Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
© Classic Media

Mania Grade: A-
Show Grade: A/A-
Disc Grade: A-
Reviewed Format: DVD
Rated: Not Rated
Cast: Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Yu Fujiki, Emi Ito, Yumi Ito, Yoshifumi Tajima, Kenji Sahara, Jun Tazaki
Writers: Shinichi Sekizawa
Director: Ishiro Honda
Distributor: Classic Media
Original Year of Release: 1964 / 1964
Extras: Widescreen 2.35:1/1.78:1; Japanese/English DD 2.0; English subtitles; audio commentary track; featurette; gallery; trailers
Suggested Retail: $19.98

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"Mothra vs. Godzilla"

The smash international success of King Kong vs. Godzilla (which unfortunately Classic Media does not own the rights to for this series) demanded another sequel, and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka had the inspired idea to pit their monster star against Toho’s own Mothra. When the egg of giant monster Mothra is washed ashore by a storm, greedy entrepreneur Kumayama (Yoshifumi Tajima) is quick to exploit it, buying it from the fisherman who salvaged it and making plans to put it on display. Kumayama’s financier Torahata (Kenji Sahara) is a con man who gets him to invest his own money in the deal, but secretly plans to leave him holding the bag if things turn sour. The twin fairies (pop singers Emi and Yumi Ito) approach the two crooks, imploring then to return the egg to Mothra before someone gets hurt. Instead, the bastards try to capture the fairies to add to their display. The twins escape, and seek the help of reporters Sakai (Akira Takarada) and Yoka (Yuriko Hoshi), who have been trying to get Kumayama to turn the egg over to scientist Professor Miura (Hiroshi Koizumi). Heedless of warnings, the entrepreneur begins construction of an incubator for the egg. Meanwhile, Godzilla (Haruo Nakajima) reappears and goes on a rampage. Help is sought from the dying Mothra through her psychic link to the miniature twin princesses, but she refuses. However, when the egg is threatened, she comes to protect it from Godzilla. 

Excellent in all departments, this is a clear favorite among Godzilla fans. The contrast between the sci-fi-based Godzilla and the more fantasy-oriented Mothra works wonderfully, with the lively script offering imaginative surprises at every turn. The characters are interesting and relatively well rounded, with touches of humor. Godzilla, who seems to be really enjoying his reign of destruction, shows more personality than in previous appearances, helped by one of the series’ better looking costume designs. Special effects wizard Eiji Tsuburaya used some experimental techniques involving changing the speed of the camera and removing frames to add to the realism of his monster effects, giving the suits and puppets the look of animation at times (actual animation was used in a few shots as well). He also makes good use of the studio’s newly purchased optical printer in many shots. Akira Ifukube adds one of his best scores, combining his themes for Godzilla and Mothra from previous films and playing the cues against each other.  
 
Aside from the quality of the film itself, one reason this particular film is such a favorite with fans in the USA is that the American release version from AIP was so well produced. Except for a sequence added at the request of the U.S. distributor, in which U.S. Navy missiles attack Godzilla, the U.S. version is nearly the same as the original, and the dubbing (by Peter Fernandez) was done so skillfully that many appreciate the translated voice performances for themselves. American International ended up releasing it on a double bill with the Czech sci-fi feature Voyage to the End of the Universe Since they hadn’t distributed Mothra, they changed the title to Godzilla vs. the Thing, with advertising that alternately suggested that the big lizard was fighting either the menace from The Thing from Another World or some mystery monster too horrible to reveal. This added to my confusion as a child watching it on the afternoon local TV movie – this was the first Godzilla movie I’d ever seen, and I kept waiting for this hero to show up to fight the big monstrous lizardy Thing.  
 
Continuing the series format, this is the first time the Japanese version of this film has been available in the USA, and the first time the US version has been released widescreen here, too. The slightly narrower aspect ratio on Godzilla vs. the Thing was a compromise move, as many defects were found in the Cinemascope prints. However, both versions look ands sound great, and the transfers are the best of the series so far. The font used on the English subtitles is a bit problematic, as small L’s hug next to O’s to look like B’s.  
 
As before, each version gets separate set of menus, though you can get between them easily enough. G-experts Ed Godzisziewski and Steve Ryfle are again on hand to provide a commentrak on the English version and other extra material. Their love really shines through as they discuss various aspects of the production, and guest stars like Peter Fernandez are brought in via taped interview clips. There’s a collage/lecture piece on composer Akira Ifukube, and good looking trailers for both films.  
 
Like Godzilla Raids Again, so far this title is only available direct (and at a discount) from Classic Media’s GodzillaOnDVD.com website, though a general wide release is in the works for early 2007. Here’s your chance to be first on your block to get ‘em.  

Copyright © 2006 Brian Thomas, author of the massive book VideoHound's Dragon: Asian Action & Cult Flicks.