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{{Mtab
{{Tab
|soundtrack={{soundtracktab}}
|soundtrack =Godzilla Raids Again/Soundtrack
|credits    =Godzilla Raids Again/Credits
}}
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{{Nav
{{Nav
|type1      =Normal
|type1      =Fire
|type2      =Dark
|type2      =Dark
|type        =[[Godzilla (Franchise)|Godzilla]] [[:Category:Godzilla Films|Films]]
|type        ={{link|white|stroke=black|Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla''}} {{link|white|stroke=black|:Category:Godzilla Films|films}}
|name        =Godzilla Raids Again
|name        =''Godzilla Raids Again''
|prev        =Godzilla (1954 film)
|prev        =Godzilla (1954 film)
|prevname    =Godzilla (1954)
|prevname    =''Godzilla'' (1954)
|next        =King Kong vs. Godzilla
|next        =King Kong vs. Godzilla
|nextname    =King Kong vs. Godzilla
|nextname    =''King Kong vs. Godzilla''
}}
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{{Infopelicula
{{Infobox Film|ratings=yes
|type1      =Dark
|type1      =Dark
|type2      =Normal
|type2      =Fire
|header      ={{Toho}} {{Kaijup}} {{Film}}
|image      =Godzilla Raids Again Poster A.png
|image      =Godzilla Raids Again Poster A.png
|caption    =The Japanese poster for Godzilla Raids Again
|caption    =The Japanese poster for Godzilla Raids Again
|name        =''Godzilla Raids Again''
|dt          =''Godzilla Raids Again'' (1955)
|dt          =''Godzilla Raids Again'' (1955)
|name        =''Godzilla Raids Again''|titles=yes|alt-titles=yes
|jp-title    =''Godzilla's Counterattack'' (1955)
|us-title    =''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' (1959)
|producer    =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|producer    =[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|director    =[[Motoyoshi Oda]]
|director    =[[Motoyoshi Oda]]
|writer      =Shigeaki Hidaka,<br>Shigeru Kayama,<br>Takeo Murata
|writer      =Shigeaki Hidaka, [[Takeo Murata]];<br>[[Shigeru Kayama]] (story)
|composer    =[[Masaru Sato]]
|composer    =[[Masaru Sato]]
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>[[Warner Bros.]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|sfx        =[[Eiji Tsuburaya]]
|rating      =Not Rated
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}, [[Warner Bros.]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|budget      =¥???,???,???
|rating      =TV-14{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}, {{tt|PG|For mild violence and language}}{{sup|[[United Kingdom|UK]]}}
|gross      =¥170,000,000<ref name="Minimum Budget">[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ゴジラの逆襲#cite_note-7 建設費には1億数千万円（当時）かけられ、通常セットの2 - 3倍の規模があった]</ref>
|runtime    =82 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 22 minutes)}}<br />78 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 18 minutes)}}
|runtime    =82 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 22 minutes)}}<br />78 minutes{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<br />{{Small|(1 hour, 18 minutes)}}
|designs    =[[GyakushuGoji]], [[ShodaiAngira]]
|aspectratio =1.37:1{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>1.75:1{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
}}
}}
'''''Godzilla Raids Again''''' {{Nihongo|ゴジラの逆襲|Gojira no Gyakushū|lit. ''Godzilla's Counterattack''}} is a [[1955]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] produced by [[Toho]], and the second installment in the [[Godzilla (Franchise)|Godzilla series]] as well as the [[Showa era|Showa series]]. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters on April 24, 1955, and to [[United States|American]] theaters as ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' on May 21, [[1959]].
{{Quote|The monster [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] against the newly-appearing fierce dragon [[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]]! A tremendous, astonishing story that rages across the nation of [[Japan]]!|parenthetical=怪獣ゴジラ対新登場の暴龍アンギラス 日本全土狭しと暴れ廻る驚天動地の巨篇！|Japanese tagline}}
{{Quote|Godzilla challenged by new monster...Angilas!|International tagline}}
{{Quote|Nothing like it ever before!<br>The fantastic war of the giant fire monsters!|American theatrical release poster taglines}}
'''''Godzilla Raids Again''''' {{Nihongo|ゴジラの逆襲|Gojira no Gyakushū|lit. "''Godzilla's Counterattack''"}} is a [[1955]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] directed by [[Motoyoshi Oda]] and written by Shigeaki Hidaka and [[Takeo Murata]] from a story by [[Shigeru Kayama]], with special effects by [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]. Produced by [[Toho]], it is the second installment in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'' series]] as well as the [[Showa era|Showa series]]. It stars [[Hiroshi Koizumi]], Setsuko Wakayama, Minoru Chiaki, and [[Takashi Shimura]]. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters by Toho on April 24, 1955.<ref name="Godzilla.jp">[http://godzilla.jp/work/2/ ゴジラの逆襲｜ゴジラ　東宝公式サイト] (official [[Godzilla.jp]] page)</ref> As with the previous film, a heavily-altered English-language version was produced for release in North America, this time by Paul Schriebman. [[Warner Bros.]] released Screibman's version, '''''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''''', to American theaters on May 21, [[1959]].
 
The first of many sequels to the original ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'', ''Godzilla Raids Again'' introduced the series' staple of pitting [[Godzilla]] against another monster, in this case the giant ''Ankylosaurus'' known as [[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]]. The film follows pilots [[Shoichi Tsukioka]] and [[Koji Kobayashi]], who discover [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|a second Godzilla]] locked in battle with Anguirus and report their story to Japanese authorities. As Godzilla and Anguirus' battle threatens to decimate the pilots' beloved home of [[Osaka]], the two men will play a key role in the decisive battle to save Japan from Godzilla's wrath. A seven-year hiatus in the ''Godzilla'' series followed after this film, during which Toho produced other successful kaiju films such as ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' and ''[[Mothra]]'', before Toho ultimately revived it in [[1962]] with ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Plot==
==Plot==
Two pilots named Tsukioka and Kobayashi are hunting for schools of fish for a tuna cannery company in [[Osaka]]. Kobayashi's [[Cessna 170|plane]] malfunctions and is forced to land near [[Iwato Island]], an uninhabited strip of rocks formed by volcanic eruptions. Tsukioka then looks for Kobayashi and finds him safe, with only a wrist sprain. While talking, the two men hear some strange sounds and find two monsters fighting. Tsukioka immediately recognizes one of the monsters to be [[Godzilla]]. The two monsters then fall off a cliff, into the ocean.
Pilots [[Shoichi Tsukioka]] and [[Koji Kobayashi]] are scouting the ocean for schools of fish for Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd., located in [[Osaka]]. Suddenly, the engine for Kobayashi's [[Cessna 170|plane]] malfunctions and he makes an emergency landing on the remote [[Iwato Island]]. Hidemi Yajima, Tsukioka's lover and the daughter of the company's owner, informs him of the situation, and he immediately flies to the island to rescue his friend. Tsukioka sees Kobayashi's plane sitting atop the water near the island, with Kobayashi himself waving at Tsukioka's plane from the island. Tsukioka lands and reunites with Kobayashi, who has only suffered a sprained wrist in the incident. The two men hear strange noises coming from the cliffs on the island, then look to find two huge monsters battling on the island. Tsukioka immediately recognizes one of the monsters as [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]], but cannot identify the other. The grappling monsters tumble off the island into the ocean below, after which they both disappear.
 
Tsukioka and Kobayashi report to the authorities in Osaka, and find out that the other creature, [[Godzilla]] was fighting [[Anguirus]]. A group of scientists with the two pilots researched Anguirus in a book written by a Polish scientist. Anguirus and Godzilla lived around the same time millions of years ago. Anguirus hated hostile creatures, which explains the intense rivalry between Anguirus and Godzilla.
 
[[Kyohei Yamane|Dr. Yamane]], who experienced Godzilla's first attack, was also present at the meeting, and shows a film of Godzilla attacking Tokyo just one year before. He then explains that the monster Tsukioka and Kobayashi saw is another Godzilla. Yamane states that there is no way to kill Godzilla, and that [[Daisuke Serizawa|Dr. Serizawa]], the inventor of the weapon used to kill the previous [[Godzilla]], the [[Oxygen Destroyer]], had died and burned the formula. Yamane, though, suggests that the military should use flares on Godzilla to attract the monster away from the shore. Godzilla becomes angry when he sees lights because the hydrogen bomb's bright explosion had awakened him.
 
One day unexpectedly, Godzilla shows up on the [[Osaka Bay|shore]] of Osaka. Jets are sent to shoot flares from their planes to lead Godzilla away from the shore. Godzilla sees the flames, and, as Yamane predicted, starts to walk away.
 
Meanwhile, a prison truck transports dangerous criminals to another part of the country. All of the criminals, using body language, decided that this would be a great opportunity to escape from prison. The prisoners beat up the two policemen guarding the back door of the truck, and run away. A few of them find a gasoline truck, and put the petal to the metal. The truck crashes into an industrial building and starts a massive fire.


The fire attracts Godzilla to the shore of Osaka again. A few minutes later, Anguirus swims to shore and attacks Godzilla. The two creatures fight an intense battle, while destroying several buildings, including the tuna cannery that Tsukioka and Kobayashi work for. Godzilla finally bites Anguirus' neck, and throws him on a moat near [[Osaka Castle]]. Godzilla then fires his atomic ray, and burns Anguirus to death.
Upon returning to Osaka, Tsukioka and Kobayashi report their story to the authorities. A conference with the [[JSDF]], several scientists including [[Kyohei Yamane]], and the two pilots is held in Osaka, where they determine that the monster Godzilla was fighting is a creature called [[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]]. According to a report from a Polish scientist, Anguirus is a vicious dinosaur that lived during the same time as Godzilla, and harbored an intense hatred of violent creatures like Godzilla. Like Godzilla, Anguirus had been living deep underground only to be disturbed and awakened by recent nuclear testing. When asked how they can hope to stop Godzilla, Dr. Yamane shows footage recorded of the [[Godzilla (First Generation)|first Godzilla's]] raid on [[Tokyo]] the previous year, then regretfully states that there is no conceivable way to defeat this Godzilla. Yamane mentions that the first Godzilla was killed by the [[Oxygen Destroyer]], a chemical weapon invented by [[Daisuke Serizawa]], but unfortunately Serizawa had sacrificed his life to ensure that the weapon could never be used again. Yamane offers one piece of advice: Godzilla harbors a strange instinct towards lights, possibly due to their reminding him of the hydrogen bomb that awakened him. If a blackout is enforced and flares are dropped offshore, Yamane believes Godzilla can be lured away from the mainland.


