The Mysterians: Difference between revisions
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{{Tab | {{Tab | ||
|soundtrack=The Mysterians | |soundtrack=The Mysterians/Soundtrack | ||
|credits=The Mysterians/Credits | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{ | {{Infobox Film|ratings=yes | ||
|type1 =Steel | |type1 =Steel | ||
|type2 =Electric | |type2 =Electric | ||
|image =Chikyu Boeigun poster.jpg | |image =Chikyu Boeigun poster.jpg | ||
|caption =The Japanese poster for The Mysterians | |caption =The Japanese poster for The Mysterians | ||
|dt =''The Mysterians'' (1957) | |dt =''The Mysterians'' (1957) | ||
|name =''The Mysterians''|titles=yes|alt-titles=yes | |name =''The Mysterians''|titles=yes|alt-titles=yes | ||
|jp-title =''Earth Defense Force'' (1957) | |jp-title =''The Earth Defense Force'' (1957) | ||
|producer =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] | |producer =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] | ||
|director =[[Ishiro Honda]] | |director =[[Ishiro Honda]] | ||
|writer = | |writer ={{bl|[[Kaoru Mabuchi|Takeshi Kimura]] (screenplay)|Jojiro Okami (story)|[[Shigeru Kayama]] (adaption)}} | ||
|composer =[[Akira Ifukube]] | |composer =[[Akira Ifukube]] | ||
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}} | |sfx =[[Eiji Tsuburaya]] | ||
|rating = | |distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer{{sup|[[United States|US]]}} | ||
|budget ={{ | |rating =PG {{small|(home video)}}{{sup|UK}} | ||
|gross = | |budget =¥200 million{{sfn|Motoyama|Matsunomoto|Asai|Suzuki|Kato|2012|p=27}} | ||
|runtime =88 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br | |gross =¥193 million{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=141}} | ||
| | |runtime =88 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 28 minutes)}}<br>85 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 25 minutes)}}<br />70 minutes{{sup|[[Toho Champion Festival|TCF]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 10 minutes)}} | ||
|aspectratio =2.35:1 | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Notice|For the alien race, see [[Mysterian]]s.}} | |||
{{Quote|From behind the [[ | {{Quote|Space weapons mobilize! A great battle between [[Earth]] forces and the gruesome mystery planet people, the [[Mysterian]]s!|parenthetical=宇宙兵器総動員! 地球軍対{{Ruby|ミステリアン|怪遊星人}}凄絶の一大攻防戦!|Japanese tagline}} | ||
'''''The Mysterians''''' {{Nihongo|地球防衛軍|Chikyū Bōeigun|lit. ''Earth Defense Force''}} is a [[1957]] [[tokusatsu]] [[ | {{Quote|From behind the [[Moon]] [[Mysterian|they]] come...To invade the [[Earth]]! Abduct its women! Level its cities!<br>Greatest science-fiction picture ever conceived by the mind of man|[[United States|American]] tagline}} | ||
'''''The Mysterians''''' {{Nihongo|地球防衛軍|Chikyū Bōeigun|lit. "''The Earth Defense Force''"}} is a [[1957]] [[tokusatsu]] science fiction film directed by [[Ishiro Honda]] and written by [[Shigeru Kayama]], [[Kaoru Mabuchi|Takeshi Kimura]], and Jojiro Okami, with special effects by [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]. Produced by [[Toho]], it was the company's first alien invasion film. It stars [[Kenji Sahara]], [[Yumi Shirakawa]], [[Momoko Kochi]], [[Akihiko Hirata]], [[Takashi Shimura]], Susumu Fujita, and [[Hisaya Ito]]. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters on December 28, [[1957]]. An English-dubbed version of the film was prepared by [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio Pictures]] and released to [[United States|America]]n theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on May 27, [[1959]].{{sfn|''Boxoffice''|1959|loc=p. W-4: "MGM's 'The Mysterians,' science-fiction feature, will open a saturation world premiere engagement here May 27 in 50 theatres and drive-ins. The hard-selling shock campaign will be keyed to catchlines building the film as 'the greatest science-fiction picture man's imagination ever conceived.' Similar campaigns and saturation openings are planned throughout the country, with the film slated to open day-and-date in some 150 theatres in the New York area around July 1"}} | |||
A raging fire suddenly consumes a forest near [[Mount Fuji]], followed by a violent landslide that completely wipes out a village. Authorities investigating the incidents are suddenly attacked by a [[Moguera|huge robot]], which makes its way to another village where the [[JSDF]] finally stops it. The robot is revealed to be of extraterrestrial origin, just as a huge [[Mysterian Dome|dome]] surfaces from the ground near Fuji. The occupants of the dome, calling themselves [[Mysterian]]s, claim to come in peace and only desire a small tract of land and the ability to marry Earth women. However, humanity sees through the Mysterians' seemingly innocuous requests and realizes they are mobilizing a war machine capable of wiping out human civilization so they can conquer the Earth. All of the planet's militaries combine their efforts into the [[Earth Defense Force]] and begin a desperate war against the Mysterians. But can even the most advanced weapons of mankind stand up to the Mysterians' incredible technology? ''The Mysterians'' was followed by a loose sequel, ''[[Battle in Outer Space]]'', in [[1959]]. | |||
{{TOC}} | |||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
The | The astrophysicist Ryoichi Shiraishi is acting peculiarly. He has called off his engagement to Hiroko Iwamoto and moved to a small village near [[Mount Fuji]], estranging himself from his friends and colleagues. Prior to his seclusion, Shiraishi had been working on a series of fantastic reports for his mentor, Dr. Adachi, on a former planet he calls [[Mysteroid]]. According to this theory, the asteroid belt beyond Mars was once a singular planet. Adachi notes that the latest report surprisingly is incomplete at the time of its submission. Mystery follows Shiraishi to his new home: one summer night, a forest near the town erupts in a brilliant blaze in which the source of the radioactive flames is underground. Within days of this event, tragedy again strikes the village as a sudden and violent landslide annihilates the small town and seemingly all of its residents, including Ryoichi. | ||
[[Joji Atsumi]], a fellow scientist, joins the official investigation. Atsumi and several policemen are investigating radiation levels in the vicinity of the former village when a [[Moguera|giant monster]] emerges from the side of a hill. The survivors of the attack retreat to alert the authorities, but by nightfall the monster has already reached the nearby city. The [[JSDF|Defense Force]] is summoned to help evacuate the populace and defeat the [[kaiju]]. During this evacuation, Atsumi and Etsuko – his lover, and Ryoichi's sister – observe what appear to be [[Mysterian UFO|flying saucer]]s in the night sky, although the advance of the monster gives them little time to process this. Despite the monster's incredible destructive force, it is killed in the JSDF's destruction of the Koyama Bridge. | |||
