Godzilla - The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 - The Criterion Collection

IN 1954, AN ENORMOUS BEAST CLAWED ITS WAY OUT OF THE SEA, destroying everything in its path-and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monstermovie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne against a host of other formidable creatures, transforming from a terrifying symbol of nuclear annihilation into a benevolent (if still belligerent) Earth protector. Collected here for the first time are all fifteen Godzilla films of Japan's Showa era, in a landmark set showcasing the technical wizardry, fantastical storytelling, and indomitable international appeal that established the most iconic giant monster the cinema has ever seen. Includes 15 Films:GodzillaTM (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1954)GodzillaTM Raids Again (Dir. Motoyoshi Oda 1955)King Kong Vs. GodzillaTM (Dirs. Ishiro Honda, Thomas Montgomery 1963)MothraTM Vs. GodzillaTM (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1964)GhidorahTM, The Three-Headed Monster (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1964)Invasion Of Astro-Monster (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1965)EbirahTM, Horror Of The Deep (Dir. Jun Fukuda 1966)Son Of GodzillaTM (Dir. Jun Fukuda 1967)Destroy All Monsters (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1968)All Monsters Attack (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1969)GodzillaTM Vs. HedorahTM (Dir. Yoshimitsu Banno 1971)GodzillaTM Vs. GiganTM (Dir. Jun Fukuda 1972)GodzillaTM Vs. MegalonTM (Dir. Jun Fukuda 1973)GodzillaTM Vs. MechagodzillaTM (Dir. Jun Fukuda 1974)Terror Of Mechagodz (Dir. Ishiro Honda 1975)Eight- Blu-Ray Special Edition Collector's Set Features:High-definition digital transfers of all fifteen Godzilla films made between 1954 and 1975, released together for the first time, with uncompressed monaural soundtracksHigh-definition digital transfers of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 U.S.-release version of Godzilla; and the 1962 Japanese-release version of King Kong vs. GodzillaAudio commentaries from 2011 on Godzilla and Godzilla, King of the Monsters featuring film historian David KalatInternational English-language dub tracks for Invasion of Astro-Monster, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and Terror of Mechagodzilla Directors Guild of Japan interview with director Ishiro Honda, conducted by director Yoshimitsu Banno in 1990Programs detailing the creation of Godzilla's special effects and unused effects sequences from Toho releases including Destroy All MonstersNew interview with filmmaker Alex Cox about his admiration for the Showa-era Godzilla filmsNew and archival interviews with cast and crew members, including actors Bin Furuya, Tsugutoshi Komada, Haruo Nakajima, and Akira Takarada; composer Akira Ifukube; and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo KaimaiInterview with critic Tadao Sato from 2011Illustrated audio essay from 2011 about the real-life tragedy that inspired Godzilla New English subtitle translationsTrailersPLUS: A lavishly illustrated deluxe hardcover book featuring an essay by cinema historian Steve Ryfle, notes on the films by cinema historian Ed Godziszewski, and new illustrations by Arthur Adams, Sophie Campbell, Becky Cloonan, Jorge Coelho, Geof Darrow, Simon Gane, Robert Goodin, Benjamin Marra, Monarobot, Takashi Okazaki, Angela Rizza, Yuko Shimizu, Bill Sienkiewicz, Katsuya Terada, Ronald Wimberly and Chris Wisnia