Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1998 Re-Release of the American Version)

I am a BIG fan of Raymond Burr, especially his role as Perry Mason and Ironside.In this black and white movie from 1956 Burr not only plays the part of a reporter 'Steve Martin', but he is also the narrator throughout the movie. I think Burr did a great job in this movie and I really enjoyed the plot and the way it all played out. I think it is a must have for all those who enjoy Godzilla movies and even movies staring Raymond Burr.

This dvd has gotten to be very hard to find at this price! If you like the first Godzilla movie made for the American market starring Ramon’s Burr, grab it!

I own three DVD versions of this same movie. The Simitar version is the best. I have not been blessed to have seen the original japanese presentation of this great monster movie, but I hope to somehow, someway. But we're supposed to review this version. IT'S THE BEST OF ITS TYPE even WITH Raymond Burr.

excellent none of the remakes do justice to this movie

The original Godzilla is still the best!

Great for the class "The Cold War through film"

This is the 1956 adaptation of the original 1954 Japanese classic which runs 98 minutes vs. this American version that runs 80 minutes. About 60 of those minutes are from the original ’54 “Gojira/Godzilla.” The other 20 minutes were reshoots featuring American actor Raymond Burr, who played the wife-killer in Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.”Terry Morse, sometimes called a “film doctor” who directed mostly crappy “B” movies was hired by Harold Ross and Richard Kay who bought the American film rights. Morse reshot some of the scenes often using new Asian actors shot from the back or side so their faces weren’t seen. Other times through some excellent editing and film magic, the original Japanese actors appear to be talking to Burr’s character, Steve Martin. Martin, a reporter is on his way to Egypt but has a stopover in Tokyo to visit an old friend who happens to be a top scientist in Japan. They eventually do meet but the two never appear in the same frame.The story is told in flashback in this version. As the film opens Tokyo has been all but destroyed and Martin is found seriously injured with debris from a collapsed building on top of him. He narrates most of the scenes filling in for much of the language deleted from the film as spoken by the actors. Actual subtitles are limited. Monster film loving Americans don’t like reading subtitles. Once back on his feet, Martin will be nothing but an observer for the viewer. He just stands there.The story is different from the original moralistically and part of the reason for the drastic cuts. The original film is a warning of what can happen if the world, and we’re talking to you America, doesn’t abandon the idea of creating hydrogen bombs which are even more destructive than the atom bombs that destroyed two of Japan’s largest cities less than a decade earlier. It is these new H-Bomb tests that awoken the large dino-like creature who was resting at the bottom of the ocean. The creature dubbed Gojira. I’ve seen 2 translations of this. One is a combo of gorilla and whale, the other gorilla and a big ox. Since the monster likes the ocean I like the gorilla-whale version.The original film spends a significant amount of time debating the significance of Godzilla’s appearance and about using a new potential weapon which can kill everything in the ocean by destroying the oxygen. It was creatively called the Oxygen Destroyer. So for the record Godzilla is definitely killed in the end along with the young scientist who invented the Destroyer. We know for sure because we see Godzilla’s skeleton after the Oxygen Destroyer dissipates his body.Interestingly The Toho Company who own the rights to everything Godzilla have a rule book for new films. One of the rules is that Godzilla cannot die. Except for the first one I guess. In any case this film isn’t horrible but I prefer the original or the newer “Shin Godzilla” of 2016 or “Godzilla” from 2014. This package offers 2 different aspect ratios for viewing. The standard 1.33:1 and a letterboxed version. The 'Full Screen' version also gives you the option of Dolby Digital (AC-3) mono or a digitally remastered Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 surround. The Letterbox version has the Mono track.

PLOT: Godzilla terrorizes Tokyo 4 STARS~1954 and the sleeping giant Godzilla begins terrorizing an island. American Reporter~ Steve Martin (RAYMOND BURR) is there for the scoop. In a series of ship sinks complete with severe burns the dying men claim it was Godzilla. Godzilla ends up in Tokyo Bay and decides Tokyo is next. Complete with fire breath. Tanks, machine guns, cannon fire but nothing phases him. He tears through a defense grid of high tension wires and soon Tokyo is ablaze. Reporter Martin watches this from the top floor of the news building. Is there anything that can stop Monster Godzilla? This is one of the better versions. The original all Japanese version is "edited" and they ADDED Raymond Burr with clever edits. Then english dubbing. Over all it is very well done. The special effects are pretty good for the age of the movie. ADDED fun is stone faced Burr trying to show terror.....I saw this as a young person......over 40 years ago and it was good to see it again.