An analysis of the creature's remains determines it to be a robot, although the presence of unknown elements suggests its origin is extraterrestrial. After reevaluating the Mysteroid report, Adachi's observatory sights alien activity near the [[Moon]], and after hearing Atsumi's testimony about the saucers over Fuji, the doctor publicly announces the findings. A team of scientists, including Atsumi and Adachi, investigate the region highlighted in Shiraishi's report. A large artificial dome rises from the ground and an alien voice greets and requests the presence of the scientific party. Inside the [[Mysterian Dome|Dome]], the aliens introduce themselves as [[Mysterian]]s, the last survivors of the planet Mysteroid, annihilated in an atomic war hundreds of thousands of years ago. Fearing retaliation would lead to another nuclear war on Earth between man and the Mysterians, they launched their robot, Moguera, to demonstrate that man's technology was no match for their own. They request to immigrate to Earth and occupy the three kilometers surrounding their dome. Furthermore, the fallout from their wars has poisoned their bodies, resulting in 80% of them born with severe abnormalities. In the hopes of continuing their race, [[Mysterian Leader|the Leader]] also appeals for the right to intermarry with human women. Five have already been chosen, he says, and Etsuko and Hiroko are among them. | |||
The Ministry of Defense officially declines these requests, citing the Mysterians' hostile acts, and prepares countermeasures against the Dome. Police protection is arranged for Etsuko and Hiroko, and during a visit with Atsumi, the three are contacted by Ryoichi over the television. He declares that he had joined the Mysterians prior to his disappearance to study their sciences, and he asks Atsumi to have the impending attack cancelled, suggesting it will only lead to useless bloodshed. The attack ultimately proceeds on schedule, however, and the JSDF forces are predictably eliminated by the alien invaders. Development begins on a powerful electron gun to counter the Mysterians' own superweapons. | |||
The Japanese government requests foreign aid and the [[United Nations]] is called to session to establish an international coalition against the threat. An assault on the Dome by the airships ''[[α (Alpha)|Alpha]]'' and ''[[ß (Beta)|Beta]]'' is undertaken to test rockets with warheads capable of producing 3,000 degrees of heat, although the weapon proves unsuccessful in combat, and the Dome's heat ray results in the destruction of the ''Beta''. In retaliation to this attack, the Mysterians announce the occupation of a 120-kilometer radius and, privately, the Mysterian Leader tells Ryoichi that they will soon be capable of controlling all of [[Japan]]. The [[United States]] introduces a new technology, dubbed the [[Markalite Cannon|Markalite F.A.H.P.]], which has the ability to reflect the Mysterian heat ray to its source. A decisive assault is planned using the new weapon in concert with the ''Alpha'', with the reconstructed ''Beta No. 2'' following with the completed electron gun. | |||
Etsuko and Hiroko are kidnapped on the eve of battle and taken to the Dome. Incapable of convincing Dr. Adachi to stall the offensive to mount a rescue effort, Atsumi, having previously found an obscured underground tunnel to the Dome, descends into the alien base. The ''Alpha'', shielded by the new technology, distracts the Mysterians while the Markalite Cannons are dropped via [[Markalite GYRO|rocket]] into the battlefield. With the heat ray's destructive effects now mostly neutralized, the tide of the war turns in favor of humanity. In a final effort, the Mysterians induce a tidal wave to destroy one Markalite, while a [[Moguera#Moguera (No. 2)|second Moguera]] is sacrificed to destroy another cannon from below. Meanwhile, Atsumi is captured and silently led back to the cave where the Earth women are waiting. His captor reveals himself to be Ryoichi Shiraishi. Finding himself in disagreement with the Mysterians' plans for conquest, he allows his friends to escape with his final report while he heroically returns to the Dome to sabotage the invaders' efforts from the inside. | |||
Now facing certain defeat, the Mysterian Leader orders a retreat to their [[Mysterian Space Station|orbiting space station]]. The ''Beta No. 2'' arrives to finish the assault with the electron gun, and the Dome explodes, ending the alien occupation. The ''Beta No. 2'' pursues the escaping saucers, destroying three, but the U.N. forces allow the rest to disappear into the cosmos. Dr. Adachi notes that humanity must not repeat the Mysterians' mistakes. The groundwork has been laid for a united world: now its nations must continue working together to achieve lasting peace. | |||
==Staff== | ==Staff== | ||
{{Main|The Mysterians/Credits}} | |||
{{Staffs | {{Staffs | ||
|Directed by|[[Ishiro Honda]] | |Directed by|[[Ishiro Honda]] | ||
|Written by| | |Written by|[[Kaoru Mabuchi|Takeshi Kimura]] | ||
| | |Based on a story by|Jojiro Okami | ||
|Adapted by|[[Shigeru Kayama]] | |||
|Executive producer|[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] | |||
|Music by|[[Akira Ifukube]] | |Music by|[[Akira Ifukube]] | ||
|Stock | |Stock music by|Hector Berlioz, Edvard Grieg | ||
|Cinematography by|Hajime Koizumi | |Cinematography by|[[Hajime Koizumi]] | ||
|Edited by|Koichi Iwashita | |Edited by|Koichi Iwashita | ||
|Production | |Production design by|Teruaki Abe | ||
| | |First assistant director|[[Koji Kajita]] | ||
| | |Director of special effects|[[Eiji Tsuburaya]] | ||
|First assistant director of special effects|[[Masakatsu Asai]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
{{Cast | {{Cast | ||
|[[Kenji Sahara]]|[[Joji Atsumi]] | |[[Kenji Sahara]]|[[Joji Atsumi]] | ||
|Yumi Shirakawa|Etsuko Shiraishi | |[[Yumi Shirakawa]]|Etsuko Shiraishi | ||
|[[Momoko Kochi | |[[Momoko Kochi]]|Hiroko Iwamoto | ||
|[[Akihiko Hirata]]| | |[[Akihiko Hirata]]|Ryoichi Shiraishi | ||
|[[Takashi Shimura]]|Dr. | |[[Takashi Shimura]]|Dr. Kenjiro Adachi | ||
|Susumu Fujita|General Morita | |Susumu Fujita|General Morita | ||
|[[Hisaya Ito | |[[Hisaya Ito]]|Captain Seki | ||
|Yoshio Kosugi|Commander Sugimoto | |Yoshio Kosugi|Commander Sugimoto | ||
|Fuyuki Murakami|Dr. | |Fuyuki Murakami|Dr. Nobuo Kawanami | ||
|Tetsu Nakamura|Dr. | |[[Tetsu Nakamura]]|Dr. Koda | ||
|[[Yoshio Tsuchiya]]|[[ | |[[Harold Conway]]|Dr. Immelman | ||
|George Furness|Dr. Richardson | |||
|Heihachiro Okawa|Director of Foreign Affairs | |||
|Takeo Oikawa|Saburo Nozawa, TV commentator | |||
|Toyohiko Sata|Miyamoto, police inspector | |||
|Haruya Kato|villager | |||
|Senkichi Omura|villager | |||
|[[Yoshio Tsuchiya]]|[[Mysterian Leader]] | |||
|[[Haruo Nakajima]]|[[Moguera]] / [[JSDF]] officer / soldier leaping from tank / [[Mysterian]] | |||
|[[Katsumi Tezuka]]|Moguera / villager | |||
}} | |||
===American Dubbing Co. English dub=== | |||
{{Cast|notice=no | |||
|George Gonneau|Jyoji Atsumi | |||
|Anthony La Penna|General Morita / Director of Foreign Affairs | |||
|Bret Morrison|Dr. Koda | |||
|Earl Hammond|Police Chief Togawa | |||
|Ralph Bell|Dr. Svenson | |||
}} | |||
===Bang Zoom! Entertainment English dub=== | |||
{{Cast|notice=no | |||
|[[wikipedia:Michael Forest|Alfred Thor]]|Commander Sugimoto | |||
