Gamera vs. Zigra

Gamera Films
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Gamera vs. Zigra Alternate titles Gamera Against Deep-Sea Monster Zigra (1971) Directed by Noriaki Yuasa Producer Hidemasa Nagata Written by Niisan Takahashi Music by Shunsuke Kikushi Distributor DaieiJP King Features SyndicationUS Rating Not Rated Budget ¥35,000,000 Running time 88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes) Aspect ratio 2.35:1

Gamera vs. Zigra (ガメラ対深海怪獣ジグラ,   Gamera tai Shinkai Kaijū Jigura, lit. Gamera Against Deep-Sea Monster Zigra) is a 1971 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company and is the seventh entry in the Gamera series. Gamera vs. Zigra was released to Japanese theaters on July 17, 1971. It was released in the United States in 1985 by Sandy Frank through King Features Syndication.

Plot

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Without warning, an alien creature known as Zigra attacks a moon base. Soon after (back on Earth), Kenny and his friend Helen, along with their fathers, see a strange spaceship (Zigra's) descending into the ocean. Investigating, they are soon captured and instructed to tell the world of Zigra's great achievements in science. The Zigra "space woman" creates a gigantic earthquake ("magnitude 18 no less") and they learn of Zigra's past history, advancing in science and destroying their planet. Searching out a new home, Zigra found Earth and orders the "earth creatures" to surrender the Earth. While speaking with Earth, Tom declares the Zigra woman is crazy. In anger, she puts the men in a hypnotic state. Kenny and Helen take action, successfully using the ships console to escape. Enraged, Zigra orders their death. He sends the woman to kill the children. After a close call on the surface of the water, Gamera saves the children and their fathers from Zigra. After questioning the children, the UN decides to attack Zigra. The jets scramble.and Zigra makes short work of them with his laser beam. The Zigra woman, disguised as a babe (she stole some unlucky gal's bathing suit), searches for Kenny and Helen. She hitches a ride with the Sea World dolphin trainer back to the facility. She changes into another stolen out fit and proceeds to wander the facility which is now crawling with military. She overhears the exasperation of the UN's fruitless efforts to defeat Zigra. While chasing the children, some photographers identify the Zigran woman as Lora Lee. After ditching the Zigran woman, the children call for Gamera. Gamera begins an underwater assault on the Zigra spaceship, which retaliates until transforming into a shark-like monster. The battle continues until Gamera beaches Zigra, who then retaliates sending Gamera into the sea for recuperation. Zigra threatens again, claiming to be all-powerful.

Back at Marine World, the dolphin trainer and the scientists divulge a way to break the control with "sonic waves." They use this information to disable the Zigra woman. Lora Lee, it is discovered was brought aboard Zigra's ship when he attacked the moon base. The scientists go to look for Gamera, hoping to work with him to defeat Zigra. But as the bathoscope is trying to revive Gamera, Zigra attacks them - again demanding the immediate surrender of the Earth.

An electrical storm appears above the bay and a bolt of lightning somehow revives Gamera and he snatches the bathoscope and returns it to the surface while Zigra is sleeping. Gamera returns to the sea to face off against Zigra for the final battle.

Staff

Main article: Gamera vs. Zigra/Credits.

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

• Directed by   Noriaki Yuasa
• Written by   Nisan Takahashi
• Produced by   Hidemasa Nagata
• Music by   Shunsuke Kikuchi
• Cinematography by   Akira Uehara
• Edited by   Zenko Miyazaki
• Production design by   Akira Inoue
• Assistant directing by   Masami Akise
• Special effects by   Kazuo Fujii

Cast

Main article: Gamera vs. Zigra/Credits.

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

• Eiko Yanami   as   Woman X / Chikako Sugawara
• Reiko Kasahara   as   Kiyoko Ishikawa
• Mikiko Tsubouchi   as   Mrs. Ishikawa
• Koji Fukiyama   as   Dr. Tom Wallace
• Isamu Saeki   as   Dr. Yosuke Ishikawa
• Shin Minatsu   as   Kamogawa Sea World Staff
• Arlene Zoellner   as   Margie Wallace
• Gloria Zoellner   as   Helen Wallace
• Yasushi Sakagami   as   Kenichi Ishikawa
• Keiichi Noda   as   Zigra (voice)

Appearances

Monsters Gamera Zigra

Weapons, Vehicles and Races Zigra's UFO Zigrans (mentioned) Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Gallery

Main article: Gamera vs. Zigra/Gallery.

DVD and Blu-ray Releases

Shout! Factory DVD (2010)

• Region: 1
• Discs: 1
• Audio: Japanese (1.0 Mono), English (1.0 Mono)
• Special Features: Photo galleries
• Notes: Both versions of the film use the same Japanese video track. Packaged with Gamera: Super Monster.

Mill Creek DVD (2014) [Gamera: Legacy Collection]

• Region: 1
• Discs: 4
• Audio: Japanese (1.0 Mono)
• Special Features: None
• Notes: Packaged with Gamera, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, Gamera vs. Viras, Gamera vs. Guiron, Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera: Super Monster, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris.

Mill Creek Blu-ray (2014) [Gamera: Ultimate Collection, Volume 2]

• Region: N/A
• Discs: 2
• Audio: Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Special Features: None
• Notes: Packaged with Gamera vs. Guiron, Gamera vs. Jiger, and Gamera: Super Monster.

Videos

Japanese Gamera vs. Zigra trailer Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode K07 - Gamera vs. Barugon Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode 316 - Gamera vs. Zigra

Trivia

Dainichi Eihai Co. Ltd logo

• Gamera vs. Zigra was released by Dainichi Film Distribution Co., Ltd (ＤＮ ダイニチ映配株式会社,   Dainichi Eihai Kabushiki-Gaisha), which was the result of Daiei and Nikkatsu Corporation merging to share distribution costs.
• Gamera vs. Zigra was released theatrically in Japan as part of a triple feature with re-releases of the 1958 film Red Armored Suzunosuke Three Eyed Birdman (赤胴鈴之助　三つ目の鳥人,   Akado Suzunosuke mittsume no chōjin) and the 1969 film Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts, the third film in the Yokai Monsters trilogy.
• Daiei originally intended to follow Gamera vs. Zigra with multiple films, including Gamera vs. Garasharp, but the company went bankrupt, making Gamera vs. Zigra the last Gamera film until 1980.
  • After this film's release and the announcement that Daiei had gone bankrupt, a riot broke out at the studio, causing a fire that destroyed all of the studio equipment used for the Gamera films.
• The English dub of Gamera vs. Zigra, as released by Sandy Frank Film Syndication, was featured on Season 3 of the movie-mocking television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was also riffed on the show during its original broadcast on the Minneapolis-area station KTMA.
• Gamera vs. Zigra was released in theaters exactly a week before Godzilla vs. Hedorah, another kaiju film dealing with pollution and its effects on sea life.
• Gamera vs. Zigra was filmed on location at Kamagowa Sea World and around Kamagowa City. The special effects scenes were also filmed on a small set of the area around Sea World, with none of the miniatures destroyed.