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Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 8,279

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Movie Info

Filmed in 1954 as Gojira, this grandaddy of all Japanese giant-reptile epics was picked up for American distribution two years later, at which time several newly filmed inserts, featuring Raymond Burr as reporter Steve Martin, were rabetted into the original footage. In both the Japanese and American versions of Godzilla, the story is basically the same: a 400-foot amphibious monster, brought back to life by underwater nuclear testing, goes on a rampage in a tinker-toy Tokyo. An eccentric

May 5, 1998

Vestron Video

Cast

All Critics (28) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (4) | DVD (7)

It's hard not to chuckle at the fiftieth cutaway to an oddly passive Burr after watching a scene from the Honda original, but this cut shouldn't be dismissed either.

February 3, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Compared to the "Japoteurs" propaganda that was barely a decade out, it's an astonishing leap forward.

October 10, 2011 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comment
Suite101.com

Giant-monster drama is stiff, dated but still a classic.

September 14, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

It looked really good when I was in grade school. Now it's beyond retro.

October 15, 2004 Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

This is the Americanized version of the original Godzilla film. While not a terrible piece of cinematic entertainment, I felt rather let down, and suspect (since I haven't actually seen it) that the Japanese original (which came out two years before this one) is probably far better. The story (if you need to know it),

September 21, 2011
cosmo313
Chris Weber

Super Reviewer

This is the original (American version) Godzilla movie. It's pretty cool, and Perry Mason's Raymond Burr is in it too. A really good monster movie. It's much better than it's sequels.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

    1. Steve Martin: Seems like he had a little too much Saki.
    – Submitted by James M (4 months ago)
    1. Steve Martin: A prehistoric monster that the Japanese call Godzilla has just walked out of Tokyo Bay.
    2. Steve Martin: Godzilla has turned the heart of Tokyo into a sea of fire! Beneath the flames, thousands lie dead or dieing.
    – Submitted by David H (6 months ago)

Latest News for Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

January 5, 2011:
Gareth Edwards Conquers Godzilla
Gareth Edwards, director of the recent limited-release critics' darling "Monsters," is close to...

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Foreign Titles

  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956) (DE)
  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956) (UK)
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