The History of Godzilla (1954)

The History of Godzilla (1954)
[Reupload] Original Upload: 8/7/2020
#Godzilla #godzilladay #Gojira
Sources
- Brian Solomon's "Godzilla FAQ"
- David Kalat's, "A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series".
- Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle's "Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa"
- Steve Ryfle's "Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G".
- wikizilla.org
- www.tohokingdo...
I do not own nor do I claim to own Godzilla or any property related to it. This video falls under fair use as it is educational regarding the history of the Godzilla film franchise. Any usage of footage from movies or marketing material is transformative for educational purposes.
FAIR-USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
You can purchase or rent "Godzilla" at www.amazon.com.

[@Actually-ll1bw]

***UMMM ACTUALLY*** 44:02 - Some reptiles do have vocal cords

[@TheBelieveit1]

pretty much only crocodilians and even then theirs hardly qualifies as vocal cords and is more a technicality than anything, and it sorta makes sense given they are more closely related to birds who can vocalize very well than they are to other reptiles

[@Nethercroc]

Only crocodilians

[@needlefoxx]

Tokay Geckos are vocal as hell

[@jotef3935]

@@needlefoxx q

[@SharktopusUltima6064]

@@TheBelieveit1 Birds are reptiles

[@sabufinisher]

with the amount of research and hard work for making this video it deserves to be an official documentary for Godzilla. THIS VIDEO DESERVES MORE VIEWS!

[@thomasthomas2418]

One of the most important things about "Godzilla" was that it was the first sympathetic portrayal of the Japanese in American theaters since World War II.

[@theperson8539]

Wonder if they paid any reparations to unduly incarcerated Japanese-Americans after the fact.

[@panzerschliffehohenzollern4863]

​@@theperson8539What Japanese-American?!? - Said the policymaker. (Also FDR's dead so you can't ask for his opinion on the matter anymore so..... under the rug it go.)

[@VideoSmarts1]

@@panzerschliffehohenzollern4863you know these types, always trying to find a handout and digging up skeletons calling it reparations to emotionally coerce you into it

[@david-468]

@@VideoSmarts1no that’s not what that is, WE , America, the United States KILLED roughly 15 million Germans and Japanese 5 million of which were civilians, doesn’t matter how you look at it OUR propaganda called those things bad/atrocities yet we did them anyways , it’s a valid criticism

[@MrFrogmon]

And then Minus One came and showed love to Godzilla as a force

[@serghini11]

Fun fact Bill. The Swedish release of Godzilla back in 1957 was called Godzilla Monstret Från Havet (Monster From The Ocean) and it was just the Japanese movie with subtitles. We didn’t get the American edit of the movie but the original uncut version.

[@nixseven6163]

you guys are lucky.

[@SoleMan117]

Did catch Godzilla catch in in Sweden? You hear a lot about his time in Germany, but the Euro-Godzilla experience is something that seems undocumented to me.

[@hydrolito]

Americans have since also watched unedited original with English Subtitles added.

[@michaelsergejhelgesson1637]

@@SoleMan117 I grew up in Bavaria, and watched Godzilla movies at the cinema in our little village in the Alps. When I came to Sweden in 1973, Godzilla was not so well known. One movie on TV in 1973 ( Son of Godzilla ) and one in 1977 ( Destroy all monsters ). Never at the cinemas. That's all!

[@stoneyboyd]

Cool!

[@MrBronx61]

After 67 years, it's STILL the best G-film.

[@qlasalle]

That's not fair it was a brilliant source material 👀 I tried to make interesting counter arguments but its the only Godzilla movie that has gripping human moments. Yeah I'm going to agree profusely on this.

