Son of Godzilla
Encyclopedia
Son of Godzilla, released in Japan as , is a 1967 science fiction
kaiju
film
. The eighth part of the Toho
studio's Godzilla
series, it was directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa (supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya
.) It is the first film to feature Kamacuras
, Kumonga
, and Minilla
.
, the scientists find the monstrous insects digging an egg out from under a pile of earth. The egg hatches, revealing a baby Godzilla. The scientists realize that the baby's telepathic cries for help were the cause of the interference that ruined their experiment. Shortly afterwards, Godzilla
himself arrives on the island, demolishing the scientist's base as he rushes to defend the baby. Godzilla kills two of the Kamacuras during the battle while one manages to fly away to safety, Godzilla then adopts the baby.
The baby Godzilla, named Minilla
, quickly grows to about half the size of his father, and Godzilla instructs him on the important monster skills of roaring and using his atomic ray. At first, Minilla has difficulty producing anything more than atomic smoke rings, but Godzilla discovers that stressful conditions (i.e. stomping on his tail,) or motivation produces a true radioactive blast. Minilla comes to the aid of Reiko when she is attacked by a Kamacuras, but inadvertently awakens Kumonga
(Spiga in the English-dubbed version), a giant spider that was sleeping in a valley. Kumonga attacks the caves where the scientists are hiding, and Minilla stumbles into the fray.
Kumonga traps Minilla and the final Kamacuras with his webbing, but as Kumonga begins to feed on the deceased Kamacuras, Godzilla arrives to save the day. Godzilla saves his son and they work together to defeat Kumonga by using their atomic rays on the giant spider. The scientists finally use their perfected weather altering device on the island and the once tropical island becomes buried in snow and ice. As the scientists are saved by an American submarine, Godzilla and Minilla begin to hibernate as they wait for the island to become tropical again.
film, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
, Son of Godzilla was distributed directly to television by the Walter Reade Organization in 1969. This film was also dubbed by Titra Studios
.
There were several alterations in this version:
The American version runs 79 minutes, shorter than the 86-minute Japanese version. Sony's DVD features the uncut Japanese version, and the optional English dub track is from Toho
's international version.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. The eighth part of the Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
studio's Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
series, it was directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa (supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya
Eiji Tsuburaya
was the Japanese special effects director responsible for many Japanese science-fiction movies, including the Godzilla series...
.) It is the first film to feature Kamacuras
Kamacuras
, is a fictional gigantic praying mantis that has appeared in the Toho produced Godzilla series. In its first appearance, the creature was called Gimantis in the U.S. version.-Showa:...
, Kumonga
Kumonga
is a giant spider daikaiju that appeared in the Toho produced Godzilla series. In the monster's first two appearances, it was called Spiega or Spiga. Spiga/Kumonga is the main antagonist in Son of Godzilla.-Abilities:...
, and Minilla
Minilla
is a Kaiju from the Godzilla series of films and is the first of several young Godzillas. He first appeared in the Showa film Son of Godzilla and also appeared in Destroy All Monsters, All Monsters Attack and the Millennium film Godzilla: Final Wars.-Origin:The son of the famous Godzilla, Minilla...
.
Plot
A team of scientists are trying to perfect a weather-controlling system. Their efforts are hampered by the arrival of a nosy reporter and by the sudden presence of 2-meter tall giant praying mantises. The first test of the weather control system goes awry when the remote control for a radioactive balloon is jammed by an unexplained signal coming from the center of the island. The balloon detonates prematurely, creating a radioactive storm that causes the giant mantises to grow to enormous sizes. Investigating the mantises, which are named KamacurasKamacuras
, is a fictional gigantic praying mantis that has appeared in the Toho produced Godzilla series. In its first appearance, the creature was called Gimantis in the U.S. version.-Showa:...
, the scientists find the monstrous insects digging an egg out from under a pile of earth. The egg hatches, revealing a baby Godzilla. The scientists realize that the baby's telepathic cries for help were the cause of the interference that ruined their experiment. Shortly afterwards, Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
himself arrives on the island, demolishing the scientist's base as he rushes to defend the baby. Godzilla kills two of the Kamacuras during the battle while one manages to fly away to safety, Godzilla then adopts the baby.
The baby Godzilla, named Minilla
Minilla
is a Kaiju from the Godzilla series of films and is the first of several young Godzillas. He first appeared in the Showa film Son of Godzilla and also appeared in Destroy All Monsters, All Monsters Attack and the Millennium film Godzilla: Final Wars.-Origin:The son of the famous Godzilla, Minilla...