|[[wikipedia:Christopher Corey Smith|Chris Kent]]|Yamamoto | |||
|[[wikipedia:Dave Mallow|Dave Mallow]]|[[Mysterian Leader]] | |||
|[[wikipedia:Dave Wittenberg|David Lelyveld]]|[[Joji Atsumi]] | |||
|[[wikipedia:Doug Stone (voice actor)|Doug Stone]]|Dr. Nobuo Kawanami | |||
|Erik Blackthorn|Immerman | |||
|[[wikipedia:Joe Cappelletti|Joey Capps]]|Commander | |||
|[[wikipedia:Bob Papenbrook|John Smallberries]]|Miyamoto | |||
|Lesli Todd|Etsuko Shiraishi | |||
|[[wikipedia:Melodee Spevack|Melodee M. Spevack]]|Etsuko's Mother | |||
|[[wikipedia:Michael McConnohie|Michael McConnohie]]|Dr. Kenjiro Adachi | |||
|[[wikipedia:Michelle Ruff|Michelle Ruff]]|Hiroko | |||
|[[wikipedia:Kirk Thornton|Sparky Thornton]]|Ryoichi Shiraishi | |||
|[[wikipedia:Steve Kramer (actor)|Steve Kramer]]|General Morita | |||
|[[wikipedia:William Frederick Knight|William Frederick]]|Hanamoto | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
Line 74: | Line 115: | ||
{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
===Monsters=== | ===Monsters=== | ||
*[[Moguera]] | *[[Moguera]] | ||
**[[Moguera|Moguera No. 2]] | |||
{{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
===Weapons, | ===Weapons, vehicles, and races=== | ||
*[[ | *[[Mysterian]]s | ||
*[[Mysterian Dome]] | *[[Mysterian Dome]] | ||
*[[M4A3E8 Sherman Tank]] | *[[M4A3E8 Sherman Tank]] | ||
*[[F-86 Sabre]] | *[[F-86 Sabre]] | ||
*[[Mysterian UFO]] | *[[Mysterian UFO]] | ||
*[[Mysterian Space Station]] | *[[Mysterian Space Station]] | ||
*[[α (Alpha)]] | *''[[α (Alpha)|Alpha]]'' | ||
*[[ß (Beta)]] | *''[[ß (Beta)|Beta]]'' | ||
*[[ß No. 2 (Beta No. 2)]] | *''[[ß No. 2 (Beta No. 2)|Beta No. 2]]'' | ||
*[[Markalite GYRO]] | *[[Markalite GYRO]] | ||
*[[Markalite Cannon]] | *[[Markalite Cannon]] | ||
*[[Honest John | *[[MGR-1 Honest John]] | ||
*[[24 Twin Rocket Car]] | *[[24 Twin Rocket Car]] | ||
*[[Long Range Missile Launcher]] | *[[Long Range Missile Launcher]] | ||
*[[F- | *[[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter]] | ||
*[[155mm Howitzer M2]] | *[[155mm Howitzer M2]] | ||
*[[Sikorsky H-5]] | *[[wikipedia:Sikorsky H-5|Sikorsky H-5]] | ||
*[[M2A1 75mm Howitzer]] | *[[M2A1 75mm Howitzer]] | ||
*[[M24 Chaffee Tank]] | *[[M24 Chaffee Tank]] | ||
*[[C-124 Globemaster II]] | *[[C-124 Globemaster II]] | ||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
Line 101: | Line 143: | ||
{{Main|The Mysterians/Gallery}} | {{Main|The Mysterians/Gallery}} | ||
==Soundtrack== | ==Soundtrack== | ||
{{Main|The Mysterians | {{Main|The Mysterians/Soundtrack}} | ||
==Alternate titles== | |||
==Alternate | *'''''The Earth Defense Force''''' (literal [[Japan]]ese title) | ||
*'''''Earth Defense Force''''' ( | |||
*'''''The Barbarians Invade Earth''''' (''Los bárbaros invaden la Tierra''; Argentina, ''Os Bárbaros Invadem a Terra''; Brazil) | *'''''The Barbarians Invade Earth''''' (''Los bárbaros invaden la Tierra''; Argentina, ''Os Bárbaros Invadem a Terra''; Brazil) | ||
*'''''Space Beasts''''' (''Weltraum-Bestien''; Austria, Germany) | *'''''Space Beasts''''' (''Weltraum-Bestien''; Austria, West Germany) | ||
*'''''Prisoners of the Martians''''' (''Prisonnières des Martiens''; France) | *'''''Prisoners of the Martians''''' (''Prisonnières des Martiens''; France) | ||
*'''''Mars vs Earth''''' ( | *'''''Mysterians''''' (French video title) | ||
*'''''Invasion of the Moon''''' ( | *'''''Mars vs. Earth''''' (Άρης εναντίον Γης ''Áris enantíon Gis''; Greece) | ||
*'''''Flying Saucers Hit Earth''''' ( | *'''''Invasion of the Moon''''' (Εισβολή από τη Σελήνη ''Eisvolí apó tu Selíni''; Greece) | ||
*'''''Flying Saucers Hit Earth''''' (Ιπτάμενοι δίσκοι χτυπούν τη Γη ''Iptámenoi thíokoi chtipoón ti Gi''; Greece) | |||
*'''''The Unknown''''' (''De ukjente''; Norway) | *'''''The Unknown''''' (''De ukjente''; Norway) | ||
*'''''Earth is Under Attack''''' (''Jorden angripes''; Norway, ''Jorden anfalles''; Sweden) | *'''''Earth is Under Attack''''' (''Jorden angripes''; Norway, ''Jorden anfalles''; Sweden) | ||
*'''''Mysterious Strangers''''' (''Tajemniczy przybysze''; Poland) | *'''''Mysterious Strangers''''' (''Tajemniczy przybysze''; Poland) | ||
*'''''Space Monsters''''' (''Monstros do Espaço''; Portugal) | *'''''Space Monsters''''' (''Monstros do Espaço''; Portugal) | ||
*'''''Phantom 7000''''' (Germany) | *'''''Phantom 7000''''' (Germany; re-issue title) | ||
==Theatrical | *'''''The Extraterrestrials''''' (''Los extraterrestres''; Spain) | ||
*[[Japan]] - December 28, [[1957]] | *'''''Mysteries of Space''''' (''Misterios del Espacio''; Mexico) | ||
*[[United States]] - May | ==Theatrical releases== | ||
* | *[[Japan]] - December 28, [[1957]]; March 18, 1978 ([[Toho Champion Festival]]) | ||
* | *[[United States]] - May 27, [[1959]] | ||
*Canada - May 29, 1959 | |||
*United Kingdom - 1959 | |||
*Brazil - October 12, 1959 | |||
*France - December 2, 1959 | |||
*Yugoslavia - 1959 | |||
*Sweden - February 1, 1960 | |||
*West Germany - February 5, [[1960]] | |||
*Portugal - July 29, 1960 | |||
*Belgium - 1960 | |||
*Norway - 1960 | |||
*Denmark - March 2, [[1961]] | *Denmark - March 2, [[1961]] | ||
== | *Mexico - 1960s | ||
A November 1, [[1957]] report | *Italy - 1973 (re-release) | ||
===[[United States|U.S.]] | |||
[[File: | ==Foreign releases== | ||
''The Mysterians'' was | A November 1, [[1957]], report stated that Southeast Asian distribution rights to ''The Mysterians'' were sold to Shaw & Sons of Hong Kong for the highest amount paid for a Japanese film of that time.{{Citation needed}} Rights to other parts of the world were sold for a record price for a [[Japan]]ese film to Topaz Film Corporation in February of [[1958]].{{Citation needed}} | ||
===[[United States|U.S.]] release=== | |||
[[File:34428 1 large.jpg|thumb|right|200px|U.S. ''The Mysterians'' poster]] | |||
''The Mysterians'' was prepared for American theatrical release by [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio Pictures]].{{sfn|Warren|1986|p=325}} The English-dubbed version was recorded in New York by American Dubbing Co. under the supervision of Peter Riethof and [[wikipedia:Carlos Montalbán|Carlos Montalbán]].{{sfn|''Variety''|1958|loc=p. 4: "As a result of an increase in activity in the dubbing of foreign language pictures into English, Carlos Montalban, who's also an actor and director, has joined Peter Riethof's American Dubbing Co. as a full partner. Company, which recently completed the lip-sync version of Brigitte Bardot's new starrer, "Une Parisienne," has commitments for six additional pix, according to Riethof, including French, German, Spanish and Japanese films. In addition, the company is negotiating to prepare the dubbed versions of four more pictures. The company will operate in Paris and New York. Riethof left for Paris last week to supervise the dubbing activities that will be taking place there. Montalban, who served as chief of the synchronization department of Loew's International from 1944 to 1947, will supervise the N.Y. operation of American Dubbing Co."}} Notably, it was the first Toho science fiction film to receive an English version without extensive re-editing. Only small edits were undertaken, and the English dialogue remains faithful to the Japanese script.<ref name="Toho in America">[https://www.historyvortex.org/tohoamerica3.html Toho In America: The Mysterians | The History Vortex]</ref> Some character names were changed; Drs. Immelman and Richardson becoming Svenson and DeGracia, respectively. | |||
