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Criterion Hints at Release of 1st Godzilla (Gojira)
posted on by Andrew Osmond
The home video label Criterion Collection posted a picture of a Godzilla (Gojira) film reel on its Facebook page, hinting at a new release for the classic 1954 live-action monster film.
In the story, the huge monster Gojira (known outside Japan as Godzilla) emerges from the sea to wreak havoc on Japan, culminating in the monster's attack on Tokyo. Godzilla was the most expensive Japanese picture released up to its time, made less than a decade after the country's real-life devastation in World War II. It was directed by Ishirō Honda, a friend of Akira Kurosawa, with model effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Both Honda and Tsuburaya would be involved in several of the later Godzilla films and in the wider cycle of Japanese science-fiction andmonster films which Godzilla inspired.
Its original American release of the film, entitled Godzilla: King of the Monsters was substantially altered, with some scenes cut and others added to bring in the character of an American reporter, played by Raymond Burr. Classic Media released an American DVD edition of the film in 2006, which contains both the Japanese and American versions.
The Deadline movie website reported in July that the American production company Legendary Pictures has hired David Goyer (Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, Man of Steel) to rewrite the script for its remake of TOHO's Godzilla monster film franchise.
Thanks to Enrique Ramos for the news tip.
