Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956) Toho / Embassy - Science Fiction - Monsters


 IMDB

When American reporter Steve Martin investigates a series of mysterious disasters off the coast of Japan, he comes face to face with an ancient creature so powerful and so terrifying, it can reduce Tokyo to a smoldering graveyard. Nuclear weapon testing resurrected this relic from the Jurassic age, and now it's rampaging across Japan. At night, Godzilla wades through Tokyo leaving death and destruction in his wake, disappearing into Tokyo Bay when his rage subsides. Conventional weapons are useless against him; but renowned 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?

Discover more about Godzilla (1956) Film at IMDB

Wikipedia

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (Japanese: 怪獣王ゴジラ, Hepburn: Kaijū Ō Gojira)[6] is a 1956 kaiju film directed by Terry O. Morse and Ishirō Honda. It is a heavily re-edited American localization, commonly referred to as an "Americanization", of the 1954 Japanese film Godzilla. The film was a Japanese-American co-production, with the original footage produced by Toho Co., Ltd, and the new footage produced by Jewell Enterprises. The film stars Raymond Burr, Takashi Shimura, Momoko Kōchi, Akira Takarada, and Akihiko Hirata, with Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka as Godzilla. In the film, an American reporter covers a giant reptilian monster's attack on Japan.

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TCM

American reporter Steve Martin comes to amid the rubble of Tokyo, a city almost completely destroyed the previous night. After Steve is rescued and taken to a makeshift hospital, he thinks back to a few days before: On the way to a new post in Cairo, Steve flies to Tokyo to visit old college friend Dr. Serizawa, a prominent theoretical thinker. In the waters below Steve's plane, a ship bursts into flames and sinks, moments after sending out a distress signal. At the Tokyo airport, Steve is asked by security officer Tomo Iwanaga if he noticed anything unusual during the flight. Tomo sadly reveals that he does not know what they are dealing with, then takes Steve to the communications room of the company that owned the sunken vessel. As Steve and Tomo observe, it is revealed that a rescue ship dispatched to the area of the disaster sank in a similar manner. After eight ships are obliterated, the Japanese begin to panic as news of the disasters are broadcast throughout the world. A meeting of Japan's top officials is held and Dr. Yamane, one of Japan's greatest scientists, testifies as Steve looks on....

Discover more about Godzilla (1956) Film at TCM

Movie Trailer:


Crew:

Terry O. Morse – co-director, writer, supervising editor
Joseph E. Levine – executive producer
Terry Turner – executive producer
Ed Barison – executive producer
Ira Webb – assistant director
Art Smith – sound
George Rohrs – sets, sound effects
Guy Roe – cameraman

Cast:

Raymond Burr as Steve Martin
Takashi Shimura as Dr. Yamane
Momoko Kōchi as Emiko
Akira Takarada as Ogata
Akihiko Hirata as Dr. Serizawa
Sachio Sakai as Hagiwara
Fuyuki Murakami as Dr. Tabata
Ren Yamamoto as Seiji
Toyoaki Suzuki as Shinkichi
Tadashi Okabe as Dr. Tabata's Assistant
Toranosuke Ogawa as President of Company
Frank Iwanaga as Security Officer Tomo
Mikel Conrad as George Lawrence
James Hong as Ogata and Dr. Serizawa (English voices)
Sammee Tong as Dr. Yamane (English voice)
Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla
Katsumi Tezuka as Godzilla

Technical:

Edited by: Terry Morse
Music by: Akira Ifukube
Production companies: Toho Co., Ltd / Jewell Enterprises
Distributed by: TransWorld Releasing Corporation (US, West)
Embassy Pictures (US, East)
Toho (Japan)
Release dates:
April 4, 1956 (New York City)
April 27, 1956 (United States)
May 29, 1957 (Japan)
Running time: 80 minutes
Countries: Japan / United States
Languages:Japanese / English
Box office: $2 million (US rentals)


Blogs:

GODZILLA IS DEAD!

