Up From The Depths Reviews | King Kong vs. Godzilla [American Cut] (1963)

The world watches as King Kong and Godzilla face off in Japan.
Purchase this film on Amazon: amzn.to/2JDNcxr
Released: June 26, 1963
Producers: Tomoyuki Tanaka and John Beck
Director: Ishirô Honda, Tom Montgomery
Screenplay: Shin'ichi Sekizawa, Paul Mason, and Bruce Howard
Special Effects: Eiji Tsuburaya
Starring:
Tadao Takashima as Osamu Sakurai
Kenji Sahara as Kazuo Fujita
Yū Fujiki as Kinsaburo Furue
Ichirō Arishima as Mr. Tako
Mie Hama as Fumiko Sakurai
Michael Keith as Eric Carter
Harry Holcombe as Dr. Johnson
James Yagi as Yutaka Omura
Godzilla portrayed by Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka, King Kong portrayed by Shoichi Hirose
#Godzilla #KingKong
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Up From The Depths is dedicated to diving deep into all things Godzilla and kaiju. Subscribe: goo.gl/ZzG77P
Twitter: / fromthedepths88
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, comment, 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.

[@Gappasaurus]

1:26 I always loved how the “scientific expert” is basically consulting a children’s picturebook 😆

[@clintmemo]

I had that book as a kid (I'm 56). I remember getting super stoked when I saw it in the movie. I may still have it somewhere.

[@demonblade001]

I mean is it surprising

[@channelwithout]

I mean it's not like they could consult a computer back then. But yeah, it does look a tad silly.

[@Gappasaurus]

@@channelwithout No computers, true, but they could have put in a _little_ more effort. There were plenty of actual scientific journals on Paleontology that could have been referenced, instead of grabbing a book from the local elementary school 😄 In fact, the more i look at it, the more i think that book _was_ in my elementary school’s library 😅

[@thecasiowizard]

@@clintmemo I used to have that book as well! My mom got it for me when I was a kid, and I think she got it at a second-hand store.

[@destinywarlockking4975]

You got me back into Godzilla

[@victorcapote7376]

When was the last time you saw Godzilla?

[@m.g.sheadquarter4585]

@@victorcapote7376 I saw Godzilla Vs destroyah in the evening

[@victorcapote7376]

@@m.g.sheadquarter4585 cool

[@Redzilla54]

What turned you off to godzilla until now?

[@Johnny-pg4uv]

Same

[@cretaceousthehunted9669]

Perfect time to upload this because it's a little bit more than a month away before Godzilla vs Kong comes out.

[@cagedstuntmanpc2419]

I always loved this dub because it made me feel like the whole world was watching these two titans trekking across Japan to duke it out haha

[@theycallmejojo6090]

King Kong: “Yeah, this is big brain time”

[@GenericProtagonist118]

"How can Kong even match Godzilla? He's just a MonkE with a StikK!" Meanwhile in the original film: "Godzilla's brain is about the size of a pea, while Kong is a thinking animal with a brain many times larger then the average ape."

[@Allen2saint]

I was pissed off at that as a kid!

[@AlessaParker]

I will not stand for this Godzilla slander

[@iancruz6617]

Yea literally, let alone talking more agile, smarter and faster ad literallly use environments around him like a real monster do,

[@Grandmaster_Dragonborn]

Even though there’s literally a scene where Godzilla hits the electrical wires, clearly inspects it and walks around it. So clearly he’s not so dumb

[@wilcowen6284]

Kong acts stupid though lol like he bumps his head

[@ShinGoji1987Official]

I recently finally watched the Japanese version on the bluray boxset for the first time. I grew up with this version but all in all I think both are good for what they provide and can't decide on a more favorite. It would be interesting to see a cut of both versions combined using a mixture of the soundtracks etc.

[@tarzantabi7845]

I didn't knew you could talk lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@theweeklycritical5782]

I wasn't first to comment but I was first view

[@MegaCrocosaurus92]

That and maybe mix in the American cut's more polished negatives. The Japanese cut has some rough looking shots with some grain and crushed lighting. Most likely because of the availability of the Japanese cut vs. the American cut, the original edit wasn't as preserved as it should be. Just a guess on my part.

[@ShinGoji1987Official]

@@MegaCrocosaurus92 Right I remember the quality not being as good. You're right and I agree

[@MisterSandmanAU]

​@@MegaCrocosaurus92 oh boy, that's an interesting tale. in 1969 toho wanted king kong vs godzilla edited down for the toho champions festival, so ishiro honda edited it down to 74 minutes using the master tapes. when they released it on video, they initially released that cut. Later down the line they found a 16mm tape with the rest of the footage and supplemented it with hq versions of shots from both the us and champion festival cuts. In 2014 they found a 35mm print and scanned it to 4k, and you can buy this from toho.

