| Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster | |
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| Directed by | Ishirô Honda |
| Produced by | Tomoyuki Tanaka |
| Written by | Shinichi Sekizawa |
| Starring | Yosuke Natsuki Yuriko Hoshi Hiroshi Koizumi Akiko Wakabayashi |
| Music by | Akira Ifukube Song "Call Happiness" (しあわせをよぼう Shiawase wo yobou?) music by Hiroshi Miyagawa (called "Yasushi Miyagawa" in US credits; a common mistranslation), words by Tokiko Iwatani |
| Cinematography | Hajime Koizumi |
| Distributed by | Toho Continental Distributing (USA) |
| Release date(s) | December 20, 1964 (Japan) September 13, 1965 (USA) |
| Running time | 92 min. Ishirō Honda (本多 猪四郎 Honda Ishirō) sometimes miscredited in foreign releases as "Inoshiro Honda" ( May 7 1911 in Yamagata Prefecture Tomoyuki Tanaka (田中 友幸 Tanaka Tomoyuki) was a Japanese Film producer, most famous for creating the Godzilla movies (born in Kyoto Japan June 2, 1921, died November 19, 1992) was a Japanese Screenwriter. is a Japanese actress best known in English-speaking countries for her role as Bond girl, Aki in the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice Akira Ifukube (伊福部 昭 Ifukube Akira, May 31, 1914 &ndash February 8, 2006) was a Japanese composer of classical is a large Japanese Independent film Studio. It is headquartered in Chiyoda Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. |
| Language | Japanese |
| Preceded by | Mothra vs. Godzilla |
| Followed by | Invasion of Astro-Monster |
| IMDb profile | |
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, released in Japan as San Daikaijū: Chikyū Saidai no Kessen (三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦? lit. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities (also known as Mothra Against Godzilla, Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla vs Invasion of Astro-Monster; known in Japan as; Monster Zero and Godzilla vs "Three Giant Monsters: The Greatest Battle on Earth") and originally released in the US as Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster, is a 1964 tokusatsu kaiju film, and is the 5th film in Toho's Godzilla series. is a Japanese word that literally means " Special effects " It is primarily used to refer to Live-action Japanese Film and is a Japanese word that means "strange beast" but often translated in English as " Monster. Etymology Name "Godzilla" is a combination of two Japanese words and. It was directed by Ishiro Honda with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Ishirō Honda (本多 猪四郎 Honda Ishirō) sometimes miscredited in foreign releases as "Inoshiro Honda" ( May 7 1911 in Yamagata Prefecture (born on July 7, 1901 &ndash died January 25, 1970, in Sukagawa Fukushima) was the Japanese Special effects director
This movie is noted for having Godzilla playing a role where he benefits Japan, instead of trying to destroy it. It also features Mothra and Rodan, and introduces King Ghidorah, a very Chinese-looking space dragon, perhaps representative of Japan's anxieties surrounding China's satellite weapon program at the time. About Mothra Since her first film Mothra has been depicted in various stages of the lepidopteran life cycle: Mothra's mammoth egg is decoratively colored Weapons and Abilities Rodan's primary weapons are his speed and agility he can create hurricane-force winds in his wake by flying at Supersonic speeds at low altitude Showa Initially King Ghidorah was said to have come from outer space an ancient evil responsible for destroying the civilizations of many planets including Venus
Contents |
Plot
In 1964, a princess from Selgina, a small Himalayan country becomes possessed by the spirit of a Venusian and escapes a plane just as it explodes. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. As this happens a meteorite falls from the sky containing King Ghidorah, the monster responsible for her planet's destruction. Showa Initially King Ghidorah was said to have come from outer space an ancient evil responsible for destroying the civilizations of many planets including Venus At the same time, Godzilla and Rodan emerge from hibernation and not only attack Japan, but each other as well. Etymology Name "Godzilla" is a combination of two Japanese words and. Weapons and Abilities Rodan's primary weapons are his speed and agility he can create hurricane-force winds in his wake by flying at Supersonic speeds at low altitude Mothra, along with her twin priestesses, attempt to convince Godzilla and Rodan to stop fighting each other and to team up to fight the three-headed monster. About Mothra Since her first film Mothra has been depicted in various stages of the lepidopteran life cycle: Mothra's mammoth egg is decoratively colored At the same time, the princess is being hunted by a group of assassins who want to kill her so that her enemies can take over her homeland. Then, just when the only living assassin is about to kill the princess, King Ghidorah crushes him by knocking over a pile of boulders on him. Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra finally drive King Ghidorah off. The movie ends with the princess going back to her home land and Godzilla and Rodan watching Mothra swim back to Infant Island.
