Happy Anniversary, GOJIRA!

It was 59 years ago today, that the world was introduced to a radioactive, fire breathing, reptilian engine of destruction in Ishiro Honda’s GOJIRA (1954). It was the start of an amazing, near-unparalleled film franchise, spawning 28 (direct) sequels, comics, toys, cartoons, an American-produced ‘remake’ in 1998 and another (MUCH anticipated) in the coming year. First introduced to American audiences in 1956′s re-edited version, GODZILLA – KING OF THE MONSTERS, the film lost most of it’s ‘anti a-bomb’ morality and all but obliterated the love triangle sub-plot, that helped flesh out the central human characters so well. Added scenes with Raymond Burr as reporter Steve Martin (yes, REALLY) replaced much of these scenes and ideas. He’s fought 3 headed space-dragons, giant moths, robots, living sludge, alien versions of himself, alien invaders and Japan’s defense forces. Godzilla even has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.