[@caramelcandys]

Eh i still think shin godzilla is better but i see where ur coming from

[@zeno3353]

I’d argue Gojira and Shin Gojira tie for best

[@spiritdetective90]

Shin Godzilla was also great

[@patmurph7769]

So far is the key word. Anyway If I remade godzilla it would take place 31 years after the 1954 incident.it begins with the retelling of 1954 beginning with a a butterfly turning into ash and embers.the new godzilla would be 85 meters but there will be a third 1,760 meter one that would appear.the girl from the first movie would be in bed ridden telling her tale from 1954 later on she would see the new godzilla and say "you killed my family,poisoned me for life,now you kill me what did I do to deserve this" then she will get crushed by godzilla but when Godzilla finally gets killed godzilla cries in pain but 19 years when a magnitude 8.6 earthquake destroys a nuclear power plant the 1,760 meter godzilla awakens and starts destroying Tokyo,San Francisco,and finally Berlin it would go to chernobyl to feast on radiation it would sleep there for 17 years and then it would reawaken

[@cyphercircuitboard6576]

6:14 "Albert. You remember when I came to you with those calculations, that we thought we might start a chain reaction that would destroy the entire world?" "I remember it well. What of it?" *“I believe we did.”*

[@hetalianotaku7103]

Fun fact, Akira Ifukube was inspired to become a composer after hearing a radio performance of Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." And you can definitely hear that inspiration in his own work. Nice to know Stravinsky's influence transcends cultures.

[@stillframe8923]

I colourised that phot at 44:00! It was my first colourisation attempt, and I have re-attempted it with more realistic colours since then. Great video anyway, I learnt lots from it

[@BigActionBill]

Wow! It’s amazing, great work. Did you see that Toho is colorizing the entire movie? Idk when it’ll be released though

[@stillframe8923]

@@BigActionBill I couldn't find anything on it. Maybe you were thinking about the 1970s Italian colourisation?

[@BigActionBill]

Toho had an event back in November, Godzilla Festival Online 2020, it was a live stream. It was all in Japanese so I couldn't make it all out but they showed parts of the 1954 film colorized, so I expect that to be released sometime in the future

[@justnoah2073]

I appreciate first, just how we'll edited this whole video is. I watched the whole thing in one sitting, which I wasn't expecting. I'm so glad you have the titles of the music too. This movie will forever be incredibly unsettling, but the message, Godzilla wasn't a monster, and everybody is the victim.

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

You deserve way more subscribers. Godzilla videos on KZbin have been done to death (Cinemassacre, Up from the Depths) but none have the wealth of information, research and quality that yours possess.

[@SpadePyro]

“If you wanna skip the super important context for one of the most important and terrifying ideas ever put on film, skip to 14:00”

[@CL-pd9cp]

A great video essay on what is still the very best Godzilla film ever made.

[@kingdomcomesuperman3669]

Always keep coming back to this video, the amount of research and presentation is the level of an official documentary and the added context makes me love this movie even more upon rewatches.

[@greggreattricksnarke5916]

I love watching Godzilla movies on Saturday afternoon's on t.v. I still watch them on dvd now I can't wait until the new Godzilla vs King Kong movie comes over this year in 2021

[@lunaanims8171]

Yup can't wait to see godzilla win :D

[@AzeraV]

I love binge watching Godzilla review vids. I can't believe I hadn't found you before. Your research for each is extremely impressive.

[@jimmerhardy]

So many aspects merged to make Godzilla one of the all time classics, beginning with the title sequence, the startling roar and relentless musical score, all captured perfectly in this documentary. Well done and thank you.

[@Robert-White]

You only have 5,000 subscribers?! This video is super high quality even compared to videos made by channels with 500,000+ subscribers, great job!

[@frankcolumbo4481]

I live just down the street from Toho studios. I often pass by the Godzilla statue out front of the entrance.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

I loved Godzilla movies as a kid. Back in the 80's they were aired on Saturday afternoons.

[@gnphoto21]

This was one of the most informative videos I’ve ever seen! Not only did you cover how the movie was made but you also explained how and why it came to be made. Great job! Can’t wait to see your other videos!

