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{{Tab
{{Tab
|dt = ''Gappa'' (1967)
|dt           =''Gappa'' (1967)
|credits = Gappa (film)/Credits
|credits     = Gappa (film)/Credits
}}
}}
{{Infobox Film|ratings=yes
{{Infobox Film|ratings=yes
|type1       =Dark
|type1       =Dark
|type2       =Fighting
|type2       =Fighting
|header      ={{Nikkatsu}} {{Kaijup}} {{Film}}
|image       =20130823 358201.jpg
|image       =20130823 358201.jpg
|caption     =The Japanese poster for Gappa
|caption     =The Japanese poster for Gappa
|name         =''Gappa''|alt-titles=yes|titles=yes
|name       =''Gappa''|alt-titles=yes|titles=yes
|jp-title     =''Colossal Beast Gappa'' (1967)
|jp-title   =''Colossal Beast Gappa'' (1967)
|us-title     =''Monster from a Prehistoric<br>Planet'' (TV 1967)
|us-title   ={{Small2|''Monster from a Prehistoric Planet''}} {{Small|(TV 1968)}}
|director     =Haruyasu Noguchi
|director   =Haruyasu Noguchi
|producer     =Eisei Koi
|producer   =Eisei Koi
|writer       =Gan Yamazaki, [[Ryuzo Nakanishi]]
|writer     =Gan Yamazaki, Ryuzo Nakanishi
|composer     =Seitaro Omori
|composer   =Seitaro Omori
|sfx          =[[Akira Watanabe]]
|distributor =[[Nikkatsu Corporation|Nikkatsu]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>American International Television{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
|funded      =[[Nikkatsu]], [[wikipedia:Manson International|Manson Distributing Corp.]]
|rating     =Not Rated
|produced    =[[Nikkatsu]], Nippon Special Effects<br>Motion Picture Co.
|budget     =¥500,000,000<ref name="MAT">{{cite book|title=Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films |author=Stuart Galbraith IV |date=1998 |publisher=Feral House |page=110 |isbn=0-922915-47-4}}</ref>
|distributor  =[[Nikkatsu]],{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}} [[American International Pictures|AITV]]{{sup|[[United States|U.S.]]}}
|runtime     =84 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 24 minutes}}<br>90 minutes{{sup|Int'l}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 30 minutes)}}
|rating       =Not Rated
|aspectratio =2.35:1
|budget       =¥500,000,000<ref name="MAT">{{cite book|title=Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films |author=Stuart Galbraith IV |date=1998 |publisher=Feral House |page=110 |isbn=0-922915-47-4}}</ref>
|runtime     =84 minutes{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 24 minutes}}<br>90 minutes{{sup|Int'l}}<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 30 minutes)}}
|aspectratio =2.35:1{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>1.33:1{{sup|[[United States|US]] TV}}
}}
}}
'''''Gappa''''' {{Nihongo|大巨獣ガッパ|Daikyojū Gappa|lit. ''Colossal Beast Gappa''}} is a [[1967]] [[tokusatsu]] [[kaiju]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|film]] produced by [[Nikkatsu Corporation]]. The film was released to [[Japan|Japanese]] theaters on April 22, 1967.
'''''Gappa''''' {{Nihongo|大巨獣ガッパ|Daikyojū Gappa|lit. ''Colossal Beast Gappa''}} is a [[1967]] [[tokusatsu]] [[kaiju]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|film]] directed by Haruyasu Noguchi and written by Gan Yamazaki and [[Ryuzo Nakanishi]] based on a story by [[Akira Watanabe]], with effects by Watanabe. Funded by the [[Nikkatsu|Nikkatsu Corporation]] and the [[wikipedia:Manson International|Manson Distributing Corporation]], it was produced by Nikkatsu in association with the Nippon Special Effects Motion Picture Company. The film stars Tamio Kawachi, Yoko Yamamoto, Koji Wada, Tatsuya Fuji, and Masanori Machida. Nikkatsu released it to [[Japan|Japanese]] theaters on April 22, 1967.
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Plot==
==Plot==
''Playmate'' publisher Tonoka dispatches several of his employees, along with scientists from Toto University, on an expedition to the South Seas to collect rare animals for an island resort. Daize is fishing one night when he sees a pair of massive yellow eyes underwater, just before the ship is rocked by what his crewmates believe to be an earthquake. They scoff at his story.
''Playmate'' magazine publisher Tonoka dispatches several of his employees, along with scientists from Toto University, on an expedition to the South Seas to collect rare animals for an island resort. Daize is fishing one night when he sees a pair of massive yellow eyes underwater, just before the ship is rocked by what his crewmates believe to be an earthquake. They scoff at his story.