Tsukioka and Kobayashi are transferred to a [[Hokkaido]] plant. During a company party, Tsukioka and Kobayashi are notified that Godzilla destroyed one of the company fishing boats. The military, and Tsukioka begin a massive search for Godzilla. Tsukioka spots Godzilla swimming to the shore of a small, icy island. He notifies the cannery, and Kobayashi takes off in his plane to switch shifts with Tsukioka.
When Godzilla unexpectedly surfaces in [[Osaka Bay]], a blackout is immediately enforced on the city as citizens are evacuated. [[Mitsubishi F-86F Sabre|Fighter jet]]s fly over the bay and begin dropping flares, which successfully lure Godzilla away from the city. Meanwhile, a group of prisoners stages an escape from the truck transporting them, beginning a lengthy chase with the police across the port area. After the prisoners hijack a fuel truck, two pursuing officers get into a car driven by Tsukioka and ask him to follow the truck. Eventually, the truck flies off a ramp and crashes into a refinery, starting a raging fire that quickly consumes the port area. The fire soon draws Godzilla's attention, and he approaches Osaka once again. Anguirus also comes ashore, drawn by the same flares meant to lure Godzilla away, and resumes his battle with Godzilla. The JSDF opens fire on the battling [[kaiju]], but their weapons have no effect as Godzilla and Anguirus begin tearing the city apart. Their battle destroys countless buildings, including the tuna cannery that Tsukioka and Kobayashi work for. Eventually, the two monsters reach [[Osaka Castle]], which is destroyed as Godzilla tackles Anguirus into it. Godzilla then bites down onto Anguirus' neck, causing him to bleed profusely before falling down dead into the moat below. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at his foe's carcass, burning it and leaving Godzilla the victor. He leaves Osaka ablaze and in ruins.


Kobayashi dives his plane towards Godzilla to distract him from walking back into the ocean. Tsukioka then transferred to the air force, travels on a jet with an old college friend. They drop bombs on Godzilla but are unsuccessful. Godzilla then wades towards shore. Koboyashi dives towards Godzilla again but Godzilla fires his atomic ray on Kobayashi's plane. The plane then crashes on an icy mountain, killing Kobayashi.
In the aftermath of the devastation, Tsukioka and Kobayashi find the cannery in ruins. Their boss informs Kobayashi that he will be transferred to the company's [[Hokkaido]] branch while he and his daughter clean up in Osaka. After he has been working in Hokkaido for some time, Kobayashi is informed that Mr. Tajima, Hidemi, and Tsukioka will be arriving in Hokkaido soon, and meets them one night at a company party. While Tsukioka and Kobayashi are catching up, they learn that one of the company's ships has just been sunk somewhere off the coast. Knowing that Godzilla must be responsible, Tsukioka gets into his plane and begins scouring the surrounding waters, despite Hidemi's protests. Tsukioka eventually finds Godzilla coming ashore on the remote icy [[Kamiko Island]], and alerts the JSDF. Kobayashi switches shifts with Tsukioka to keep an eye on Godzilla while he flies to a JSDF base. As the JSDF begins arriving on the island to attack Godzilla, Kobayashi notices the monster beginning to leave the island. He dive-bombs Godzilla with his plane, only to be blasted by his atomic breath and killed upon impact with the slopes of the island. As Tsukioka grieves for his friend, he notices an avalanche of ice falling from the area where Kobayashi's plane struck, giving him the idea to bury Godzilla alive under the ice. Tsukioka tells his plan to the JSDF, which begins an operation to blast the slopes of the island using fighter jets. After a few minutes, Godzilla is buried in snow and ice up to his waist, as the JASDF pilots return to base to refuel and reload.


Tsukioka grieves but then notices that the military can shoot missiles at the mountain, and bury Godzilla in an avalanche. The jets fire the missiles, and bury Godzilla in snow to his waist.
To prevent Godzilla from escaping the island, the JSDF lines the shore of the island with gasoline barrels and lights them on fire. Soon, the fighter jets return, with Tsukioka flying one. The jets open fire on the slopes again, and although some are shot down by Godzilla's atomic breath, Tsukioka and the JASDF are successful in completely burying Godzilla alive under the ice. With the menace finally halted, Tsukioka solemnly looks to the sky and says, "Kobayashi, we buried Godzilla for you."


The jets return to base to reload, and Tsukioka is authorized to fly in his own jet. The jets return to the icy island, and shoot missiles at the mountain, burying Godzilla to his neck. Tsukioka then shoots his missiles burying Godzilla completely. Tsukioka looks to the sky, and says, "Kobayashi, we buried Godzilla for you."
==Staff==
==Staff==
{{Main|Godzilla Raids Again/Credits}}
{{Staffs
{{Staffs
|Directed by=[[Motoyoshi Oda]]
|Directed by|[[Motoyoshi Oda]]
|Written by=Shigeaki Hidaka, Shigeru Kayama, Takeo Murata
|Written by|Shigeaki Hidaka, [[Takeo Murata]]
|Produced by=[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Based on a story by|[[Shigeru Kayama]]
|Music by=[[Masaru Sato]]
|Executive producer|[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Cinematography by=Seiichi Endo
|Music by|[[Masaru Sato]]
|Edited by=Kazuji Taira  
|Cinematography by|Seiichi Endo
|Production Design by=Teruaki Abe, Takeo Kita, Akira Watanabe
|Edited by|[[Kazuji Taira]]
|Special Effects by=[[Eiji Tsuburaya]]
|Production design by|Teruaki Abe, [[Takeo Kita]]
|First assistant director|Eiji Iwashiro
|Director of special effects|[[Eiji Tsuburaya]]
|First assistant director of special effects|[[Masakatsu Asai]] (uncredited)
}}
===''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''===
{{Staffs|notice=no
|Directed by=Hugo Grimaldi
|Produced by=Paul Schreibman
|Associate producer=Edmund Goldman
|Edited by=Hugo Grimaldi
|Music edited by|Rex Lipton
}}
}}
==Cast==
==Cast==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{Cast
{{Cast
|[[Hiroshi Koizumi]]|[[Shoichi Tsukioka]]
|[[Hiroshi Koizumi]]|[[Shoichi Tsukioka]], Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. pilot K105
|Minoru Chiaki|[[Kojikawa Kobayashi]]
|Setsuko Wakayama|Hidemi Yamaji, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. radio operator
|Setsuko Wakayama|Hidemi Yamaji
|Minoru Chiaki|[[Koji Kobayashi]], Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. pilot K104
|[[Takashi Shimura]]|Doctor [[Kyohei Yamane]]
|[[Takashi Shimura]]|Dr. [[Kyohei Yamane]], paleontologist
|Masao Shimizu|Zoologist Tadokoro
|Masao Shimizu|Dr. Tadokoro, zoologist
|Sonosuke Sawamura|Hokkaido Branch Manager Shingo Shibeki
|Seijiro Onda|Captain Terasawa, commander of [[Osaka]]'s [[JSDF|Self Defense Forces]]
|Seijiro Onda|Commander of Osaka's SDF Terasawa
|Sonosuke Sawamura|Shingo Shibaki, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. [[Hokkaido]] branch manager
|Yoshio Tsuchiya|Member of Osaka's SDF Tajima
|[[Yoshio Tsuchiya]]|Tajima, JSDF member
|Minosuke Yamada|Chief of Civil Defense
|Mayuri Mokusho|Yasuko Inoue, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. radio operator
|Yukio Kasama|President of Fishery Koehi Wamaji
|Minosuke Yamada|Osaka SDF captain
|Mayuri Mokusho|Radio Operator Yasuko Inouye
|Yukio Kasama|Kohei Yamaji, President of Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd.
|Ren Yamamoto|Commander of Landing Craft
|Senkichi Omura|convict fleeing to subway
|Takeo Oikawa|Osaka Chief of Police
|Ren Yamamoto|Ikeda, captain of [[Landing Craft|landing craft]] platoon
|Shin Otomo|Convict Leader
|Shin Otomo|convict fleeing to tanker truck
|Senkichi Omura|Convict
|Hirotoshi Tsuchiya|Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. manager
|Shoichi Hirose|Convict
|Takeo Oikawa|Osaka police inspector
|Junpei Natsuki|Convict
|Sokichi Maki|convict fleeing to subway
|[[Shoichi Hirose]]|convict fleeing to tanker truck
|Shin Yoshida|convict
|Junpei Natsuki|convict fleeing to tanker truck / Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch associate
|Teruko Mita|Yayoi Restaurant proprietress
|[[Katsumi Tezuka]]|[[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]]
|[[Haruo Nakajima]]|[[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]]
|Miyoko Hoshino|cabaret singer
{{col-2}}
|Masaaki Tachibana|driver of prisoner transport / Osaka emergency announcer (voice, uncredited)
|Toku Ihara|policeman in front passenger seat of prisoner transport (uncredited)
|Tadao Nakamaru|policeman monitoring convicts / convict (uncredited)
|Yoichi Matsue|convict (uncredited)
|Yasumasa Onishi, Ryusuke Saijo, Keiji Sakakida|Osaka SDF officers (uncredited)
|Takuzo Kumagai|captain of the ''Hokkai Maru'' (uncredited)
|[[Koji Uruki]], Rinsaku Ogata, [[Haruya Sakamoto]]|''Hokkai Maru'' sailors (uncredited)
|Ryoji Shimizu|''Hokkai Maru'' wireless communications operator (uncredited)
|Kazuo Imai, Yukio Kawamata, Akira Kitchoji, Akira Sera, Mitsuo Matsumoto, Akijiro Hikari|Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. employees (uncredited)
|Ken Echigo, Takuya Yuki|Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. eployees / JSDF members (uncredited)
|Shizuko Azuma|Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. employee / Yayoi Restaurant waitress (uncredited)
|Koji Uno|Uno, employee who reports (uncredited)
|[[Tokio Okawa]]|''Hokkai Maru'' sailor / Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch employee (uncredited)
|Ichiro Tate|TV announcer (voice) / Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch associate (uncredited)
|Junnosuke Suda|Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch visitor (uncredited)
|Masahide Matsushita|task force member (uncredited)
|Tadashi Okabe, Koichi Sato, Toshitsugu Suzuki, Eisuke Nakanishi|guardsmen (uncredited)
|Kamayuki Tsubono|Osaka Maritime Police officer (uncredited)
|[[Masaki Shinohara]]|Osaka Maritime Police officer / countermeasures headquarters member (uncredited)
|Hideo Shibuya, Shigemi Sunagawa, Yoichiro Kitagawa|cabaret guests (uncredited)
|Koen Okumura|fleeing person in crowd (uncredited)
}}
}}
{{col-end}}
===''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''===
{{Cast|notice=no
|[[wikipedia:Keye Luke|Keye Luke]]|[[Shoichi Tsukioka]] / policeman
|Aya Oyama|Hidemi Yamaji
|[[wikipedia:Marvin Miller (actor)|Marvin Miller]]|[[Koji Kobayashi]] / Dr. [[Kyohei Yamane]] / prologue narrator
|[[wikipedia:Paul Frees|Paul Frees]]|Kohei Yamaji / Captain Terasawa / convict
|[[wikipedia:George Takei|George Takei]]|Ikeda / Osaka SDF dispatcher
|Jane Chang|Yasuko Inoue
|James Yagi|Osaka SDF captain
}}
===German ''Godzilla Returns'' dub===
{{Cast|notice=no
|Rainer Brandt|[[Shoichi Tsukioka]]
|Gerd Duwner|[[Koji Kobayashi]]
|Margot Leonard|Hidemi Yamaji
|Konrad Wagner|Dr. [[Kyohei Yamane]]
|Wolf Martini|Captain Terasawa
|Heinz Petruo|Tajima
|Alfred Haase|Dr. Tadokoro
|Erich Poremski|Kohei Yamaji
|Lutz Moik|Shingo Shibaki
}}
==Appearances==
==Appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Monsters===
===Monsters===
*[[Godzilla]] ([[GyakushuGoji]])
*[[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] ([[GyakushuGoji]])
*[[Anguirus]] ([[ShodaiAngira]])
**[[Godzilla (First Generation)|First Generation Godzilla]] ([[ShodaiGoji|stock footage]])
*[[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]]
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Boiling earth pool creature|Boiling earth pool creature]] (<!--stock footage, -->American version)
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Bulbous-eyed frog creature|Bulbous-eyed frog creature]] (<!--stock footage, -->American version)
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Sauropods|Sauropods]] (<!--stock footage, -->American version)
*''[[List of minor Toho monsters#Dimetrodons|Dimetrodon]]'' (stock footage, American version)
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Giant Gila monster|Giant Gila monster]] (<!--stock footage, -->American version)
*''[[List of minor Toho monsters#Ceratosaurus|Ceratosaurus]]'' (stock footage, American version)
===Miscellaneous===
*''[[Stegosaurus]]'' (book picture, briefly shown before ''Triceratops'')
*''[[Triceratops]]'' (book picture)
*''[[wikipedia:Anchisaurus|Anchisaurus]]''-like dinosaur (book picture)
*''[[wikipedia:|Megalosaurus]]''-like theropod (book picture)
*[[wikipedia:Hadrosauridae|Hadrosaurid]]s (several book pictures)
*An animal with a sail (probably ''Dimetrodon'') (book picture)
*[[wikipedia:Ankylosauridae|Ankylosaurid]] (book picture)
*''[[wikipedia:Corythosaurus|Corythosaurus]]'' (book picture)
*''[[wikipedia:Lambeosaurus|Lambeosaurus]]'' (book picture)
*''[[wikipedia:Parasaurolophus|Parasaurolophus]]'' (book picture)
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Weapons, Vehicles, and Races===
 
