Saturday, May 08, 2004
Godzilla Rerelease News and Reviews
Several news organizations have stories on the rereleased Godzilla (1954), including Zap2It.com, The Christian Science Monitor, and Fangoria.
posted by Scott | permalink
5/8: Today in G-History
1907: JIMMY CROSS, who played the sergeant at the reception desk in "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born in New York City. He is best remembered as elevator man Mr. Jesse Flouge on the TV series "How to Marry a Millionaire".
1936: KAZUO KOIKE, creator of "Electroid Zaborger", is born in Akita, Japan. He also created the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series.
1966: Episode 19 of "Ultra Q", "Challenge From the Year 2020", debuts on Japanese TV.
1967: Episode 45 of "The Space Giants", "Mysterious Sea Creature Umibozu Appears in Nikko" a.k.a. "The Fantastic Gonda", debuts on Japanese TV.
1971: Episode 6 of "Kamen Rider", "Death Chameleon", debuts on Japanese TV.
1972: "King Kong Escapes" is released in Sweden.
1976: Episode 50 of "Secret Task Force Goranger", "Secret of the Blue Wings! Varidoreen in Danger", debuts on Japanese TV.
1987: "King Kong Lives" is released in Sweden.
1988: Episode 30 of "Kamen Rider Black", "Saying Aloha to an Assassin", debuts on Japanese TV.
1993: Episode 6 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Melody of Terror", debuts on Japanese TV.
1994: STEVEN KEATS, who played Chuck Wade in "The Last Dinosaur", dies of an apparent suicide in New York City.
MURRAY SPIVAK, who did sound effects for "King Kong", dies in California.
1995: JASON DAVID FRANK, who played Tommy Oliver on the "Power Rangers" series, marries his first wife, Shawna.
1999: Episode 118 of "Godzilla: The Series", "An Early Frost", premieres on Fox.
posted by Jay | permalink
Friday, May 07, 2004
5/7: Today in G-History
1911: ISHIRO HONDA, who directed "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", is born in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. He followed his landmark film with "Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", "Rodan", "The Mysterians", "The H-Man", "Varan the Unbelievable", "Battle in Outer Space", "The Human Vapor", "Mothra", "Gorath", "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "Atragon", "Attack of the Mushroom People", "Godzilla vs. the Thing", "Dagora the Space Monster", "Ghidrah — the Three-Headed Monster", "Frankenstein Conquers the World", "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", "War of the Gargantuas", "King Kong Escapes", "Destroy All Monsters", "Latitude Zero", "Godzilla’s Revenge", "Yog — Monster from Space", episodes of "Return of Ultraman", "Mirrorman", "Fireman", "Zone Fighter", and "Terror of Mechagodzilla", sometimes doing writing and effects duties on these films. A longtime friend of Akira Kurosawa, he was an assistant director on "Stray Dog", "Kagemusha", "Ran", "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams", "Rhapsody in August", and "Madadayo", and his own non-sci-fi films include the documentaries "The Story of a Collaborative Union" and "The Legend of Ise-Shima", "The Blue Pearl", "The Man Who Came to Port", "Eagle of the Pacific", and "Farewell, Rabaul".
1933: NOBUO TSUKAMOTO, who played Captain Katsuichiro Kato on "Return of Ultraman", and Jiro Tanihara on "Sky Rider", "Kamen Rider Super-1", and "Kamen Rider Super-1: The Movie", is born.
1947: TAKESHI SASAKI, who played Ichimonji Hayato a.k.a. Kamen Rider 2 on "Kamen Rider", "Kamen Rider vs. Shocker", "Kamen Rider V3", "Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron", "Kamen Rider X", "Kamen Rider Stronger", "5 Kamen Riders vs. King Dark", "Kamen Rider: All Back Again! 7 Riders", "Sky Rider", and "8 Kamen Riders vs. Galaxy King", is born in Shibata, Niigata, Japan. He also played Ground-Zel on "Space Ironmen Kyodyne".
1950: STEVE CLEMENTE, who played the Witch King in "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in Los Angeles.
1972: Episode 6 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
1973: Episode 6 of "Zone Fighter", "King Ghidorah Strikes Back!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 5 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.
KEI MIZUTANI, who played Shelinda on "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman" and "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman vs. Megaranger", is born in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
1977: MEL BERNS, makeup supervisor on "King Kong", dies in Hollywood, Calif.
Episode 6 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad" debuts on Japanese TV.
1979: "Megaloman, Hono o-no Senshi" ("Megaloman, Warrior of Fire"), premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "The Fiery Superman Strikes!"
1980: "Gamera, Super Monster" is released in the U.S.
1985: "Variety" reports that "Godzilla 1985" grossed roughly $6.8 million in Japan.
