BLOOD WORK: THE SAGA OF THE KING OF THE MONSTERS ~ PART 12: GODZILLA VS GIGAN (1972)

After a wild and experimental approach with 1971's Godzilla Vs Hedorah a.k.a. Godzilla Vs the Smog Monster the Godzilla series returned to a more tried and true movie recipe with GODZILLA VS GIGAN. Invaders from space infiltrate Earth in an attempt at world domination employing multiple kaiju and advanced technology to achieve their dark ambitions.

Jun Fukuda returned to direct this film, having proven himself in his previous two Godzilla films Godzilla Vs the Sea Monster a.k.a. Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966) and Son of Godzilla (1967). His directorial style had changed by the time he helmed Gigan delivering a more Ultra-Man like super hero film rather than a monster movie. It just so happens that the super heroes and villains are monsters.

The original US release of the film was titled Godzilla On Monster Island

This film is another example of the changing climate of the Japanese film industry of the 1970's and the movie studios' desperate attempts to reclaim audiences from the growing threat of television. With Godzilla Vs Gigan Toho returned to a popular plot line, doubled the total number of monsters appearing in the film, and resurrected fan favorite kaijus Ghidorah and Anguirus to accompany Gigan and Godzilla. In theory this was a recipe for success. Had the budget for this film been more substantial this film may have been truly epic.

THE PLOT

Sentient alien cockroach-men from the Nebula M Space Hunter orbit secretly invade Earth. Equip with advanced technology, the aliens disguise themselves as human beings and establish a seemingly legitimate corporation called World Children's Land with goals for world peace. They erect a tower surrounded by a life-size statue of Godzilla. The alien invaders summon two space monsters, King Ghidorah and a cyborg creature called Gigan, to destroy Earth's defense forces. When Godzilla and Anguirus escape Monster Island to do battle with the space monsters, the spacemen from Nebula M unleash their secret weapon to destroy Godzilla once and for all!

THE GOOD

Quadruple Kaiju Threat! Godzilla and Anguirus versus King Ghidorah and new comer Gigan. If there is one enemy kaiju that trumps all others it is without a doubt King Ghidorah. After being thoroughly thrashed in Destroy All Monsters Ghidorah retired for four years. Toho brought Ghidorah back to hopefully reinvigorate interest and enthusiasm in the series. Then they introduced Gigan, easily the most bizarre looking kaiju up to that point, a walking buzz-saw/knife block cyborg monster. Seeing Anguirus again is a treat as he emerged a favorite after his return in Destroy All Monsters. Sadly though he doesn't help much at all until the very end when Godzilla already has the situation well in hand.

Art by Yasushi Torisawa

Gigan, despite being a major departure from traditional kaiju designs, has since become a fan favorite kaiju. He has dagger like protrusions for hands, feet, mouth, and head. A vertical row of spikes from its neck down to its belly which can be employed into a buzz saw-like weapon. Even the tips of its wings have sharp pointed hooks on them. A bird-like beak with wicked mandibles, a row of sharp teeth and cycloptian glowing eye make Gigan a truly crazy looking and memorable monster. Just imagining Godzilla fighting this walking knife-block is exciting.

THE BAD

Art by Yasushi Torisawa

Stock Footage Galore. The major problem that plagued Godzilla Vs Megalon plagued Gigan first. One can understand now why monsters Ghidorah and Anguirus were included in this film upon seeing the extensive use of old film footage recycled for this movie. Through clever editing we see a patchwork quilt of Ghidorah's greatest hits. Battle scenes from Ghidorah's three previous films are edited together for the illusion of a new battle. Even Ghidorah's battle with Anguirus in DAM is reused. And nearly all of the city destruction scenes of Ghidorah's are from older films.

Art by Yasushi Torisawa

Crumbling Suitmation. The Godzilla suit used in this film appears to be the same suit used for the previous three films making Gigan its fourth use. The costume is literally in shambles during this movie. If you look at Godzilla's arms you can see pieces of foam and rubber dangling. We won't mention the other horrid looking Godzilla suit used for the water sequences. Then there is Ghidorah's stiff static suit. In the previous films Ghidorah's movements appeared fluid and very much alive due to brilliant wire-work. Here he barely moves and comes across very wooden, easily his weakest appearance to date (with the exception of Kaiser Ghidorah from Final Wars).

THE VERDICT

The minuscule budget of this film was truly its greatest enemy. There's a wonderful amount of good in this film, the kaiju being the bulk of the positives. But rampant use of stock footage edited together to dupe us viewers into thinking we're watching a new fight is kind of insulting. Luckily everything with Gigan is new (except the stock footage excerpt from War of the Gargantuas which was used yet again in Godzilla Vs Megalon). Gigan is wicked awesome and it is great seeing Anguirus and King Ghidorah again (what new footage of them there is).

Ode to what could've been and almost was

A Deviant Art deviation by Fourgreen on what Godzilla Vs Gigan may have looked like. Also his rendition of what Majin Tsuru may have looked like.

Originally the film was supposed to feature even more kaiju than the ones mentioned above. Varan was going to be featured as a part of Godzilla's team as well as Rodan. Megalon was also supposed to make his debut in this film teaming alongside Gigan and Ghidorah. In addition to these kaiju two other new kaiju were proposed, MOG (an evil monster to be teamed with Gigan, Megalon, and Ghidorah) and MAJIN TSURU (a new kaiju resembling Daiei Studio's Daimajin) to help Godzilla's team. Imagine the epic masterpiece this film could've been! Sadly due to dwindling finances all of these other monsters were scrapped because the amount of new suits and new film footage required to bring them all to life.

Another Deviation by Fourgreen featuring what could've been the kaiju line-up for this film and his idea of what Mog might have looked like.

This would've been the first time ever that a team of good monsters battled a team of evil monsters. Such a project would surely have required the largest budget in the franchise's history. We have yet to see something like what Godzilla Vs Gigan was supposed to have been. A two on two tag team is the closest we've come. Maybe one day the real Godzilla Vs Gigan will be made. One can hope.

Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10

Category: Adolescents

(a film more appreciated by children)

Why Varan would've been a more apt choice over Anguirus

A version of this nearly happened!

As great as it is seeing Anguirus again he is mostly ineffectual to the fight and overall outcome. He doesn't provide much support at all. His inclusion was probably due his popularity, the stock footage of him fighting Ghidorah, and the relatively good condition of his monster suit. For dramatic effect and battle function a better suited choice of kaiju should've been employed like Varan. Varan is one of the few Earth Defender kaiju that can fly (balancing out the battle against two flying enemy kaiju). He's anthropomorphized enough like Godzilla to open up more possibilities for fighting (as opposed to Anguirus being limited to all four limbs on the ground). And Varan is completely at home in the water (whereas biologically a creature like Anguirus wouldn't be much of a swimmer if at all). Of all the kaiju that could've assisted Godzilla in this film Varan would've been the best suited.