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Gojira / Godzilla (1954)
AKA: Daikaiju no tai Mairu (1954), G (1954), Godzilla (1956), Godzilla King of the Monsters (1956), Godzilla the Sea
Beast (1956), Kaiju o Gojira (1957)
Directed By: Ishiro Honda
Produced By: Tomoyuki Tanaka
Written By: Ishiro Honda and Shigeru Kayama
Music By: Akira Ifukube
Cast:
Akira Takarada as Officer Hideto Ogata
Momoko Kochi as Emiko Yamane
Akihiko Hirata as Dr. Daisuke Serizawa
Takashi Shimura as Dr. Kyohei Yamane
Fuyuki Murakami as Dr. Tabata
Sachio Sakai as Reporter Hagiwara
Toranosuke Ogawa as President Nankai Shipping Co.
Ren Yamamoto as Masaji Sieji
Takeo Oikawa as Chief of Emergency Headquarters
Seijiro Onda as Mr. Oyama
Toyoaki Suzuki as Shinkichi Sieji
Kokuten Kodo as Gisaku: Oto Island Patriarch
Kin Sugai as Miss Ozawa
Runtime: 98 Minutes Japan / 79 Minutes USA (Godzilla)
Color: Black and White
Sound: Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic)
Technical Specifications:
Laboratory: Kinuta Laboratories, Japan
Film Negative and Printed Film Format: 35mm
Cinematographic Process: Spherical
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Released: November 3, 1954
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GOJIRA - SYNOPSIS / HISTORY
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1954 would see the birth of Japan's number one international movie sensation Gojira. (Pronounced godzeeda)
American fans would come to know the monster as Godzilla. (Correct translation from Japanese to English) After
twenty-seven sequels Godzilla still reigns as Monster Movie King. No movie icon can boast as much stamina as this
behemoth with it's nearly fifty year career. (2004) Many a monster has tried and as many have failed to topple the king.
Yet it all started simply enough as a movie inspired by "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" and a tool to show the
horrors that could arise from the use of nuclear weapons.
Godzilla was awakened from it's million year sleep by nuclear bomb tests in the South Pacific. Ships at sea began to
disappear and tribes on far away islands began to report sightings of an ancient Sea God. Known to them as Gojira.
Steve Martin (Raymond Burr added to the original Japanese version to satisfy American audiences), a Chicago
newspaper reporter, is in Tokyo to visit an old friend when these strange events begin to occur. Being a reporter Martin
begins his own investigation smelling a hot story. Martin pulls a few strings and tags along on a mission to Odo island
to get to the bottom of the disappearances. A sudden tropical storm brings more than just rain and wind. The
three-hundred foot tall terror known as Godzilla makes his first appearance to the terrified mass of villagers and
government officials. Godzilla would take little time to reach Japan. One night he rises from Tokyo Bay and destroys half
the city. The Japanese military is no match for the monster. Conventional weapons have no effect. The Air Force does
manage to chase the beast back into the bay but, the destruction left behind was without equal. The following night he
would return to finish the job. Martin himself, with microphone in hand, would fall victim to the destruction. Japan would
seem to be helpless. The last hope for the nation would come from a little known invention of Dr. Serizawa that
removes oxygen from sea water. In a last ditch effort two brave divers, one Dr. Serizawa himself, locate Godzilla in the
bay and place the Oxygen Destroyer near the monster. Once activated the device kills everything alive in the bay
including Godzilla. Serizawa chooses to die alongside the monster so that the world could not learn the plans for the
weapon he had created.
A true classic in the history of monster films.
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GOJIRA - DVD PRESS RELEASE
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CLASSIC MEDIA BRINGS THE JAPANESE MONSTER OF MASS DESTRUCTION TO DVD WITH THE
RELEASE OF THE ORIGINAL
GOJIRA (aka GODZILLA)
The Complete, Uncut, Japanese Original Available on DVD
For the First Time Ever On September 5, 2006
The Release is Part of a Monster DVD 2-Pack, Which Includes Both Gojira
And the US Version, Godzilla: King of the Monsters
NEW YORK, NY (March 10, 2006) – Move over King Kong! Godzilla is back! On September 5, Classic Media will
release the complete, uncut, Japanese original, Gojira (Godzilla), on DVD for the first time ever in the US. From
legendary Japanese filmmaker Ishiro Honda, Gojira quickly became a monster classic. Gojira will only be available as
part of a special DVD 2-pack that also includes the re-edited US version, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, starring
Raymond Burr. Both versions have been digitally remastered in HD widescreen. The Gojira/Godzilla: King of the
Monsters DVD 2-pack stomps onto retail shelves late summer for $21.98 SRP.
Robert Mayo, SVP of Home Video at Classic Media, said, “It’s really exciting to be able to finally bring this classic film to
DVD for the American audience. Fans have been looking forward to the release of Gojira for several years.”
For more information and updates closer to release date, fans can log onto www.godzillaondvd.com.
A Monster Metaphor
Ishiro Honda’s 1954 black-and-white classic spawned a new genre called the “kaiju eiga” or, Japanese monster
movie, giving way to countless sequels. With its 50th anniversary theatrical re-release in 2004, audiences
rediscovered the strong anti-nuclear message of the original Gojira film.
Gojira contains 40 minutes of footage that was not seen as part of the re-edited, re-dubbed Americanized Godzilla:
King of Monsters. In the US version 40 minutes were cut and 20 minutes of new scenes were added, starring
Raymond Burr as an American reporter. As a result, the original tone of the movie was changed and the anti-H-Bomb
message dropped.
Gojira (1954)
Run Time: 98 minutes
When several ships mysteriously explode and sink off the coast of Japan, the country begins to panic. Authorities are
convinced that the unexplained activity was caused by underwater mines or volcanoes and sends officials to Odo
Island to investigate. Days later, something comes ashore and destroys several neighboring houses, killing many
locals. Renowned paleontologist, Dr. Kyohei Yemane (Takashi Shimura), is called to lead a new expedition and
uncovers the source of the problem – a 400-foot tall mutant dinosaur the natives call Gojira. The Doctor insists that the
monster, which was awakened from a million-year sleep by nuclear bomb tests in the South Pacific, be studied not
destroyed. Gojira soon begins a rampage that threatens to destroy Japan. Can the powerful monster be eliminated
before it is too late?
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)
Run Time: 78 minutes
When American reporter Steve Martin, played by Raymond Burr, investigates a series of mysterious disasters off the
coast of Japan, he comes face to face with an ancient creature so powerful and terrifying, it can reduce Tokyo to a
smoldering graveyard. Nuclear weapon testing resurrected this relic from the Jurassic age, and now this behemoth is
stomping and smashing his way through the city. Conventional weapons are useless against him; but scientist Dr.
Serizawa has discovered a weapon that could destroy all life in the bay – including Godzilla! But, which disaster is
worse, Godzilla’s fury, or the death of Tokyo Bay?
About Classic Media
Classic Media owns and manages some of the world’s most recognizable family properties across all media
including feature film, television, home video and consumer products. The company’s extensive library features a
diverse collection of popular animated and live-action characters such as: Casper the Friendly Ghost, Rudolph the Red-
Nosed Reindeer, The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Underdog and Rocky & Bullwinkle.
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