1989: Episode 27 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Huge Counterattack! The Prince of Shadows", debuts on Japanese TV.
1993: Episode 11 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "A Magnet Gauss!", debuts on Japanese TV.
2000: Episode 15 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Armor", debuts on Japanese TV.
posted by Jay | permalink
Thursday, May 06, 2004
5/6: Today in G-History
1904: RAYMOND BAILEY, who played Dr. Townsend in "Tarantula", is born in San Francisco. He is best remembered as banker Milburn Drysdale on "The Beverly Hillbillies".
1961: SHIRO IZUMI, who played Yuuma Oozara a.k.a. Change Pegasus on "Blitzkrieg Task Force Changeman" and Burai a.k.a. Dragon Ranger on "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger", is born.
1964: "Variety" reports that the U.S. theatrical and TV rights to "Mothra vs. Godzilla" have been acquired by Henry G. Saperstein.
1967: ROBERT FLOYD, who played Apache Pilot #6 in "Godzilla", is born. He was in the films "Cold Hearts", "Another House on Mercy Street", "Paranoia", "Second Coming", and "Streets in the Kitchen"; "The Last Match" and "Anything Goes"; the TV series "Early Edition", "Law & Order", "Silk Stalkings", "Another World", "All My Children", and "The City"; and the telefilms "The Descendant" and "He Didn't Come Home".
1972: Episode 58 of "Kamen Rider", "Poison Demon Tokage — Duel in the Valley of Fear", debuts on Japanese TV.
posted by Jay | permalink
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Godzilla vs. the film buffs
This Sydney Morning Herald article is mostly about the Sydney Film Festival, but it does feature an entertaining picture of the festival's director with a faux Godzilla in tow. Enjoy!
posted by Christopher | permalink
5/5: Today in G-History
1912: JOE GRAY, who played a longshoreman in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", is born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
1926: NEIL "BING" RUSSELL, who played a deputy in "Tarantula" and a state trooper at the train and bus wrecks in "The Deadly Mantis", is born Neil Russell in Brattleboro, Ver. He is best remembered as the sheriff in "Bonanza" and Robert in "The Magnificent Seven", and was Kurt Russell's father.
1949: DAISUKE (NAOYA) BAN is born Kiyonori Saito in Kawaguchi City, Japan. He played Jiro a.k.a. "Kikaida", reprising the role in "Jumping Out: Android Kikaida", and "Kikaida 01"; Watari Goro a.k.a. "Inazuman", reprising the role in "Jumping Out, Inazuman" and "Inazuman Flash"; Daisuke Izumo a.k.a. Fire Ninja on "Ninja Captor", Makoto Jin a.k.a. Battle Cossack on "Battle Fever J", Dr. Heihachiro Ikuma in "Ringu", "Ringu 2", and "Ringu 0: Birthday"; and starred in the TV series "Special Investigation Frontline", and "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", and made special appearances on "Secret Task Force Goranger", "Vigilante Zubat", and "Super Animal Task Force Liveman", "Monster-Hunter Juspion", and "High Speed Task Force Turboranger".
1968: ALBERT DEKKER, who starred in the U.S. release of "Gammera the Invincible", dies of asphyxia from accidentally hanging himself in Hollywood, Calif.
Episode 31 of "Ultra Seven", "A Flower Where a Devil Dwells" (a.k.a. "Blood Thirst"), debuts on Japanese TV.
1972: Episode 6 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.
1973: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Junko is Going to Be a Demon's Bride!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 43, the final episode of "Kikaida", "Jiro's End or Dark's Destruction?!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 6 of "Condorman — Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.
1979: Episode 14 of "Battle Fever J", "Marriage of Beauty and Beast", debuts on Japanese TV.
1995: Episode 10 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "The Visiting Thief", debuts on Japanese TV.
posted by Jay | permalink
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Godzilla: It's the bomb
An interesting review in The Village Voice of the original Godzilla, now playing at the Film Forum in NYC.
posted by Christopher | permalink
5/5: Today in G-History
1912: JOE GRAY, who played a longshoreman in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", is born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
1926: NEIL "BING" RUSSELL, who played a deputy in "Tarantula" and a state trooper at the train and bus wrecks in "The Deadly Mantis", is born Neil Russell in Brattleboro, Ver. He is best remembered as the sheriff in "Bonanza" and Robert in "The Magnificent Seven", and was Kurt Russell's father.
