Gamera vs. Barugon

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Gamera vs. Barugon

Theatrical poster
Directed by Shigeo Tanaka
Produced by Masaichi Nagata
Written by Nisan Takahashi
Starring Kōjirō Hongō
Kyōko Enami
Music by Chūji Kinoshita
Cinematography Michio Takahashi
Editing by Tatsuji Nakashizu
Studio Daiei Film
Distributed by Daiei Film (Japan)
AIP-TV (USA)
Release dates
  • April 17, 1966 (1966-04-17)
Running time 106 min. (Original)
89 min. (USA)
Country Japan
Language Japanese

Gamera vs. Barugon (大怪獣決闘 ガメラ対バルゴン Daikaijū Kettō: Gamera Tai Barugon, Giant Monster Duel: Gamera Versus Barugon, released in the U.S. as War of the Monsters) is a 1966 daikaiju eiga (Japanese giant monster film) featuring the giant turtle Gamera produced and distributed by Daiei Motion Picture Company. The film is the second to feature Gamera. It was released in the United States by AIP-TV as War of the Monsters, and then later by Sandy Frank as Gamera vs. Barugon. It was one of five Gamera films to appear in the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Plot

Hurtling through space, a meteorite collides with the rocket transporting Gamera to Mars. Gamera, now unleashed, returns to Japan, destroys Kurobe Dam and takes off. Meanwhile, a mysterious group of travellers visit an island in the South Pacific. They plan to steal a huge opal from a cave protected by a local village. Eventually, they journey to the cave and find the opal.

Traveling back to civilisation, Onodera, the only thief to survive the heist, leaves the opal beneath an infrared light while playing mahjong. The light ends up incubating and hatching the opal (actually an egg) and the giant lizard Barugon is born. Barugon emerges from the ship as she comes into Kobe Harbor, destroying it. Barugon then attacks Osaka, freezing large parts of the city with her freezing tongue spray, and destroying a missile strike with her rainbow back ray. Gamera, attracted by the rainbow ray, arrives on the scene. Barugon challenged Gamera. Gamera accepted her call. Barugon lunges at Gamera, but he shoves her aside into a building. Gamera went to attack again, but Barugon proves too handy with her spike tail. Gamera reared up and started firing at Barugon. Barugon then, uses her freeze spray. Gamera toppels down gently, seemingly knocked out. Barugon approaches her enemy. Checking to see if her enemy was alive, she used her nasel horn to bump Gamera. Irritated by the movement, Gamera lunged his hand forward into Barugon's cheek, close to her eye. Gamera punched Barugon and as she rolled over, she howled in pain. Gamera seemingly fell down again and stopped moving. Barugon tipped Gamera over onto the giant turtle's back and continued her destructive rampage. This alerts Keisuke and Karen, two of the city's inhabitants, and they head to the military officials to see what can be done.

Keisuke and Karen find Onodera, and wrest a confession about Kano's death from him. In the ensuing fight, Keisuke beats up on Onodera and ties him up. Keisuke and Karen then go to the Japanese defense ministry. There Karen outlines the Diamond Lure defense. This plans uses the giant diamond of the Black Tribe to lure Barugon into a lake to drown. The plan is effective but fails to move Barugon out into the lake. Afterwards it is theorized that the infrared radiation has made Barugon immune to the effects of the Diamond Lure. Another plan, the Infrared Diamond Lure defense is created. This would involve putting the Black Tribe diamond in an infrared generator and using the resulting ray to lure Barugon to a watery death.

Karen reveals that rain weakens Barugon and the Japanese military keeps Barugon doused with artificial rain. The Infrared Diamond Lure defense is put into effect. Onodera, however, gets wind of the plan and resolves to steal the Black Tribe diamond. The plan is executed and this time Barugon follows the lure without hesitation. Just as Barugon is about to be drawn into heavy water, Onodera bursts on the scene and steals the Black Tribe diamond. Barugon approaches the boat carrying the infrared generator and destroys it. Barugon then eats Onodera and the Black Tribe diamond.

