History Film / KingKongVsGodzilla

''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', released in 1962, is notable for many things. First, it was the first movie to feature both King Kong and Godzilla in color and widescreen. Second, and this is really important, it had both King Kong and Godzilla in sharing the screen at the same time. Originally released in 1962, Toho's 30th anniversary, ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' remains the most commercially successful film the franchise. The Japanese version of the film was a satire, while the American version was more of a straight-forward monster movie. The biggest difference between the two versions of the movie is the removal of most of Akira Ifukube's score, which is usually regarded today as one of the maestro's greatest works ever. The only pieces of music to survive this butchery were the the natives' chants and a brief piece that plays during the jungle trek. It was in this film that Godzilla's theme would be properly introduced, although it was first heard by American audiences in 1964 with the tastefully intact release of ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'', although the Godzilla theme in that film was also a modified version of the theme heard here. Fortunately, La-La-Land Records released the original Japanese version of the score, in stereo and with two bonus tracks, in America in 2005.

* OffModel: The stop-motion model used for Godzilla's infamous dropkick.

The film opens with the filming of a commercial, where the audience is introduced to the film's protagonists, Sakurai (played by Tadao Takashima) and Kinsaburo (played by Yu Fujiki), two employees of Paific Pharmaceuticals. The purpose of the commercial is to promote public interest in a TV show that the company is sponsoring. The audience meets the duo's boss, Mr. Tako (played by Ichiro Arishima), who is angry about the low ratings of the show he's sponsoring, during a meeting with Dr. Makino (played by Tatsuo Matsumura), over a discussion of an exotic red berry whose juice produces a nonaddictive narcotic effect. The red berry is only found on a remote island in the pacific, called Faro Island. Dr. Makino says that the natives are unwilling to give up more than a handful of berries because they use the rest of them to placate their god, a giant beast named King Kong. Mr. Tako, much like someone once named Denham, believes that it would be a great idea to use a giant monster to gain publicity. Sakurai and Kinsaburo are chosen to go to the island.

The film was a commercial success back in 1962, and made over 350,000,000 yen at the box office, with a budget of 5,000,000 yen. Contrary to popular belief, King Kong is the victor in ''both'' versions of the movie. At the time the movie was made, King Kong was still more popular than Godzilla. The Godzilla suit used in the film, named the KingGoji suit by fans, is very popular, and would be reused in the next film, ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'' when Godzilla is swimming towards Iwa Jima and when the titanic saurian falls into the ocean after being covered by the Mothra larvae's silk.

''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', released in 1962, is notable for many things. First, it was the first movie to feature both King Kong and Godzilla in color and widescreen. Second, and this is really important, it had both King Kong and Godzilla in sharing the screen at the same time. Orginally released in 1962, Toho's 30th anniversary, ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' remains the most commercially successful film the franchise. The Japanese version of the film was a satire, while the American version was more of a straight-forward monster movie. The biggest difference between the two versions of the movie is the removal of most of Akira Ifukube's score, which is usually regarded today as one of the maestro's greatest works ever. The only pieces of music to survive this butchery were the the natives' chants and a brief piece that plays during the jungle trek. It was in this film that Godzilla's theme would be properly introduced, although it was first heard by American audiences in 1964 with the tastefully intact release of ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'', although the Godzilla theme in that film was also a modified version of the theme heard here. Fortunately, La-La-Land Records released the original Japanese version of the score, in stereo and with two bonus tracks, in America in 2005.

The film opens with the filming of a commercial, where the audience is introduced to the film's protagonists, Sakurai (played by Tadao Takashima) and Kinsaburo (played by Yu Fujiki), two employees of Paific Pharmaceuticals. The purpose of the commercial is to promote public interest in a TV show that the company is sponsoring. The audience meets the duo's boss, Mr. Tako (played by Ichiro Arishima), who is angry about the low ratings of the show he's sponsoring, during a meeting with Dr. Makino (played by Tatsuo Matsumura), over a discussion of an exotic red berry whose juice produces a nonaddictive narcotic effect. The red berry is only found on a remote island in the pacific, called Faro Island. Dr. Makino says that the natives are unwilling to give up more than a handful of berries because they use the rest of them to placate their god, a giant beast named King Kong. Mr. Tako, much like someone once named Denham, belives that it would be a great idea to use a giant monster to gain publicity. Sakurai and Kinsaburo are chosen to go to the island.