[@ENLIGHTENMENT789]

Hi, just got to say that this is the BEST making of Godzilla documentary i have ever seen. from the screen grabs, film clips, rare photo's and general details you go into..Thank you very much for taking so much time and effort in making this for us G-Fans out there😀

[@thomassiroky8714]

Amazing attention to detail. Great job, one of the best Godzilla videos I’ve ever seen

[@enochbrooks633]

Love the content you're making! I just googled Godzilla history because I have been a huge fan my whole life, and your channel came up. Really good work, can't wait to watch the rest on your channel!

[@jjohnston326]

I remember the first time I was lucky enough to view the original Gojira, it blew me away. I think it's the best of them all as far as telling a more serious story.

[@VintageNarwhal]

Thank you. I’ve been looking to find a video to show my close friends cause apparently I found out they just thought it was just monsters fighting. And had to roughly explain he’s a nuclear allegory and this is gonna help me explain so much info without having to pin all the info together. Thank you so much. Great work.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

I know people like that aren't fans but it's still a bit irritating people think godzilla is nothing but fights

[@fluffcake]

Godzilla's first film is amazing and depressingly dark. It would be something that none would ever hold up to be with Shin and The Return being the only to defy it. (Especially Shin, considering the events at the time.) It was great watching it and legitimately making me cry. It's that great.

[@chriswood1210]

The original is still the one and only. But I like the modern Godzilla. He is primordial and a brawler. Now only if they would have Godzilla go head to head with the military for once.

[@Pa_blito]

great content, it's incredible that you don't have millions of viewers (yet)

[@scottb91007]

Don’t know how you don’t have more subscribers, I love the production put into these videos

[@TIMWReigo]

I just watched the english version of the OG Godzilla movie starring Raymond Burr and it feels amazing seeing that even in that version they still keep at least some of the dark tones mainly in the effects shots and even the ending. Watching this franchise again starting with the very first is very nostalgic for me. This video was seriously fun to watch seeing the history behind the origin of the #1 non-human character. I can't wait to watch the rest of this series while doing my nightly Godzilla binge.

[@howardmaryon]

Thank you for making this, and making it so well. I now understand so much more about the foundation of this monumental movie series, and how it ties in perfectly with Japanese culture and history. I must watch the original now to appreciate the brilliance of this major cinematic milestone.

[@Tiberius_Productions]

Thank you for the work you've done for the Godzilla community by making these videos. I know you are doing this as a labor of love to the franchise we love so much, and i'm glad to see Godzilla is becoming more popular than ever here in the US because of KZbinrs like yourself putting in the work to showcase this fantastic franchise that is a staple of Japanese modern culture. I can't wait to see you complete you're "History of Godzilla" series and I look forward to the new Reiwa Era going forward!

[@victorcippitelli2242]

I never saw a very informative, detalled, explained, well narrated video about the first Godzilla movie until today. A very well made documentary video. Is awesome! Good job!

[@BattyWanderer]

This is so incredibly well researched and put together, I love it

[@Phil-r6k]

Your “History of…” videos are worthy of being DVD/Blue Ray extras. I can appreciate the research and dedication that goes into these videos. G:KotM (1957) was the first Godzilla film that I saw back in either 1969 or’70, and I watched it while building the Aurora Godzilla model kit. I’ve built that kit two more times since then, in 2000 and then in 2023, each time looking better and better!

[@knights_of_old]

Great vid! I watched it all, and hope you make more about other Japanese cinema/history subjects. I also appreciated the Jojo clip.

[@rayvenkman2087]

Going from Seven Samurai to Godzilla? Most actors these days would kill to have that back to back success.

[@mikedaikaijufan3976]

I'm currently in the process of rewatching all these for the umpteenth time and I just wanted to put my appreciation out there for your dedication. These are the most comprehensive and informative Godzilla movie reviews I've ever seen. We need more fans like you out there, Bill!

[@mhos6940]

First watched Godzilla King of the Monsters spring of 1976 on TV at the age of six & have been nuts about Godzilla ever since! Thanks for the video!👍

[@user-ym5bv6vv9p]

Ready for gvk?