Shortly thereafter, the captain notices a volcano erupting on Obelisk Island, and they decide to begin the expedition there. Itoko, a photographer, spots a statue resembling those on Easter Island as they approach. The island turns out to be inhabited, and they are quickly surrounded by men wielding spears as they enter the village. Once they announce they’re from Japan, however, the chief sets off a raucous celebration. Another group from Japan promised to return many years ago, and they believe the new arrivals will please a being called “Gappa.”
Shortly thereafter, the captain notices a volcano erupting on Obelisk Island, and they decide to begin the expedition there. Itoko, a photographer, spots a statue resembling those on Easter Island as they approach. The island turns out to be inhabited, and they are quickly surrounded by men wielding spears as they enter the village. Once they announce they are from Japan, however, the chief sets off a raucous celebration. Another group from Japan promised to return many years ago, and they believe the new arrivals will appease a being called “Gappa.”


A young boy leads Hiroshi, a scientist, and Itoko to the statue, but tries to prevent them examining it. As they argue, another earthquake strikes and the statue topples, revealing the entrance to a cave. There, they and Daize discover a massive skeleton and a large egg. A third earthquake causes it to hatch, revealing a docile bird-lizard. Over the village’s protestations, the expedition brings the young monster to Japan. Their fears are well-founded: after the expedition leaves, two full-grown Gappa emerge from the cave and pursue the islanders into the sea. An American submarine rescues them.
A young boy leads Hiroshi, a scientist, and Itoko to the statue, but tries to prevent them examining it. As they argue, another earthquake strikes and the statue topples, revealing the entrance to a cave. There, they and Daize discover a massive skeleton and a large egg. A third earthquake causes it to hatch, revealing a docile baby bird-reptile monster. Over the villagers' protestations, the expedition brings the young monster to Japan. Their fears are well-founded: after the expedition leaves, two adult Gappas emerge from the cave and pursue the islanders into the sea. A U.S. submarine rescues them.


Tonoka is enraptured with Gappa, and makes plans to smuggle it into the country, the better to preserve the secret until it can be unveiled at his resort. Kurosaki is reluctant to see the creature so exploited, but realizes it’s the only way he can be studied. Upon internment at the Toto University lab, the baby Gappa grows dramatically in size. By analyzing his brain waves, Kurosaki concludes that his hypothetical parents would be able to track his location.
Tonoka is enraptured with the baby Gappa and makes plans to smuggle it into the country, the better to preserve the secret until it can be unveiled at his resort. Kurosaki is reluctant to see the creature so exploited, but realizes it is the only way he can be studied. Upon internment at the Toto University laboratory, the baby Gappa grows dramatically in size. By analyzing his brain waves, Kurosaki concludes that his hypothetical parents would be able to track his location.


After bursting out of the water behind the U.S. submarine, the adult Gappa buzz [[Haneda Airport]] before making landfall in Atami. The [[JSDF]] deploys tanks to stop them, but the monsters quickly incinerate them with their heat rays. Fighter jets engage them as they smash [[Atami Castle]] and are equally unsuccessful. The Gappa then submerge in Lake Kawaguchi to rest.
After bursting out of the water behind the U.S. submarine, the adult Gappas buzz over [[Haneda Airport]] before making landfall in Atami. The [[JSDF]] deploys tanks to stop them, but the monsters quickly incinerate them with their heat rays. Fighter jets engage them as they smash [[Atami Castle]] and are equally unsuccessful. The adult Gappas then submerge into Lake Kawaguchi to rest.