[@julianackerman2599]

I like that you are reviewing the american cuts as they are usually seen with distain by G fans.

[@channelwithout]

I liked a lot of the "Americanized" cuts, but was never a fan of Godzilla 1985. Even Gigantis has its charms for the pure weirdness of it all. But the best one was easily Invasion of Astro-Monster/Monster Zero- the script was so well-done, sometimes I could barely tell that the movie had been dubbed over.

[@Chimpbot]

I don't necessarily view them with disdain (they're what I grew up with, after all), they are largely more disappointing by comparison. The first three - King of the Monsters, Godzilla Raids Again, and King Kong vs Godzilla - are the greatest offenders; they either hacked up the movies in an attempt to either make them more "presentable" to a western audience, or outright tried to recut the movie into an entirely different movie (as was the case with Godzilla Raids Again/Gigantis the Fire Monster). Later movies tended to cut scenes for one reason or another, which typically resulted in shorter runtimes. Mothra vs Godzilla is the only example where it included a scene shot in Japan that was omitted from the Japanese cut; the US version featured a scene of the US Navy attacking Godzilla, which wasn't present in the original version. Overall, the US cuts tend to be generally inferior, but there are the occasional bright spots.

[@MinecraftWorld1954]

I want to see a remake of Kong shoving a tree down Godzilla’s throat. Even if the creature he does it to is the new titan or even Mechagodzilla, I still want to see some sort of remake or homage to that scene. We can all agree that was one of the best and funniest scenes in kaiju history.

[@chrisaguilera1564]

I loved when the expert pulled out a marble to show Godzilla's brain size 😆.

[@cyberendergamer0311]

Now THAT’S ultimate *ROASTING*

[@haku3dits]

after getting back into godzilla these last months, this channel has just entertained me for hours, great content man

[@Irrelevant402]

Oh yeah! I agree with the music change for the octopus attack being an improvement. Along with the bit of Godzilla rising up out of the trap meant to kill him and Kong hiding and grabbing Godzilla's tail.

[@darkwolf9253]

I actually really love this version... I think 'charming' is the correct way to describe this cut of the film.

[@godzilla2845]

As much crap I give this cut, it really does have it's charm and is a great movie to show people who aren't familiar with Godzilla. Honestly, if the japanese cut gets ever gets a proper release, I am pretty sure many fans will open up to this version.

[@channelwithout]

It's kind of like Robotech's licensing issues. If they gave the original Japanese cut mass release, people would see the American version with less disdain.

[@ostk4yden456]

always a good day when up from the depths uploads

[@SmarkusAurelius]

Time for the rematch, almost 60 years in the making

[@jeggsonvohees2201]

It's going to be the same outcome though, I guarantee it. No way the Americans let Kong lose, especially since they're losing the rights to Godzilla after GVK.

[@lonewolfgamingplus379]

I love this cut so much.

[@mkcstealth7624]

For years I missed out on the Japanese cut over this. This was a staple of my childhood and absolutely loved it. But the Japanese version is a classic

[@dreamtcg]

One of the best Godzilla channels!

[@ianmalloy4282]

This is the first movie I have ever remembered seeing

[@59rlmccormack]

I love the bit where the guy says Godzilla has a small brain, whenever I think about it, I often comment by saying, “Its the size of a walnut except way smaller.”

[@WatcherMovie008]

Another major change to the story in the US version is that they always mention the use of the atom bomb as a deterrent to stop Godzilla. The Japanese version never mentions once about the use of the bomb.

[@stewart00311]

Just got this in the mail from netflix yesterday. This will be a recovery viewing..

[@carmelosaurus7480]

I literally just came back from the gym & the had Kong Skull Island playing in there theater. And tomorrow they’ll Godzilla King of the Monsters playing 😆

[@carlosbalazs2492]

Your gym sounds awesome

[@carmelosaurus7480]

@@carlosbalazs2492 EDGE Fitness Center is the name of the gym I go to

[@shuae5428]

This version was my introduction to the character, and some other dubbed movies (Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, Godzilla vs King Ghidora, etc) were some of my most watched movies growing up.

[@channelwithout]

I actually really like the dubs of Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. The former is actually quite well-done while the latter, while definitely cheesy, is incredibly charming.

[@DannyAbs]

The American news reporter always kind of reminded me of a young bill O’Reilly

[@justnoah2073]

I really love Godzilla's design in this film. Also forgot David Muir had so many scenes in the American version.