[@Jacensbattlegrounds]

You did such an awesome job on this and the others from the series so far. Really enjoyed watching these with my son. Looking forward to the next ones!

[@GauntletBProductions]

Being a fellow g-fan, I have to say you've done incredible work with these videos. Ive been working on a fictional blog series & have had your videos going in the background as inspiration. I look forward to the rest of the showa, Shin, & the monsterverse. If you're ever up for it, that be sweet if you gave other Toho films this treatment like Rodan, Mothra, the Mysterians & others

[@ajclements4627]

I’m a huge tokusatsu and Kaiju fan, and this documentary video is really well done. Subbed!

[@Tcb0835]

The original 1954 film is an absolute masterpiece, and this is the sort of comprehensive history lesson it's always deserved. Absolutely wonderful 👏

[@callumdonnelly1718]

woah, despite having notifications turned on for your channel youtube sends me none 😭. This looks like a great video!

[@kellybrown685]

Wow. This is such a well done documentary. Thank you!

[@sledgethomas9499]

Great fucking video? U got sports and Godzilla on ur channel?? Subbed

[@DarkShadeAnimations1]

thanks man, made me appreciate this movie so much more

[@kirikei]

I recently got back to godzilla. As a kid I was watching the subbed movies at the local library, good times. Thank you for this very interesting video

[@DanielJimenez-j]

20:14 Fact origin 22:58 In universe Origin 31:21 Seven Samurai 34:31 Dr Serizawa 34:57 Oxygen Destroyer 36:10 Human Characters and Story 38:16 Honda and Subaraya 38:46 Gojira's attack on Tokyo 41:49 Accidents 42:33 Lack of technology at the time 43:09 Akira Ifukube 44:50 Soundtrack 45:44 After Gojira's attack 45:54 Godzilla's main theme 46:24 The Destruction that Gojira has brought 47:24 Prayer for peace 48:12 Foreshadowing the effects of the oxygen destroyer to Gojira 48:35 - 49:20 Gojira's Final Cry and Death 49:42 Dr Serizawa's Sacrifice and Death 50:19 Serizawa and Oppenheimer's Similarities 51:10 Devastating Aftermath and the Message of the film 52:39 The Film's marketing 53:43 The Film's release 54:03 Godzilla's Success and the future of the franchise 56:04 US military absence from the film 58:30 Godzilla King Of The Monsters Honor to both Honda and Dr Serizawa 58:43 Godzilla's early international Audiences 1:00:18 Raymund Burr 1:01:15 1956 US Release 1:03:51 - 1:04:04 Godzilla vs King Kong Origin 1:04:54 Godzilla's Impact on Pop culture

[@brendoncoyle5905]

Wow ya know i really wasn’t looking for a Godzilla channel, but damn I’m here for this. Excuse me while I binge this entire playlist.

[@TehHappieBunnie]

What a spectacular documentary, the amount of respect and love you have for this franchise is evident in how well crafted and researched these videos are ❤

[@bretts8070]

I thought I'd seen all the content and docs ever for Godzilla, but this has proven I haven't! Awesome, well done, and subbed!

[@victorherron2767]

Outstanding! I've seen several treatments of Godzilla's cinematic history, and yours digs deeper than all the others. Excellent job on the edit as well. Best wishes.

[@DEricKesler]

This is a really enjoyable and informative documentary. Well done. Thank you.

[@Evil_Noah]

This is phenomenal work. There's a lot here I never knew about before. This video should have millions of views.

[@TheSaint7770]

Well done, thank you for this!! I watched from start to finish rather spontaneously upon discovering this gem of a job (i.e. this very upload).

[@andrewray2507]

I really appreciate the little stylized text boxes you used to show people's name and titles. Nice touch. Great video!

[@sketchsawyer]

This is incredible. Thank you!

[@cesarvictoriano8072]

Anyone come back feeling like a bit of history repeated with Godzilla Minus One?

[@LtRee96se]

I'm glad that Toho, Mr. Honda, and Mr. Takarada Took the movie so seriously. I have always felt that Godzilla was not the villain in the movies.

