Terror of Mechagodzilla
(メカゴジラの逆襲 Mekagojira no Gyakushū, lit. Mechagodzilla's Counterattack)
is a 1975 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Toho Eizo and the fifteenth installment in the Godzilla series as well as the Showa series.
The film was released to Japanese theaters by Toho on March 15, 1975 / United States - 1978.
*It has become even more enraged! It has even more powerful weapons! Mechagodzilla has been resurrected! Take the Earth! - Under the aliens' command, the new monster Titanosaurus causes great destruction throughout Japan!*
(さらに狂暴となって！さらに強力な武器を持って！メカゴジラがよみがえった！地球を奪え！―宇宙人の命令に新怪獣・チタノザウルスと日本中を大破壊！)
~Japanese Tagline
*Ogres from a black hole in space use monsters to seize Earth!*
~ International Tagline
*The mighty titan of terror in his most incredible adventure!*
*Metal Meets Monster*
*Battle to Save the Earth!*
*From a black hole in space...they came to conquer Earth...! *
~ American Taglines
Both the final entry in the original Showa series of Godzilla films and the last entry helmed by original Godzilla director Ishiro Honda, Terror of Mechagodzilla picks up directly after Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla with INTERPOL searching for the wreckage of Mechagodzilla. Rather than any remains, they find the colossal dinosaur Titanosaurus, which destroys their submarine. Marine biologist Akira Ichinose works alongside INTERPOL agent Jiro Murakoshi to uncover the mystery around Titanosaurus and the disgraced scientist who discovered him, Shinzo Mafune. Unbeknownst to them, Mafune has aligned himself with the Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens, offering them the services of Titanosaurus, who is under his control and helping to repair Mechagodzilla. When both the rebuilt Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus are unleashed in Tokyo by the aliens, Godzilla faces an uphill battle against two powerful foes and humanity must find a way to help even the odds.
Directed by
Ishiro Honda
Written by
Yukiko Takayama
Executive producer
Tomoyuki Tanaka
Music by
Akira Ifukube
Cinematography by
Motoyoshi Tomioka
Edited by
Yoshitami Kuroiwa
Production design by
Yoshifumi Honda
1st assistant director
Kensho Yamashita
Director of special effects
Teruyoshi Nakano
1st assistant director of special effects
Yoshio Tabuchi
Cast
Katsuhiko Sasaki as Akira Ichinose, Ocean Development Laboratory
Tomoko Ai as Katsura Mafune, the Cyborg Girl
Akihiko Hirata as Dr. Shinzo Mafune, marine biologist
Tadao Nakamaru as Tagawa, Tokyo INTERPOL bureau chief
Goro Mutsumi as Mugal, Black Hole Planet 3 Alien commander
Masaaki Daimon as Chief Inspector Kusakari
Katsumasa Uchida as Jiro Murakoshi, INTERPOL detective
Tomoe Mari as Yuri Yamamoto, assistant professor at the Ocean Development Laboratory
Toru Ibuki as Tsuda, Black Hole Planet 3 Alien deputy commander
Shin Roppongi as Yuichi Wakayama, Ocean Development Laboratory engineer
Kotaro Tomita as Professor Ota, director of the Ocean Development Laboratory
Ikio Sawamura as Mafune's butler
Kenji Sahara as Defense commander
Yasuzo Ogawa as Fisherman
Hiroya Morita as Nakatani, captain of the Akatsuki No. 1
Kazuo Suzuki, Taro Yamada as Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens
Shoichi Hirose as Slave worker at alien base
Seiji Yoshida as Member of Ocean Development Laboratory / scholar in photograph
Toshio Hosoi as Member of Ocean Development Laboratory / JSDF soldier who shoots Katsura
Yoshio Kirishima, Futoshi Kikuchi as Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens
Hiroshi Ishiya as Yamashita, man who sees Kusakari at Mount Amagi
Shizuko Azuma as Fisherman's wife
Toru Kawai as Godzilla
Kazunari Mori as Mechagodzilla 2
Tatsumi Nikamoto as Titanosaurus
Akinori Umezu as Ken-chan, city boy (uncredited)
Takuzo Kumagai as Defense Corps leader (uncredited)
Jun Nishihara, Takuya Yuki as Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens (uncredited)
International English Dub
Barry Haigh as Akira Ichinose / Tsuda
Matthew Oram as Dr. Shinzo Mafune / defense commander / Professor Ota / Kusakari
Michael Ross as Jiro Murakoshi / Mugal
Monsters
Godzilla (MegaroGoji)
Mechagodzilla 2
Titanosaurus
Manda
(stock footage)
King Ghidorah
(stock footage)
Rodan
(stock footage)
Fake Godzilla
(stock footage)
King Caesar
(stock footage)
Kemular
(anatomy diagrams)
Telesdon
(anatomy diagram)
Zaragas
(anatomy diagram)
Weapons, vehicles, and races
Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens
Katsura Mafune
Black Hole UFO
Type 61 Tank
Mitsubishi F-4EJ Phantom II
Akatsuki