[@kasjachrum]

His 1962 design is awesome.

[@megalon73]

Godzilla looks great. But the American scene are the most cringe scenes in the movie.

[@justnoah2073]

@@megalon73 Nah, David Muir epic.

[@megalon73]

@@justnoah2073 World News with David Muir! But not this wired guy.

[@Ultrazilla]

See as someone that grew up with this and didn't see the Japanese version until well into my 20's, I still like this one better. It's just my King Kong vs. Godzilla, and works better for my sensibilities.

[@SJHFoto]

You are probably correct that on depends on when you first saw it, but for every Godzilla movie, I prefer the North American version to the original. This one especially. I grew up with these movies over the past 40+ years (the English dub), and in this movie, the part that I remember best and most fondly actually was the Godzilla/Kong brain comparison. I remember being impressed by that (I was probably around 7 or 8 when I first saw it) and still have fond memories

[@thrashpondopons2776]

all these years... & I STILL haven't seen the Japanese Cut!

[@Irrelevant402]

Not to be a rebel but there's some of the American music I rather like what they paired up with the footage. Such as the music when Kong hides in that cove, Godzilla comes looking for him, Kong grabs his tail and Godzilla gets pissed. Or when Godzilla rises up, still alive, after that operation to kill him in the pit. Plus y'know the submarine dubbing is better than the original acting for sure. "MY...CORNS!" "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR *FUCKING* CORNS!"

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

I didn't know the submarine scene wasn't in the original cut. As cool of a scene that is was, it didn't make sense because Godzilla was still inside the iceberg lol

[@Chimpbot]

The submarine scene is in the original version; it's actually a number of scenes spread out over the opening act. The Universal version of the movie simply rearranged them so all of the submarine scenes appear back-to-back, as opposed to spread out.

[@omniviewer2115]

I wouldn't call all of the added music generic. Some of it is from Creature from the Black Lagoon; those themes are as iconic as anything else..

[@MinecraftWorld1954]

Understandable.

[@garyreid6165]

This was the first film I ever saw Godzilla. And I believe that it is a classic film to watch. I would love to see the Japanese version. I find it interesting in the American version that it was the first film that featured a news show that was a global news network before the inception of CNN. Who would’ve thought about that? This film was a favorite to be shown on the Thanksgiving television movie lineup (also including the original King Kong, Son Of Kong and Mighty Joe Young) shown on Thanksgiving or Black Friday on independent television stations. Like Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, it’s a confrontation that is highly anticipated.

[@smansam]

Definitely watching before the new one, this was the first Toho Godzilla movie I ever saw! Great video dude!!!!

[@zachary5845]

You should do an overview of that Kong animated series.

[@LPGD1994]

Thank God for the criterion collection. I never knew how much I missed.

[@dorito_man8721]

Right now I was in the middle of King Kong vs Godzilla

[@edword8040]

Love your channel, any time there's a new vid I know it's gonna be a good day

[@jeggsonvohees2201]

History will definitely repeat itself this year with another Kong win.

[@GrizzlyDave85]

This is my favorite showa era film

[@bmvthemoviefanatic7282]

I didn't know I was watching the American Cut when I first saw it, but it took me two seconds into that UN Broadcast to realise XD Also, that scene comparing brains triggered me so much!

[@esthermontalvo3467]

I love this guy

[@IwasJustJoeKingBroChill]

I've been waiting for this one! Going down in the depths i see ;D

[@gojiratheking1065]

The fact that this movie implies a brain the size of a marble can operate a 50 meter tall animal is hilarious

[@zilla6821]

I don't know why people did not like King Kong vs Godzilla but I rely like it alot

[@brycevo]

This movie is good. I liked it

[@inthesegoingsdown]

Love the crazy action in this! A lighter in tone film but still with a sense of menace from Godzilla!

[@zintosion]

I hope Kong feed Godzilla his veggies in the new one too

[@scado5679]

The biggest crime of this version is that they take out Ifukube's incredible theme and replace it with stock music. I will die on that hill if I have to.

[@gabrielg6642]

When you pre-ordered the new sh monsterarts Godzilla and Kong, but waiting for the 3rd figure😏

[@diegodankquixote-wry3242]

Giant Octopus for all your hentai pleasures.

[@Denis-fp7ku]

If you look at the United Nations map on the wall at 1:26, you can see all the folds from the magazine it was torn from. You can even see they tore the edge when they pulled it out. The budget for the U.S. edit was so low that the production crew just picked up a magazine with a map insert while standing in line at a supermarket. They threw it on the wall and that's how they created the United Nations headquarters.