By [[1959]], however, RKO's studio had closed and all yet-unreleased films were sold off to Hollywood's other studios. Thus, the American version of ''The Mysterians'' was released theatrically in the [[United States]] by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in May of 1959,{{sfn|Warren|1986|p=325}} advertised as the "greatest science-fiction picture ever conceived by the mind of man." RKO's version was subsequently distributed in European territories by the J. Arthur Rank Organisation. | |||
The American version of ''The Mysterians'' entered television syndication in 1981 through Gold Key Entertainment, as part of their ''Galaxy'' series of syndication packages. It was twice released on VHS in the United States, by VCI Home Video in 1983<ref name="VCI Home Video">[https://vhscollector.com/movie/mysterians The Mysterians | VHSCollector.com]</ref> and by Star Classics in 1989.<ref name="Star Classics">[https://vhscollector.com/movie/mysterians-0 The Mysterians | VHSCollector.com]</ref> On January 25, [[2005]], [[Media Blasters|Tokyo Shock]] released the full Japanese version of ''The Mysterians'' along with a new English dub by Bang Zoom! Entertainment on DVD in the U.S.<ref name="DVD Savant">[https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s1509myst.html DVD Savant Review: The Mysterians]</ref> This release also included various special features ported over from Toho's Region 2 DVD, including an audio commentary by [[Koichi Kawakita]] and [[Shinji Higuchi]].<ref name="Toho Kingdom">[https://www.tohokingdom.com/dvd/mysterians_tokyo_shock.htm DVD: The Mysterians (Tokyo Shock)]</ref> | |||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
In the [[United States]], despite its successful theatrical run, ''The Mysterians'' was | In the [[United States]], despite its successful theatrical run, critical reception to ''The Mysterians'' was mixed. ''The New York Times'' criticized the film as a generic alien invasion film with "runny color" and poor acting. "Ron," who reviewed the film for ''Variety'' at a May 15 preview screening, praised the special effects, writing, "[the special effects] are realistically accomplished, proving the facility with which the Japanese filmmakers deal in miniatures," but ultimately thought all but young audiences would "laugh their heads off."{{sfn|''Variety''|1959|p=6}} In a summary of trade reviews for the film, however, ''Boxoffice'' determined that overall reception was good, with only ''Parents' Magazine'' contributing a review rated "fair."{{#tag:ref|This particular edition of the ''Boxoffice'' BookinGuide Review Digest collected and analyzed reviews from ''Boxoffice'', ''The Film Daily'', ''Harrison's Reports'', ''The Hollywood Reporter'', the New York ''Daily News'', ''Parents' Magazine'', and ''Variety''. ''Boxoffice'' determined the reviews in most of these publications were rated "good," with ''Harrison's Reports'' and ''Parents' Magazine'' contributing "very good" and "fair" reviews, respectively."{{sfn|''Boxoffice''|1960|p=6}}|group="note"}} | ||
Nevertheless, ''The Mysterians'' proved to be an influential and important entry in Toho's library of science | Nevertheless, ''The Mysterians'' proved to be an influential and important entry in Toho's library of science fiction films, inspiring several more alien invasion and space-related films from director [[Ishiro Honda]], including a sequel, ''[[Battle in Outer Space]]'', and ''[[Gorath (film)|Gorath]]''. [[Koichi Kawakita]], later known as the special effects director for the [[Heisei era|Heisei]] [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]] series and the ''[[:Category:Rebirth of Mothra|Rebirth of Mothra]]'' trilogy, said he was thrilled when he saw this film while in junior high school and it inspired him to work in special effects. Fans of the [[tokusatsu]] genre often praise the film for its special effects, the introduction of the monster [[Moguera]], and its score from [[Akira Ifukube]]. | ||
==Sequel== | ==Sequel== | ||
{{Main|Battle in Outer Space}} | {{Main|Battle in Outer Space}} | ||
Toho produced a sequel to ''The Mysterians'', ''[[Battle in Outer Space]]'', two years later in [[1959]]. The film is set in [[1965]] and features some returning characters from ''The Mysterians'', most of whom are played by different actors. This film features a new invading alien race, the [[ | Toho produced a loose sequel to ''The Mysterians'', ''[[Battle in Outer Space]]'', two years later in [[1959]]. The film is set in [[1965]] and features some returning characters from ''The Mysterians'', most of whom are played by different actors. This film features a new invading alien race, the [[Natarl]]s, who engage in a war with humanity in outer space. | ||
==Video | ==Video releases== | ||
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD ([[2001]]) | '''[[Toho]]''' DVD ([[2001]]) | ||
*Region: 2 | *'''Region:''' 2 | ||
*Audio: Japanese | *'''Audio:''' Japanese | ||
'''Tokyo Shock''' DVD ([[2005]])<ref name="Amazon1">[ | |||
*Region: 1 | '''[[Media Blasters|Tokyo Shock]]''' DVD ([[2005]])<ref name="Amazon1">[https://www.amazon.com/Mysterians-Kenji-Sahara/dp/B00068NWJW/ Amazon.com: The Mysterians (2005) Tokyo Shock]</ref> | ||
*Discs: 1 | *'''Region:''' 1 | ||
*Audio: Japanese ( | *'''Discs:''' 1 | ||
*Special | *'''Audio:''' Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1 and mono), English (Dolby Digital 5.1; Bang Zoom! dub), Spanish (Dolby Digital mono) | ||
*Notes: Out of print. A 2007 release | *'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by [[Koichi Kawakita]] and [[Shinji Higuchi]] (subtitled), "background music only" audio track, photo gallery, concept art, trailers | ||
'''Toho''' DVD ([[2007]])<ref name="Amazon2">[http://www.amazon.co.jp/ | *'''Notes:''' Out of print. A 2007 re-release in a Tokyo Shock box set called ''Toho Pack'' packaged it with the Tokyo Shock DVD releases of ''[[Varan (film)|Varan]]'' and ''[[Matango (film)|Matango]]''. The box set is also out of print. | ||
*Region: 2 | |||
*Audio: Japanese | '''BFI''' DVD (2006) | ||
*'''Region:''' 2 | |||
*'''Discs:''' 1 | |||
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0) | |||
*'''Subtitles:''' English | |||
*'''Special features:''' Theatrical trailer; booklet with biographies and notes by author Kim Newman; galleries of production designs, artwork, storyboards, posters, and stills. | |||
'''Toho''' DVD ([[2007]])<ref name="Amazon2">[http://www.amazon.co.jp/地球防衛軍-DVD-佐原健二/dp/B000JJR9DI/ Amazon.co.jp: 地球防衛軍 (2007) 東宝]</ref> | |||
*'''Region:''' 2 | |||
*'''Audio:''' Japanese | |||
'''Toho''' Blu-ray ([[2010]])<ref name="Blu-Ray">[http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Mysterians-Blu-ray/9622/ Blu-Ray.com: The Mysterians (2010) Toho]</ref> | '''Toho''' Blu-ray ([[2010]])<ref name="Blu-Ray">[http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Mysterians-Blu-ray/9622/ Blu-Ray.com: The Mysterians (2010) Toho]</ref> | ||