M4A3E8 Sherman Tank
(stock footage)
Mechagodzilla's Counterattack (literal Japanese title)
The Terror of Mechagodzilla (alternate English title)
The Terror of Mecha-Godzilla (alternate English title)
Revenge of Mechagodzilla (alternate English title)
The Terror of Godzilla (United States)
Monsters from an Unknown Planet (United Kingdom)
The Monsters of the Lost Continent (Les monstres du Continent Perdu; France)
The Ogres from Space (Les Ogres de l'espace; France)
Terror of Godzilla (Terreur de Godzilla; French Belgium)
After Holocaust (After Holocauste; French video title)
Mechagodzilla Strikes Back (Mechagodzilla contre-attaque; French video title)
Horror of Godzilla (Verschrikking van Godzilla; Dutch Belgium)
Monsters of the Lost Continent (Monsters van het Verloren Continent; the Netherlands)
The Brood of the Devil (Die Brut des Teufels; West Germany)
Destroy Kong! The Earth is in Danger! (Distruggete Kong! La Terra è in Pericolo!; Italy)
Godzilla and the Extraterrestrials (Γκοτζίλα καί οί εξωγηϊνοι Gotzila kaí oí Exogiïnoi; Greece)
Battle in Outer Space (Fezada Mücadele; Turkey)
War of the Monsters (מלחמת המפלצות; Israel)
The Fury of the Monsters (A Fúria dos Monstros; Brazil)
The Return of Mechagodzilla (Powrót Mechagodzilli, Poland; El Regreso de Mecagodzilla, Mexican video title)
Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (Godzilla contra Mechagodzilla; Spain)
Mechakong (Mecakong; Mexico)
Terror of Mechagodzilla was distributed theatrically in the United States by Bob Conn Enterprises in 1978, under the title The Terror of Godzilla. As had become custom for American releases of Godzilla films since Godzilla vs. Gigan, Bob Conn Enterprises simply used Toho's international English dub for the film rather than commission a new one. To ensure a G rating, several minutes of violence and nudity were cut from the film. This is most noticeable during the film's climax, as Dr. Mafune is abruptly shot off-camera during the gun battle between INTERPOL and the Black Hole Planet 3 Aliens, which is itself greatly shortened. Katsura never turns her laser pistol on herself to shut down Mechagodzilla; the machine shorts out by itself shortly after she is shot in the shoulder by Jiro Murakoshi. An uncut version was released at the same time.
That same year, UPA began to air the film on American television, using its international title, Terror of Mechagodzilla. The only deleted footage in this cut was the shot of Katsura's breasts. UPA's version of the film also added a prologue consisting of a narrated recap of the Showa series of Godzilla films over stock footage of the two other Godzilla films owned by the company, Invasion of Astro-Monster and All Monsters Attack, leading to a run time several minutes longer than the Japanese version. In the 1980s, UPA replaced their cut with one based on the heavily altered Bob Conn release, though the Terror of Mechagodzilla title was retained. Both UPA TV versions have since been released on VHS and DVD in the United States.
Starting in 2017, per the acquisition of distribution rights by Janus Films, Toho's international dub synced to the visuals of the regular Japanese version has been used on television broadcasts and several streaming platforms, and was included on The Criterion Collection's Blu-Ray box set.
Despite being considered a bomb at the Japanese box office, Terror of Mechagodzilla is often looked upon as a strong fan favorite. Fans praise this movie for its fun fight scenes, the return of series veterans like Ishiro Honda and Akira Ifukube, the darker tone compared to other Godzilla films from the 1970s and interesting characters, like Dr. Mafune and Katsura.
While filming the scene where a revived Godzilla vengefully charges toward Mechagodzilla (who unleashes his entire arsenal of weapons on him), the back of the Godzilla suit accidentally caught fire in one shot. This shot nonetheless remained in the final film.
This, the 15th Godzilla film, is usually cited as the last entry in the original Showa series in part because of the oil shock (energy crisis) of the 1970s, which had severely affected both film and TV productions. After almost a decade of failed film proposals by Tôhô to revive the character, the series was continued in 1984. The Return of Godzilla (1984), is technically the last actual Showa film, (being made during the Showa period which ended in 1989). However, since it lead to a new series of films originally called the Versus Series, it was grouped into what later referred to as the Heisei Series.