===Weapons, vehicles, and races===
*[[Cessna 170]]
*[[Cessna 170]]
*[[Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick]] (Saro Lerwick)
*[[wikipedia:Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick|Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick]]
*''Asakaze''-class destroyer
*[[24 Twin Rocket Car]]
*[[24 Twin Rocket Car]]
*[[M24 Chaffee Tank]]
*[[M24 Chaffee Tank]]
*[[F-86 Sabre]]
*[[Mitsubishi F-86 Sabre]]
*[[Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star]]
*[[Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star]]
*[[Landing Craft]]
*[[Landing Craft]]
*[[Oxygen Destroyer]] (mentioned)
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


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{{Main|Godzilla Raids Again/Gallery}}
{{Main|Godzilla Raids Again/Gallery}}
==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Godzilla Raids Again (Soundtrack)}}
{{Main|Godzilla Raids Again/Soundtrack}}
==Alternate Titles==
==Alternate titles==
*'''''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''''' ([[United States]]; ''Gigantis, el Monstruo de Fuego''; Mexico)
*'''''Godzilla's Counterattack''''' (literal Japanese title)
*'''''Godzilla's Counterattack''''' (Literal [[Japan]]ese)
*'''''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''''' ([[United States]]; United Kingdom; ''Gigantis, el Monstruo de Fuego''; Mexico)
*'''''The King of the Monsters''''' (''El Rey de los Monstruos''; Spain)
*'''''The Return of Godzilla''''' (''Le Retour de Godzilla''; France; French Belgium; ''De Terugkeer van Godzilla''; Dutch Belgium)
*'''''The Return of Godzilla''''' (''Le Retour de Godzilla''; France; ''De Terugkeer van Godzilla''; Belgium)
*'''''Godzilla Returns''''' (''Godzilla kehrt zurück''; West Germany)
*'''''Godzilla Returns''''' (''Godzilla kehrt zurück''; Germany)
*'''''The King of the Monsters''''' (''Il Re dei Mostri''; Italy; ''El Rey de los Monstruos''; Spain)
*'''''The King of the Monsters''''' (''Il Re de Mostri''; Italy)
*'''''Godzilla: The Sea Monster''''' (''Godzila: Morsko čudovište''; Yugoslavia)
==Theatrical Releases==
*'''''The Fire Monster''''' (''O Monstro de Fogo''; Brazil; ''El monstruo de fuego''; Argentina)
*'''''Godzilla Counterattacks''''' (''Godzilla contraataca''; Spanish video title; ''Godzilla Contra-Ataca''; Brazilian Blu-ray title)
*'''''Godzilla Strikes Again''''' (''Ο Γκοτζίλα Ξαναχτυπά'', ''O Godzilla xanahtypa''; Greece)
*'''''Godzilla Attacks Again''''' (''Годзилла снова нападает'', ''Godzilla snova napadayet''; Soviet Union/Russia; ''Ґодзілла знову нападає'', ''Godzilla znovu napadaye'', Ukraine)
*'''''The Beast That Ruined Cities''''' (''Şehirleri Mahveden Canavar''; Turkey)
==Theatrical releases==
{{All Posters}}
{{All Posters}}
*[[Japan]] - April 24, [[1955]]{{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_Poster_A.png|caption=Japanese poster|link=Godzilla_Raids_Again}}
*[[Japan]] - April 24, [[1955]]{{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_Poster_A.png|caption=Japanese poster|link=Godzilla_Raids_Again}}
*[[United States]] - May 21, [[1959]]{{sup|{{tt|GtFM|Gigantis, the Fire Monster}}}}{{Popup-poster|file=Gigantis_The_Fire_Monster_Poster_A.png|caption=Gigantis, the Fire Monster poster|link=Godzilla_Raids_Again}}, 1961{{sup|{{tt|GRA|Godzilla Raids Again}}}}
*[[United States]] - May 21, [[1959]]{{Popup-poster|file=Gigantis_The_Fire_Monster_Poster_A.png|caption=American poster|link=Godzilla_Raids_Again}}
*Italy - 1955 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_Italian_Poster_A.png|caption=Italian poster|link=Godzilla_Raids Again}}
*Canada - June 19, 1959
*Spain - 1955 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_Spanish_Poster.png|caption=Spanish poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*France - October 1, 1957
*France - 1957 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_French_Poster.png|caption=French poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Italy - 1957 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_Italian_Poster_A.png|caption=Italian poster|link=Godzilla_Raids Again}}
*Germany - 1958 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_German_Poster_A.jpg|caption=German poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Belgium - 1957 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_French_Poster.png|caption=Belgian poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Mexico {{Popup-poster|file=Gigantis,_El_Monstruo_De_Fuego.jpg|caption=Mexican poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*West Germany - February 24, 1958 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_German_Poster_A.jpg|caption=German poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
==[[United States|U.S.]] Release==
*Spain - 1958 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_Spanish_Poster.png|caption=Spanish poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
[[File:Gigantis The Fire Monster Poster A.png|thumb|right|200px|American ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' poster]]
*United Kingdom - April 1960<ref name="Unknown Culture">[http://www.smguariento.com/monsters-from-an-unknown-culture-godzilla-and-friends-in-britain-1957-1980-by-sim-branaghan-part-1/ Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 by Sim Branaghan - Part 1 - SMGuariento.com]</ref>
Following the successful U.S. release of ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)#U.S. Release|Godzilla, King of the Monsters!]]'', Toho sold the American distribution rights to ''Godzilla Raids Again'' to Harry Rybnick and Edward Barison. Their idea was to create a new film for AB-PT Pictures Corporation using the special effects sequences from ''Godzilla Raids Again''. Ib Melchior and Edwin Watson drafted a screenplay, titled ''[[The Volcano Monsters]]'', in which Godzilla and Anguirus, now respectively referred to as a Tyrannosaurus and an Ankylosaurus, are discovered in a volcanic cave. Toho shipped [[GyakushuGoji|Godzilla]] and [[ShodaiAngira|Anguirus suits]] to Hollywood to allow the producers to film new footage of the monsters. Ultimately, AB-PT Pictures Corp. closed down in [[1957]] before production started on ''The Volcano Monsters''. The monster suits were eventually lost.
*South Korea - May 17, 1960
*Mexico - June 30, 1960{{Popup-poster|file=Gigantis,_El_Monstruo_De_Fuego.jpg|caption=Mexican poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Australia - September 1, 1960
*Yugoslavia {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Raids_Again_is_slavic.png|caption=Yugoslav poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Brazil - January 1961
 
==Foreign releases==
===[[United States|U.S.]] release===
[[File:Gigantis The Fire Monster Poster A.png|thumb|right|200px|U.S. ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' poster]]
Following the sleeper hit of their localization of ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)#U.S. release|Godzilla]]'', producers Edward Barison, Harry Rybnick, and Richard Kaye acquired the U.S. theatrical rights to ''Godzilla Raids Again''. Their idea was to create a new U.S. film for AB-PT Pictures Corporation featuring the special effects and crowd sequences from ''Godzilla Raids Again'' complemented by new effects footage. Ib Melchior and Edwin Watson drafted a screenplay for the project in May 1957 entitled ''[[The Volcano Monsters]]'', in which [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] and [[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]] - now a giant, female ''[[Tyrannosaurus rex]]'' and a giant ''[[wikipedia:Ankylosaurus|Ankylosaurus]]'', respectively - are discovered in a volcanic cave and later ravage [[San Francisco]]. In July 1957, despite Toho having shipped new Godzilla and Anguirus suits to Hollywood, AB-PT Pictures Corp. removed the film from their 1957 slate for unknown reasons and apparently moved it to the 1958 slate. The project then plunged into a year-long development hell. A further revision of the screenplay was made, dated February 1958, and the project continued to be promoted in fan magazines as an upcoming release by Melchior and Watson's agent, [[wikipedia:Forrest J Ackerman|Forrest J Ackerman]]. It is unknown why ''The Volcano Monsters'' went unmade, how advanced the project's development had reached while active, when in 1958 that it was scrapped, what happened to the monster suits, or whether the group involved in the project was a consortium that included producer Paul Schreibman, who would go on to prepare a separate localization that would also disguise the film's origin as a sequel to ''Godzilla''.