*Region: A/1 | *'''Region:''' A/1 | ||
*Audio: Japanese (LPCM Mono, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Remix) | *'''Audio:''' Japanese (LPCM Mono, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Remix) | ||
==Videos== | ==Videos== | ||
===Trailers=== | ===Trailers=== | ||
{{Videos| | {{Videos| | ||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">Cz2wBAaEjnk</youtube>|Japanese ''The Mysterians'' | {{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">Cz2wBAaEjnk</youtube>|Japanese theatrical trailer}} | ||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169"> | {{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">4pF_iTv3xps</youtube>|Japanese textless trailer}} | ||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">uwwILXclKPE</youtube>|Japanese newsflash trailer}} | |||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">RLCMdEv6qik</youtube>|U.S. theatrical trailer}} | |||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">10fNpqhZnn4</youtube>|U.S. reissue trailer}} | |||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">ZdOPEn8f9cA</youtube>|U.S. DVD trailer}} | |||
}} | |||
===Miscellaneous=== | |||
{{Videos| | |||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">0WQuNiQ5OqY</youtube>|U.S. ''The Mysterians'' opening and closing credits}} | |||
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">etVV9oxhvec</youtube>|French ''The Mysterians'' closing credits}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*''The Mysterians'' is notable for being the first [[tokusatsu]] filmed in TohoScope and | *''The Mysterians'' was theatrically released in Japan as a double feature with the film ''Sazae's Youth''.{{sfn|Motoyama|Matsunomoto|Asai|Suzuki|Kato|2012|p=24}} | ||
*Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer packaged ''The Mysterians'' together with ''[[wikipedia:First Man into Space|First Man into Space]]'' (1959) for both films' original U.S. theatrical release in 1959. For the film's first run in the New York City area in July of that year, it was booked at 96 theaters mostly alongside MGM's ''[[wikipedia:Watusi_(film)|Watusi]]'' (1959). | |||
*''The Mysterians'' is notable for being the first [[tokusatsu]] to be filmed in TohoScope and released in Perspecta Stereophonic Sound. | |||
**It is also known for its use of color, in particular its heavy use of day-for-night shots and bright alien costumes. | **It is also known for its use of color, in particular its heavy use of day-for-night shots and bright alien costumes. | ||
*''The Mysterians'' was the first Toho film to feature an alien race, as well as the first to feature a mecha. | *''The Mysterians'' was the first Toho film to feature an alien race, as well as the first to feature a mecha. | ||
*In an interview conducted just before his death, [[Ishiro Honda]] stated that ''The Mysterians'' was his favorite film that he directed.<ref>[http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/honda.htm Ishiro Honda Interview]</ref> | *In an interview conducted just before his death, [[Ishiro Honda]] stated that ''The Mysterians'' was his favorite film that he directed.<ref>[http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/honda.htm Ishiro Honda Interview]</ref> | ||
*In ''[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla]]'', special effects director [[Koichi Kawakita]] redesigned the giant robot [[Moguera]] into an anti-[[Godzilla]] mecha for the later film, called "[[M | *In ''[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla]]'', special effects director [[Koichi Kawakita]] redesigned the giant robot [[Moguera]] into an anti-[[Godzilla]] mecha for the later film, called "[[Moguera|MOGUERA]]" ('''M'''obile '''O'''perations '''G'''odzilla '''U'''niversal '''E'''xpert '''R'''obot '''A'''ero-type). | ||
*The [[Earth Defense Force]] is also featured in ''[[Godzilla | *The [[1994]] book ''[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works]]'' states that [[Moguera|MOGUERA]] was built using records of the original [[Moguera]] left behind from the [[Mysterian]]s' [[1957]] invasion of [[Earth]], suggesting that ''The Mysterians'' is canon to the [[Heisei era|Heisei Godzilla series]].{{sfn|Abe|2014|p=65}} | ||
*Moguera's inclusion was a last minute idea as producer [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] felt the film needed a monster. | *The [[Earth Defense Force]] is also featured in ''[[Godzilla Final Wars]]''. | ||
*Moguera was originally conceptualized as a living breathing monster, | *Moguera's inclusion was a last-minute idea, as producer [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] felt the film needed a monster.{{Citation needed}} | ||
**Moguera's original concept can still be seen in | *Moguera was originally conceptualized as a living, breathing monster; however, director [[Ishiro Honda]] reworked it into being a robot as a way to further demonstrate the technological power the Mysterians possessed. | ||
==External | **Moguera's original concept can still be seen in storyboard stills, which depicted him as a half-mole, half-reptilian monster. Though the design was never used, some key details were later used in the monster [[Baragon]] for the film ''[[Frankenstein vs. Baragon]]''. Most notable was the monster's burrowing ability, heat ray, and ridged back. | ||
*''The Mysterians'' was re-released on March 18, [[1978]] as part of the Spring [[Toho Champion Festival]], alongside ''Lupin III: The Venice Super Express'', ''New Star of the Giants: The Walk-On'', ''Player Caught in a Storm'', ''Nobody's Boy: Remi - My First Friend, Grace'', and ''Japanese Folklore Tales: Princess Kaguya''. This was the last Toho Champion Festival event. | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2bp8m5_the-mysterians-1957-dub-comparison_shortfilms Comparison of the film's two English dubs] | *[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2bp8m5_the-mysterians-1957-dub-comparison_shortfilms Comparison of the film's two English dubs] | ||
==Notes== | |||
{{Notelist}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist|40em}} | ||
{{Kaiju Movies}} | ===Bibliography=== | ||
{{Era|TOH|RKO|SHO|FIL| | *{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|edition=1st|last=Motoyama|first=Sho|last2=Matsunomoto|first2=Kazuhiro|last3=Asai|first3=Kazuyasu|last4=Suzuki|first4=Nobutaka|last5=Kato|first5=Masashi|publisher=[[villagebooks]]|date=28 September 2012|isbn=978-4864910132|ref={{harvid|Motoyama|Matsunomoto|Asai|Suzuki|Kato|2012}}}} | ||
*{{cite book|last1=Ryfle|first1=Steve|last2=Godziszewski|first2=Ed|title=[[Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa]]|date=3 October 2017|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|isbn=9780819577412|ref={{harvid|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017}}}} | |||
*{{cite magazine|title=Los Angeles|magazine=Boxoffice|date=11 May 1959|publisher=Boxoffice Media LP|ref={{harvid|''Boxoffice''|1959}}}} | |||
