Kaiju Vs. History

Hot on the heels of what many consider the worst Kaiju film of all time, June of 1957 isn’t over yet as we also get the release of “Beginning of the End”. What do the infamous Mr. BIG, cannibalistic bugs and the term “Ultra Low Budget” have in common? Why those are all small sneak peaks at the behind the scenes history of this monstrous movie!

The squeamish may want to skip this film as we have live bugs crawling all over this picture. Thankfully this film is the beginning and the end of primarily using live creatures in Kaiju, but it will still rear up from time to time. Find out when its used next on Kaiju Vs. History.

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We take a break from season 1 of Kaiju Vs. History in order to exchange some presents, talk about some Kaiju gift giving options for the year, and go on to muse about what a Kaiju Christmas movie might be like. We have a perfect $5 stocking stuffer for the Godzilla fan in your life, and next year we will be back in the middle of season 2 to do this again.

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We explore the history of what many say is the worst Kaiju film of all time, the towering wreckage and dangling marionette of 1957’s The Giant Claw. This film on paper has all the hallmarks of a classic creature feature, but the execution leaves more than most to be desired.

Scream queen Mara Corday of Tarantula! and The Black Scorpion fame returns, and stars opposite Jeff Morrow. Is this film as bad as they say? Or does it cross over into the camp and schlock so-bad-its-good side of Kaiju cinema? Find out in this week’s episode of Kaiju Vs. History!

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The most giant of bugs is dethawed and runs amok on the US this week as we explore the history of 1957’s “The Deadly Mantis”. Universal looking to score big brings in a larger than life prop, B-roll footage, and a real life mantis to show a world under siege.

Looking to capitalize on the plot points and action of earlier Kaiju films “The Deadly Mantis” delivers a tried and true formula but a film that is hard to forget, for better or worse.

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Toho tries their hand another new giant monster movie, but with the marked improvements of seasoned actors and color film stock. Director Ishiro Honda is back, and so are Akira Ifukube and Eiji Tsuburaya, completing the dream team from 1954’s ‘Godzilla’.

Rodan is a spectacular achievement in the art of miniatures and monster story-telling, and introduces us to a vibrant world of horrific prehistoric bugs and jet speed dinosaurs.

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As proof of the power of Ishiro Honda’s masterpiece Gojira this week we are getting some leftovers after Thanksgiving. This week’s Kaiju Vs. History is looking at the Americanization of the Japanese classic, with the US version called “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”.

Toho sold the rights to the original Godzilla film to the US along with permission to recut, refilm and edit Gojira. They cut almost 10 minutes off the 1954 original and in some ways succeed in a way that many other adaptations/alterations could not.

Steve Martin is our new main character played by American actor Raymond Burr, but we all know who the real star of this movie is. He’s mean, he’s green and he’s ready to destroy Tokyo!

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We return to American monster movies this week with a sci-fi classic, 1955’s Tarantula! This film was a reaction certainly to the success of “Them” and other creature features that made big bank at the box office. At time it feels like it is trying to do something interesting and other times it feels like the cash grab that it is.

Join us as we look at the production of this film, take a dive into the cast, and talk about how it came to be. This is Kaiju Vs. History’s “Tarantula!” episode!

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Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 00:40:56 | Recorded on November 8, 2021

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A nuclear submarine, brilliant scientists, and a showdown on a national landmark between the plucky military man and an odd number limbed foe? This film has everything to be the latest and the greatest monster mash, but can it follow up on the Beast? This week we are back to Ray Haryhausen’s work with 1955’s “It Came From Beneath the Sea”.

Follow Kaiju Vs. History for our chronological travels through over 100 years of giant monsters cinema. Each week we take a look at the development, release and legacy of a new film in the Kaiju genre and look at its place in history.

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What happens when you rush a sequel but don’t have access to the same stars and visionary director? Well you get a film that fairs better than 1933’s ‘Son of Kong’ but that’s a low bar. Follow a new Godzilla monster and director Motoyoshi Oda as they chart the franchise into sequel territory. We have monster battles, military might on display, and tenuous bonds to the spirit of the first film.

Would you like to know what the monster fights look so fast and odd? Have you ever wondered how this film performed and what people think about it today? Tune in then to this week’s atomic fireball blast from the past in Kaiju Vs. History’s dive into 1955’s Godzilla Raids Again.

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The Ishiro Honda classic “Godzilla” exploded on the screen like an atomic bomb almost 70 years ago this week. This film is what started a series that would go on to have more main entries than James Bond. It would spawn more imitators that Michael Myers and Freddy. It single handedly maintained and invigorated the entire genre into the modern era. Join us this week as Kaiku Vs. History dips our toes into the vast annals of Toho History, with this movie masterpiece.

Have you ever wondered how they made Godzilla’s roar sound effect? Want to know where the name Godzilla comes from? How about the ins and outs of the films pre-production and how influential was America’s “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms”? Well join us on this special Halloween episode as you will learn all that and more!

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