In 1958, the film's U.S. distribution rights were acquired by producer Paul Schreibman, who hired Hugo Grimaldi to re-write and re-edit the film, re-titling it ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''. Aside from changing Godzilla's name to "Gigantis," Grimaldi's version changes the origins of the monsters: "Gigantis" and Anguirus are described as two related species of prehistoric fire monsters. The sound effects of the monsters were altered to reflect this, with several shots of Godzilla augmented with Anguirus' roar. Additionally, nearly all of [[Masaru Sato]]'s original score was replaced with library music, most of which was composed by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter for other science fiction films. Stock footage from other science fiction films featuring dinosaurs was also added into the film. For years, it was believed that the reason for these changes was that Warner Bros. did not have the rights to Godzilla's name. However, Paul Schreibman said that he changed Godzilla's name to "Gigantis" to give the audience the impression that they were seeing a new monster, believing an original film would sell better than a sequel. He has since claimed he came to regret that decision
At an undetermined point in 1958, Schreibman had finished a localization entitled ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''. He hired Hugo Grimaldi to re-write and re-edit the film. Aside from changing Godzilla's name to "Gigantis," Grimaldi's version alters the origins of the monsters: "Gigantis" and Anguirus (spelled "Angurus" in [[Warner Bros.]]' advertising materials) are described as two related species of prehistoric fire monsters. The sound effects of the monsters were changed to reflect this, with several shots of Godzilla augmented with Anguirus' roar. For years, it was believed that the reason for these changes was that Warner Bros. did not have the rights to Godzilla's name. However, Paul Schreibman said that he changed Godzilla's name to "Gigantis" to give the audience the impression that they were seeing a new monster, believing that an original film would sell better than a sequel. He later claimed that he came to regret that decision. Additionally, nearly all of [[Masaru Sato]]'s original score was replaced with library music, most of which was composed by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter for other science fiction or genre films, namely ''[[wikipedia:Kronos (1957)|Kronos]]'' (1957), ''[[wikipedia:She Devil (1957 film)|She Devil]]'' (1957) and ''[[wikipedia:The Deerslayer (1957 film)|The Deerslayer]]'' (1957). Herschel Burke Gilbert's score for ''[[wikipedia:Project Moonbase|Project Moonbase]]'' (1953) was also utilized. Significant quantities of stock footage, some of it from the propaganda film ''[[wikipedia:Our Enemy — The Japanese|Our Enemy — The Japanese]]'' (1943) and the adventure film ''[[wikipedia:Unknown Island|Unknown Island]]'' (1948), were also added into the film, most prominently in a new prologue and an expanded reel of film shown by Dr. [[Kyohei Yamane]] as he explains how "Gigantis" and Anguirus came into being.


The English dubbing, also supervised and directed by Grimaldi, was recorded at Ryder Sound Service, Inc. in Hollywood. The voice cast featured veteran performers Keye Luke, Marvin Miller, and Paul Frees, as well as a very young George Takei, of ''Star Trek'' fame. Luke was cast as Tsukioka, whose character now narrated the events of the film. In addition to voicing Kobayashi, Miller narrated a pre-credit stock footage montage detailing man's scientific progress.
The English dubbing, also supervised and directed by Grimaldi, was recorded at Ryder Sound Service, Inc. in Hollywood. The voice cast featured veteran performers Keye Luke, Marvin Miller, and Paul Frees, as well as a very young George Takei of ''Star Trek'' fame. Luke was cast as Tsukioka, whose character now narrated the events of the film. In addition to voicing Kobayashi, Miller narrated a pre-credits stock footage montage detailing the perils of man's scientific progress.


After completing the Americanization of the film, Paul Schreibman sold the theatrical rights to [[Warner Bros.]], which released the film on May 21, 1959. ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' was presented on a double bill with ''Teenagers from Outer Space'', which Warner also purchased from Schreibman.
After completing the Americanization of the film by the end of 1958, Schrebman had sold the theatrical rights to [[Warner Bros.]] by January 1959, and the film was released in May 1959. A dialogue transcript submitted for censorship on April 29, 1959, to the Motion Picture Division of the State Education Department of New York features numerous lines excised or shortened in the available version, as well as several other editorial differences, including the placement of the opening credits at the very start of the film. Audible cuts can be heard at points corresponding to some of the dialog edits. The provenance of this transcribed print is unknown. As of 2024, no original 35mm release print has been examined that would confirm what indeed was seen and heard during the original theatrical release.<ref name="Dialogue">{{cite book|title="Gigantis the Fire Monster" (Dialogue Transcript)|date=April 2, 1959 |publisher= Warner Bros.}}</ref> ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' was presented as a double feature with ''[[wikipedia:Teenagers from Outer Space (film)|Teenagers from Outer Space]]'', which Warner also purchased from Schreibman.
 
''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' did not enter standard television syndication after its theatrical run. The film remained obscure in the U.S. until its reappearance on cable TV in 1984, followed by syndicated airings and a VHS release via [[Anchor Bay|Video Treasures]] in 1989. A video-generated title card restoring Toho's English title, ''Godzilla Raids Again'', accompanied the film in syndication in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This version was released on DVD alongside the Japanese version by [[Classic Media]] on November 7, 2006. The North American distribution rights to ''Godzilla Raids Again'' are currently held by Janus Films, who released it along with all of the other [[Showa era|Showa]] ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' films in [[The Criterion Collection]]'s Blu-ray box set titled ''Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975'' in [[2019]].
 
===United Kingdom release===
[[File:GigantisthefiremonsterBritishposter.png|thumb|UK ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' poster|200x200px]]
Eros Films brought ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' to UK theaters in April 1960 as part of a double feature with ''The Nights of Lucretia Borgia''.<ref name="MFAUC">[http://www.smguariento.com/monsters-from-an-unknown-culture-godzilla-and-friends-in-britain-1957-1980-by-sim-branaghan-part-1/ Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 by Sim Branaghan – Part 1]</ref> It received an A rating from the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC), preventing children under 11 from seeing it unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. [[Sony]] released ''Godzilla Raids Again'' on Blu-ray in 2019 in the UK as part of the [[The Criterion Collection]]'s ''Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975'' box set. The BBFC rated the Japanese version of the film PG for "mild violence, language."<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/godzilla-raids-again-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0ynzc3mda|title=Godzilla Raids Again|work=BBFC|accessdate=1 December 2023}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
 
===West German release===
''Godzilla Raids Again'' was released in West Germany on February 24, 1958 by Donau Film.<ref name="OFDb Odessa James">{{cite web|url=https://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=3448&vid=8921|title=OFDb - : Donau Film (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)|author=Odessa James|date=7 February 2001|work=OFDb|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref> Less than a minute of footage was cut.<ref name="Schnittberichte azog">{{cite web|url=https://www.schnittberichte.com/schnittbericht.php?ID=5062564|title=Godzilla kehrt zurück - Schnittbericht: Deutsche Kinofassung (Schnittberichte.com)|author=azog|date=19 November 2009|work=Schnittberichte|accessdate=27 December 2022}}</ref> Among other mistakes, the opening credits erroneously give directorial credit to production designer Teruaki Abe instead of [[Motoyoshi Oda]]. The German dubbing, recorded in Berlin by Cinelux Film GmbH, remains almost completely faithful to the original Japanese dialogue. Presumed lost for many decades, elements for the theatrical version eventually resurfaced and were used for a DVD release in contemporary Germany by Splendid Film on September 25, 2009,<ref name="OFDb andiwei">{{cite web|url=https://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=3448&vid=280629|title=OFDb - DVD: Splendid (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)|author=andiwei|date=25 September 2009|work=OFDb|accessdate=18 February 2023}}</ref> with the dubbing later included on Splendid's Blu-Ray, released on March 28, 2014.<ref name="OFDb Yackmouth">{{cite web|url=https://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=3448&vid=378287|title=OFDb - Blu-ray Disc: Splendid (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)|author=Yackmouth|date=29 March 2014|work=OFDb|accessdate=18 February 2023}}</ref> Marketing Film released the film on DVD with a newly recorded dub on July 29, 2004,<ref name="OFDb alfi333">{{cite web|url=https://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=3448&vid=103201|title=OFDb - DVD: Marketing Film (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)|author=alfi333|date=12 August 2004|work=OFDb|accessdate=18 February 2023}}</ref>, but after the rediscovery of the theatrical dub, it has not resurfaced on home video releases since.


