Gamera vs. Viras
Gamera vs. Viras | |
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Japanese | ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス |
Hepburn | Gamera tai uchū kaijū Bairasu |
Directed by | Noriaki Yuasa |
Produced by |
Hidemasa Nagata Masaichi Nagata |
Written by | Nisan Takahashi |
Starring |
Kojiro Hongo Toru Takatsuka Carl Craig Jr. |
Music by | Kenjiro Hirose |
Cinematography | Akira Kitazaki |
Edited by | Shoji Sekiguchi |
Production company | |
Distributed by |
Daiei Film (Japan) AIP-TV (USA) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
Language | Japanese |
Gamera vs. Viras (ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス Gamera tai uchū kaijū Bairasu, Gamera Vs. Space Monster Viras, released in the U.S. as Destroy All Planets) is the fourth entry in the Gamera film series.
Plot
A deadly alien force approaches Earth. Gamera intervenes and destroys the alien vessel; but before the ship is destroyed, the aliens broadcast a warning to their world stating Gamera is their enemy.
Later on Earth a Boy Scout troop is visiting an aquarium to the scientists working on a small two-man submarine. Masao and Jim, two of the scouts manage to talk their way aboard the sub. While in the water they spot Gamera who engages in a little race with the boys. However, their hijinks come to an end when the second alien vessel envelops the both of them in a super-catch ray. Releasing the boys, Gamera remains trapped in the force field while the aliens scan his memory-waves. They learn of Gamera's one weakness, his soft spot for children. Soon after, the field weakens and Gamera is free. The aliens capture Jim and Masao, threatening to kill the boys. Powerless, Gamera lands. Attaching a brain-wave control device to Gamera's head, the aliens force the turtle kaiju to do their bidding.
While aboard the spaceship, the boys continually try to escape. Gamera, however (under the influence of the aliens) is destroying dams and cities by the handful. Jim and Masao discover a squid-like creature, thinking he is another captive of the aliens. In fact he is the leader of the aliens. The boys help Gamera break free from the brain-wave device, and he begins to attack the spaceship. Grounded by Gamera, the aliens reveal that their human forms were just disguises. The aliens merge to form the giant monster Viras. Gamera and Viras duke it out in a big beachside battle. Gamera manages to pull Viras into the upper atmosphere, freezing him to death. He then flings Viras's body back into the ocean. The boys and a crowd of adults celebrate Gamera's victory.
Cast
- Kôjirô Hongô - Scoutmaster Mr. Shimida
- Tôru Takatsuka - Masao Nakaya
- Carl Craig - Jim Crane
- Michiko Yaegaki - Mariko
- Mari Atsumi - Junko Aoki
- Junko Yashiro - Masako Shibata
- Peter Williams - Dr. Dobie
- Kôji Fujiyama - JSDF Commander
- Yoshirô Kitahara - Masao's Father
- Munehiko Takada - Jim's Father
- Mary Morris - Mrs. Crane (as Mary Murrows)
- Chikara Hashimoto - Doctor A
- Kenji Go - Doctor B
- Akira Natsuki - Doctor C
- Ken Nakahara - Doctor D
- Kenichiro Yamane - Doctor E
- Genzô Wakayama - Narrator/Boss Voice
Production notes
The film was titled Destroy All Planets in US distribution as an attempt to capitalize on the success of Toho's Godzilla film Destroy All Monsters (1968).
DVD releases
Alpha Video
- Released: July 22, 2003
- Aspect Ratio: Full screen (1.33:1)
- Sound: English mono
- Region: 1
- Note: Features the American version of the film, Destroy All Planets.
Vintage Home Entertainment
- Released: May 17, 2005
- Aspect Ratio: Full screen (1.33:1)
- Sound: English mono
- Region: 1
- Note: Gamera: The Ultimate Collection three-film DVD set. Features the American version of the film, Destroy All Planets. Also includes Gamera and Gamera vs. Barugon.
St. Clair Entertainment
- Released: February 19, 2008
- Aspect Ratio: Full screen (1.33:1)
- Sound: English mono
- Region: All
- Note: Monsters Unleashed nine-film DVD set. Features the American version of the film, Destroy All Planets. Also includes Gamera, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, Gamera vs. Jiger, Yonggary, Daikyojū Gappa, Warning from Space, and The Giant Gila Monster.
Shout! Factory
- Released: September 21, 2010
- Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
- Sound: Japanese mono and English mono
- Region: 1
- Note: Features the original Japanese version of the film with English Subtitles, English dubbing by AIP Productions, and a Publicity Gallery on Production Stills.
Mill Creek Entertainment
- Releasted: April 29, 2014
- Note: Part of "Gamera Legacy Collection", which features all 11 Gamera films made from 1965 through 1999.
References
External links
- Variety Weekly. May 22, 1968.
- "ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス (Gamera tai Uchu Kaijū Bairasu)" (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- Gamera Versus Space Monster Viras at the Internet Movie Database
- Gamera vs. Viras is available for free download at the Internet Archive
- Gamera Versus Space Monster Viras at AllMovie
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