*{{cite book|last=Warren|first=Bill|title=Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties. Volume II: 1958-1962|date=1986|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|isbn=0786404795|ref={{harvid|Warren|1986}}}} | |||
*{{cite magazine|title=Carlos Montalbam Partner in AM. Dub.|magazine=Variety|date=2 July 1958|ref={{harvid|''Variety''|1958}}}} | |||
*{{cite magazine|title=Film Reviews: The Mysterians|magazine=Variety|date=27 May 1959|ref={{harvid|''Variety''|1959}}}} | |||
*{{cite magazine|title=BookinGuide: Review Digest and Alphabetical Index|magazine=Boxoffice|date=25 January 1960|publisher=Boxoffice Media LP|ref={{harvid|''Boxoffice''|1960}}}} | |||
*{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works]]|edition=Kindle|editor-last=Abe|editor-first=Katsu|date=23 May 2014|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4-09-101444-3}} | |||
{{The Mysterians}} | |||
{{Kaiju Movies|tab=Toho}} | |||
{{Comments}} | |||
{{Era|TOH|RKO|SHO|FIL|MOG}} | |||
[[Category:Films]] | [[Category:Films]] | ||
[[Category:Toho]] | [[Category:Toho]] | ||
Line 184: | Line 278: | ||
[[Category:Showa Films]] | [[Category:Showa Films]] | ||
[[Category:Films dubbed into English twice]] | [[Category:Films dubbed into English twice]] | ||
[[Category:Toho Champion Festival releases]] |
Latest revision as of 17:12, 5 January 2024
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- For the alien race, see Mysterians.
“
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Space weapons mobilize! A great battle between Earth forces and the gruesome mystery planet people, the Mysterians! (宇宙兵器総動員! 地球軍対
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„
|
— Japanese tagline |
“
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„
| |
— American tagline |
The Mysterians (地球防衛軍 is a Chikyū Bōeigun, lit. "The Earth Defense Force")1957 tokusatsu science fiction film directed by Ishiro Honda and written by Shigeru Kayama, Takeshi Kimura, and Jojiro Okami, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced by Toho, it was the company's first alien invasion film. It stars Kenji Sahara, Yumi Shirakawa, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Susumu Fujita, and Hisaya Ito. The film was released to Japanese theaters on December 28, 1957. An English-dubbed version of the film was prepared by RKO Radio Pictures and released to American theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on May 27, 1959.[3]
A raging fire suddenly consumes a forest near Mount Fuji, followed by a violent landslide that completely wipes out a village. Authorities investigating the incidents are suddenly attacked by a huge robot, which makes its way to another village where the JSDF finally stops it. The robot is revealed to be of extraterrestrial origin, just as a huge dome surfaces from the ground near Fuji. The occupants of the dome, calling themselves Mysterians, claim to come in peace and only desire a small tract of land and the ability to marry Earth women. However, humanity sees through the Mysterians' seemingly innocuous requests and realizes they are mobilizing a war machine capable of wiping out human civilization so they can conquer the Earth. All of the planet's militaries combine their efforts into the Earth Defense Force and begin a desperate war against the Mysterians. But can even the most advanced weapons of mankind stand up to the Mysterians' incredible technology? The Mysterians was followed by a loose sequel, Battle in Outer Space, in 1959.
Plot
The astrophysicist Ryoichi Shiraishi is acting peculiarly. He has called off his engagement to Hiroko Iwamoto and moved to a small village near Mount Fuji, estranging himself from his friends and colleagues. Prior to his seclusion, Shiraishi had been working on a series of fantastic reports for his mentor, Dr. Adachi, on a former planet he calls Mysteroid. According to this theory, the asteroid belt beyond Mars was once a singular planet. Adachi notes that the latest report surprisingly is incomplete at the time of its submission. Mystery follows Shiraishi to his new home: one summer night, a forest near the town erupts in a brilliant blaze in which the source of the radioactive flames is underground. Within days of this event, tragedy again strikes the village as a sudden and violent landslide annihilates the small town and seemingly all of its residents, including Ryoichi.
Joji Atsumi, a fellow scientist, joins the official investigation. Atsumi and several policemen are investigating radiation levels in the vicinity of the former village when a giant monster emerges from the side of a hill. The survivors of the attack retreat to alert the authorities, but by nightfall the monster has already reached the nearby city. The Defense Force is summoned to help evacuate the populace and defeat the kaiju. During this evacuation, Atsumi and Etsuko – his lover, and Ryoichi's sister – observe what appear to be flying saucers in the night sky, although the advance of the monster gives them little time to process this. Despite the monster's incredible destructive force, it is killed in the JSDF's destruction of the Koyama Bridge.
An analysis of the creature's remains determines it to be a robot, although the presence of unknown elements suggests its origin is extraterrestrial. After reevaluating the Mysteroid report, Adachi's observatory sights alien activity near the Moon, and after hearing Atsumi's testimony about the saucers over Fuji, the doctor publicly announces the findings. A team of scientists, including Atsumi and Adachi, investigate the region highlighted in Shiraishi's report. A large artificial dome rises from the ground and an alien voice greets and requests the presence of the scientific party. Inside the Dome, the aliens introduce themselves as Mysterians, the last survivors of the planet Mysteroid, annihilated in an atomic war hundreds of thousands of years ago. Fearing retaliation would lead to another nuclear war on Earth between man and the Mysterians, they launched their robot, Moguera, to demonstrate that man's technology was no match for their own. They request to immigrate to Earth and occupy the three kilometers surrounding their dome. Furthermore, the fallout from their wars has poisoned their bodies, resulting in 80% of them born with severe abnormalities. In the hopes of continuing their race, the Leader also appeals for the right to intermarry with human women. Five have already been chosen, he says, and Etsuko and Hiroko are among them.
The Ministry of Defense officially declines these requests, citing the Mysterians' hostile acts, and prepares countermeasures against the Dome. Police protection is arranged for Etsuko and Hiroko, and during a visit with Atsumi, the three are contacted by Ryoichi over the television. He declares that he had joined the Mysterians prior to his disappearance to study their sciences, and he asks Atsumi to have the impending attack cancelled, suggesting it will only lead to useless bloodshed. The attack ultimately proceeds on schedule, however, and the JSDF forces are predictably eliminated by the alien invaders. Development begins on a powerful electron gun to counter the Mysterians' own superweapons.