On November 7, 2006, Classic Media released the Japanese and American versions of ''Godzilla Raids Again'' on DVD. Prior to this release, the film had been unavailable on North American home video since Video Treasures' VHS release in 1989. A notable difference between the original ''Gigantis'' and the U.S. version released by Classic Media is the fact the ''Gigantis'' title card has been replaced with a newer ''Godzilla Raids Again'' title card, by request of Toho.
==Box Office==
The film sold approximately 8,340,000 tickets in Japan, making it the third most-attended Godzilla film in Japan. It grossed around 1,700,000 yen, or $1,670,080. It was Toho's fourth-highest earner in 1955, and tenth among Japanese films overall.<ref name="Galbraith">{{cite book|title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |author=Stuart Galbraith IV |date=2008 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page= |isbn=}}</ref>
==Reception==
==Reception==
The film was generally poorly received by fans and critics, who criticized it as a rushed sequel. It is, however, notable for being the first Godzilla film to introduce the formula of Godzilla battling other monsters, which would become a staple of the franchise.
{{stub|section}}
Although ''Godzilla Raids Again'' performed well at the box office, the film was generally poorly received by fans and critics, who criticized it as a rushed sequel. It is, however, notable for being the first ''Godzilla'' film to introduce the formula of Godzilla battling other monsters, which would become a staple of the [[Godzilla (franchise)|franchise]]. In a December [[1955]] essay entitled ''Godzilla Confessions'', [[Shigeru Kayama]], writer of the scenarios for the film and its predecessor, felt [[Godzilla]] had evolved from an allegorical symbol of Atomic Age fears into a character with "manga-like appeal", which audiences, especially youths, could laugh at or even relate to, and expressed the film and [[Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again|its novelization]] would thusly be his last involvement with the franchise. He admitted his own budding affection towards the monster.<ref name="Angles">{{cite book|title= [[Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again]]|edition=1st|last= Angles|first= Jeffrey|date= 3 October 2023|publisher= University of Minnesota Press|pages= 205-207|isbn=1517915236}}</ref>


The poor response to the film briefly put the series on hiatus until [[1962]]'s ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''.
==Video releases==
==DVD and Blu-ray Releases==
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2001)
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2001)
*Region: 2
*'''Region:''' 2
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Mono)
*Subtitles: Japanese
*'''Subtitles:''' Japanese
*Special Features: Audio commentary by [[Sadamasa Arikawa]] and Tomioka Motoyoshi, isolated score, massive image gallery (several thousand)
*'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by [[Sadamasa Arikawa]] and Tomioka Motoyoshi, isolated score, massive image gallery (several thousand)
'''Classic Media''' DVD (2006)<ref name="Classic Media">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MV8AJU Amazon.com: GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1959)]</ref>
 
*Region: 1
'''[[Classic Media]]''' DVD (2006)<ref name="Classic Media">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MV8AJU Amazon.com: GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1959)]</ref>
*Discs: 1
*'''Region:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono) and English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Subtitles: English
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Mono) and English (2.0 Mono)
*Special Features: Audio commentary by Steve Ryfle (for the American version), The Art of Suit Acting featurette (14 minutes), poster slideshow
*'''Subtitles:''' English
*Notes: The American version of the film has a video-generated ''Godzilla Raids Again'' title card in place of the original ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' title card.
*'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by Steve Ryfle (for the American version), The Art of Suit Acting featurette (14 minutes), poster slideshow
*'''Notes:''' The American version of the film has a video-generated ''Godzilla Raids Again'' title card in place of the original ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' title card. Reissued in 2012; both releases are out of print.
 
'''Splendid''' DVD (2009)<ref name="SpaceHunterM">[http://www.tohokingdom.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19782 If it's possible, I'd like to submit a DVD review]</ref>
'''Splendid''' DVD (2009)<ref name="SpaceHunterM">[http://www.tohokingdom.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19782 If it's possible, I'd like to submit a DVD review]</ref>
*Region: 2
*'''Region:''' 2
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: German (1.0 Mono), Japanese (1.0 mono)
*'''Audio:''' German (1.0 Mono), Japanese (1.0 mono)
*Subtitles: German
*'''Subtitles:''' German
*Special Features: Trailers
*'''Special features:''' Trailers
 
'''Toho''' Blu-ray (2014)<ref name="Disc Love">[http://exploderbutton.com/exploder/disc-love-godzilla-raids-again-%E3%82%B4%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A9%E3%81%AE%E9%80%86%E8%A5%B2-2014-toho-blu-ray/ Disc Love: Godzilla Raids Again 「ゴジラの逆襲」 (2014 Toho Blu-ray)]</ref>
'''Toho''' Blu-ray (2014)<ref name="Disc Love">[http://exploderbutton.com/exploder/disc-love-godzilla-raids-again-%E3%82%B4%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A9%E3%81%AE%E9%80%86%E8%A5%B2-2014-toho-blu-ray/ Disc Love: Godzilla Raids Again 「ゴジラの逆襲」 (2014 Toho Blu-ray)]</ref>
*Region: A/1
*'''Region:''' A/1
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (LPCM 2.0)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (LPCM 2.0)
*Subtitles: Japanese  
*'''Subtitles:''' Japanese  
*Special Features: Audio commentary by [[Sadamasa Arikawa]] and Tomioka Motoyoshi, isolated score, dispatch trailer, radio ads for ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954) and ''Godzilla Raids Again'', image gallery (12 minutes), "Godzilla’s Creation! Yoshio Suzuki" featurette (20 minutes)
*'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by [[Sadamasa Arikawa]] and Tomioka Motoyoshi, isolated score, dispatch trailer, radio ads for ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' (1954) and ''Godzilla Raids Again'', image gallery (12 minutes), "Godzilla’s Creation! Yoshio Suzuki" featurette (20 minutes)
 
'''Splendid''' Blu-ray (2014)
'''Splendid''' Blu-ray (2014)
*Region: B/2
*'''Region:''' B/2
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0), German (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0), German (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0)
*Subtitles: German, Dutch
*'''Subtitles:''' German, Dutch
*Special Features: None
*'''Special features:''' None


'''[[The Criterion Collection]]''' Blu-ray (2019) [''Godzilla: The [[Showa era|Showa-Era]] Films, 1954–1975'']
*'''Region:''' A/1 or B/2
*'''Discs:''' 8
*'''Audio:''' Japanese
*'''Subtitles:''' English
*'''Special features:''' All bonus features on Criterion's ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' Blu-ray, 1990 [[Ishiro Honda]] interview by [[Yoshimitsu Banno]], interview with director [[wikipedia:Alex Cox|Alex Cox]], interviews with actors [[Bin Furuya]] and [[Tsugutoshi Komada]], 2011 interview with critic Tadao Sato, ''[[Toho Unused Special Effects Complete Collection]]'', trailers, illustrated hardcover book with an essay by Steve Ryfle and liner notes on each film by Ed Godziszewski<ref name="CC">[https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/2648-godzilla-the-showa-era-films-1954-1975 Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975 | The Criterion Collection]</ref>
*'''Notes:''' Uses a new English subtitle translation by Kerim Yasar. [[Sony]] distributed a Region B/2 version of the set in the United Kingdom.
==Videos==
==Videos==
===Trailers===
===Trailers===
{{Videos|
{{Videos|
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">y1K3p9buv9E</youtube>|''Godzilla Raids Again'' Japanese newsflash trailer (audio lost)}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">4b179urNFlQ</youtube>|Japanese trailer<br>(fragment from the ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' trailer)}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">GZZJoDs3FiU</youtube>|''Godzilla Raids Again'' segment from ''[[Rodan (film)|Rodan]]'' trailer}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">y1K3p9buv9E</youtube>|Japanese teaser trailer<br>(audio lost)}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">6qxGQAwL79w</youtube>|''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' U.S. theatrical trailer}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">2M0MBI5wyEg</youtube>|U.S. ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''<br>teaser trailer}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">p01xnU-_jy8</youtube>|''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' TV spots (reconstructed)}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">6qxGQAwL79w</youtube>|U.S. ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''<br>theatrical trailer}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">p01xnU-_jy8</youtube>|U.S. ''Gigantis, the Fire Monster''<br>TV spots (reconstructed)}}
}}
 
===Miscellaneous===
{{Videos|
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">GxUg1XKtHqs</youtube>|U.S. theatrical opening credits}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">0BWebXYliWA</youtube>|West German theatrical visuals}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">8CkEyeao6mY</youtube>|Italian theatrical visuals}}
{{Vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">Y4ZEy5XXJOI</youtube>|Joe Dante's commentary on the<br>''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' trailer}}
}}
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' was the first [[Godzilla (Franchise)|Godzilla]] film to feature two monsters.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' was the first ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' film to feature multiple monsters.
*The Godzilla suit used for this film, the [[GyakushuGoji]], was slimmer and lighter than the previous [[ShodaiGoji]] suit used in [[Godzilla (1954 film)|1954]], putting less pressure on the actor, and making every fight scene with Anguirus easier.
*The [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] suit used for this film, the [[GyakushuGoji]], was slimmer and lighter than the previous [[ShodaiGoji]] suit used in the [[Godzilla (1954 film)|first film]], putting less pressure on actor [[Haruo Nakajima]] and thus making every fight scene with [[Anguirus (First Generation)|Anguirus]] easier.
*The [[JSDF]]'s tactic of enforcing a blackout in Osaka to protect it from Godzilla is the same tactic used by Japan during World War II to protect cities from Allied bombing raids.
*The [[JSDF]]'s tactic of enforcing a blackout in [[Osaka]] to protect it from Godzilla is the same tactic used by Japan at the end of World War II to protect cities from Allied bombing raids.
*In the American version of ''Godzilla Raids Again'', Godzilla's roar was altered to sound like Anguirus' roar, due to this version establishing that "Gigantis" and Anguirus are related. His normal roar is still heard in many instances, though, and the roars are interchanged erratically.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' is the only Godzilla film to date where Godzilla's dorsal fins consistently do not glow prior to him releasing his atomic breath. Later films would only occasionally not show the discharge, often by mistake.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' is the only Godzilla film to date where Godzilla's {{scutes}} consistently do not glow prior to him releasing his atomic breath. Later films would only occasionally not show the discharge, often by mistake.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' is one of only two [[Toho]] ''Godzilla'' films in which the JSDF defeats the monster at the end with existing technology rather than a fictional superweapon, along with ''[[The Return of Godzilla]]''.
*This is the first film in which Godzilla is defeated by the JSDF However, ''Godzilla Raids Again'' is the only [[Showa era]] film wherein the JSDF wins out over Godzilla with a coordinated tactical strike, and with no aid from another monster or some sophisticated form of technology.
*There are no scenes in this film which feature Godzilla using his atomic breath from the full suit-view. Every time he does, the hand-operated puppet head is used. This is due to the fact that the suit's mouth could not open wide enough.
*There are no scenes which feature Godzilla using his heat ray from the full suit-view. Every time he does, the hand-operated puppet head is used. This is due to the fact that the suit's mouth could not open wide enough to show Godzilla firing his atomic breath.
*''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' was distributed in the United States by [[Warner Bros.]], who would go on to distribute the films of [[Legendary Pictures]]' [[Monsterverse]] 55 years later.
*''Gigantis, the Fire Monster'' was distributed in the United States by Warner Bros., who would distribute [[Legendary Pictures]]' ''[[Godzilla (2014 film)|Godzilla]]'' and its sequels over 55 years later.
*After this film's release, Toho took a seven-year hiatus from making ''Godzilla'' films. However, during these seven years they continued to make [[kaiju]] films, and introduced two of the other most recognizable monsters from the [[Showa era]]: [[Rodan]] and [[Mothra]].
*After this film's release, [[Toho]] took a seven-year break from making Godzilla films. However, during these seven years they continued to make [[kaiju]] films, and introduced some of the most recognizable monsters other than Godzilla from the Showa era, including [[Rodan]] and [[Mothra]].
*In the [[Godzilla (2014 video game)/Kaiju Guide|Kaiju Guide]] for the [[Godzilla (2014 video game)|PlayStation 3 and 4 ''Godzilla'' video game]], Anguirus' bio states that he once battled a monster called "Gigantis," who has since been banished from this plane of existence, an inside joke referencing the American version of ''Godzilla Raids Again''.
*In the [[Godzilla (2014 video game)/Kaiju Guide|Kaiju Guide]] for [[Godzilla (2014 video game)|Bandai Namco's ''Godzilla'']], Anguirus' bio states that he once battled a monster called "Gigantis," who has since been banished from this plane of existence, an inside joke relating to the American version of ''Godzilla Raids Again''.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' is the last ''Godzilla'' film to be filmed entirely in black-and-white and in the Academy aspect ratio.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' is the last Godzilla film to be filmed in black and white and the academy aspect ratio.
*Two shots of newspapers place the events of ''Godzilla Raids Again'' in January of [[1955]], possibly stretching into February.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' is the second and final Godzilla film to have been produced in the 1950's.
*In the scene at the Yayoi Restaurant in Hokkaido, the song that the fishermen are singing is the Hokkaido sea shanty [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%8Dran_Bushi "Sōran Bushi" ("ソーラン節")].
*Several other kaiju films since ''Godzilla Raids Again'' have used similar Japanese titles, including ''[[King Kong Escapes]]'' {{Nihongo|キングコングの逆襲|Kingu Kongu '''no Gyakushū'''}}, ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' {{Nihongo|メカゴジラの逆襲|Mekagojira '''no Gyakushū'''}}, and ''[[Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit]]'' {{Nihongo|ギララの逆襲 洞爺湖サミット危機一発|Girara '''no Gyakushū''': Tōyako Samitto Kiki Ippatsu}}. Additionally, the [[2023]] [[:Category:Animation|animated]] [[:Category:Television Series|series]] ''[[Chibi Godzilla Raids Again]]'' takes its name directly from ''Godzilla Raids Again''.
*''Godzilla Raids Again'' was the first of four ''Godzilla'' films to have been scored by [[Masaru Sato]].