Trivia
- Because the completion of Akahige by director Akira Kurosawa was falling behind, this film was pushed through to cover the planned release of Akahige. is a 1965 Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa about the relationship between a village doctor and his new trainee is a 1965 Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa about the relationship between a village doctor and his new trainee Therefore, this new Godzilla film was released successively in the winter, proceeded by Mothra vs. Godzilla in spring of the same year. (also known as Mothra Against Godzilla, Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla vs
- Princess name 『MAASU-DOORINA-SARUNO』is a parody of the meaning "Oh, do you pass by my front?" in Japanese.
- The Yokohama Marine Tower, a miniature of which is destroyed by King Ghidorah's rays in the film, was completed three years before the movie was produced. is a 106 metre high (324 ft Lattice tower with an Observation deck at a height of 100 metres in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan.
- The Godzilla suit design used in this movie is referred to as “Sandai-Goji. ”
- Godzilla not once uses his atomic breath against Ghidorah despite the original Japanese Poster showing that he does.
- An early concept for Ghidorah had him with rainbow-colored wings and his three heads spitting fire from their mouths, instead of gravity beams which was used in the final draft.
- The first Godzilla film to not feature military weapons such as tanks and jets, used against the monsters, and was the rigor-du-jour in previous films.
- In the game Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures, the Ravenge of Ed-Zilla bonus level, The "Kankerator" (the Kankers as a monster) is based on Ghidorah. Ed Edd n Eddy The Mis-Edventures is a 3D platformer based on the Animated television series Ed Edd n Eddy.
- This film marks the first appearance of Rodan in a Godzilla film. Weapons and Abilities Rodan's primary weapons are his speed and agility he can create hurricane-force winds in his wake by flying at Supersonic speeds at low altitude
- In the conversation with Mothra, Godzilla states that he only hates humans because humans hate him, and because of what he perceives as unprovoked attacks towards him, suggesting that he was not really a villain in the first place.
- This film also marks the first appearance of King Ghidorah, who would become Godzilla's most frequently recurring opponent, appearing as Godzilla's enemy in Invasion of the Astro Monster, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, GMK, and as Godzilla's final opponent dubbed as Kaiser Ghidorah in Godzilla: Final Wars. Showa Initially King Ghidorah was said to have come from outer space an ancient evil responsible for destroying the civilizations of many planets including Venus Invasion of Astro-Monster; known in Japan as; Monster Zero and Godzilla vs For the 1970's anti-rock band see Destroy All Monsters (band. Godzilla vs Gigan, released in Japan as and also known as Godzilla on Monster Island when first released to U alternatively spelled Godzilla vs King Ghidora, is the 18th installment in the Godzilla series of films commonly abbreviated GMK, is a Tokusatsu and Kaiju film and the 25th movie in the Godzilla Film series. Showa Initially King Ghidorah was said to have come from outer space an ancient evil responsible for destroying the civilizations of many planets including Venus is the fiftieth anniversary film and the twenty-eighth film in the ''Godzilla'' film series.
- In Mothra Vs. Godzilla, two Mothra larva hatched but in this movie there is only one. This is explained in this film, via exposition by the twin faeries, or Shobijin (Little Beauties), stating that one of the twin larva had expired.
- A multitude of deleted scenes were exised from the original Japanese print and are widely unavailable for viewing. These include:
-A continued conversation between Shindo and Detective Okida after Shindo sees her picture for the first time. He marvels at her beauty, but then Okida scolds him for being distracted from his mission. -More dialogue between Malness and his gang. -Longer conversations held in Dr. Tsukamoto's laboratory. -A hurricane wind duel between Rodan and King Ghidorah, which results in Rodan being blasted backwards by an exceptionally powerful gust. -A brief shot of Godzilla biting down onto one of Ghidorah's necks. -A shot of Ghidorah angrily throwing all three other monsters off him at once. -A spectacular matte shot of Ghidorah chasing victims during his attack on Yokohama. This was cut at the whim of director Ishiro Honda, which is unfortunate because the shot was one of the most expensive in the movie.
U. S. release
The English-dubbed version was presented in American theaters in September of 1965 by Walter Reade-Sterling, and distributed by Continental Distributing on a double bill with Elvis Presley's musical-comedy, Harum Scarum. Walter Reade Jr (1916-1973 was the President and Board Chairman of the Walter Reade Organization which owned and operated theatres in Manhattan, New Jersey, Walter Reade Jr (1916-1973 was the President and Board Chairman of the Walter Reade Organization which owned and operated theatres in Manhattan, New Jersey, Harum Scarum (released in Europe as Harem Holiday) is a 1965 Musical film and Comedy starring Elvis Presley. Originally titled Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster.
Several alterations were made to the American version, including:
- Much of Akira Ifukube's score was cut. Akira Ifukube (伊福部 昭 Ifukube Akira, May 31, 1914 &ndash February 8, 2006) was a Japanese composer of classical
- Ghidorah's name was romanized as "Ghidrah".
- The line "Are you a man or a woman?" It would be easier if you removed your clothes!" became, "Are you a boy or a girl? Why don't you do a striptease for us!"
- In the American version, King Ghidorah destroys Mars (it was Venus in the Japanese version), and the Princess claims that she is from Mars. This was most likely because of the strong association the western world has with the possibility of Mars having been able to support life.
- Continuity Error: The sequence of Godzilla climbing on the docks in Yokohama harbor was changed around. First he is on the docks, then appears to be back in the bay, and then back on shore.
- The scene of Princess Salno telling Dr. Tsukamoto. Shindo and Naoko about Ghidorah's arrival occurs after it comes from the meteorite in the American version.
The American version runs 85 minutes, seven minutes shorter than the Japanese version.
Critical Reception
New York Times film critic Vincent Canby gave it a rather condescending review, concluding with, "This fascination, on the part of contemporary Japanese filmmakers, with the destruction of their land by fantastic, prehistoric forces only 20 years after Hiroshima, might be of interest to social historians. Vincent Canby ( July 27 1924 &ndash September 15 2000) was an American film critic. The film, otherwise, is strictly for the comic book set. "
Box Office
The film sold approximately 4,320,000 tickets in Japan.
Alternate Titles
- Earth's Greatest Battle (literal English title)
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (DVD packing title; although the film's title card reads "Ghidrah, The Three-Headed Monster")
- Ghidrah
- Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster (USA)
- Gojira Mosura Kingu Gidora: chikyu saidai no kessen (Japan) (reissue title)
- Monster of Monsters, Ghidorah (Toho's International Sales title)
- The Biggest Battle on Earth
- The Biggest Fight on Earth
- The Greatest Battle on Earth
- The Greatest Fight on Earth
- Three Giant Monsters: The Earth's Greatest Decisive Battle
- Godzilla vs. Rodan
External links
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster at the Internet Movie Database
- Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster at Rotten Tomatoes
- 三大怪獣 地球最大の決戦 (San Daikaijū: Chikyū Saidai no Kessen) (Japanese). Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. Japanese Movie Database. The, commonly referred to as JMDB, is an Online Database of information about Japanese movies, Actors and production crew personnel Retrieved on 2007-07-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and
References
- Canby, Vincent. Vincent Canby ( July 27 1924 &ndash September 15 2000) was an American film critic. "Presley Shares Billing" (film review) The New York Times. December 16, 1965.
- San daikaiju: Chikyu saidu no kessen / Ghidrah: The Three-Headed Monster (1964) at kensforce.com (press release information for the American release)
- Variety Weekly. Variety is a weekly entertainment trade newspaper founded in New York in 1905 by Sime Silverman October 6, 1965.
DVD Releases
Classic Media
- Release date: June 5, 2007
- Ejii Tsuburaya bio.
- Audio Commentary by David Kalat, author of A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series
- Note: Contains the both the original Japanese version and the U. S. release
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