[@OMAHA16]

You should review "Godzilla 1985" , the American version of "The Return of Godzilla". Would love to hear your take on that version.

[@alecgolas8396]

I loved how Japanese the US Navy uniforms looked, the white gloves were so out of place

[@tarzantabi7845]

Awesome video

[@MinecraftWorld1954]

I cannot wait to compare the three versions Japanese American And Monsterverse

[@xenozillarex1518]

Thanks to Criterion I got to see the Japanese cut, yea the image quality sucks but it’s better than nothing, while I agree the original cut is great and very charming especially with Ifukebe’s music I do have more nostalgia for the American cut and it’s one of two Japanese Godzilla movies I mainly watch dubbed the other being Godzilla 2000 but I enjoy both cuts of KvG

[@spfilmviewers5629]

Looking forward to watching this one again (the Japanese version) this time before the Godzilla vs Kong movie comes out

[@jeffcooper9617]

I remember getting this movie as part of a 2 pack with King Kong Escapes. Did anyone else?

[@cossegoji2kofficialchannel60]

I did as well.

[@DeanLaPoint]

Watched this version as a kid.

[@Fearxez]

I remember buying this version at a Half Price Books store as a kid, boy was it awesome, sure it is slow and I wanted to see some King Kong and Godzilla action and the movie promises this, while sure yes the Japanese version is better, the American version is below, not too bad, but not too good, just perfect.

[@zachary5845]

I wonder if he'd ever do a Hanna-Barbera Godzilla video? I do not really remember much about that show and would be interested to her his take.

[@ChristopherElli-cc1ly]

I always wanted to see the Toho version. But i do like Satellite News. "Oh, my corns!"

[@alphagoji4890]

Love this channel

[@kongboy4585]

When it comes out can you do a review of Godzilla vs Kong?

[@abhirao8582]

It's a shame that this is the most widely available version of the film available and the only way to the uncut version short of importing the Japanese blu-ray, is an an extra on the Criterion Collection. That is disappointing and sad.

[@Chimpbot]

Since Universal perpetually owns the rights to the movie in the US, the only way Criterion could even include the original version was as a special feature. They did it that way because they had to.

[@venomouslizards]

I grew up with this cut, but dang, I forgot how bad it was.

[@jaydenpoyser8418]

If I don’t see a modernized soundtrack for the old soundtrack for this movie for Godzilla Vs Kong Ima Be Depressed.

[@justnoah2073]

Mr. Takko better be in the next movie, or I'm going to be mad.

[@MinecraftWorld1954]

Or someone like him

[@ZLAKOZILLA]

1:38 HOLY SHIT that expression :-)

[@SgtScorpious]

Shit Faced Gorilla squares off against a cranky lizard

[@Robocopnik]

A pharmaceutical company is worried about... their television ratings? That makes almost as little sense as determining that the solution to flagging TV ratings is "capture a gigantic ape-monster".

[@channelwithout]

I mean, a giant radioactive dinosaur shouldn't be able to sustain its own mass and would probably die from radiation poisoning, but it still lives anyway.

[@Johnny-pg4uv]

Nice vid

[@gabrielc4902]

Me and my brother recently watched the original version and it was really good, and by that I mean ridiculous as hell, and we both agree the American version sucks

[@martinjones8216]

The miniatures are good in the film .The Kong suit is awful though .The film is probably the best paced Kong movie ever .I like the Godzilla design in the film and his first appearance breaking out of the iceberg This was one of the few Godzilla films screened on British TV in the 1970s so there's childhood nostalgia for me with the film

[@sebganske1992]

Goddamnit! I just realized, i never watched the original japanese cut. 😑

[@commandertac2697]

I knew you would make this video

[@bowtieboss6457]

Fun Fact- Ray Harryhausen hated godzilla because of this movie

[@DanTheMan2150AD]

After seeing the Japanese Cut the other week, it’s very hard to sit and rewatch the American Cut of this film due to how much it doesn’t work.

[@gojithriller6622]

So does this mean you’re gonna do Godzilla vs the thing next?

[@ryantucker3021]

I still think it's a Wonderful Monster 👹 Film 🎥

[@Xagzan]

I've actually only seen the American cut :(

[@randquadrozzi1280]

I liked the Japanese version but it's a classic either way.

[@mrmojok]

I will probably get flamed for this but I actually prefer this film (either cut) to the more recent one by Legendary

[@michaeljsnappers]

So I’m a purist when it comes to keeping foreign films intact instead of ‘americanising’ them, and I recently accidentally bought this version of the movie. Should I watch it or wait until I can gain access to the original Japanese version?