==External Links==
==External links==
*[http://www.shoutfactorytv.com/godzilla-raids-again/5580baad69702d0714a27e00 Legal streaming link (ShoutFactoryTV, English dub)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040803043532/http://www.dalekempire.com/GodzillaAmericaII.html List of changes in the American version]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040803043532/http://www.dalekempire.com/GodzillaAmericaII.html List of changes in the American version]
*[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x251ewg_godzilla-raids-again-german-theatrical-credits_shortfilms German theatrical credits]
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Kaiju Movies}}
{{Godzilla Raids Again}}
{{Kaiju Movies|tab=Godzilla}}
{{Comments}}
{{Era|TOH|WB|SHO|FIL|GOD|ANG}}
{{Era|TOH|WB|SHO|FIL|GOD|ANG}}
[[es:Godzilla Raids Again]]
[[es:Godzilla Raids Again]]
[[de:Godzilla kehrt zurück]]
[[de:Godzilla kehrt zurück]]
<seo metakeywords="{{PAGENAME}}, {{PAGENAME}} wikizilla, godzilla raids again 1955, gigantis the fire monster, gigantis, {{PAGENAME}} wiki, godzilla, gra, godzilla 1955"/>
[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Showa Series]]
[[Category:Showa Series]]

Latest revision as of 15:13, 18 April 2024

Article.png
Image gallery for Godzilla Raids Again
Credits for Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla Raids Again soundtrack


Godzilla films
← Godzilla (1954)
Godzilla Raids Again
King Kong vs. Godzilla →
Godzilla Raids Again
The Japanese poster for Godzilla Raids Again
Alternate titles
Flagicon Japan.png Godzilla's Counterattack (1955)
Flagicon United States.png Gigantis, the Fire Monster (1959)
See alternate titles
Directed by Motoyoshi Oda
Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka
Written by Shigeaki Hidaka, Takeo Murata;
Shigeru Kayama (story)
Music by Masaru Sato
Special
effects by 		Eiji Tsuburaya
Distributor TohoJP, Warner Bros.US
Rating TV-14US, PGUK
Running time 82 minutesJP
(1 hour, 22 minutes)
78 minutesUS
(1 hour, 18 minutes)
Aspect ratio 1.37:1JP
1.75:1US
Rate this film!
3.34
(120 votes)

“
The monster Godzilla against the newly-appearing fierce dragon Anguirus! A tremendous, astonishing story that rages across the nation of Japan! (怪獣ゴジラ対新登場の暴龍アンギラス 日本全土狭しと暴れ廻る驚天動地の巨篇！)
„ 

— Japanese tagline
“
Godzilla challenged by new monster...Angilas!
„ 

— International tagline
“
Nothing like it ever before!
The fantastic war of the giant fire monsters!
„ 

— American theatrical release poster taglines

Godzilla Raids Again (ゴジラの逆襲,   Gojira no Gyakushū, lit. "Godzilla's Counterattack") is a 1955 tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Motoyoshi Oda and written by Shigeaki Hidaka and Takeo Murata from a story by Shigeru Kayama, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Produced by Toho, it is the second installment in the Godzilla series as well as the Showa series. It stars Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama, Minoru Chiaki, and Takashi Shimura. The film was released to Japanese theaters by Toho on April 24, 1955.[1] As with the previous film, a heavily-altered English-language version was produced for release in North America, this time by Paul Schriebman. Warner Bros. released Screibman's version, Gigantis, the Fire Monster, to American theaters on May 21, 1959.

The first of many sequels to the original Godzilla, Godzilla Raids Again introduced the series' staple of pitting Godzilla against another monster, in this case the giant Ankylosaurus known as Anguirus. The film follows pilots Shoichi Tsukioka and Koji Kobayashi, who discover a second Godzilla locked in battle with Anguirus and report their story to Japanese authorities. As Godzilla and Anguirus' battle threatens to decimate the pilots' beloved home of Osaka, the two men will play a key role in the decisive battle to save Japan from Godzilla's wrath. A seven-year hiatus in the Godzilla series followed after this film, during which Toho produced other successful kaiju films such as Rodan and Mothra, before Toho ultimately revived it in 1962 with King Kong vs. Godzilla.

Plot

Pilots Shoichi Tsukioka and Koji Kobayashi are scouting the ocean for schools of fish for Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd., located in Osaka. Suddenly, the engine for Kobayashi's plane malfunctions and he makes an emergency landing on the remote Iwato Island. Hidemi Yajima, Tsukioka's lover and the daughter of the company's owner, informs him of the situation, and he immediately flies to the island to rescue his friend. Tsukioka sees Kobayashi's plane sitting atop the water near the island, with Kobayashi himself waving at Tsukioka's plane from the island. Tsukioka lands and reunites with Kobayashi, who has only suffered a sprained wrist in the incident. The two men hear strange noises coming from the cliffs on the island, then look to find two huge monsters battling on the island. Tsukioka immediately recognizes one of the monsters as Godzilla, but cannot identify the other. The grappling monsters tumble off the island into the ocean below, after which they both disappear.

Upon returning to Osaka, Tsukioka and Kobayashi report their story to the authorities. A conference with the JSDF, several scientists including Kyohei Yamane, and the two pilots is held in Osaka, where they determine that the monster Godzilla was fighting is a creature called Anguirus. According to a report from a Polish scientist, Anguirus is a vicious dinosaur that lived during the same time as Godzilla, and harbored an intense hatred of violent creatures like Godzilla. Like Godzilla, Anguirus had been living deep underground only to be disturbed and awakened by recent nuclear testing. When asked how they can hope to stop Godzilla, Dr. Yamane shows footage recorded of the first Godzilla's raid on Tokyo the previous year, then regretfully states that there is no conceivable way to defeat this Godzilla. Yamane mentions that the first Godzilla was killed by the Oxygen Destroyer, a chemical weapon invented by Daisuke Serizawa, but unfortunately Serizawa had sacrificed his life to ensure that the weapon could never be used again. Yamane offers one piece of advice: Godzilla harbors a strange instinct towards lights, possibly due to their reminding him of the hydrogen bomb that awakened him. If a blackout is enforced and flares are dropped offshore, Yamane believes Godzilla can be lured away from the mainland.

When Godzilla unexpectedly surfaces in Osaka Bay, a blackout is immediately enforced on the city as citizens are evacuated. Fighter jets fly over the bay and begin dropping flares, which successfully lure Godzilla away from the city. Meanwhile, a group of prisoners stages an escape from the truck transporting them, beginning a lengthy chase with the police across the port area. After the prisoners hijack a fuel truck, two pursuing officers get into a car driven by Tsukioka and ask him to follow the truck. Eventually, the truck flies off a ramp and crashes into a refinery, starting a raging fire that quickly consumes the port area. The fire soon draws Godzilla's attention, and he approaches Osaka once again. Anguirus also comes ashore, drawn by the same flares meant to lure Godzilla away, and resumes his battle with Godzilla. The JSDF opens fire on the battling kaiju, but their weapons have no effect as Godzilla and Anguirus begin tearing the city apart. Their battle destroys countless buildings, including the tuna cannery that Tsukioka and Kobayashi work for. Eventually, the two monsters reach Osaka Castle, which is destroyed as Godzilla tackles Anguirus into it. Godzilla then bites down onto Anguirus' neck, causing him to bleed profusely before falling down dead into the moat below. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at his foe's carcass, burning it and leaving Godzilla the victor. He leaves Osaka ablaze and in ruins.