The next day, Playmate runs the baby Gappa as its cover story, and issues fly off the shelves. During a defense meeting, Hiroshi recommends using a sonic attack to lure the Gappa out of the lake, exposing them to a missile barrage. While his theory proves correct, the Gappa are unfazed by the missiles. Flying out of the lake and flooding the nearby town, they advance towards Tokyo.
The next day, ''Playmate'' runs the baby Gappa as its cover story and issues fly off the shelves. During a defense meeting, Hiroshi recommends using a sonic attack to lure the adult Gappas out of the lake, exposing them to a missile barrage. While his theory proves correct, the adult Gappas are unfazed by the missiles. Flying out of the lake and flooding the nearby town, they advance towards Tokyo.
 
Even amidst all the destruction, Tonoka refuses to release the baby Gappa, fearing that he would be ruined if his role in the parents’ rampage was revealed. Ultimately, however, he is powerless to stop Itoko, Hiroshi, and the military from taking the baby Gappa themselves. Two blimps towed by helicopters transport him to Tokyo, where his parents are wreaking havoc at an oil refinery. The family joyfully reunites at [[Haneda Airport]] and the parents quickly teach their baby how to fly, after which all three of them fly back to Obelisk Island.


Even amidst all the destruction, Tonoka refuses to release the baby, fearing that he would be ruined if his role in the parents’ rampage was revealed. Ultimately, however, he is powerless to stop Itoko, Hiroshi, and the military from taking the baby themselves. Two blimps towed by helicopters transport him to Tokyo, where his parents are wreaking havoc at an oil refinery. The family joyfully reunites at [[Haneda Airport]] and begins the long flight back to Obelisk Island.
==Staff==
==Staff==
{{Main|Gappa (film)/Credits}}
{{Staffs
{{Staffs
|Directed by=Haruyasu Noguchi
|Directed by|Haruyasu Noguchi
|Written by=Gan Yamazaki, Ryuzo Nakanishi
|Written by|Gan Yamazaki, [[Ryuzo Nakanishi]]
|Produced by=Eisei Koi
|Based on a story by|[[Akira Watanabe]]
|Music by=Seitaro Omori
|Planned by|Eisei Koi
|Cinematography by=Muneo Ueda
|Music by|Seitaro Omori
|Edited by=Masanori Tsujii
*Theme song "Gappa"
|Assistant directors=Hiroshi Hashimoto, Isao Hayashi, Masaru Konuma
|*Performed by|Katsuhiko Miki
|Director of special effects=[[Akira Watanabe]]
|*Written by|Hikari Ichijo
|*Composed by|Masao Yoneyama
|Cinematography by|Muneo Ueda
|Edited by|Masanori Tsujii
|Production design by|Kazumi Moike
|Assistant directors|Hiroshi Hashimoto, Isao Hayashi, Masaru Konuma
|Director of special effects|[[Akira Watanabe]]
}}
}}
==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 54: Line 64:
|Tamio Kawaji|Hiroshi Kurosaki
|Tamio Kawaji|Hiroshi Kurosaki
|Yôko Yamamoto|Itoko Koyanagi
|Yôko Yamamoto|Itoko Koyanagi
|Yuji Okada|Daize Tonooka
|Yuji Okada|Daize Tonoka
|Kôji Wada|Mashida
|Kôji Wada|Mashida
|Tatsuya Fuji|George Inoue
|Tatsuya Fuji|George Inoue
|Keisuke Inoue|President Funazu
|Keisuke Inoue|President Funazu
|Zenji Yamada|Captain of the Kamome-maru
|Zenji Yamada|Captain of the ''Kamome Maru''
|Bumon Koto|Chieftain
|Bumon Koto|Chieftain
|Kôtarô Sugie|Reporter #1 (as Hiroshi Sugie)
|Kôtarô Sugie|Reporter #1 (as Hiroshi Sugie)
|Saburô Hiromatsu|Hosoda
