Tonight on MeTV, in answer to many viewers requests, we again present the English-language version of the famed Toho Studios film that started the reign of the most famous Japanese kaiju (giant monster) in motion picture history! Beginning the series with a far more serious and tragic feel, and adding in the future “Perry Mason” ( cue that theme music!) Raymond Burr to guide us- here is the movie that reveals the origin of "Godzilla- King of the Monsters"!
This 1956 film begins with reporter Steve Martin ( Raymond Burr-and, yes, it is ironic that the character is named Steve Martin, long before we all became aware of the banjo-playing comedian ) – hospitalized and in serious condition, having been brought to an over-crowded medical facility loaded with other victims of a horrible catastrophe. We learn what has happened via a flashback to Martin flying in to Japan for a visit with an old scientist colleague. Upon arrival, he is whisked away by the authorities, who ask if he saw anything unusual in the ocean below his aircraft during the flight ?! The reason is that there have been some strange unexplained naval disasters in nearby waters.
When a lone survivor of one of these mysterious events washes ashore at a small island, Martin joins military investigators to check out the island- and finds that the natives there actually believe that the disasters were caused by a legendary gigantic sea monster-whose anger they have attempted to squelch for many years by making sacrifices! The investigation turns up traces of radioactivity- and- unbelievably- giant footprints!
The origin of these is discovered when the mighty Godzilla actually appears! After its frightening appearance, Dr. Yemane, a renowned expert who is part of the investigating party, returns to Tokyo to explain his theory that this gigantic creature has been awakened from ages of hibernation by man's atomic testing (a theme that will be reused in countless future movies). Martin seeks out the scientist pal he came to visit, Serizawa, who he thinks may have an educated opinion, but when he tries to consult with him, his friend claims to be far too busy. Coincidentally, Dr. Yemane’s daughter is scheduled to marry Serizawa- but it appears that her heart now belongs to another man- and she is trying to figure out how to reveal the truth to the scientist. During one of her attempts to tell Serizawa the sad news, she discovers a horrible discovery he is hiding from the world- for its own good!
Suddenly- in the first scene of its type, due to be echoed in many more films- Godzilla appears in Tokyo Bay and heads onshore to cause horrific destruction to the city! Any defensive system plans fail miserably- and Godzilla's rampage seems unstoppable! Martin does his best to provide live coverage of the damage being done- only to be injured as the devastation continues.
This brings us up to the point where the movie started, with Martin hospitalized and, like the authorities, at a loss as far as what to do next. Circumstances end up pointing towards one single dangerous way to end Godzilla’s attacks- involving the secret discovery of Serizawa’s. There is major disagreement about whether or not this should be utilized- but, at this point, can anything, known or unknown, provide even slim hope that the monstrous creature can be stopped- before it's too late?
This film was the first exposure most of us of a certain age had to Godzilla- and, you’ll notice , as I mentioned earlier, that this movie has a much more serious tone than almost all of the later Godzilla films, utilizing the great sadness and heavy emotion of its parallels to real-life events. We’ll run down the movie’s history, explain how Burr was inter-cut into the original all-Japanese cast, and pay our respects to the man who was inside the Godzilla suit. Also, watch for the special comedy segment with our friend, the hilarious Jamie Farr- best known as Max Klinger from "MASH”! Additionally, you’ll see a song (the most appropriate one we could think of for this movie, due to its human star), a guide to movie dubbing, a vintage promo for a dubbed game show that was a big hit on cable, and- make sure you are watching right before we wind up the show for a memorable visit from years ago by two legendary women whose cartoon voices you know very well!
One more quick reminder, while time grows short- you may want to hit the store here on our website to order something special for your Sven-fan Valentine!
“Godzilla- King of the Monsters” surfaces on MeTV tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time- and you can check your local listings, or at www.metv.com, for time and station in your area. Don’t forget that we are also available as part of the FrndlyTV app, which has a minimal monthly fee. The live-Tweeting continues on Twitter during the show, making us trend every week- just be sure to add the hashtag #svengoolie to your Tweets! This morning, our local viewers can pucker up once more for Hammer’s “Kiss of the Vampire” at 11 am on Chicago’s CW26.
Join us tonight as a giant radioactive monster causes the future Perry Mason to attempt to come up with a defense- to which even Hamilton Burger would not object!
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It is my understanding that Universal studio executives ordered cuts to the film (probably to reduce its running time). It seemed like the high definition version restored some of the missing frames of film. Count Dracula's entrance on the broken staircase seemed a bit longer and less hurried. When Renfield cut himself with a paper clip, dried blood can be seen on his fingernail.
He spent more time fumbling through his papers and looking for shipping labels for the Count's luggage.
Overall, the scenes played out as we all remembered, but the characters were given more time to walk across the large sets and there were noticeable pauses and definite reactions to the strangeness of the goings on at Castle Dracula. I am really looking forward to seeing the entire film in high definition.
Not yet!
Stay dry my friends.
One hour fifteen minutes to the Race for First Post
The west is getting even WILDER tomorrow morning with guest villain Boris Karlofff to contend with. Watch out Mr. Jim West!
I read an old review of CFTBL in Zomboscloset.com and his take on the movie was that Universal should build a theme park attraction. Here's an excerpt:
" I want to know why there’s no ride, no tourist attraction to beguile us. Given the best they could do was Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical, which played from 2009 to 2010 at the theme park, I’m not that hopeful.
They did a ride for Jaws, loved it, but there’s none for the last great Universal Monster, the one whose box office success leveraged Universal-International’s entry into the 1950s science fiction atomica and alien-invasion cycle, where big and bigger monsters, and they were quite unlovable ones at that, weren’t as mesmerizing as this low budget, process shots galore, jungle adventure set in the mysterious isolated lagoon.
Imagine a boat ride, which would be akin to Disney World’s Jungle Cruise. Wouldn’t you get a thrill standing on the deck of the tramp steamer Rita, helmed by its crusty and resourceful captain, Lucas (Nestor Paiva), as it enters the mysterious lagoon no tourist has set foot in? Wouldn’t you get a chill encountering the Gill Man as his curiosity gets the better of him and he dares to come aboard looking for companionship, for understanding, for a soul mate after all those years of being alone? After all, the Devonian period he hails from goes back a few hundred million years.
George Santayana
The club also has a very active DSTAR repeater.
https://www.gigaparts.com/explorer-qrz-1-5w-vhf-uhf-handheld-transceiver.html
(The cheapo jobs on amazon have poor signal quality, and run the risk of an FCC SWAT team kicking down your door when you transmit out of band...)
The WWW episode is
The Night of the Goldeb Cobra with Karloff
Tomorrow’s showing of _The Creature from the Black Lagoon_ is well timed. The following Thursday, 16 February, will be Ricou Browning’s 93rd birthday. When you’re out shopping for Valentines, why not pick up a birthday card for Ricou? It’ll make his day!
Ricou Browning
5221 SW 196 Lane
Southwest Ranches, FL 33332
Birthday cards would be very nice for the old guy
😊