Having failed, the Japanese military kept Barugon sedated with rain. In dejection, Keizuke and Karen visit the site of Barugon's attack on the missile battery and discover an anomaly: everything except mirrors has been destroyed. From this comes the theory that Barugon's rainbow can be reflected. With this information, the Reflect attack plan is created. A giant mirror is constructed and put in front of Barugon. Barugon is then goaded into firing her rainbow ray. The rainbow approached the anomaly and it reflected back towards Barugon. Barugon howled as the impact punctured over her hip toward her tail. Barugon rolled over and was now stomping with pain. Barugon laid down, purple blood oozing out of her. Keisuke cursed and started saying, "It must shoot another rainbow. Get up and fire again!" With very last minute as Barugon's ice begins to thaw, Gamera is coming back to life. He spun around while flying towards Barugon's location. Hearing Gamera's arrival, Barugon recovered and screeched out in disbelief. Gamera emerged once again to fight Barugon. Barugon lunged out but Gamera pushed her back. Barugon tried again and this time, Gamera pushed to the other side. As Barugon tried to recover, Gamera grabbed her by the tail. Barugon tried to escape from Gamera's grasp, but Gamera still has a tight grip to her tail. Barugon turned and used her tongue to bump into Gamera. Gamera spun around by flying and ramming into the lizard, letting her crash into a nearby bridge. Gamera pushed Barugon to her side and Gamera plunged his tusks into Barugon's throat. Dragging her into the lake and slowly drowns Barugon. Barugon's reign of terror has finally ended. Gamera rises from the water and flies into the night.

Cast

  • Kōjirō Hongō as Keisuke
  • Kyōko Enami as Karen
  • Yūzō Hayakawa as Kawajiri
  • Takuya Fujioka as Dr. Satō
  • Kōji Fujiyama as Onodera
  • Akira Natsuki as Ichirō Hirata
  • Yoshirō Kitahara as Professor Amano
  • Ichirō Sugai as Dr. Matsushita
  • Bontarō Miake as Self-Defense Force General
  • Jutarō Hōjō as Self-Defense Force Commander
  • Kazuko Wakamatsu as Sadae Hirata
  • Yuka Konno as Onodera's Lover
  • Eiichi Takamura as Governor of Osaka
  • Kenichi Tani as Lee
  • Kōichi Itō as Metropolitan Police Superintendent-General
  • Hikaru Hoshi as Awaji Maru Captain
  • Osamu Abe as Awaji Maru Crewman
  • Yoshihiro Hamaguchi as Awaji Maru Crewman
  • Teruo Aragaki as Gamera

2010 DVD release

The Japanese version of the film has been officially released in the United States as part of Shout! Factory's Japanese Gamera movie collection. It was released on July 6, 2010.

Reuse in sequels

The sea monster Zedus from Gamera the Brave has a tongue attack similar to Barugon's. Jiger, a foe in the later Gamera vs. Jiger, was given Barugon's roar. Some parts of Barugon's roar were slowed down. Barugon was known to emit "hisses" and growled sometimes. Jiger, on the other hand, had a loud bellowing cry, also frequently making some low grunts.

DVD releases

Alpha Video

  • Released: June 24, 2003
  • Note: Features the American version of the film, War of the Monsters.

Vintage Home Entertainment

  • Released: May 17, 2005
  • Note: Gamera: The Ultimate Collection three-film DVD set. Features the American version of the film, War of the Monsters. Also includes Gamera and Gamera vs. Viras.

St. Clair Entertainment

Shout! Factory

  • Released: July 6, 2010
  • Note: contains the Japanese version of the film with English subtitles

Shout! Factory

  • Released: August 2, 2011
  • Note: Contained in the MST3K Volume XXI set that features all the Season 3 Gamera episodes

References

    External links

    Mystery Science Theater 3000

    Gamera
    Shōwa
    Heisei
    Millenium
    Kaiju
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