King Kong vs. Godzilla (キングコング対ゴジラ, Kingu Kongu tai Gojira) is a 1962 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd, it is the third film in both the Godzilla and King Kong franchises, as well as the first Toho-produced film featuring King Kong. It is also the first time that each character appeared on film in color and widescreen. The film stars Shoichi Hirose as King Kong and Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla with Shoichi Hirose, Tadao Takashima, Kenji Sahara, Yū Fujiki, Ichirō Arishima, and Mie Hama playing other prominent roles. In the film, Godzilla is reawakened by an American submarine and a pharmaceutical company captures King Kong for promotional uses, culminating in a battle on Mount Fuji.
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Background[]
In November 1962, King Kong vs. Godzilla played at the Nippon Theater in Honolulu in Japanese with English subtitles, and a week afterward it was shown at the Haleiwa Theatre. In June, August and September 1966 the film was screened in Honolulu again with English subtitles. The U.S. version of King Kong vs. Godzilla was never theatrically released in Hawaii, nor was the international dub of the film.
The U.S. English-language version of King Kong vs. Godzilla was prepared by producer John Beck, who felt that Toho's version of the film would not play well to American audiences. He hired writers Bruce Howard and Paul Mason to "Americanize" the film. Peter Zinner was brought in as an editor for Beck's version.
Cast[]
Character | Original Actor | Dub Actor |
---|---|---|
Osamu Sakurai | Tadao Takashima | ¿? |
Kazuo Fujita | Kenji Sahara | ¿? |
Kinzaburo Furue | Yu Fujiki | ¿? |
Tako (Yoshi Tako) |
Ichiro Anshima | Les Tremayne |
Commanding General (General Masami Shinzo) |
Jun Tazaki | |
Dr. Shosuke Shigesawa (Dr. Kenji Shigesawa) |
Akihiko Hirata | |
Fumiko Sakurai | Mie Hama | ¿? |
Tamie | Akiko Wakabayashi | ¿? |
Chikiro's Mother | Akemi Negishi | ¿? |
Chief of Faro Island | Yoshio Kosugi | ¿? |
Faro Island Shaman | Ikio Sawamura | ¿? |
Dr. Onuki | Somesho Matsumoto | ¿? |
Obayashi | Sachio Sakai | ¿? |
Dr. Makioka (Dr. Akira Makino) |
Tatsuo Matsumura | Les Tremayne |
Konno | Senkichi Omura | ¿? |
Narrator | N/A | Les Tremayne |
Additional Voices[]
- Bruce Howard
- Paul Mason
- Les Tremayne - Commander Roberts
Video Releases[]
*Bundled with King Kong (1933) and King Kong Escapes.
**Bundled with entire Showa Era of films and uncut Japanese version.
See Also[]
External Links[]
- King Kong vs. Godzilla at the Internet Movie Database