Genres: Foreign, Sci-fi / Fantasy, Horror, Cult / Classic Horror, Creature Features, Japanese Cinema, 50s, Criterion Collection
Cast: Takashi Shimura, Akira Takarada, Raymond Burr
Director: Ishiro Honda, Terry O. Morse
Synopsis: Ishiro Honda's GODZILLA is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population's fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning more than twenty sequels and spinoffs. This first thrilling, tactile spectacle continues to be a cult phenomenon; here, we present the original, 1954 Japanese version, along with Godzilla: King of the Monsters!, the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr (Rear Window).
Language: Japanese
Country of Origin: Japan
Production Year: 1954
Reviews:
- "Godzilla remains one of the most otent mythic structures of the '50s.", Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
- "Magnificent and absurd...The great movie monster of the post-World War II era.", J. Hoberman, The Village Voice
- Release Date: Jan 24th, 2012
- Catalog Number: CC2099DDVD
- UPC: 715515089517
- Rating: Not Rated
- Run Time: 96
- Color Format: Black & White
- Audio: PCM Mono
- Language: Japanese
- 16:9: No
- Aspect Ratio: Other
- Number of Discs: 2
- Closed Captions: No
- Subtitle: English
- Special Features:
Aspect Ratio 1.37:1
New high-definition digital restoration
Audio commentary by David Kalat
New high-definition digital restoration of Godzilla: King of the Monsters!
Audio commentary for Godzilla: King of the Monsters! by Kalat
New interviews with Akira Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai
Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube
Featurette detailing Godzilla?s photographic effects
New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato
The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay
Theatrical trailers
New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman
- Release Date: Jan 24th, 2012
- Catalog Number: CC2098BD
- UPC: 715515089418
- Rating: Not Rated
- Run Time: 96
- Color Format: Black & White
- Audio: PCM Mono
- Language: Japanese
- 16:9: Yes
- Aspect Ratio: Other
- Number of Discs: 1
- Closed Captions: No
- Subtitle: English
- Special Features:
Aspect ratio 1.37:1
New high-definition digital restoration
Audio commentary by David Kalat
New high-definition digital restoration of Godzilla: King of the Monsters!
Audio commentary for Godzilla: King of the Monsters! by Kalat
New interviews with Akira Takarada, Haruo Nakajima, Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai
Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube
Featurette detailing Godzilla?s photographic effects
New interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato
The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay
Theatrical trailers
New and improved English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman
