Godzilla is billed as king of the monsters. That title is debatable. What may not be is king of the monster sequels. Since this original Japanese film, there have been many sequels, remakes and sequels to the remakes. It is a good film, that follows a trend in the 1950’s of irradiated monsters.
The movie starts with the destruction of many boats around Ohto island. Dr. Yamane, (Takeshi Shimura) is asked to investigate, by the Japanese government; because a giant footprint, resembling a dinosaur was found. He takes a research crew, and they see Godzilla and take a picture. It’s analyzed and Dr. Yamane concludes that it is a dinosaur from The Jurassic period. He also concludes that it was atomic testing that released it. He suggests studying it, but that idea is rejected. The government decides that it knows best, and decides to attack it.
What this plan does, is drive Godzilla from the island, and into the heart of Tokyo. No amount of armaments can stop this creature, and the government begins a mass evacuation. During the evacuation, citizens are talking on the subway. They show their anger and frustration, over leaving their homes, after their hardships during the war. Godzilla is wreaking havoc, with his new weapon, from mass exposure to radiation. It is the ability to breath fire. This causes untold destruction and casualties. The director, Ishiro Honda, has done well in creating the film destruction of Tokyo. This was well before computerized special effects, and models had to be built. He’s also created good scenes of panic in the streets. One frightening scene is when a mother is telling her child, that soon they will join her father.
The military is being defeated by Godzilla, and all hope seems gone. This is when Emiko Yamane, (Momoko Koshi), comes up with a solution. She goes to her fiancée, Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, (Akhiko Hirata), for help. He is a brilliant scientist, who suffered greatly during the war. He is reluctant, but shows her a weapon he has created, a deoxygenator. It is able to destroy life, by taking out the oxygen in a particular area. She goes to see the naval officer, Hideto Ogata, (Akiro Hirata), who she really loves, about Dr. Serizawa’s invention. She persuades the doctor, to use it for the good of mankind. The military manages to drive Godzilla into the sea. Serizawa and Ogata dive to Godzilla’s location, and deploy the device. Dr. Serizawa knows of Emiko and Hideto’s love, and says be happy to Hideto, before sacrificing himself. Godzilla is seemingly destroyed, and Hideto and Emiko can realize their love. The film ends with a warning from Dr. Yamura, about nuclear testing.
This is not a throw away monster film. There are many of that type, from that decade. It is a movie with an intelligent script. It has quality acting, and gives an anti nuclear message. It also touches on the suffering that war caused the Japanese. The effects are good, and the studio created a fairly scary and effective monster. Godzilla’s true legacy, is that it stands the test of time; making it a stand alone monster film.