Our tale begins dramatically amidst the smoldering ruins of what was once a great city. Twisted girders, cracked, blistering sidewalks and the skeletal frames of demolished buildings paint a grim portrait of this smoldering memorial to the unknown. Tokyo, once a proud metropolis of six million people, is now a graveyard.

The mind is a curious thing. It takes so much for granted! Freedom, happiness, security....these are things we've lived with and accepted, but rarely appreciated. As I look across the crimson, still-smoking horizon, these ideals seem very far away, for what I see, and smell, and sense...is death. Perhaps I myself am dead, and this fiery, lifeless landscape is actually Hell! I don't know. I don't know anything anymore, except that I, as a man, as a member of the human race, have been dwarfed by a living nightmare. It has proven itself stronger, smarter...more powerful than the Earth itself! My world burns before me, and with it, my very soul.

My name was Steve Martin. I used to be a foreign correspondent for United World News. I was headed for a routine assignment in Cairo when I decided to stop off in Tokyo to see an old friend. But that was days ago...I was a man then.

Now I am part of the human wreckage, the rubble and blood and total destruction of last night. I am in a hospital, and all around me are the dead and the injured. Those who are alive are silent, thoughtless...they know it is only a matter of time before "It" strikes again.

Read more about Godzilla (1956) Film at The Traveler's Guide To The Galaxy

"Godzilla, King of the Monsters!" Released 55 Years Ago

Burr's scenes were filmed at tiny Visual Drama studios in Los Angeles on Vermont Avenue near First Street. The Frank del Olmo Elementary School now occupies the site and a commemorative plaque honoring Godzilla, King of the Monsters! is mounted at the school's entrance (above photo). The plaque was funded by fan contributions and co-sponsored by The Godzilla Society of North America and Platrix Chapter No. 2 of E Clampus Vitus. Terry Morse Jr. attended the plaque dedication.

Read more about Godzilla (1956) Film at Armand's Rancho Del Cielo


Comic Book Adaptations:

Marvel Comics

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1977-79)

For 24 issues, running from 1977 to 1979, Marvel Comics published Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which saw the title character marauding across U.S. soil for the very first time — long before Roland Emmerich's 1998 film effort and Gareth Edwards's 2014 reboot. But more than just an American odyssey, the comic series was also a sojourn through the Marvel Universe. Written by Doug Moench and illustrated primarily by Herb Trimpe (with Tom Sutton filling in for two issues), Marvel's Godzilla presented Toho Co. Ltd.'s biggest star in a manner that had never been seen before — and would never be seen again.

Note: The Marvel Comics series is not cannon to the Toho movie series.

Discover more about Godzilla Comic Books at Atomic Robot Comics


Toys And Other Merchandise:


Godzilla Shogun Figures 3 3/4-Inch ReAction Figure

With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound he pulls the spitting high tension wires down! The awesome Godzilla Shogun Figures 3 3/4-Inch ReAction Figure is lean, green, and mean - you can store it in the 6-inch by 9-inch cardback packaging, or you can pop him open to breathe radioactive fire on your desk. (It's plastic, so don't worry too much.) Ages 14 and up.

Discover more about this Godzilla Toy at Entertainment Earth


Godzilla King of Monsters Japanese Release Speed Poster 1,000-Piece Puzzle

Which do you think can be put back together faster, a Godzilla-ravaged city or the new Toho Godzilla 1,000 piece puzzle? Based on the 1954 Speed Poster for Godzilla, this Toho Godzilla puzzle features graphics, language, and layout specifically for the Japanese cinematic release. You might think it would be a giant challenge, but to any cinephile or Kaiju collector, assembling this puzzle would be monstrously rewarding! We're sure you can piece together the reasons why this puzzle should be at the top of your shopping list for any Godzilla fan! Measures 40-inches x 20-inches.

Discover more about this Godzilla Item at Entertainment Earth

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