[@channelwithout]

Based on your opening statement, I'm surprised you didn't immediately send it back.

[@michaeljsnappers]

@@channelwithout i usually would have if it weren't for the fact that i live in the UK and the only means of watching the original Japanese version is by spending around £150 minimum on the criterion blu ray set. and being a university student in the middle of lockdown, i'm not very liquid right now haha

[@pikapanda577]

The time has come

[@ek9509]

4 stars = Good.

[@42Caio]

3:00 - And here is why this movie is objectively inferior. Everything else can be brushed off to different tastes but you can't just throw out Ifukube's score for a bunch of stock music.

[@padawanmage71]

For some reason, I thought for years that the Japanese version had Godzilla winning the fight and vice versa for the American version.

[@Quillz06]

Turned out to be just a very popular myth.

[@michaelmetler6315]

Where can I get an original Japanese Version?

[@rod9527]

It's part of the bonus features of the criterion set, it's expensive though.

[@maventry]

Hell yeah

[@maventry]

How u doing

[@GSTE_]

I made a Godzilla comic book if you want to check it out.

[@dougripley861]

Ok so who won the fight? They always say King Kong did but in my view it was Godzilla

[@megalon73]

The America is a 1 Star for me. It’s very outdated in today’s world. Specially, those American editing seems.

[@Gear-Up_Productions]

i just wish i could own all Godzilla movies on DVD mainly the Japanese version only this is the only exception where I already bot this version for the king kong movies but hopefully, I can own the Japanese version for my Godzilla films

[@AndyKazama2]

Not really a fan of this version. It removed much of the humour and also put in those awful news broadcasts. (if there's one thing I don't like it's the news broadcasts in monster movies.) Probably the biggest crime is the new soundtrack.

[@lowrodrick4754]

Ive been tricked

[@SaurianStudios1207]

At least the original king kong vs Godzilla actually had both Godzilla and kong fighting with fairly grounded physics (for a early showa era film), no mechagodzilla, and mostly set at daytime.......

[@diamond_dude1063]

at least the latter films didn't have drunk monke vs dumb lizard. the movie was like a mess for me. also, this movie doesn't make sense.

[@cinemarxist_]

If you think this film had grounded physics, then it's safe to assume that you haven't actually seen it. The Mechagodzilla comparison makes little to no sense as the character didn't even exist at the time of this film's release. Also, you should at least wait until GvK releases before comparing it to KKvG. Even if GvK isn't as good as the Japanese version of KKvG, it's highly likely that it will be better than the American version of said film.

[@diamond_dude1063]

@@cinemarxist_ yeah when you're watching these type of films you should forget physics for a while. cause according to physics, creatures of these size couldn't exist and they'd crush their selves on their own weight. also he talks about physics here, saying he hated the fact kotm didn't follow physics but he liked pacific rim: uprising.

[@Kaiju-bm4ts]

@@diamond_dude1063 i agree this is why I find realism overrated in science fiction films which are meant to escape realism. I'm okay with realism but im recent years it has become overrated. If we go off ACTUAL physics these kaiju shouldn't be able to walk or breathe or do anything basically due to their size their weight and their radioactive lifestyles. Most godzilla movies don't even have ACCURATE physics so how are the physics grounded If they aren't even scientifically accurate?. But I will agree what he said about this being a daytime battle. Daytime battles are much better than night time ones. My overall mindset is it doesn't matter if it's grounded or fantastical as long as it's executed well or at least entertaining no one is gonna care if it's realistic or not that mindset can definitely be said for the people in the general audience who aren't fans and really don't care if a godzilla film is realistic or not. When I think of a grounded godzilla film I think of one that simply has the same technology we have in real life and no futuristic technology and no futuristic setting at all. The physics shouldn't be taken in account when it comes to realism cause the physics will not be scientifically accurate it's impossible to make the physics of giant monsters the size of skyscrapers accurate cause in real life these monsters would never be able to move around period.

[@diamond_dude1063]

@@Kaiju-bm4ts yeah, i agree. but in some cases night time battles are better. like in batman, but this isn't batman so yeah. although i prefer night time battles with a lots of lights like in hong kong.

[@Werezilla]

I see John Beck in the credits of this movie and I can't help but think "Damn it you killed Willis O'Brien!" By the way, it says something about what tone American distributors wanted with this cut, as I couldn't help but notice this time around you described Tako's men as his "top men" rather than "his bumbling lackeys" as you described them in the review of the Japanese cut.

[@SilverManedWolf]

Comment# 15. I'll take it 😎