Back in Japan, Fumiko has read an article in a paper about the ship that Fujita was on being sunk near Hokkaido. Wanting to know if her fiancee is alive or dead, Fumiko decides to head to Hokkaido. Returning home, a very much alive Fujita is met by Fumiko's friend and neighbor, Tamiye, who tells him that Fumiko went to look for him in Hokkaido. Fujita and Tamiye are both informed by a woman and her son, who are preparing to leave Tokyo, that Godzilla has been sighted in Hokkaido. Fujita then rushes to the island to save Fumiko. Hours later, in Hokkaido, the train that Fumiko is traveling on is stopped and everyone is told to flee for their lives as Godzilla is approaching. During the evacuation, Fumiko is left behind and is inadvertantly chased by Godzilla. She is eventually rescued by Fujita.

Out on the ocean, Sakurai and Kinsaburo have finally left Faro island, and on a large raft behind them is King Kong. Mr. Tako soon arrives via helicopter and is ecstatic, as the press will now cover King Kong and not Godzilla. But, their ship is soon hailed by a naval vessel, and Mr. Tako is informed that since he did not fill out or have the necessary forms and permits for bringing an exotic animal to Japan, King Kong can go no further, and Pacific Pharmaceuticals will be held liable for damages. Kong, however, wakes up from his drunken nap during this, and he tries to break free of his restraints. Sakurai and Kinsaburo, realizing how rediculous their whole situation is, decide to detonate the dynamite attached to the raft. Mr. Tako tries to stop them, but he ends up pushing the trigger himself. The dynamite fails to go off, and Sakurai and Kinsaburo decide to just shoot the dynamite instead. The raft is destroyed, and King Kong now begins making his way to Japan.

Later, back in Japan, the JSDF is preparing for Operation: Burial, a plan to bury Godzilla alive in a giant hole. The preparations are interrupted by the appearance of King Kong, and moments later, Godzilla. King Kong and Godzilla face off from a distance, with Kong throwing large boulders at the dinosaur, which onyl seems to make him mad. Godzilla uses his atmoic ray to dsetroy a helicopter, and then again to scorch Kong's chest. King kong walks away in defeat. That night, Operation: Burial is ready, and the JSDF lure Godzilla into the trap. Despite going off without any problems, Godzilla is still alive, and he soon escapes his would-be tomb.

The JSDF now begin fortifying an electrical barrier around Tokyo, composed of power lines with a voltage of 1,000,000 volts, to defend against Godzilla, and it is completed by the next day. Meanwhile, King Kong is wreaking havoc across the countyside. When Godzilla approaches the city of Tokyo, the barrier proves to be a success, and Godzilla is discouraged from attacking. However, King Kong soon attacks the city, and surprises everyone when he eats the electrical wires and the city begins evacuating. Fumiko is once again caught in the path of a giant monster, but this time she doesn't get away when King Kong attacks the train that she's riding on. Fumiko falls out of an open door and into Kong's hand. Fascinated with the human woman, Kong throws the train car, still full of people, to the side. Kong eventually makes his way to the top of the National Diet building.

In the morning, King Kong finally wakes up and the balloons are destroyed, sending him tumbling down and crashing to the mutant dinosaur. The monsters then engage in a duel to the death on Mt. Fuji. King Kong is briefly knocked unconscious by Godzilla, but a thunder storm soon revives the gorilla, who then attacks Godzilla, sending electric currents through his fingertips everytime he touches the saurian. The two monsters continue their duel and reach the coastline, eventually destroying the Atami Castle while going at each other's throats. The two monsters soon tumble into the ocean, their fight causing tidal waves and an earthquake. Eventually, Kong resurfaces, with no sign of Godzilla. The dinosaur has seemingly disappeared, and King Kong begins his journey back to Faro island.

* ValuesDissonance: After arriving on Faro island, Sakurai gives cigarettes to all of the natives. Back in the 1960's, people had yet to realize just how hazardous smoking was to a person's health. Sakurai even says, "It's okay. They're all smoking!"

The film was a commercial success back in 1962, and made over 350,000,000 yen at the box office, with a budget of 5,000,000 yen. Contrary to popular belief, King Kong is the victor in ''both'' versions of the movie. At the time the movie was made, King Kong was still more popular than Godzilla.

It is after hearing this news, when Sakurai returns home, that the film introduces his sister Fumiko (played by Mie Hama) and her boyfriend Fujita (played by Kenji Sahara). Fujita reveals that he has been working on a new type of wire, one that is stronger than steel, during dinner. He demonstrates the wire's strength when he climbs out of a window and swings aroudn like tarzan. He tells Sakurai to take some on his trip.

* ChekhovsSkill: During the making of a commercial at the beginning of the movie, Sakurai is playing the drums. This comes in handy lateron when rescuing Fumiko fom Kong's clutches.