Titanosaurus was the last monster introduced in the original series of Godzilla films. He represents a sort of return to the more realistic-looking, "natural" monsters that were common on the 50s and 60s films, rather than the more outlandish monster designs seen in the 70s. Since he never got popular with audiences, to date this remains Titanosaurus' only movie appearance.
This was Akihiko Hirata's final appearance in the series. He was scheduled to appear in first film in the Versus/Heisei series but died from cancer just before production began.
This is not only the last Godzilla film directed by Ishirô Honda, it also marks the last time Godzilla is portrayed as a hero until Godzilla: Final Wars (2004).
This was the last Godzilla film to feature the monster in his toned-down state (earless, 3 toes, and an even row of sharp teeth). Starting with the next film 9 years later The Return of Godzilla (1984), his original look from the 1950s - small pointed ears, 4 toes, and fangs - would be reinstated ever after.
Yukiko Takayama was the first woman to individually write a screenplay for the Godzilla series and the second woman overall to write for the Godzilla series, after Kazue Kiba, who collaborated with Shinichi Sekizawa on Son of Godzilla. Takayama approved of director Honda making modifications to her screenplay, so long as the central theme around Katsura remained intact. Of the film, Takayama stated, "My original screenplay focused on Katsura Mafune, the girl who had been turned into a cyborg. Even after she had been altered, she still had emotions. As long as this idea was not removed from the script, I didn't care all that much about what was done to it." In her original scenario, the role of Titanosaurus (Chitanosaurusu) was filled by two dinosaurs called Titans, who became violent only when their necks were entangled which would fuse together into a singular beast. Her script also called for the total annihilation of Tokyo by Titanosaurus and Mechagodzilla who would enter the city through Tokyo Bay and target Shinagawa ward first. Budget constraints forced Toho to scale back the destruction.
This is the final Godzilla film in which Godzilla is not attacked by Japanese, American, or international armed forces.
The Godzilla suit used for the final shot of the movie (where he wades off into the ocean) is actually a promotion suit, which looks noticeably different and has less mobility. It was used for the water scenes so the main suit would not be damaged. This promotional suit was also used in the prior film "Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla" during the battle in the oil refinery when Godzilla first encounters his disguised duplicate.
This was the first Godzilla film to credit the monster suit actors' roles in an English language version.
This was Kenji Sahara's last appearance in the series until Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991).
This was the last Godzilla film shot in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio until until Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). All films in the second wave (the Versus Series) of Godzilla films would be shot in the narrower 1.85:1 screen-aspect ratio. Wider screen-aspect ratios would resume, however, with most of the third wave of Godzilla films, beginning with Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999), which were shot in the 2:35.1 ratio.
Katsumi Nimiamoto wore the Titanosaurus suit backward for certain shots, to make its movements look more unnatural.
This was Akihiko Hirata's final appearance in a Godzilla film. Hirata was set to portray Doctor Hayashida in The Return of Godzilla but became severely ill prior to the start of filming and passed away prior to the film's release.
Final film of Ikio Sawamura. He died shortly before the film's release.
In the scene when a revived Godzilla vengefully charges at Mechagodzilla (who employs his entire weaponry arsenal on him), look for the exploding breakaway rock prop from Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) (the giant rock, which King Caesar hid behind before Mechagodzilla blasted it asunder with the Cross Attack Beam) on the right, just as Godzilla's back catches fire.
Although it's the same overall design and the same suit, MechaGodzilla's look was noticeably altered from his previous appearance. For example, he has a lot more angular, "pointy" looking design elements, most prominent on the chest and shoulders and the hands, finger-rockets, "kneepads" and heels are also different. And of course, he has "MG2
" stamped onto his arm instead of "MG
".
Mechagodzilla's "new weapons" in this film are his finger-launched missiles as before, only the hand spins several times very fast before firing them. What effect this has on the missiles' destructive ability is unknown. One character does however mention them being a weapon with a faster rate of fire.
Screenwriter Yukiko Takayama would write a sequel to her story in the form of a short story called '2075: Meister Titano's Counterattack'. Taking place 100 years after the events of the film, it features a resurrected Katsura under the new identity of "Lady Kei
" and a cyborg Titanosaurus.