In the aftermath of the devastation, Tsukioka and Kobayashi find the cannery in ruins. Their boss informs Kobayashi that he will be transferred to the company's Hokkaido branch while he and his daughter clean up in Osaka. After he has been working in Hokkaido for some time, Kobayashi is informed that Mr. Tajima, Hidemi, and Tsukioka will be arriving in Hokkaido soon, and meets them one night at a company party. While Tsukioka and Kobayashi are catching up, they learn that one of the company's ships has just been sunk somewhere off the coast. Knowing that Godzilla must be responsible, Tsukioka gets into his plane and begins scouring the surrounding waters, despite Hidemi's protests. Tsukioka eventually finds Godzilla coming ashore on the remote icy Kamiko Island, and alerts the JSDF. Kobayashi switches shifts with Tsukioka to keep an eye on Godzilla while he flies to a JSDF base. As the JSDF begins arriving on the island to attack Godzilla, Kobayashi notices the monster beginning to leave the island. He dive-bombs Godzilla with his plane, only to be blasted by his atomic breath and killed upon impact with the slopes of the island. As Tsukioka grieves for his friend, he notices an avalanche of ice falling from the area where Kobayashi's plane struck, giving him the idea to bury Godzilla alive under the ice. Tsukioka tells his plan to the JSDF, which begins an operation to blast the slopes of the island using fighter jets. After a few minutes, Godzilla is buried in snow and ice up to his waist, as the JASDF pilots return to base to refuel and reload.

To prevent Godzilla from escaping the island, the JSDF lines the shore of the island with gasoline barrels and lights them on fire. Soon, the fighter jets return, with Tsukioka flying one. The jets open fire on the slopes again, and although some are shot down by Godzilla's atomic breath, Tsukioka and the JASDF are successful in completely burying Godzilla alive under the ice. With the menace finally halted, Tsukioka solemnly looks to the sky and says, "Kobayashi, we buried Godzilla for you."

Staff

Main article: Godzilla Raids Again/Credits.

Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.

Gigantis, the Fire Monster

  • Directed by   Hugo Grimaldi
  • Produced by   Paul Schreibman
  • Associate producer   Edmund Goldman
  • Edited by   Hugo Grimaldi
  • Music edited by   Rex Lipton

Cast

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

  • Hiroshi Koizumi   as   Shoichi Tsukioka, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. pilot K105
  • Setsuko Wakayama   as   Hidemi Yamaji, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. radio operator
  • Minoru Chiaki   as   Koji Kobayashi, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. pilot K104
  • Takashi Shimura   as   Dr. Kyohei Yamane, paleontologist
  • Masao Shimizu   as   Dr. Tadokoro, zoologist
  • Seijiro Onda   as   Captain Terasawa, commander of Osaka's Self Defense Forces
  • Sonosuke Sawamura   as   Shingo Shibaki, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch manager
  • Yoshio Tsuchiya   as   Tajima, JSDF member
  • Mayuri Mokusho   as   Yasuko Inoue, Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. radio operator
  • Minosuke Yamada   as   Osaka SDF captain
  • Yukio Kasama   as   Kohei Yamaji, President of Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd.
  • Senkichi Omura   as   convict fleeing to subway
  • Ren Yamamoto   as   Ikeda, captain of landing craft platoon
  • Shin Otomo   as   convict fleeing to tanker truck
  • Hirotoshi Tsuchiya   as   Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. manager
  • Takeo Oikawa   as   Osaka police inspector
  • Sokichi Maki   as   convict fleeing to subway
  • Shoichi Hirose   as   convict fleeing to tanker truck
  • Shin Yoshida   as   convict
  • Junpei Natsuki   as   convict fleeing to tanker truck / Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch associate
  • Teruko Mita   as   Yayoi Restaurant proprietress
  • Katsumi Tezuka   as   Anguirus
  • Haruo Nakajima   as   Godzilla
  • Miyoko Hoshino   as   cabaret singer
  • Masaaki Tachibana   as   driver of prisoner transport / Osaka emergency announcer (voice, uncredited)
  • Toku Ihara   as   policeman in front passenger seat of prisoner transport (uncredited)
  • Tadao Nakamaru   as   policeman monitoring convicts / convict (uncredited)
  • Yoichi Matsue   as   convict (uncredited)
  • Yasumasa Onishi, Ryusuke Saijo, Keiji Sakakida   as   Osaka SDF officers (uncredited)
  • Takuzo Kumagai   as   captain of the Hokkai Maru (uncredited)
  • Koji Uruki, Rinsaku Ogata, Haruya Sakamoto   as   Hokkai Maru sailors (uncredited)
  • Ryoji Shimizu   as   Hokkai Maru wireless communications operator (uncredited)
  • Kazuo Imai, Yukio Kawamata, Akira Kitchoji, Akira Sera, Mitsuo Matsumoto, Akijiro Hikari   as   Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. employees (uncredited)
  • Ken Echigo, Takuya Yuki   as   Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. eployees / JSDF members (uncredited)
  • Shizuko Azuma   as   Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. employee / Yayoi Restaurant waitress (uncredited)
  • Koji Uno   as   Uno, employee who reports (uncredited)
  • Tokio Okawa   as   Hokkai Maru sailor / Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch employee (uncredited)
  • Ichiro Tate   as   TV announcer (voice) / Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch associate (uncredited)
  • Junnosuke Suda   as   Marine Fisheries Co., Ltd. Hokkaido branch visitor (uncredited)
  • Masahide Matsushita   as   task force member (uncredited)
  • Tadashi Okabe, Koichi Sato, Toshitsugu Suzuki, Eisuke Nakanishi   as   guardsmen (uncredited)
  • Kamayuki Tsubono   as   Osaka Maritime Police officer (uncredited)
  • Masaki Shinohara   as   Osaka Maritime Police officer / countermeasures headquarters member (uncredited)
  • Hideo Shibuya, Shigemi Sunagawa, Yoichiro Kitagawa   as   cabaret guests (uncredited)
  • Koen Okumura   as   fleeing person in crowd (uncredited)

Gigantis, the Fire Monster


German Godzilla Returns dub

  • Rainer Brandt   as   Shoichi Tsukioka
  • Gerd Duwner   as   Koji Kobayashi
  • Margot Leonard   as   Hidemi Yamaji
  • Konrad Wagner   as   Dr. Kyohei Yamane
  • Wolf Martini   as   Captain Terasawa
  • Heinz Petruo   as   Tajima
  • Alfred Haase   as   Dr. Tadokoro
  • Erich Poremski   as   Kohei Yamaji
  • Lutz Moik   as   Shingo Shibaki


Appearances

Monsters

Miscellaneous


Weapons, vehicles, and races


Gallery

Main article: Godzilla Raids Again/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: Godzilla Raids Again/Soundtrack.

Alternate titles

  • Godzilla's Counterattack (literal Japanese title)
  • Gigantis, the Fire Monster (United States; United Kingdom; Gigantis, el Monstruo de Fuego; Mexico)
  • The Return of Godzilla (Le Retour de Godzilla; France; French Belgium; De Terugkeer van Godzilla; Dutch Belgium)
  • Godzilla Returns (Godzilla kehrt zurück; West Germany)
  • The King of the Monsters (Il Re dei Mostri; Italy; El Rey de los Monstruos; Spain)
  • Godzilla: The Sea Monster (Godzila: Morsko čudovište; Yugoslavia)
  • The Fire Monster (O Monstro de Fogo; Brazil; El monstruo de fuego; Argentina)
  • Godzilla Counterattacks (Godzilla contraataca; Spanish video title; Godzilla Contra-Ataca; Brazilian Blu-ray title)
  • Godzilla Strikes Again (Ο Γκοτζίλα Ξαναχτυπά, O Godzilla xanahtypa; Greece)
  • Godzilla Attacks Again (Годзилла снова нападает, Godzilla snova napadayet; Soviet Union/Russia; Ґодзілла знову нападає, Godzilla znovu napadaye, Ukraine)
  • The Beast That Ruined Cities (Şehirleri Mahveden Canavar; Turkey)

Theatrical releases

View all posters for the film here.

  • Japan - April 24, 1955  [view poster]Japanese poster
  • United States - May 21, 1959  [view poster]American poster
  • Canada - June 19, 1959
  • France - October 1, 1957
  • Italy - 1957   [view poster]Italian poster
  • Belgium - 1957   [view poster]Belgian poster
  • West Germany - February 24, 1958   [view poster]German poster
  • Spain - 1958   [view poster]Spanish poster
  • United Kingdom - April 1960[2]
  • South Korea - May 17, 1960
  • Mexico - June 30, 1960  [view poster]Mexican poster
  • Australia - September 1, 1960
  • Yugoslavia   [view poster]Yugoslav poster
  • Brazil - January 1961

Foreign releases

U.S. release

U.S. Gigantis, the Fire Monster poster

Following the sleeper hit of their localization of Godzilla, producers Edward Barison, Harry Rybnick, and Richard Kaye acquired the U.S. theatrical rights to Godzilla Raids Again. Their idea was to create a new U.S. film for AB-PT Pictures Corporation featuring the special effects and crowd sequences from Godzilla Raids Again complemented by new effects footage. Ib Melchior and Edwin Watson drafted a screenplay for the project in May 1957 entitled The Volcano Monsters, in which Godzilla and Anguirus - now a giant, female Tyrannosaurus rex and a giant Ankylosaurus, respectively - are discovered in a volcanic cave and later ravage San Francisco. In July 1957, despite Toho having shipped new Godzilla and Anguirus suits to Hollywood, AB-PT Pictures Corp. removed the film from their 1957 slate for unknown reasons and apparently moved it to the 1958 slate. The project then plunged into a year-long development hell. A further revision of the screenplay was made, dated February 1958, and the project continued to be promoted in fan magazines as an upcoming release by Melchior and Watson's agent, Forrest J Ackerman. It is unknown why The Volcano Monsters went unmade, how advanced the project's development had reached while active, when in 1958 that it was scrapped, what happened to the monster suits, or whether the group involved in the project was a consortium that included producer Paul Schreibman, who would go on to prepare a separate localization that would also disguise the film's origin as a sequel to Godzilla.

At an undetermined point in 1958, Schreibman had finished a localization entitled Gigantis, the Fire Monster. He hired Hugo Grimaldi to re-write and re-edit the film. Aside from changing Godzilla's name to "Gigantis," Grimaldi's version alters the origins of the monsters: "Gigantis" and Anguirus (spelled "Angurus" in Warner Bros.' advertising materials) are described as two related species of prehistoric fire monsters. The sound effects of the monsters were changed to reflect this, with several shots of Godzilla augmented with Anguirus' roar. For years, it was believed that the reason for these changes was that Warner Bros. did not have the rights to Godzilla's name. However, Paul Schreibman said that he changed Godzilla's name to "Gigantis" to give the audience the impression that they were seeing a new monster, believing that an original film would sell better than a sequel. He later claimed that he came to regret that decision. Additionally, nearly all of Masaru Sato's original score was replaced with library music, most of which was composed by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter for other science fiction or genre films, namely Kronos (1957), She Devil (1957) and The Deerslayer (1957). Herschel Burke Gilbert's score for Project Moonbase (1953) was also utilized. Significant quantities of stock footage, some of it from the propaganda film Our Enemy — The Japanese (1943) and the adventure film Unknown Island (1948), were also added into the film, most prominently in a new prologue and an expanded reel of film shown by Dr. Kyohei Yamane as he explains how "Gigantis" and Anguirus came into being.