In the morning, King Kong finally wakes up and the balloons are destroyed, sending him tumbling down and crashing to the mutant dinosaur. The monsters then engage in a duel to the death on Mt. Fuji. King Kong is briefly knocked unconscious by Godzilla, but a thunder storm soon revives the gorilla, who then attacks Godzilla, sending electric currents through his fingertips everytime he touches the saurian. The two monsters continue their duel and reach the coastline, eventually destroying the Atami Castle whiel going at each other's throats. The two monsters soon tumble into the ocean, their fight causing tidal waves and an earthquake.

Eventually, Kong resurfaces, with no sign of Godzilla. The dinosaur has seemingly disappeared, and King Kong begins his journey back to Faro island.

The JSDF now begin fortifying an electrical barrier around Tokyo, to defend against Godzilla, and it is completed by the next day. Meanwhile, King Kong is wreaking havoc across the countyside. When Godzilla approaches the city of Tokyo, the barrier proves to be a success, and Godzilla is discouraged from attacking. However, King Kong soon attacks the city, and surprises everyone when he eats the electrical wires and the city begins evacuating. Fumiko is once again caught in the path of a giant monster, but this time she doesn't get away when King Kong attacks the train that she's riding on. Fumiko falls out of an open door and into Kong's hand. Fascinated with the human woman, Kong throws the train car, still full of people, to the side. Kong eventually makes his way to the top of the National Diet building.

Back on the ocean, Sakurai and Kinsaburo have finalyl left Faro island, and on a large raft behind them is King Kong. Mr. Tako soon arrives via helicopter and is ecstatic. as the press will now cover King Kong and not Godzilla. But, their ship is soon hailed by a naval vessel, and Mr. Tako is informed that since he did not fill out or have the necessary permits for bringing an exotic animal to Japan, King Kong can go no further, and Pacific Pharmaceuticals will be held liable for damages. Kong, however, wakes up from his drunken nap during this, and he tries to break free of his restraints. Sakurai and Kinsaburo, realizing how rediculous their whole situation is, decide to detonate the dynamite attached to the raft. Mr. Tako tries to stop them, but he ends up pushing the trigger himself. The dynamite fails to go off, and Sakurai and Kinsaburo decide to just shoot the dynamite instead. The raft is destroyed, and King Kong now begins makign hsi way to Japan.

Back in Japan, Fumiko has read an article in a paper about the ship that Fujita was on being sunk near Hokkaido. Wanting to know if her fiancee is alive or dead, Fumiko decides to head to Hokkaido. Returning home, a very much alive Fujita is met by Fumiko's friend and neighbor, Tamiye, who tells him that Fumiko went to look for him in Hokkaido. Fujita and Tamiye are both informed by a woman and her son, who are preparing to leave Tokyo, that Godzilla has been sighted in Hokkaido. Fujita then rushes to the island to save Fumiko.

Whiel on a train in Hokkaido, everyone is informed that Godzilla is nearby, and all of the passengers are told to flee for their lives.

After reaching Faro island, Sakurai, Kinsaburo, and their guide/translator (played by Senkichi Omura) impress the village chief with their transistor radio. Not satisfied with this, Sakurai then gives everyobdy cigarettes(!). However, a loud roar is soon heard, and the natives return to praying. The next day,

The film opens with the filming of a commercial, where the audience is introduced to the film's protagonists, Sakurai (played by Tadao Takashima) and Kinsaburo (played by Yu Fujiki), two employees of Paific Pharmaceuticals. The purpose of the commercial is to promote public interest in a TV show that the company is sponsoring. The audience meets the duo's boss, Mr. Tako (played by Ichiro Arishima), who is angry about the low ratings of the show he's sponsoring, during a meeting with Dr. Makino (played by Tatsuo Matsumura), over a discussion of an exotic red berry whose juice produces a nonaddictive narcotic effect. The red berry is only found on a remote island in the pacific, called Faro Island. Dr. Makino says that the natives are unwilling to give up more than a handful of berries because they use the rest of them to placate their god, King Kong. Mr. Tako, much like someone once named Denham, belives that it would be a great idea to use a giant monster to gain publicity. Sakurai and Kinsaburo are chosen to go to the island.

After reaching Faro island, Sakurai, Kinsaburo, and their guide/translator (played by Senkichi Omura) impress the village chief with their transistor radio. Not satisfied with this, Sakurai then gives everyobdy cigarettes (!). He even says, "It's okay. They're all smoking!"

* ValuesDissonance: After arriving on Faro island, Sakurai gives cigarettes to all of the natives. Back in the 1960's, people had yet to realize just how hazardous smoking was to a person's health.

The original idea for the film was actually conceived by Willis O'Brien, although it didn't feature Godzilla at all. It was only through numerous rewrites that Godzilla was eventually featured. The script was eventaully bought by John Beck, who sold it to Toho. The differences between the Japanese version of the film and the American version will be discussed in detail on the trivia page, when that eventually gets added. The plot description below will cover the Japanese version of the film.

After reaching Faro island, Sakurai, Kinsaburo, and their guide

* ChekhovsSkill: During the making of a commercial at the beginning of the movie, Sakurai is playing the drums. This comes in handy lateron when rescuing Fumiko fom Kong's clutches.

Meanwhile, a United Nations Submarine, the Seahawk, is investigating the unusually warm ocean currents of the Bering Sea. The Seahawk soon crashes into an iceberg. Before help can arrive, the Seahawk is destroyed when its inhabitant wakes up. In the sky, an American rescue helicopter is just nearing the iceberg when Godzilla claws his way out. The radioactive behemoth makes his way to an

The film opens with the filming of a commercial, where the audience is introduced to the film's protagonists, Sakurai (played by Tadao Takashima) and Kinsaburo (played by Yu Fujiki), two employees of Paific Pharmaceuticals. The purpose of the commercial is to promote public interest in a TV show that the company is sponsoring. The audience meets the duo's boss, Mr. Tako (played by Ichiro Arishima), who is angry about the low ratings of the show he's sponsoring, during a meeting with Dr. Makino (played by Tatsuo Matsumura), over a discussion of an exotic red berry whose juice produces a nonaddictive narcotic effect. The red berry is only found on a remote island in the pacific, called Faro Island. Dr. Makino says that the natives are unwilling to give up more than a handful of berries because they use the rest of them to placate their god, King Kong.

Meanwhile, a United Nations Submarine, the Seahawk, is investigating the unusually warm ocean currents of the Bering Sea.

The film opens with the filming of a commercial, where the audience is introduced to the film's protagonists, Sakurai (played by Tadao Takashima

The film opens with the filming of a commercial, where the audience is introduced to one of the film's protagonists, Sakurai (played by

''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', released in 1962, is notable for many things. First, it was the first movie to feature both King Kong and Godzilla in color and widescreen. Second, and this is really important, it had both King Kong and Godzilla in sharing the screen at the same time. Orginally released in 1962, Toho's 30th anniversary, ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' remains the most commercially successful film the franchise. The Japanese version of the film was a satire, while the American version was more of a straight-forward monster movie. Another difference between the two versions of the movie is the removal of most of Akira Ifukube's score, which is usually regarded today as one of the maestro's greatest works ever. The only pieces of music to survive this butchery were the the native's chants and a brief piece that plays during the jungle trek. It was in this film that Godzilla's theme would be properly introduced, although it was first heard by American audiences in 1964 with the tastefully intact release of ''Mothra vs. Godzilla'', although the Godzilla theme in that film was also a modified version of the theme heard here. Fortunately, La-La-Land Records released the original Japanese version of the score, in stereo and with two bonus tracks, in America in 2005.

The original idea for the film was actually conceived by Willis O'Brien, although it didn't feature Godzilla at all. It was only through numerous rewrites that Godzilla was eventually featured. The Differences between the Japanese version of the film and the American version will be discussed i detail on the trivia page, when that eventually gets added. The plot description below will cover the Japanese version of the film.

The film opens with

''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', released in 1962, is notable for many things. First, it was the first movie to feature both King Kong and Godzilla in color and widescreen. Second, and this is really important, it had both King Kong and Godzilla in sharing the screen at the same time. Orginally released in 1962, Toho's 30th anniversary, ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' remains the most commercially successful film the franchise. The Japanese version of the film was a satire, while the American version was more of a straight-forward monster movie. Another difference between the two versions of the movie is the removal of most of Akira Ifukube's score, which is usually regarded today as one of the maestro's greatest works ever. The only pieces of music to survive this butchery were the the native's chants and a brief piece that plays during the jungle trek. It was in this film that Godzilla's theme would be properly introduced, although it was first heard by American audiences in 1964 with the tastefully intact release of ''Godzilla vs. The Thing''.

The plot description below will cover the Japanese version of the film.

''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', released in 1962, is notable for many things. First, it was the first movie to feature both King Kong and Godzilla in color and widescreen. Second, and this is really important, it had both King Kong and Godzilla in sharing the screen at the same time. Orginally released in 1962, Toho's 30th anniversary, ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' remains the most commercially successful film the franchise.