Mothra vs. Godzilla

This article is about the 1964 film. For the 1992 film, see Godzilla vs. Mothra.
Mothra vs. Godzilla
Directed by Ishirō Honda
Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka, Sanezumi Fujimoto, James H. Nicholson, Samuel Z. Arkoff
Written by Shinichi Sekizawa
Starring Akira Takarada
Yuriko Hoshi
Hiroshi Koizumi
Yu Fujiki
Emi Itō
Yumi Itō
Yoshifumi Tajima
Kenji Sahara
Jun Tazaki
Haruo Nakajima
Katsumi Tezuka
Music by Akira Ifukube
Cinematography Hajime Koizumi
Production
company
Distributed by Toho (Japan)
American International Pictures (USA)
Release dates
  • April 29, 1964
Running time
 88 minutes
Country Japan
Language Japanese

Mothra vs. Godzilla (モスラ対ゴジラ Mosura tai Gojira) is a 1964 crossover Japanese language, Japanese-American science fiction kaiju film co-produced by Toho and American International Pictures. Directed by Ishirō Honda, and featuring special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya, the film starred Akira Takarada, Kenji Sahara and Hiroshi Koizumi. The fourth film in the Godzilla series, it was the first in which Toho began bringing in monsters from other productions, having Godzilla cross paths with Mothra. This trend would continue later in the same year with Rodan, in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. This film also marks the first international co-production (with an English language studio) for a Godzilla film, with Invasion of Astro-Monster being the second, and Godzilla (2014 film) the third.

The film was released theatrically in English language territories in the summer of 1964 (four months after its Japanese debut) by American International Pictures as Godzilla vs. the Thing.

Plot

News reporter Ichiro Sakai and photographer Junko Nakanishi take pictures of a wreckage caused by a typhoon, uncovering a large reptilian scale in the debris. Later that day, a giant egg is discovered on the shore. The local villagers salvage it, and an entrepreneur of Happy Enterprises named Kumayama buys the egg from the local villagers. Instead of letting scientists study the egg, Kumayama wants to make it into a large tourist attraction.

While Sakai, Junko, and scientist Professor Miura are discussing the egg at a hotel, they discover Kumayama checking in. Kumayama meets with Jiro Torahata, the head of Happy Enterprises. They are unexpectedly confronted by tiny twin girls known as the Shobijin and try to capture them. The Shobijin escape and meet with Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura. After explaining that the egg belongs to Mothra and if the egg hatches, the larva will cause great damage, the trio agree to help.

Sakai, Junko, and Miura try to reason with Kumayama and Torahata but fail to do so and the Shobijin leave. Godzilla suddenly emerges from Kurada Beach, where it had been blown ashore by the hurricane and buried under mud, and begins to attack Nagoya. Sakai, Junko, and Miura travel to Infant Island to request the Shobijin to send Mothra to defeat Godzilla. The natives of the island and the Shobijin initially refuse but are eventually convinced by the trio.

Kumayama barges into Torahata's room and demands to get his money back that Torahata had recently swindled from him. Kumayama is shot by Torahata and is too killed when Godzilla arrives and destroys his hotel. Mothra arrives just when Godzilla reaches her egg and engages him in battle. Despite giving her all, Godzilla defeats her and proceeds with his rampage.

The JSDF launch multiple campaigns against Godzilla until two giant larvas hatch from Mothra's egg. They follow Godzilla to Iwa Island and trap him with their silk spray until he retreats back to the sea. Sakai, Junko, and Miura thank the Mothra larvas and Shobijin as they return to Infant island.

Cast

Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla) takes a break during filming.

English version

American International Pictures theatrical poster for the 1964 U.S release for Godzilla vs. The Thing. AIP hid Mothra's appearance behind sensational false advertising. Incorporates artwork by Reynold Brown

American International Pictures originally released the film in the United States in September 1964, and it opened in New York City on November 25 of that year, retitled Godzilla vs. the Thing. Mothra's appearance was kept out of promotional material, which hinted that Godzilla's opponent would be a hideous tentacled creature and referred to it only as "The Thing". New York Times film critic Eugene Archer reacted to the film and its title: "Well, there are three things, not counting the movie. One has wings and looks like a big bee. The other two are hatched from the first Thing's egg, after quite a bit of worshipful kootch dancing from a pair of foot-tall native goddesses...".

In video releases of the 1980s, the film was titled simply Godzilla vs. Mothra. However, Mothra is still repeatedly called "The Thing" in the film, confusing many film-goers who thought "The Thing" and "Mothra" were two separate monsters.

This is the first Showa Godzilla film to be nearly completely intact for North American release (a very few small scenes were edited out). The first three Godzilla films were heavily edited, as well as included English actors and new narration.

Production

Titles

Box office

The film sold approximately 3,510,000 tickets in Japan.

Reception

The film has received favorable reviews by critics, and is widely considered among the best Godzilla films.[1] The film's approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is currently at 90% based on ten reviews.

Home media releases

Classic Media R1 America

Simitar Entertainment R0 America[2]

Paramount Home Video/Gateway

Paramount Home Video

References

External links