The Japanese government requests foreign aid and the United Nations is called to session to establish an international coalition against the threat. An assault on the Dome by the airships Alpha and Beta is undertaken to test rockets with warheads capable of producing 3,000 degrees of heat, although the weapon proves unsuccessful in combat, and the Dome's heat ray results in the destruction of the Beta. In retaliation to this attack, the Mysterians announce the occupation of a 120-kilometer radius and, privately, the Mysterian Leader tells Ryoichi that they will soon be capable of controlling all of Japan. The United States introduces a new technology, dubbed the Markalite F.A.H.P., which has the ability to reflect the Mysterian heat ray to its source. A decisive assault is planned using the new weapon in concert with the Alpha, with the reconstructed Beta No. 2 following with the completed electron gun.
Etsuko and Hiroko are kidnapped on the eve of battle and taken to the Dome. Incapable of convincing Dr. Adachi to stall the offensive to mount a rescue effort, Atsumi, having previously found an obscured underground tunnel to the Dome, descends into the alien base. The Alpha, shielded by the new technology, distracts the Mysterians while the Markalite Cannons are dropped via rocket into the battlefield. With the heat ray's destructive effects now mostly neutralized, the tide of the war turns in favor of humanity. In a final effort, the Mysterians induce a tidal wave to destroy one Markalite, while a second Moguera is sacrificed to destroy another cannon from below. Meanwhile, Atsumi is captured and silently led back to the cave where the Earth women are waiting. His captor reveals himself to be Ryoichi Shiraishi. Finding himself in disagreement with the Mysterians' plans for conquest, he allows his friends to escape with his final report while he heroically returns to the Dome to sabotage the invaders' efforts from the inside.
Now facing certain defeat, the Mysterian Leader orders a retreat to their orbiting space station. The Beta No. 2 arrives to finish the assault with the electron gun, and the Dome explodes, ending the alien occupation. The Beta No. 2 pursues the escaping saucers, destroying three, but the U.N. forces allow the rest to disappear into the cosmos. Dr. Adachi notes that humanity must not repeat the Mysterians' mistakes. The groundwork has been laid for a united world: now its nations must continue working together to achieve lasting peace.
Staff
- Main article: The Mysterians/Credits.
Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.
- Directed by Ishiro Honda
- Written by Takeshi Kimura
- Based on a story by Jojiro Okami
- Adapted by Shigeru Kayama
- Executive producer Tomoyuki Tanaka
- Music by Akira Ifukube
- Stock music by Hector Berlioz, Edvard Grieg
- Cinematography by Hajime Koizumi
- Edited by Koichi Iwashita
- Production design by Teruaki Abe
- First assistant director Koji Kajita
- Director of special effects Eiji Tsuburaya
- First assistant director of special effects Masakatsu Asai
Cast
Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.
- Kenji Sahara as Joji Atsumi
- Yumi Shirakawa as Etsuko Shiraishi
- Momoko Kochi as Hiroko Iwamoto
- Akihiko Hirata as Ryoichi Shiraishi
- Takashi Shimura as Dr. Kenjiro Adachi
- Susumu Fujita as General Morita
- Hisaya Ito as Captain Seki
- Yoshio Kosugi as Commander Sugimoto
- Fuyuki Murakami as Dr. Nobuo Kawanami
- Tetsu Nakamura as Dr. Koda
- Harold Conway as Dr. Immelman
- George Furness as Dr. Richardson
- Heihachiro Okawa as Director of Foreign Affairs
- Takeo Oikawa as Saburo Nozawa, TV commentator
- Toyohiko Sata as Miyamoto, police inspector
- Haruya Kato as villager
- Senkichi Omura as villager
- Yoshio Tsuchiya as Mysterian Leader
- Haruo Nakajima as Moguera / JSDF officer / soldier leaping from tank / Mysterian
- Katsumi Tezuka as Moguera / villager
American Dubbing Co. English dub
- George Gonneau as Jyoji Atsumi
- Anthony La Penna as General Morita / Director of Foreign Affairs
- Bret Morrison as Dr. Koda
- Earl Hammond as Police Chief Togawa
- Ralph Bell as Dr. Svenson
Bang Zoom! Entertainment English dub
- Alfred Thor as Commander Sugimoto
- Chris Kent as Yamamoto
- Dave Mallow as Mysterian Leader
- David Lelyveld as Joji Atsumi
- Doug Stone as Dr. Nobuo Kawanami
- Erik Blackthorn as Immerman
- Joey Capps as Commander
- John Smallberries as Miyamoto
- Lesli Todd as Etsuko Shiraishi
- Melodee M. Spevack as Etsuko's Mother
- Michael McConnohie as Dr. Kenjiro Adachi
- Michelle Ruff as Hiroko
- Sparky Thornton as Ryoichi Shiraishi
- Steve Kramer as General Morita
- William Frederick as Hanamoto
Appearances
Gallery
- Main article: The Mysterians/Gallery.
Soundtrack
- Main article: The Mysterians/Soundtrack.
Alternate titles
- The Earth Defense Force (literal Japanese title)
- The Barbarians Invade Earth (Los bárbaros invaden la Tierra; Argentina, Os Bárbaros Invadem a Terra; Brazil)
- Space Beasts (Weltraum-Bestien; Austria, West Germany)
- Prisoners of the Martians (Prisonnières des Martiens; France)
- Mysterians (French video title)
- Mars vs. Earth (Άρης εναντίον Γης Áris enantíon Gis; Greece)
- Invasion of the Moon (Εισβολή από τη Σελήνη Eisvolí apó tu Selíni; Greece)
- Flying Saucers Hit Earth (Ιπτάμενοι δίσκοι χτυπούν τη Γη Iptámenoi thíokoi chtipoón ti Gi; Greece)
- The Unknown (De ukjente; Norway)
- Earth is Under Attack (Jorden angripes; Norway, Jorden anfalles; Sweden)
- Mysterious Strangers (Tajemniczy przybysze; Poland)
- Space Monsters (Monstros do Espaço; Portugal)
- Phantom 7000 (Germany; re-issue title)
- The Extraterrestrials (Los extraterrestres; Spain)
- Mysteries of Space (Misterios del Espacio; Mexico)
Theatrical releases
- Japan - December 28, 1957; March 18, 1978 (Toho Champion Festival)
- United States - May 27, 1959
- Canada - May 29, 1959
- United Kingdom - 1959
- Brazil - October 12, 1959
- France - December 2, 1959
- Yugoslavia - 1959
- Sweden - February 1, 1960
- West Germany - February 5, 1960
- Portugal - July 29, 1960
- Belgium - 1960
- Norway - 1960
- Denmark - March 2, 1961
- Mexico - 1960s
- Italy - 1973 (re-release)
Foreign releases
A November 1, 1957, report stated that Southeast Asian distribution rights to The Mysterians were sold to Shaw & Sons of Hong Kong for the highest amount paid for a Japanese film of that time.[citation needed] Rights to other parts of the world were sold for a record price for a Japanese film to Topaz Film Corporation in February of 1958.[citation needed]
U.S. release
The Mysterians was prepared for American theatrical release by RKO Radio Pictures.[4] The English-dubbed version was recorded in New York by American Dubbing Co. under the supervision of Peter Riethof and Carlos Montalbán.[5] Notably, it was the first Toho science fiction film to receive an English version without extensive re-editing. Only small edits were undertaken, and the English dialogue remains faithful to the Japanese script.[6] Some character names were changed; Drs. Immelman and Richardson becoming Svenson and DeGracia, respectively.