, quickly grows to about half the size of his father, and Godzilla instructs him on the important monster skills of roaring and using his atomic ray. At first, Minilla has difficulty producing anything more than atomic smoke rings, but Godzilla discovers that stressful conditions (i.e. stomping on his tail,) or motivation produces a true radioactive blast. Minilla comes to the aid of Reiko when she is attacked by a Kamacuras, but inadvertently awakens Kumonga
Kumonga
is a giant spider daikaiju that appeared in the Toho produced Godzilla series. In the monster's first two appearances, it was called Spiega or Spiga. Spiga/Kumonga is the main antagonist in Son of Godzilla.-Abilities:...
(Spiga in the English-dubbed version), a giant spider that was sleeping in a valley. Kumonga attacks the caves where the scientists are hiding, and Minilla stumbles into the fray.
Kumonga traps Minilla and the final Kamacuras with his webbing, but as Kumonga begins to feed on the deceased Kamacuras, Godzilla arrives to save the day. Godzilla saves his son and they work together to defeat Kumonga by using their atomic rays on the giant spider. The scientists finally use their perfected weather altering device on the island and the once tropical island becomes buried in snow and ice. As the scientists are saved by an American submarine, Godzilla and Minilla begin to hibernate as they wait for the island to become tropical again.
Cast
- Akira Kubo - Goro Maki
- Tadao Takashima - Dr. Tsunezou Kusumi
- Akihiko Hirata - Dr. Hujisaki
- Bibari "Beverly" Maeda - Saeko (Reiko) Matsumiya
- Yoshio Tsuchiya - Hurukawa
- Kenji Sahara - Morio
- Ken'ichiro Maruyama - Ozawa
- Seishiro Kuno Tashiro
- Yasuhiko Saijo - Suzuki
- Susumu KurobeSusumu Kurobe, given the birth name of , was born on in Kurobe, Toyama, Japan.He is commonly known for having played the character role Shin Hayata in the Ultraman series, a role he reprised in episode 47 of the 2006 television series Ultraman Mebius and its theatrical film adaption, Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman...
- Weather observation airplane captain
- Kazuo Suzuki - Weather observation aeronaut
- Wataru Oomae - Weather observation airplane radio operator
- Tyoutarou Tougin - Weather observation airplane crewman
- Ousmane Yusef - Submarine captain
- Haruo NakajimaHaruo Nakajimais a famous Japanese actor. He is best known for playing Godzilla and is considered by many to be the best suit actor in the long history of the franchise...
- Godzilla (Water scenes only)
- Yū Sekida and Seiji Onaka - GodzillaGodzillais a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
- Little Man Machan - MinillaMinillais a Kaiju from the Godzilla series of films and is the first of several young Godzillas. He first appeared in the Showa film Son of Godzilla and also appeared in Destroy All Monsters, All Monsters Attack and the Millennium film Godzilla: Final Wars.-Origin:The son of the famous Godzilla, Minilla...
Reception
Son of Godzilla received mixed to positive reviews. The film currently holds a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.English version
Like the previous GodzillaGodzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
film, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster
Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, released in Japan as and known internationally as Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, is a 1966 science fiction kaiju film directed by Jun Fukuda and written by Shinichi Sekizawa. This is the first film in the series with special effects directed by Sadamasa Arikawa...
, Son of Godzilla was distributed directly to television by the Walter Reade Organization in 1969. This film was also dubbed by Titra Studios
Titra Studios
Titra Studios is an American dubbing studio. The studio was responsible for dubbing numerous foreign films, including Mothra vs. Godzilla 1964 as well as the Speed Racer cartoon series and the original Ultraman tv series....
.
There were several alterations in this version:
- Dialogue was dubbed to English
- Saeko's name was changed to Reiko, Kumonga's name was changed to Spiga, and Kamacuras' name was changed to Gimantis.
- Deleted: the pre-credits sequence, where Godzilla is sighted at sea. This was cut down to Godzilla simply walking to the camera.
- Heavy narraration was added throughout the movie
The American version runs 79 minutes, shorter than the 86-minute Japanese version. Sony's DVD features the uncut Japanese version, and the optional English dub track is from Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
's international version.
DVD release
Sony Pictures- Released: December 14, 2004
- Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1)
- Sound: Japanese (2.0), English (2.0)
- Supplements: Trailers for Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, SteamboySteamboyis a 2004 Japanese animated steampunk film, produced by Sunrise, and directed and co-written by Katsuhiro Otomo, his second major anime release, following Akira. The film was released in Japan on July 17, 2004. Steamboy is the most expensive full length Japanese animated movie made to date...
, and Kaena: The ProphecyKaena: The ProphecyKaena: The Prophecy is a 2003 French-Canadian computer-generated fantasy movie. The United States release of the film is distributed by Sony Pictures and features the voices of Kirsten Dunst, Richard Harris, Anjelica Huston, Keith David and Ciara Janson.The idea originally started out as a...
.
- Region 1
- Note: English dub track is TohoTohois a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
's International Version
- Rated PG for some sci-fi monster violence.