Godzilla (the 1954 and 1956 versions)

Godzilla (Gojira) (1954)

Runtime: 96 minutes

Directed by: Ishiro Honda

Starring: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura

From: Toho

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

Runtime: 81 minutes

Directed by: Ishiro Honda, Terry O. Morse

Starring: Raymond Burr, Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura

From: Toho/TransWorld Releasing Corporation

Yes, last night I watched both the original Japanese cut of Godzilla (known in Japan as Gojira) and the Americanized version known as Godzilla, King of the Monsters, where they re-edited things, cut out various bits, and inserted footage of Raymond Burr as an American reporter named... Steve Martin. Even as a kid I laughed at how that was his name.

I don't need to state the plot as everyone knows (or as least I presume so) how Godzilla became awake after nuclear testing and he wrecked havoc upon Tokyo. I know that most of the Godzilla sequels were on the goofy side; not the 1954 film, though; the '56 version, though... let me talk about both.

The original 1954 movie is a dark and serious tale revolving around Japan's guilt over World War II and fears over the atomic age; the latter part is still relevant in 2014 and while I do enjoy the goofy charms of some of the Godzilla sequels, I am also cool with something staid and with mature ideas like this which also has the expected stuff of a guy in a rubber suit destroying miniature sets. 

There is a love triangle and it is standard but it was important to the plot and there's also conflict with a slightly crazy young scientist and a dangerous weapon and whether or not it should be used and its ramifications, especially if it fell into "the wrong hands".

If you think that all of the Godzilla movies are silly nonsense, you should check this out and you'll realize that you are mistaken.

The Criterion Collection Blu-Ray of Godzilla has the original Japanese cut and it also has the American Godzilla, King of the Monsters! That is where an American company created inserts with Raymond Burr (as a reporter named Steve Martin; even as a kid I thought him having that name was funny) and they re-edited it and not only downplayed the love triangle but took out most of the drama over nuclear fears and otherwise made it be a typical movie you would have seen at a drive-in in the 1950's on a double bill with, say, It Conquered The World or The Mole People.

In this form the movie is about average. It's rather obvious and now silly how they tried to make it look like Burr was actually part of the original film; the back of double's heads are seen often to make you think he's talking to the original actors when it's not the case. There's also plenty of narration to fill in the gaps and Burr does a lot of standing around and not much else. You may want to watch it for curiosity’s sake or maybe nostalgia's sake if you've seen it as a kid, but otherwise you really should stick with the original Japanese version.

I'll return tomorrow night.