By 1959, however, RKO's studio had closed and all yet-unreleased films were sold off to Hollywood's other studios. Thus, the American version of The Mysterians was released theatrically in the United States by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in May of 1959,[4] advertised as the "greatest science-fiction picture ever conceived by the mind of man." RKO's version was subsequently distributed in European territories by the J. Arthur Rank Organisation.
The American version of The Mysterians entered television syndication in 1981 through Gold Key Entertainment, as part of their Galaxy series of syndication packages. It was twice released on VHS in the United States, by VCI Home Video in 1983[7] and by Star Classics in 1989.[8] On January 25, 2005, Tokyo Shock released the full Japanese version of The Mysterians along with a new English dub by Bang Zoom! Entertainment on DVD in the U.S.[9] This release also included various special features ported over from Toho's Region 2 DVD, including an audio commentary by Koichi Kawakita and Shinji Higuchi.[10]
Reception
In the United States, despite its successful theatrical run, critical reception to The Mysterians was mixed. The New York Times criticized the film as a generic alien invasion film with "runny color" and poor acting. "Ron," who reviewed the film for Variety at a May 15 preview screening, praised the special effects, writing, "[the special effects] are realistically accomplished, proving the facility with which the Japanese filmmakers deal in miniatures," but ultimately thought all but young audiences would "laugh their heads off."[11] In a summary of trade reviews for the film, however, Boxoffice determined that overall reception was good, with only Parents' Magazine contributing a review rated "fair."[note 1]
Nevertheless, The Mysterians proved to be an influential and important entry in Toho's library of science fiction films, inspiring several more alien invasion and space-related films from director Ishiro Honda, including a sequel, Battle in Outer Space, and Gorath. Koichi Kawakita, later known as the special effects director for the Heisei Godzilla series and the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy, said he was thrilled when he saw this film while in junior high school and it inspired him to work in special effects. Fans of the tokusatsu genre often praise the film for its special effects, the introduction of the monster Moguera, and its score from Akira Ifukube.
Sequel
- Main article: Battle in Outer Space.
Toho produced a loose sequel to The Mysterians, Battle in Outer Space, two years later in 1959. The film is set in 1965 and features some returning characters from The Mysterians, most of whom are played by different actors. This film features a new invading alien race, the Natarls, who engage in a war with humanity in outer space.
Video releases
- Region: 2
- Audio: Japanese
Tokyo Shock DVD (2005)[13]
- Region: 1
- Discs: 1
- Audio: Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1 and mono), English (Dolby Digital 5.1; Bang Zoom! dub), Spanish (Dolby Digital mono)
- Special features: Audio commentary by Koichi Kawakita and Shinji Higuchi (subtitled), "background music only" audio track, photo gallery, concept art, trailers
- Notes: Out of print. A 2007 re-release in a Tokyo Shock box set called Toho Pack packaged it with the Tokyo Shock DVD releases of Varan and Matango. The box set is also out of print.
BFI DVD (2006)
- Region: 2
- Discs: 1
- Audio: Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
- Subtitles: English
- Special features: Theatrical trailer; booklet with biographies and notes by author Kim Newman; galleries of production designs, artwork, storyboards, posters, and stills.
- Region: 2
- Audio: Japanese
- Region: A/1
- Audio: Japanese (LPCM Mono, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Remix)
Videos
Trailers
|
Miscellaneous
|
Trivia
- The Mysterians was theatrically released in Japan as a double feature with the film Sazae's Youth.[16]
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer packaged The Mysterians together with First Man into Space (1959) for both films' original U.S. theatrical release in 1959. For the film's first run in the New York City area in July of that year, it was booked at 96 theaters mostly alongside MGM's Watusi (1959).
- The Mysterians is notable for being the first tokusatsu to be filmed in TohoScope and released in Perspecta Stereophonic Sound.
- It is also known for its use of color, in particular its heavy use of day-for-night shots and bright alien costumes.
- The Mysterians was the first Toho film to feature an alien race, as well as the first to feature a mecha.
- In an interview conducted just before his death, Ishiro Honda stated that The Mysterians was his favorite film that he directed.[17]
- In Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, special effects director Koichi Kawakita redesigned the giant robot Moguera into an anti-Godzilla mecha for the later film, called "MOGUERA" (Mobile Operations Godzilla Universal Expert Robot Aero-type).
- The 1994 book Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works states that MOGUERA was built using records of the original Moguera left behind from the Mysterians' 1957 invasion of Earth, suggesting that The Mysterians is canon to the Heisei Godzilla series.[18]
- The Earth Defense Force is also featured in Godzilla Final Wars.
- Moguera's inclusion was a last-minute idea, as producer Tomoyuki Tanaka felt the film needed a monster.[citation needed]
- Moguera was originally conceptualized as a living, breathing monster; however, director Ishiro Honda reworked it into being a robot as a way to further demonstrate the technological power the Mysterians possessed.
- Moguera's original concept can still be seen in storyboard stills, which depicted him as a half-mole, half-reptilian monster. Though the design was never used, some key details were later used in the monster Baragon for the film Frankenstein vs. Baragon. Most notable was the monster's burrowing ability, heat ray, and ridged back.
- The Mysterians was re-released on March 18, 1978 as part of the Spring Toho Champion Festival, alongside Lupin III: The Venice Super Express, New Star of the Giants: The Walk-On, Player Caught in a Storm, Nobody's Boy: Remi - My First Friend, Grace, and Japanese Folklore Tales: Princess Kaguya. This was the last Toho Champion Festival event.
External links
Notes
- ↑ This particular edition of the Boxoffice BookinGuide Review Digest collected and analyzed reviews from Boxoffice, The Film Daily, Harrison's Reports, The Hollywood Reporter, the New York Daily News, Parents' Magazine, and Variety. Boxoffice determined the reviews in most of these publications were rated "good," with Harrison's Reports and Parents' Magazine contributing "very good" and "fair" reviews, respectively."[12]
References
This is a list of references for The Mysterians. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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Bibliography
- Motoyama, Sho; Matsunomoto, Kazuhiro; Asai, Kazuyasu; Suzuki, Nobutaka; Kato, Masashi (28 September 2012). Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works (1st ed.). villagebooks. ISBN 978-4864910132.CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
- Ryfle, Steve; Godziszewski, Ed (3 October 2017). Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819577412.CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
- "Los Angeles". Boxoffice. Boxoffice Media LP. 11 May 1959.
- Warren, Bill (1986). Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties. Volume II: 1958-1962. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 0786404795.CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
- "Carlos Montalbam Partner in AM. Dub". Variety. 2 July 1958.
- "Film Reviews: The Mysterians". Variety. 27 May 1959.
- "BookinGuide: Review Digest and Alphabetical Index". Boxoffice. Boxoffice Media LP. 25 January 1960.
- Abe, Katsu, ed. (23 May 2014). Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla Super Complete Works (Kindle ed.). Shogakukan. ISBN 978-4-09-101444-3.
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