Godzilla con-troversy

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Friday, July 14, 2006

The controversy over Classic Media's upcoming DVD release GOJIRA: THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE MASTERPIECE heated up this past weekend at G-fest 13.

Among the attractions at the annual convention this year was a screening of the surprisingly good (again) new entry in the Gamera franchise, GAMERA THE BRAVE, along with a chance to meet the special effects coordinator of a new remake of THE SUBMERGENCE OF JAPAN. But the western world's largest mass meeting of daikaiju (giant monster) enthusiasts gets its "G" from Godzilla. The US home video debut of the original Japanese version of the classic 1954 film has been long anticipated by fans, and one of those fans anticipating it most has been Robert V. Conte.

Conte, who developed a healthy working relationship with Godzilla's masters at Toho Studios while editing the Dark Horse GODZILLA comic-booksand his own line of limited-edition lithographs, also owns one of the largest collections of memorabilia connected with the first film in the series. When Classic Media acquired the Region 1 DVD rights to the film during its much publicized 2004 anniversary theatrical run, Conte (who already had an existing relationship with Classic Media with some of its other properties) was a natural choice to assemble the disc's bonus features, and he spent over a year putting together what promised to be a terrific package. However, the parties came to a parting of the ways when, according to Conte, Classic Media did not come through on creative and financial assurances it had made to him.

Conte planned to make a presentation of the material he'd put together for the DVD at G-fest on Saturday afternoon, but mere hours before the scheduled event he received notification "highly encouraging him" to cancel his presentation. This was a great disappointment to Conte, the convention organizers, and the hundreds of fans anxious to see this material, especially since the presentation had been announced months in advance. The unexpected action adds fire to the grumbling of hard-core Godzilla fans, who have been expressing disappointment ever since learning that Classic Media planned to (as one fan put it) "go cheap" with the project. Conte was unable to say whether the demand came from Classic Media or Toho, but is conferring with his own lawyer on whether or not it is legal to block viewing of contents of his own private collection.

As it currently stands, the 2-disc DVD project in production is set to include GODZILLA (the romanized name "Go-ji-ra" is actually pronounced more like "Godzilla") in an HD transfer from a restored 35mm print, along with the 1956 American re-edited and dubbed version GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. The list of extras some of which is reproduced from the British Film Institute DVD a commentrak by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godzizewski (both of whom have authored quality books on Godzilla), featurettes on the development of the script and the Godzilla suit, a 16-page booklet about how the film was imported and adapted for US audiences, and trailers. A website has been launched to track further details at GodzillaOnDVD.com.


(© 2006 Brian Thomas) Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!

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