The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

Original title

フランケンシュタインの怪獣 サンダ対ガイラ

Directed by

Ishirō Honda

Genre

horror film, science fiction film, kaiju

Country

Japan

Runtime

1h 16m

Rated

G

Rating

6.3 of 10 from 106 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

Scientists investigate two giant Frankenstein monsters named Sanda and Gaira. The creatures end up battling each other in Tokyo.

monsterdestructiveaction-packedsuspensefulretrodramaticintense

What happens

The War of the Gargantuas (Japanese: フランケンシュタインの怪獣 サンダ対ガイラ, Hepburn: Furankenshutain no Kaijū: Sanda tai Gaira; lit. 'Frankenstein's Monsters: Sanda vs. Gaira') is a 1966 kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Referred by film historian Stuart Galbraith IV as a "quasi–sequel" to Frankenstein vs. Baragon, the film was a Japanese-American co-production; it was the third and final collaboration between Toho Co., Ltd and Henry G. Saperstein. The film stars Russ Tamblyn, Kumi Mizuno, and Kenji Sahara, with Yû Sekida as Sanda and Haruo Nakajima as Gaira. In the film, scientists investigate the sudden appearance of two giant Frankenstein monsters named Sanda and Gaira. It culminates in a battle in Tokyo. The script's final draft was submitted in April 1966. Saperstein originally hired Tab Hunter to replace Nick Adams, but Tamblyn replaced Hunter during pre-production. Honda's contract was not renewed and he had to seek employment by speaking to Tanaka on a film-by-film basis. Honda, Saperstein, and chief assistant Seiji Tani noted that Tamblyn was difficult to work with. Tamblyn did the opposite of Honda's instructions, and improvised his lines without Honda's approval. Principal photography began in May 1966 and wrapped in June 1966, with effects photography concluding in July 1966. The War of the Gargantuas was theatrically released in Japan on July 31, 1966, followed by a theatrical release in the United States on July 29, 1970 on a double feature with Monster Zero. Since its release, the film has been regarded as a cult classic, drawing admiration from artists such as Brad Pitt, Hajime Isayama, Guillermo del Toro, Quentin Tarantino, and Tim Burton. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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