Varan (film)

{{{name}}} Directed by Ishiro Honda Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka Written by Ken Kuronuma Shinichi Sekizawa Music by Akira Ifukube Distributor Toho Company Ltd.JP Crown International PicturesUS Rating Not Rated Budget $?,???,??? Box office $?,???,??? Running time 87 minutesJP (1 hour, 27 minutes) 70 minutesUS (1 hour, 10 minutes)

Varan (大怪獣バラン,   Daikaijū Baran, lit. Giant Monster Varan) is a 1958 Template:Daikaiju eiga produced by Toho Company Ltd., and the company's last black-and-white kaiju film. It was released to Japanese theaters on October 14, 1958.

Plot

A pair of red-trimmed off-white butterflies are found living in Japan. The insects are native to Siberia, so scientists find it strange that they would be discovered so far away from their homeland. In response, an expedition is dispatched to their habitat, located along the Kitami River, to discover why the insects might be living in Siberia. Two members of the scientific community helm the expedition, but are mysteriously crushed by something that the police can only describe as "powerful". The nearby villagers of the Kitami River insist that the deaths were a result of the wraith of their mountain god: Varan.

Further intrigued, a larger expedition is then dispatched to the area. This time the investigation is funded by the film company "20th Century Mysteries Solved", an organization that seeks to uncover the truth behind the two deaths to report on it. Staff of the firm Yuriko Shinjo and Horiguchi lead the expedition along with Kenji Uozaki, a member of the scientific community. The expedition travels further inland and stumbles upon a village doing a ritualistic prayer to their mountain god. The priest of the village warns the travelers that their presence will make the monster angry. The warnings fall of deaf ears, though, and the problem escalates when Ken, a young local boy, runs out of the village after his dog. The villagers are warned not pursue, as the priest explains that such action would anger the mountain god. Kenji challenges the priest's warning, asking if their beliefs are worth endangering the life of a child. The three members of the expedition then decide to take matters into their own hands and rescue the boy. The trio is separated, however, in the thick fog. Kenji and Horiguchi return to the village to rally the locals to help them, telling them their beliefs are little more than superstition. The villagers, minus the priest, agree, and head toward the lake to rescue Ken. Once there, Ken, along with Yuriko, are discovered. Their reunion is cut short, though, by the monster Varan rising from the Kitami River. The villagers flee back to their homes, but Varan gives chase. The aquatic monster enters the village, killing the priest who was guarding the entrance. The beast then proceeds to tear apart the huts inside. After the destruction, the monster retreats to his underwater lair.

Reports of the creature's existence are sent back to Japan, and the defense force is mobilized near Kitami River to prepare for the beast's return. The nearby villages are evacuated, as tanks and ground artillery units move into position. Shortly after the evacuation, the military begins releasing toxins into the river to drive the monster out. The plan is a success, as Varan emerges from the water's surface. Phase two of the SDF's plan is put into operation, as tanks and artillery units began to unleash their destructive fury on the monster. The conventional weapons have no effect, though, and the military is forced to retreat. Amongst the confusion, Yuriko manages to get caught under a falling tree, placing her right in Varan's path. Kenji narrowly manages to save his colleague, though, and the two seek safety in a nearby cave. Varan pursues the two, reaching into the cavern with his claws. Luckily, the military intervenes, firing light bombs over the monster's head. Varan becomes attracted by the light, and climbs a nearby mountain in order to get a closer look. Once at the peak, though, Varan raises his arms to reveal hidden flaps of skins. The creature then leaps from the mountain and glides off into the sea.

As the next day breaks, Varan's reign of terror continues as he capsizes a fishing boat not far from Tokyo's shores. The defense force then remobilizes, sending a squadron of jets to intercept the creature. The air crafts are met with little success, however, as Varan manages to sink one of them that ventures to close to the water's surface. Pleased with his success, the monster submerges and continues his descent toward Tokyo. The military moves into phase two of their counterattack, deploying a destroyer to the surrounding waters. Unfortunately, the destroyer's artillery has no effect against the creature. The SDF quickly launches a third campaign to try and stop Varan's advancement, this time using mine sweepers to seal off Tokyo. The attack, like the rest, is met with failure, though. Out of options, the defense force again remobilizes its forces to the area around Tokyo Bay, lining the water with the destroyer and dispatching a battalion of tanks near Haneda airport. A large amount of Special Gunpowder, which they hope will have better success at destroying the monster, is also readied. Tokyo is then evacuated, as the military awaits the appearance of Varan.