Both the German and Italian releases of the film reference King Kong. The German version is called "Konga, Godzilla, King Kong - Die Brut des Teufels" (Konga, Godzilla, King Kong - The Brood of the Devil), with King Kong referring to Mechagodzilla and Konga to Titanosaurus. However the monsters are called by their real names in the movie's German dub. For the Italian release, called "Distruggete Kong! la Terra e in Pericolo" (Destroy Kong! Earth is in Peril), Titanosaurus was renamed to Kong and the actual King Kong was even featured on the poster despite not appearing in the movie. The film was shown in these countries around the time of the release of King Kong (1976) and the people in charge of the promotion likely wanted to capitalize on it, with the German distributors also taking inspiration from Konga (1961).
Was the first movies to be rated TV-14
on the Disney channel.
This film, much unlike the films prior to it, had a much darker tone and returned to the original style of the series. It was much more serious and fans often consider Titanosaurus to hark back to the more realistic kaiju of the early Showa era.
This was the only Godzilla film of the 1970s to be picked up by Henry G. Saperstein. Saperstein had distributed many of the film from the 1960s and co-produced many of the films to include American actors. Saperstein would give the distribution rights to Bob Conn. He would release a heavily butchered edit of the film in theaters while Saperstein distributed a slightly censored version, with an extended prologue to television.
This film is the one of only two live action Godzilla film to have less than 1 million admissions in Japan and stands as the least attended film of the original series. Despite that, it has become a fan favorite of the Godzilla fandom in the United States.
Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka like Takayama's story proposal so much that he commissioned her to write the entire screenplay rather than have series regular Shin'ichi Sekizawa.
Honda's wife Kimi Honda recalled that it was Takayama herself who wanted Honda to direct her screenplay. Kimi said that when Honda learned that Takayama was also from Yamagata, he decided to take the project.
This was the first feature film for lead actress Tomoko Ai. She recalled her unusual audition, arriving late and not reading any lines, instead being asked various questions. She mentioned that on top of being late the staff were surprised at how weird she looked.
Tomoko Ai recalled that Honda's direction for her was much more specific than what he usually gave his actors. Honda directed Ai to speak without changing her facial expressions and to talk without emotions in order to accentuate the cyborg nature of her character. Ai later recalled that it was quite challenging, as her personality was the opposite of her character.
Despite the film being made for children as part of Toho's Champion Festival, it's one of the few Godzilla movies with nudity as there is a scene in which Katsura's breasts are exposed (albeit a prosthetic). Actress Tomoko Ai recalled that she actually dozed off during the filming of the scene mentioning, "Everyone told me not to move, I got nice and cozy, so I just fell asleep". This scene was cut in the US, both for the heavily edited theatrical version and the extended TV version.
She was previously a semi-regular in the TV series Ultraman Leo as a member of MAC.
This is the final Godzilla film to not mention Godzilla himself in its Japanese or international titles.
This is the first film to bring back the Godzilla March heard as the main title in the original.
This is the first Godzilla film to feature an original score by Akira Ifukube since 1968's Destroy All Monsters; although Ifukube's music had previously been used in 1972's Godzilla vs. Gigan, it was recycled from previous scores.
At 33:24 the sign on the door translates as "Nice reception room".
At 45:23 the sign translates as "Dinosaur Countermeasure Book Department".
Dr. Mafune's anatomical drawings in his lab are from Ultra series kaiju, specifically Kemular, Zaragas and Telesdon. In addition, there is an anatomical diagram of Kemular hanging on the wall in Akira Ichinose's office.
The version recut for television opens with more than six minutes of "best of"/"previously on" clips from earlier movies, as an offscreen voiceover provides a running commentary to tie the clips together. Henry G. Saperstein included this segment since he felt that American audiences didn't have the patience of Japanese audiences and would change the channel.
The entire film was shot in about one month early in 1975, preparing the film for a March release.
Terror of Mechagodzilla was the last Toho-produced Godzilla film to be released in a month other than December until Shin Godzilla in 2016.
The American theatrical poster for this film features King Caesar, from the previous film Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, in place of Titanosaurus.
The monster situation in this film is the opposite of the previous, where it was Godzilla and King Caesar against Mechagodzilla. Also, Mechagodzilla is not a melee-capable fighter like his first version. This is shown when Godzilla does finally get in close to attack, Mechagodzilla is incapable of fighting him off. Perhaps since Titanosaurus was backing him up, the aliens designed Mechagodzilla as a long-ranged attacker to back up Titanosaurus' melee power.
TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975) Export English version - Criterion Collection BDRIP
by
Toho Co., Ltd
Publication date
1975
Language
English
Here's the international English dubbed version of Ishiro Honda's "Terror of Mechagodzilla", aka "Terror of Godzilla".
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2021-03-25 01:32:29
Identifier
terror-of-mechagodzilla-1975-export-english-version-criterion-collection-bdrip
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