1949: DAISUKE (NAOYA) BAN is born Kiyonori Saito in Kawaguchi City, Japan. He played Jiro a.k.a. "Kikaida", reprising the role in "Jumping Out: Android Kikaida", and "Kikaida 01"; Watari Goro a.k.a. "Inazuman", reprising the role in "Jumping Out, Inazuman" and "Inazuman Flash"; Daisuke Izumo a.k.a. Fire Ninja on "Ninja Captor", Makoto Jin a.k.a. Battle Cossack on "Battle Fever J", Dr. Heihachiro Ikuma in "Ringu", "Ringu 2", and "Ringu 0: Birthday"; and starred in the TV series "Special Investigation Frontline", and "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", and made special appearances on "Secret Task Force Goranger", "Vigilante Zubat", and "Super Animal Task Force Liveman", "Monster-Hunter Juspion", and "High Speed Task Force Turboranger".
1968: ALBERT DEKKER, who starred in the U.S. release of "Gammera the Invincible", dies of asphyxia from accidentally hanging himself in Hollywood, Calif.
Episode 31 of "Ultra Seven", "A Flower Where a Devil Dwells" (a.k.a. "Blood Thirst"), debuts on Japanese TV.
1972: Episode 6 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.
1973: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Junko is Going to Be a Demon's Bride!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 43, the final episode of "Kikaida", "Jiro's End or Dark's Destruction?!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 6 of "Condorman ? Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.
1979: Episode 14 of "Battle Fever J", "Marriage of Beauty and Beast", debuts on Japanese TV.
1995: Episode 10 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "The Visiting Thief", debuts on Japanese TV.
posted by Jay | permalink
5/4: Today in G-History
1893: EDGAR DEARING, who played the second tramp in "Tarantula", is born in Ceres, Calif.
1894: RUSSELL GAIGE, who had a bit part in "Them!", is born in Iowa.
1913: HIYASA MORISHIGE, who played the prime minister in "Don't Call Me a Con Man" and the Earth Federation President in "Sayonara, Jupiter", is born in Osaka.
1929: NOBORU NAKAYA is born in Tokyo. He played Shikibu Heinai in "Kwaidan" and Yoshitaka Kujo in "Time Slip", and was in "Time of the Apes".
1950: HILLY HICKS, who did the voice of Brock on "The Godzilla Power Hour", is born in Los Angeles.
1053: MASASHI EBARA, who was the voice of Professor Go on the "Giant Robo" anime, is born in Kanagawa, Japan.
1972: Bassist MIKE DIRNT of Green Day, who performed "Brain Stew" on the "Godzilla" soundtrack, is born Mike Pritchard in Berkeley, Calif.
1973: Episode 31 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "The Terrifying Sequential Explosions", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider X", "The Fascination of Super Ability Woman", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 5 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Omega Hell Project Beginning", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 44 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Crisis at Zaborger Base!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1997: Episode 12 of "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
1998: ALBERT GLASSER, who composed the scores for "The Amazing Colossal Man", "Earth vs. the Spider", and "War of the Colossal Beast", and stock music used in the U.S. release of "Varan the Unbelievable", dies at 82 of a heart attack in Los Angeles.
posted by Jay | permalink
Monday, May 03, 2004
5/3: Today in G-History
1967: "Gamera vs. Barugon" is released in West Germany.
1972: BRUCE CABOT, who played Jack Driscoll in "King Kong", dies in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Episode 5 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.
1973: JENNIFER TUNG, who was on Saban's "Masked Rider", is born. She appeared on the TV series "Charmed", "King of Queens", and "Angel", and the TV movie "The President's Man".
Episode 5 of "Robot Detective" debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 5 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 5 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.
1991: Episode 12 of "Icarus Task Force Jetman", "The Mystery Bus", debuts on Japanese TV.
1997: Shooting on "Godzilla" begins in New York City.
posted by Jay | permalink
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Godzilla to die in Shanghai
China View reports that in the upcoming Godzilla: Final Wars, the big G will die at the hands of a fire dragon near the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai.
The film's plot could be described, kindly, as uncomplicated. Godzilla's child is killed accidentally by humans, which drives the monster crazy. The reptile-like creature then goes on a massive rampage around the world, according to a local film import company that will assist in the shooting of the local parts.
posted by Christopher | permalink
5/2: Today in G-History
1894: VERNON L. WALKER, who was a cinematographer on "King Kong", is born in
Detroit.
1922: DOUG WILDEY, producer of "The Godzilla Power Hour", is born in Yonkers, N.Y.
1968: HIKARU MIDORIKAWA, who was the voice of Salamandes on "Rescue Task Force
Go Go V", is born in Tochigi, Japan.
1979: SANEZUMI FUJIMOTO, who co-produced "The Human Vapor" and "Godzilla vs.
the Thing", dies in Tokyo.
1980: Episode 31 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.
1981: Episode 26 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
1996: Tri-Star announces that Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich will make
"Godzilla".
Reaper "And that's the way it was" G
http://www.giantmonstermovies.com
posted by Jay | permalink
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