Godzilla (Honda, 1954) DVD, 1954

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MovieMail's Review

Most people's idea of a Godzilla film consists of bad dubbing, atrocious special effects and a man stumbling around in a lizard costume with visible rips. The American release of the original Godzilla is an abomination, violating the Japanese version with a terrible dub and an even worse translation.
This bfi-issued release rescues the film's reputation, for the original Godzilla (or Gojira in Japanese) is a sophisticated and chilling horror film, a fierce product of a post-nuclear society, shot only a few years after Hiroshima (unsurprisingly the anti-nuclear sentiments were downplayed in the US-version). This was the first in a long string of kaiju eiga (“monster movies”) directed by Ishirô Honda, and undoubtedly the best. There are some truly disturbing moments here, such as the mother clutching her two children as buildings collapse around her, crying that they will be with their father soon. The legendary roar of Godzilla (obtained by running a glove across cello strings) is still unsettling over fifty years later, whilst the meticulously-built models of Tokyo are surprisingly convincing. At last, after years of completely undeserved derision, Godzilla can now be seen for the masterpiece it is.

Alex Davidson on 20th December 2005
View all 212 of Alex Davidson's reviews

Film Information

Director - Ishiro Honda

Produced - 1954

Main Language - JAPANESE with English subtitles

Countries & Regions - Asian Film, Japanese Film

DVD Details

Certificate:	PG	Publisher:	BFI	Region:	2
Length:	96 mins	Aspect:	1.33:1	Cat No:	BFIVD680
Format:	DVD B&W	Subtitles:	Optional English

DVD Extras

Full voiceover commentary by three American Godzilla experts
12 Japanese Fisherman - short documentary on the incident that inspired the story of the film
Featurette on the making of the Godzilla suit
Featurette on the adaptation from the original story to the finished film
Original trailer
Poster & stills gallery
Fully illustrated booklet.

Film Description

Several Japanese ships are lost and a remote island is terrorised following H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Investigating scientists come face to face with the cause - Godzilla. Japan's first foray into big budget sci-fi, this was an enormous hit for the Toho film studio, creating a monster that entered the lexicon of popular culture. Originally cut by American censors sensitive to its anti-nuclear, anti-war message, the film is now restored to its full length.