The English dubbing, also supervised and directed by Grimaldi, was recorded at Ryder Sound Service, Inc. in Hollywood. The voice cast featured veteran performers Keye Luke, Marvin Miller, and Paul Frees, as well as a very young George Takei of Star Trek fame. Luke was cast as Tsukioka, whose character now narrated the events of the film. In addition to voicing Kobayashi, Miller narrated a pre-credits stock footage montage detailing the perils of man's scientific progress.

After completing the Americanization of the film by the end of 1958, Schrebman had sold the theatrical rights to Warner Bros. by January 1959, and the film was released in May 1959. A dialogue transcript submitted for censorship on April 29, 1959, to the Motion Picture Division of the State Education Department of New York features numerous lines excised or shortened in the available version, as well as several other editorial differences, including the placement of the opening credits at the very start of the film. Audible cuts can be heard at points corresponding to some of the dialog edits. The provenance of this transcribed print is unknown. As of 2024, no original 35mm release print has been examined that would confirm what indeed was seen and heard during the original theatrical release.[3] Gigantis, the Fire Monster was presented as a double feature with Teenagers from Outer Space, which Warner also purchased from Schreibman.

Gigantis, the Fire Monster did not enter standard television syndication after its theatrical run. The film remained obscure in the U.S. until its reappearance on cable TV in 1984, followed by syndicated airings and a VHS release via Video Treasures in 1989. A video-generated title card restoring Toho's English title, Godzilla Raids Again, accompanied the film in syndication in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This version was released on DVD alongside the Japanese version by Classic Media on November 7, 2006. The North American distribution rights to Godzilla Raids Again are currently held by Janus Films, who released it along with all of the other Showa Godzilla films in The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray box set titled Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975 in 2019.

United Kingdom release

UK Gigantis, the Fire Monster poster

Eros Films brought Gigantis, the Fire Monster to UK theaters in April 1960 as part of a double feature with The Nights of Lucretia Borgia.[4] It received an A rating from the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC), preventing children under 11 from seeing it unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Sony released Godzilla Raids Again on Blu-ray in 2019 in the UK as part of the The Criterion Collection's Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 box set. The BBFC rated the Japanese version of the film PG for "mild violence, language."[5]

West German release

Godzilla Raids Again was released in West Germany on February 24, 1958 by Donau Film.[6] Less than a minute of footage was cut.[7] Among other mistakes, the opening credits erroneously give directorial credit to production designer Teruaki Abe instead of Motoyoshi Oda. The German dubbing, recorded in Berlin by Cinelux Film GmbH, remains almost completely faithful to the original Japanese dialogue. Presumed lost for many decades, elements for the theatrical version eventually resurfaced and were used for a DVD release in contemporary Germany by Splendid Film on September 25, 2009,[8] with the dubbing later included on Splendid's Blu-Ray, released on March 28, 2014.[9] Marketing Film released the film on DVD with a newly recorded dub on July 29, 2004,[10], but after the rediscovery of the theatrical dub, it has not resurfaced on home video releases since.

Reception

Paper.gif This section is a stub. Please help out by adding information.

Although Godzilla Raids Again performed well at the box office, the film was generally poorly received by fans and critics, who criticized it as a rushed sequel. It is, however, notable for being the first Godzilla film to introduce the formula of Godzilla battling other monsters, which would become a staple of the franchise. In a December 1955 essay entitled Godzilla Confessions, Shigeru Kayama, writer of the scenarios for the film and its predecessor, felt Godzilla had evolved from an allegorical symbol of Atomic Age fears into a character with "manga-like appeal", which audiences, especially youths, could laugh at or even relate to, and expressed the film and its novelization would thusly be his last involvement with the franchise. He admitted his own budding affection towards the monster.[11]

Video releases

Toho DVD (2001)

  • Region: 2
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono)
  • Subtitles: Japanese
  • Special features: Audio commentary by Sadamasa Arikawa and Tomioka Motoyoshi, isolated score, massive image gallery (several thousand)

Classic Media DVD (2006)[12]

  • Region: 1
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono) and English (2.0 Mono)
  • Subtitles: English
  • Special features: Audio commentary by Steve Ryfle (for the American version), The Art of Suit Acting featurette (14 minutes), poster slideshow
  • Notes: The American version of the film has a video-generated Godzilla Raids Again title card in place of the original Gigantis, the Fire Monster title card. Reissued in 2012; both releases are out of print.

Splendid DVD (2009)[13]

  • Region: 2
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: German (1.0 Mono), Japanese (1.0 mono)
  • Subtitles: German
  • Special features: Trailers

Toho Blu-ray (2014)[14]

  • Region: A/1
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (LPCM 2.0)
  • Subtitles: Japanese
  • Special features: Audio commentary by Sadamasa Arikawa and Tomioka Motoyoshi, isolated score, dispatch trailer, radio ads for Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Raids Again, image gallery (12 minutes), "Godzilla’s Creation! Yoshio Suzuki" featurette (20 minutes)

Splendid Blu-ray (2014)

  • Region: B/2
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0), German (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0)
  • Subtitles: German, Dutch
  • Special features: None

The Criterion Collection Blu-ray (2019) [Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975]

Videos

Trailers

Japanese trailer
(fragment from the Rodan trailer)
Japanese teaser trailer
(audio lost)
U.S. Gigantis, the Fire Monster
teaser trailer
U.S. Gigantis, the Fire Monster
theatrical trailer
U.S. Gigantis, the Fire Monster
TV spots (reconstructed)

Miscellaneous

U.S. theatrical opening credits
West German theatrical visuals
Italian theatrical visuals
Joe Dante's commentary on the
Gigantis, the Fire Monster trailer

Trivia

  • Godzilla Raids Again was the first Godzilla film to feature multiple monsters.
  • The Godzilla suit used for this film, the GyakushuGoji, was slimmer and lighter than the previous ShodaiGoji suit used in the first film, putting less pressure on actor Haruo Nakajima and thus making every fight scene with Anguirus easier.
  • The JSDF's tactic of enforcing a blackout in Osaka to protect it from Godzilla is the same tactic used by Japan at the end of World War II to protect cities from Allied bombing raids.
  • Godzilla Raids Again is the only Godzilla film to date where Godzilla's dorsal fins consistently do not glow prior to him releasing his atomic breath. Later films would only occasionally not show the discharge, often by mistake.
  • Godzilla Raids Again is one of only two Toho Godzilla films in which the JSDF defeats the monster at the end with existing technology rather than a fictional superweapon, along with The Return of Godzilla.
  • There are no scenes in this film which feature Godzilla using his atomic breath from the full suit-view. Every time he does, the hand-operated puppet head is used. This is due to the fact that the suit's mouth could not open wide enough.
  • Gigantis, the Fire Monster was distributed in the United States by Warner Bros., who would go on to distribute the films of Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse 55 years later.
  • After this film's release, Toho took a seven-year hiatus from making Godzilla films. However, during these seven years they continued to make kaiju films, and introduced two of the other most recognizable monsters from the Showa era: Rodan and Mothra.
  • In the Kaiju Guide for the PlayStation 3 and 4 Godzilla video game, Anguirus' bio states that he once battled a monster called "Gigantis," who has since been banished from this plane of existence, an inside joke referencing the American version of Godzilla Raids Again.
  • Godzilla Raids Again is the last Godzilla film to be filmed entirely in black-and-white and in the Academy aspect ratio.
  • Two shots of newspapers place the events of Godzilla Raids Again in January of 1955, possibly stretching into February.
  • In the scene at the Yayoi Restaurant in Hokkaido, the song that the fishermen are singing is the Hokkaido sea shanty "Sōran Bushi" ("ソーラン節").
  • Several other kaiju films since Godzilla Raids Again have used similar Japanese titles, including King Kong Escapes (キングコングの逆襲,   Kingu Kongu no Gyakushū), Terror of Mechagodzilla (メカゴジラの逆襲,   Mekagojira no Gyakushū), and Monster X Strikes Back: Attack the G8 Summit (ギララの逆襲 洞爺湖サミット危機一発,   Girara no Gyakushū: Tōyako Samitto Kiki Ippatsu). Additionally, the 2023 animated series Chibi Godzilla Raids Again takes its name directly from Godzilla Raids Again.
  • Godzilla Raids Again was the first of four Godzilla films to have been scored by Masaru Sato.

External links

References

This is a list of references for Godzilla Raids Again. 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]

  1. ↑ ゴジラの逆襲｜ゴジラ　東宝公式サイト (official Godzilla.jp page)
  2. ↑ Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 by Sim Branaghan - Part 1 - SMGuariento.com
  3. ↑ "Gigantis the Fire Monster" (Dialogue Transcript). Warner Bros. April 2, 1959.
  4. ↑ Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 by Sim Branaghan – Part 1
  5. ↑ "Godzilla Raids Again". BBFC. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Odessa James (7 February 2001). "OFDb - : Donau Film (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)". OFDb. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  7. ↑ azog (19 November 2009). "Godzilla kehrt zurück - Schnittbericht: Deutsche Kinofassung (Schnittberichte.com)". Schnittberichte. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  8. ↑ andiwei (25 September 2009). "OFDb - DVD: Splendid (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)". OFDb. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  9. ↑ Yackmouth (29 March 2014). "OFDb - Blu-ray Disc: Splendid (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)". OFDb. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. ↑ alfi333 (12 August 2004). "OFDb - DVD: Marketing Film (Deutschland), Freigabe: FSK 12 von Godzilla kehrt zurück (1955)". OFDb. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Angles, Jeffrey (3 October 2023). Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again (1st ed.). University of Minnesota Press. pp. 205–207. ISBN 1517915236.
  12. ↑ Amazon.com: GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1959)
  13. ↑ If it's possible, I'd like to submit a DVD review
  14. ↑ Disc Love: Godzilla Raids Again 「ゴジラの逆襲」 (2014 Toho Blu-ray)
  15. ↑ Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975 | The Criterion Collection

 
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