The original GODZILLA is a lot more up-front about its mission statement than later entries would lead you to believe. It was concepted and written as a metaphor for Japan’s traumatic response to nuclear tragedy and fear of another, but it’s remembered more for its genre-defining special effects. But with a focus on a melodramatic love triangle and humans who can’t decide if they’re heroes or horrors, the most frightening thing about GODZILLA is its premonition that the threat of more Hiroshimas would fester and grow for generations.

Links:

An examination of Akira Ifukube’s iconic GODZILLA theme by GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS (2019) composer Bear McCreary: https://www.facebook.com/BearMcCrearyOfficial/photos/why-does-the-akira-ifukube-godzilla-march-feel-the-way-it-does-one-of-the-most-i/10156880267742096/

“'Godzilla' was a metaphor for Hiroshima, and Hollywood whitewashed it” by Kimmy Yam for NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/godzilla-was-metaphor-hiroshima-hollywood-whitewashed-it-n1236165

Buy tickets to “AGNÈS VARDA: DIEU DU CINÉMA” (May 2022 at the Trylon): https://www.trylon.org/films/category/agnes-varda-dieu-du-cinema/

- Buy tickets to “ISHIRÔ HONDA’S GODZILLA” (May 2022 at the Trylon): https://www.trylon.org/films/category/ishiro-hondas-godzilla/

- Buy tickets to “NIC CAGE, NATIONAL TREASURE” (June - Aug 2022 at the Trylon): https://www.trylon.org/films/category/national-treasure/

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trylovepodcast and email us at [email protected] to get in touch! Buy tickets and support the Trylon at https://www.trylon.org/.

Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Closing song: “Godzilla Theme” by Akira Ifukube from the GODZILLA soundtrack.

Timestamps

0:00 - Episode 173: GODZILLA (1954)

2:52 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary

7:35 - Finally seeing GODZILLA at the Trylon

10:44 - Learning that Godzilla is more than the bomb

23:02 - The shortcuts people take to understanding Godzilla

26:52 - Godzilla and population density

29:58 - The international implications of Godzilla

45:43 - Godzilla as symbol of hypercapital

48:56 - Godzilla redesigns

50:39 - The Junk Drawer

59:52 - Cody’s Noteys: Trylove Feud