It's been out from what I've heard,even though it's not until Sept 9.,I've read a bit up on it but have heard different stories. Anyone have this yet? My big question is,is WOTG in widescreen? American version. full would'nt do it justice.

Everyplace I've checked say it is being released on the 9th, but will take pre-orders. Both movies are being presented with both the original Japanese release version and the American release version. Sources tell me that Gargantuas will be in wide screen. Personally, I can't wait for this one; two of my FAVORITES!

My copies are in the mail, will be here in maybe a week.

Release in the stores won't be until the 9th but you could've bought it directly from Classic Media for the past few weeks.
Both the American and Japanese versions of Gargantuas will be in widescreen.

I can't wait for these either--it just kills me though that Rodan, of all the kaiju movies, wasn't filmed in widescreen! How can you make a movie about a giant bird with a 500-foot wingspan and put it in 4:3! :)

Growing up in LA during the early 70's, the Channel 5 Movie Theater would run the same picture every night for a full week. "Gargantuas" was a C5MV staple. I'll bet I've seen it twenty times.

My favorite part is when a comely but hopelessly untalented nightclub singer gets eaten by the green gargantua following a hideously off-key rendition of "The Words Get Stuck in My Throat."

Bad movies just don't get any better.

As a former L.A. native, I too remember KTLA channel 5 showing the same 8:00 P.M. movie all week and in the late afternoon matnee. also KHJ Channel 9 before it changed to KCAL did the same thing in the mid 60's calling the feature the Million Dollar Movie. I honestly believe the singer was playing her part seriously but in light of the events when the Green Gargantua shows up next to the partying ferry passangers comes off as comedy especialy when greenie grabs her and proceeds to snack. also on the weekend afternoons there was Chiller on KTTV Channel 11 and KHJ had Strange Tales of Science Fiction.

AZbuilder
John

Let Your Imagination Soar

The singer was saved when the green Gargantua was scared off by the spotlight. But a lady at the airport earlier in the movie was taken out of her office a few floors up and feasted upon if I remember right.

Wow, I could've sworn it was the singer who got munched. God knows she deserved it.

I must say, I really am looking forward to seeing this again. It's been at least twenty-five years since I last laid eyes on WOTG, and this thread brings back fond memories.

I own a dvd release and saw it recently. Hopefully this new one will be a better quality.

Which Stores will have this release? I need to get copies of those myself. My memory of watching those was back in the late 70's early 80's on a station called WWOR out of New York during the holidays. This was when Crazy Eddie's prices were INSAAAAAAAANE!!!! and before he got carted off for fraud.

Also used to watch Chiller Theater on WPXI here in Pittsburgh with Bill "Chilly Willy" Cardill. First movie I watched one late Saturday night was Gorgo.

My copy just arived, will check it for details later.

The text on the back has a typo, calls them "garganutas". Any idea what a garganuta is?

My copy just arived, will check it for details later.

The text on the back has a typo, calls them "garganutas". Any idea what a garganuta is?

It's the monster who could'nt ACT so Toho bypassed him:rolleyes:

Just curious,where is the best place to get this?,I have a few lined up. Will Walleyworld carry it?

I'm probably the only one like this, but this is my #1 favorite Jap monster flick. When people hear it they either look baffled (never heard of it) or get irate, as if I dissed Godzilla. I get the same reaction from Hammer fans when I say Evil of Frankenstein is my fav. Only their reactions can be more violent.

My copy just arived, will check it for details later.

The text on the back has a typo, calls them "garganutas". Any idea what a garganuta is?

I thought it was from Jonathan Swift but double checked and...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargantua

Please let us know if there's anything resembling a different music soundtrack. Heard different stories on whether it will or not.

King, the English version is definitely widescreen. I sampled a few scenes but watched the original Japaneses edit. They may have used the image Japanese print for the bulk of the English edit, as I notice the picture is the same but quality drops visually when the "Henry G. Saperstein" American credits roll.

Looks like the Japanese print is in good shape but the transfer is a bit too dark (I'm far from a reliable judge of tech matters, so caveats).

Rodan looks good as well. Both highly enjoyable.

Excellent documentary, "Bringing Godzilla Down to Size", runs just over an hour, focuses on the fx guys and actors, some nice stuff for modelers though nothing in depth.

Will get around to the American versions later...Russ Tamblyn looks like he'll be great fun to watch. Haven't seen either of these since the mid-Seventies, and I'd had the impression they were much more corny/sentimental than this.

I don't think Green Gargantua Gaira was bad, he was just understandably p***** off about that lousy singer.


And garganuta is pretty good warm on toast. Kinda buttery, kinda nutty.

Please let us know if there's anything resembling a different music soundtrack. Heard different stories on whether it will or not.


Ah! Posting at the same time - yes, the soundtrack is different in at least some spots - that's another thing I was looking for.


Ifukube's tracks were kept for the opening teaser and titles. The action scenes at the very least have stock music fro American productions substuted. That means the original flavor is going to be lost...this might not ba a bad thing, though, in the Japanese edit Ifukube delivers a single military action theme that gets run into the ground. And it's not - well, just my opinion so probably not worth much, but - it's far from Ifukube at his best, just the generic sound he's known for. The American mix could easily be more exciting.

Thanks for the link on Gargantua and Pantagriel. :)

A bit of trivia- in one of the English language versions of Rodan, one of the characters is voiced by a very distinctive deep voice. Yep, it's George Takei in one of his earliest Hollywood jobs. I wish I knew which one, and where to find a copy. I have the Sony DVD from a couple of years ago, and it isn't that one.

From the IMDb:


Sora no daikaijû Radon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049782/) (1956) (uncredited) (voice: English version) .... Professor Kashiwagi
... aka Radon
... aka Radon, Monster from the Sky (literal English title)
... aka Rodan
... aka Rodan! The Flying Monster (USA)
Gojira no gyakushû (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048127/) (1955) (uncredited) .... English dubbing voice: U.S. version
... aka Counterattack of the Monsters (USA: promotional title)
... aka Fire Monster
... aka Gigantis
... aka Gigantis the Fire Monster (USA)
... aka Godzilla Raids Again (USA: video title)
... aka Godzilla's Counter Attack (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Gojira Strikes Again
... aka Gojira's Counterattack
... aka The Return of Godzilla
... aka The Volcano Monster

Can't say that WOTG or Evil of Frankenstein are my favorites, Frankenstyrene, but I like 'em a lot...EOF was the first Hammer Frankenstein I ever saw...so no sneering from me, boyo! :wave:

Heres one for ya... I have an older release of Rodan on DVD.watch the scene in the air traffic control tower. Love the Sabre Jet taxiing backwards!