gate Bridge and the burning of New York! Approx. 84 min.
1:00, 4:15, 7:30

THE H-MAN
(1958, ISHIRO HONDA) The Blob, Nippon style, as cops and crooks take on radioactive creatures that turn men and women into pools of living green ooze. One of Honda’s most serious antinuclear films, though this dubbed version features a scene in which every single character has the unmistakable voice of Paul Frees (Rocky & Bullwinkle’s “Boris Badenov”). Approx. 79 min.
2:40, 5:55, 9:10

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GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS!
(“RAYMOND BURR” VERSION)
(1956, ISHIRO HONDA & TERRY MORSE) A post-Rear Window, pre-Perry Mason Raymond Burr stars as reporter Steve Martin (you heard us), who stops over in Tokyo just in time for the scoop of the century. Burr’s scenes, inserted into the Japanese original, were filmed in Hollywood in a single day. Approx. 80 min.
2:55, 6:20, 9:45

GODZILLA VS. MONSTER ZERO
(1965, ISHIRO HONDA) In exchange for a miracle drug that would wipe out all disease, Earth lends its prized monsters Godzilla and Rodan to help rid far-off Planet X of the eponymous terror — 3-headed King Ghidorah — but astronauts Nick Adams and Akira Takarada get hip to the Xians’ ulterior motive. aka Invasion of the Astro-Monster. Approx. 94 min.
1:00, 4:30, 7:55

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SON OF GODZILLA
(SUBTITLED)
(1967, JUN FUKUDA) U.N. weather control experiments on the Pacific island of Solgell cause the local plants and animals to grow to monstrous proportions, unleashing a horde of giant mantises — not to mention Spiega, a humungous spider — that terrorize the newly-hatched toddler of the title. But where’s Mrs. Godzilla? Approx. 84 min.
1:00, 4:15, 7:30

TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA
(1975, ISHIRO HONDA) Aliens, with the help of vengeful scientist Akihiko Hirata, send giant dinosaur Titanosaurus and cyborg monster MechaGodzilla to duke it out with the Real McCoy. Honda’s directorial and Godzilla farewell, aka The Terror of Godzilla. Approx. 83 min.
2:40, 5:55, 9:10

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KING KONG VS. GODZILLA
(1962, ISHIRO HONDA) The mighty Kong, drugged by stoop-to-anything advertising men and dumped at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and Godzilla, freshly liberated from an Arctic iceberg after a U.S. atomic sub accident, go head to head for a TohoScope and color battle royale. Approx. 90 min.
1:00, 4:30, 8:00

GHIDRAH: THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER
(1964, ISHIRO HONDA) A princess from the tiny kingdom of Selgina predicts the world’s destruction by three-headed, fire-breathing space dragon King Ghidorah [sic], soon to make a spectacular entrance via fireball. It’s up to Godzilla and new allies Rodan and Mothra to stop him. English-dubbed with Spanish subtitles! Approx. 93 min.
2:45, 6:15, 9:45

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GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH
(SUBTITLED)
(2003, SHUSUKE KANEKO) Mothra and King G as “guardian” monsters protect the Earth from Godzilla — now a blank-eyed, blood-thirsty killer possessed by the vengeful spirits of innocents killed in WWII! Approx. 105 min.
SUN 2:00, 6:00, 10:00
MON 6:00, 10:00

GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH
(1995, TAKAO OKAWARA) The “Oxygen Destroyer” of the 1954 original inadvertently brings forth a new, even more fearsome giant monster — Destoroyah! — while a glowing red Godzilla may be on the verge of meltdown. Approx. 103 min.
SUN/MON 4:00, 8:00

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RODAN
(1956, ISHIRO HONDA) After wolfing down a swarm of giant dragonflies, a newly-hatched pterodactyl grows to enormous proportions, with giant wings that allow him to fly at supersonic speed — wreaking atomic-level destruction throughout Japan. But what’s that shrill screech coming from the volcano? Approx. 70 min.
2:30

GIGANTIS: THE FIRE MONSTER
(1955, MOTOYOSHI ODA) Don’t let the title fool you: it’s Godzilla with an alias, in the very first sequel and the rarest of them all. A second Godzilla takes its grudge match to Osaka to do battle with fourlegged, spiky-backed reptile Anguirus. aka Godzilla Raids Again. Approx. 78 min.
1:00

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GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS
(SUBTITLED)
(2001, MASAAKI TEZUKA) When The Dimension Tide, a device that creates artificial black holes, is used to rid the world of Godzilla, it lets in a new breed of constantly-multiplying, shape-changing giant insects, presenting an ever more powerful and baffling foe for the King of the Monsters. Approx. 105 min.
3:10, 7:10

GODZILLA 2000
(1999, TAKAO OKAWARA) A long-dormant alien spacecraft at the bottom of the sea awakens and releases the genie-like essence of Orga, latest in a line of super-kaiju. Guess who gets to save us? “Lively, engaging series entry with fine effects and sharp script.” – Leonard Maltin. Approx. 99 min.
1:10, 5:10, 9:10

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GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH
(SUBTITLED)

(1991, KAZUKI OMORI) Time travelers from Earth’s future offer to go back to 1944 to remove the living fossil, Godzillasaurus, from the island where H-Bomb tests would have caused it to mutate into the fearsome fire-breathing giant of legend. A good plan... but then King Ghidorah rears his ugly three heads. Approx. 100 min.
1:00, 4:40, 8:20

GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA
(SUBTITLED)
(2002, MASAAKI TEZUKA) Facing yet another Godzilla attack, Japan’s Ministry of Science readies Kiryu, a MechaGodzilla built using the skeleton and DNA of the 1954 original. But is that such a smart idea? This is Vol. 1 of the epic that concludes with Tokyo S.O.S. (see Sept. 9). Approx. 88 min.
2:55, 6:35, 10:15

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GODZILLA, MOTHRA, MECHAGODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S.
(SUBTITLED)

(2003, MASAAKI TEZUKA) The tiny identical twin princesses from Infant Island show up with good news: Mothra will help fight Godzilla. The bad news: Mothra sees MechaGodzilla as an affront to nature and will attack the Earth if humans insist on using it! A sequel to the original Mothra and 2002’s Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla brings the “Kiryu Saga” to an action-packed conclusion. Approx. 91 min.
1:20, 3:20, 5:40, 7:40, 9:30

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