Day turns to night as Varan finally emerges from the water, ready to attack the Japanese mainland. The creature is immediately shelled by the surrounding forces, but that doesn't deter his advancement on land. Kenji, once again taking matters into his own hands, drives a truck filled with Special Gunpowder to the runway of Haneda airport. Varan advances on the small vehicle, as Kenji escapes to a safe distance. With Varan directly over the truck, the detonate trigger is pulled, causing the aquatic monster to fall flat on his stomach. The SDF celebrates prematurely, though, as the beast rises from the attack seemingly unfazed, and begins an assault on his hind legs. Light bombs are once again deployed to try and attract the monster, while the defense force witnesses Varan eating one of the flares. A new plan is then hatched, as they prepare light bombs filled with the Special Gun Powder. The bombs are unleashed, as the monster eats two of them out of the night sky. Shortly after, the first bomb detonates, causing the monster to retreat back to the sea. Varan is too late, though, as the second detonates as the creature is underwater and the defense force declares the creature dead.

Staff

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

• Directed by   Ishiro Honda
• Written by   Ken Kuronuma, Shinichi Sekizawa
• Music by   Akira Ifukube
• Cinematography by   Hajime Koizumi
• Film Editing by   Kazuji Taira
• Production Design by   Kiyoshi Shimizu, Akira Watanabe
• Assistant Director   Koji Kajita
• Director of Special Effects   Eiji Tsuburaya

Cast

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

• Kozo Nomura   as   Kenji Uozaki
• Ayumi Sonoda   as   Yuriko Shinjo
• Fumito Matsuo   as   Horiguchi
• Koreya Senda   as   Doctor Sugimoto
• Akio Kusama   as   Military Officer Kusama
• Yoshio Tsuchiya   as   Military Officer Katsumoto
• Akihiko Hirata   as   Fujimora
• Minosuke Yamada   as   Secretary of Defense
• Fuyuki Murakami   as   Majima
• Takashi Ito   as   Ken
• Fumiko Honma   as   Ken's Mother
• Akira Sera   as   Village Priest
• Hisaya Ito   as   Ichiro Shinjo
• Nadao Kirino   as   Yutaka Wada
• Akira Yamada   as   Issaku
• Yoshikazu Kawamata   as   Jiro
• Yasuhiro Kasanobu   as   Sankichi
• Yoshifumi Tajima   as   Captain Uranami
• Shoichi Hirose   as   Fisherman
• Toshitsugu Suzuki   as   Fisherman

Appearances

Monsters Varan Godzilla (Stock Footage, erroneous)

Weapons, Vehicles, and Races M24 Chaffee Tank F86F Sabre 24 Twin Rocket Car Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw M4A3E8 Sherman Tank P2V-7 Neptune 155mm Howitzer M1 (Stock Footage) Landing Craft

Gallery

Main article: Varan (film)/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: Varan (Soundtrack).

Alternate Titles

• Giant Monster Varan (Literal Japanese Title)
• Varan, Monster from the East (東洋の怪物 大怪獣バラン,   Tōyō no Kaibutsu Daikaijū Baran, Original Television Version Title)
• Varan, the Unbelievable (United States)

Theatrical Releases

• Japan - October 14, 1958

Cancelled Television Version

While most of AD-PT was closed down, the network ABC was still active. In 1958, they had been collaborating with Toho on a TV Movie called Varan, Monster from the East. Varan was originally planned to air on American television, but this fell through. Toho set up a Japanese theatrical release date, added new scenes, deleted old scenes, and cropped the video to be released in theaters. It was later released in the United States in 1962 under the title Varan, the Unbelievable. Varan was a black-and-white film, since it was meant for TV, while Toho had been making color kaiju films ever since Rodan in 1956. 47 years later in 2005, Toho and Tokyo Shock released Varan on DVD in Japan and the United States, including the unreleased television version in both releases.

U.S. Release

American Poster for Varan The Unbelievable

Following the abandonment of the television version of Varan and its Japanese theatrical release, Crown International Pictures acquired the rights to distribute the film theatrically in the United States in 1962. The American cut of the film, called Varan, the Unbelievable, was heavily edited and bears little resemblance to the original Japanese version. Like what had been done with the American release of the original Godzilla, Crown added newly-filmed footage of a western actor, Myron Healy, and made the plot focus on him. The film's story was changed drastically, revolving around an American military officer overseeing a chemical test in a lake on an island. Varan is never referred to by name in the film, only called "Obaki," and his roar is completely changed. The scene of Varan gliding from the cliff is removed, and close-up shots of Varan claw are added.

Reception

Varan is often considered by many kaiju fans to be one of Toho's weakest films. One common criticism from fans stems from the film's story, claiming that it's a generic monster movie story, while other Toho kaiju and science-fiction films involved more complex and interesting stories. The film is still popular for introducing the monster Varan, who has only appeared in a cameo appearance and several non-film media since.

The American version of the film, Varan, the Unbelievable, is widely disliked and infamous among fans. It is often accused of ruining the entire film and copying the strategy used in Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, but executing it much less effectively. All of the changes, from Varan's roar to the added plotline about an American officer, are heavily criticized.