[@justinsullivan1285]

The original is still the best and the progenitor of the Kaiju eiga genre. The Japanese version with subtitles is a masterpiece. Well made bill.

[@callanhutchison1871]

This series rules

[@markclincy4353]

As a life long Godzilla fan,I really enjoyed your commentary. It was very informative.

[@jokpok7119]

ironically godzilla minus one also won an award for best vfx

[@raceplayzichighidorahplayz702]

Fun fact: Gojira 1954 was actually a horror genre film, and I’m pretty sure everyone can tell why.

[@DockingFreidmanRecords]

Wasn't Rodan also considered a horror film.

[@raceplayzichighidorahplayz702]

@@DockingFreidmanRecords yes

[@DockingFreidmanRecords]

@@raceplayzichighidorahplayz702 especially with watching it you can tell. The way they filmed the shots and peoples reactions. I think Godzilla's rampage in black in white helped even more to make it horror. I think without it it wouldn't have been the same. The only way they would've accomplished that in color is utter darkness. They would have to light the scene in a way to give off that same feeling.

[@raceplayzichighidorahplayz702]

@@DockingFreidmanRecords yeah and the fact there’s a scene in the 1954 movie of a mother and her 2 kids saying they’ll be with dad soon

[@DockingFreidmanRecords]

@@raceplayzichighidorahplayz702 oh yes thats even more terror being displayed. I hate that's abandoned in the other films. Even when they tried it during the heisei and millennium era in some ways, it's not at all the same or a higher impact to your soul.

[@joeoneill6443]

Absoultly fascinating a well done documentary for all monster fans- a must. Watch as extremely well done

[@danieljarrin9108]

5:51 they are trying to steal the triforce!!!

[@sonicguyver7445]

This is a fascinating retrospective not only on the creation of Godzilla but also the effect on movies in pre and post war Japan. It's interesting seeing the masterminds of the Godzilla franchise come together and all they did to pretty much invent a whole genre of movie making. While I own the box set I had never really gotten around to watching the original subtitled version. Then a few years ago I was hanging out with my step-dad, a real old-time movie fan. He happened to see that TCM was doing a double feature of Gojira and Godzilla. So I got to watch both versions with him and we enjoyed doing the comparison and seeing what was changed. It was the first time I had seen Godzilla (1956) after learning how Raymond Burr was only added in the American release. We were both impressed with how they used editing tricks to insert him into the scenes. Even having Serizawa's head covered by test tubes or just having people looking towards Burr and away from the camera to add them in. Seeing it as a kid it had never registered why those scenes were shot that way.

[@williamw2529]

What a fantastic documentary. A lot of this stuff I haven't ever known. May Godzilla, King of the Monsters, live on.

[@abrahamvieyra5730]

The Original will always be the best. Heck not even the latest attempt or Shin Godzilla ever came close enough.

[@rawlahiabetes6969]

Pine soaked glove over a bass guitar was amazing.

[@josephvollaro4499]

I have all my life been a HUGE fan of this movie and have always tried to find out as much information about it. I am totally floored by your incredible presentation. Dont know how and where you got all this info . Especially behind the scenes clips. But am so glad you did. The story of all the principles also so enlightening I now consider your video as the go to for all us GODZILLA fans as THE SOURCE for all things GODZILLA THANKS

[@joshuamack2524]

Outstanding review, thanks!

[@craigwebb9318]

THE HISTORY OF THIS MOVIE IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY OVER 60YRS LATER😭🙏💪

[@tc6103]

Very detailed video! I learned a lot. Awesome job

[@brycevo]

This. This is such a great review and retrospective. Thank you

[@SoleMan117]

I've heard this story 100 times...and 100 times again...and every time, it'll bring a tear to my eye...

[@michaelproctor8100]

It is worth noting that during WW2, Japan had their own version of the Manhattan Project underway but it never got past the laboratory stage.

[@BigActionBill]

Yes! There was a movie about that recently too

[@michaelproctor8100]

@@BigActionBill I learned about it years ago from some documentary on the history channel, do you remember the name of the movie?

[@michaelsergejhelgesson7889]

Excellent documentary! Just what I needed today!

[@julien2983]

Incredibly detailed, highly enjoyable! Thank you for making this

[@mattarcher8103]

I'm binging all your videos Bill! Also you're close to 10k so congrats! I love your content man

[@TyePansa]

46:00 Godzilla looks so confused like why is there things flying past and around me??

[@jagerzaku9160]

Subscribed my guy, this video blew me away

[@brianlee84yearsago68]

Happy *67th* Anniversary Gojira

[@VKINGOFHEARTS1]

I've been a Kaiju fan for many years. Loved your videos I can see the time and effort you and your team put on them. But I have a fans request. May you do other history of Toho and Kaiju films? That will be cool. Thanks Bill.

[@memeulouspgcleam2738]

Top 3 godzilla films godzilla 1954 shin godzilla and godzilla 2014

[@IndominusGLP1]

Dude underrated by 10 miles. love the vids. ( 100th comment)

[@BranUGalen]

Thanks for the wonderful hour!

[@azisles02]

This is a great & fun history lesson. One think that I personally would love is to have Toho go back and redub all the movies with English so we can watch the movie without having to read the subtitles. I don't want them to make any other edits or changes, just say what everyone is saying, but in English. Could attract more fans of the classics who find watching a foreign movie with subtitles for translation boring &/or annoying.

[@angelynx1prime]

There are already English dubs of nearly all the Godzilla movies.

[@kiaju_nerd1018]

I’m 15 And love Godzilla and his franchise and this made me very knowledge and for that I can’t thank you enough for your videos,thank you🖤

[@bee-beargaming]

I can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Very well made videos

[@jackiesimplejake]

The history behind this film makes it a truly magical piece of cinema. So much pain, so much tragedy, so much ambition.

[@fangthedergon1863]

I have to watch the original japanese version and thank you for teaching me more about my favorite giant lizard

[@Benjamin_Tech]

Great video! Just to tell you know, Honda, to give homage to the Lucky Dragon #5, inserted into the beginning of the film a #5 written on the bottom of the life preserver ring on the Eiko-Maru. Keep up the great work!

[@thomasthomas2418]

Two thumbs up to Big Action Bill! Absolutely remarkable work.

[@michaelmayo]

Let me add my congrats. This is truly Criterion Collection level. As a kid growing up in LA in the Sixties, Godzilla movies were a staple of KHJ-9 and I ate them up, as well as the newer releases at my neighborhood theater. Since all I had really known was silly Godzilla movies, it was eye-opening to see the original version and discover it was a serious, grim movie that didn't shy from showing innocent people injured and killed. Like you said, it really is more a war documentary about people facing an unkillable monster who's going to destroy their world, not to mention a barely-disguised version of our firebombing them. Perhaps it's Japan's never-vanished history of vengeful ghosts and demons that allowed Godzilla to join them and become a universally recognized figure of terror and fascination, a god-figure who can't be killed and must be acknowledged as something we can never control and must be respected. All artist strive to create something immortal that will live on long after them, and although they could never have guessed it would be something they were afraid would be seen as just a silly monster movie, I'm sure they're pleased and humble that their creation lives on, and better yet, is now seen as a serious statement about the horrors of war on innocent people. Long Live the King...

[@tessdurberville711]

Very interesting program. Thank you.

[@stevehoffman9735]

THAT was great, many thanks!

[@gojifan7976]

My favorite showa and my favorite Godzilla film as well as Godzilla 2019 and gvk

[@stephencampbell9384]

If you think The Day After is stark.....I have one word. THREADS. Astonishing video, love it

[@alexandermathar7780]

Right. The Day After leaves at least a Glimmer of hope, THREADS is downright grim.

[@rawlahiabetes6969]

Original soundtrack and songs for Godzilla was brilliant and best ever.