|Saburô Hiromatsu|Hosoda
|Binnosuke Nagao|Commander Riku
|Binnosuke Nagao|Commander Riku
|Masaru Kamiyama|The Professor
|Masaru Kamiyama|the Professor
|Kokan Katsura|Saburo Hayashi
|Kokan Katsura|Saburo Hayashi
|Shirô Oshimi|Oyama
|Shirô Oshimi|Oyama
Line 74: Line 84:
|Hiroshi Itoh|Reporter #4
|Hiroshi Itoh|Reporter #4
|Mike Danine|Petty Officer
|Mike Danine|Petty Officer
|Ruich Fidancer|Captain of the Sea Angels
|Ruich Fidancer|Captain of the ''Sea Angels''
|Paul Scheman|Professor
|Paul Scheman|Professor
}}
}}
===International English dub===
===International English dub===
{{Cast
{{Cast|notice=no
|Burr Middleton|Hiroshi Kurosaki
|Burr Middleton|Hiroshi Kurosaki
|Carole Wyand|Itoko Koyanagi
|Carole Wyand|Itoko Koyanagi
|[[William Ross]]|Daize Tonooka
|[[Robert Dunham]]|Mashida
|[[Robert Dunham]]|Mashida
|Cliff Harrington|President Funazu
|[[William Ross]]|Saburo Hayashi
}}
}}
==Appearances==
==Appearances==
Line 88: Line 99:
{{Col-2}}
{{Col-2}}
===Monsters===
===Monsters===
*[[Gappa]]
*[[Gappa]]s
**Male Gappa
**Male Gappa
**Female Gappa
**Female Gappa
Line 95: Line 106:
{{Col-2}}
{{Col-2}}
===Weapons, vehicles, and races===
===Weapons, vehicles, and races===
*[[Kamome-maru]]
*''[[Kamome Maru]]''
*[[Sea Angels]]
*''[[Sea Angels]]''
*[[Type 61 Tank]]
*[[Type 61 Tank]]
*Type 60 Armored Personnel Carrier
*Type 60 Armored Personnel Carrier
Line 103: Line 114:
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
==Development==
==Development==
{{Main|Reigon: Devil of the Seabed|Gigant|Arkitius|Momonra}}
{{Main|Gigant|Arkitius|Momonra|Reigon: Devil of the Seabed}}
''Gappa'' was the fifth and final [[kaiju]] film project idea that [[Nikkatsu Corporation|Nikkatsu]] had come up with, after ''[[Gigant|Giant Monster Gigant]]'', ''[[Arkitius|Giant Squid Monster Arkitius]]'', ''[[Momonra|Giant Monster Momonra]]'', and ''[[Reigon: Devil of the Seabed]]''. Planning for all the unmade films was done by Hideo Kodama.<ref name="Cyberkids">[http://web.archive.org/web/20150201201954/http://www.cyberkids1954.com/nittkatu_script.html 番外篇『日活特撮の世界』]</ref>
''Gappa'' was the fifth and final [[kaiju]] film project idea that [[Nikkatsu]] came up with, after ''[[Gigant|Giant Monster Gigant]]'', ''[[Arkitius|Giant Squid Monster Arkitius]]'', ''[[Momonra|Giant Monster Momonra]]'', and ''[[Reigon: Devil of the Seabed]]''. It was also the only one of the five that was actually made. Planning for all four of the unreleased films was done by Hideo Kodama.<ref name="Cyberkids">[http://web.archive.org/web/20150201201954/http://www.cyberkids1954.com/nittkatu_script.html 番外篇『日活特撮の世界』]</ref>
==Production==
==Production==
Principal photography on ''Gappa'' lasted for about 40 days, twice the time that director Haruyasu Noguchi usually took to shoot a film.<ref name="MAT"/>
Principal photography on ''Gappa'' lasted for about 40 days, twice the time that director Haruyasu Noguchi usually took to shoot a film.<ref name="MAT"/>
Line 112: Line 123:
{{Main|Gappa (Soundtrack)}}
{{Main|Gappa (Soundtrack)}}
==Alternate titles==
==Alternate titles==
*'''''Colossal Beast Gappa''''' (Literal Japanese Title)
*'''''Colossal Beast Gappa''''' (literal Japanese title)
*'''''Monster from a Prehistoric Planet''''' ([[United States]])
*'''''Monster from a Prehistoric Planet''''' ([[United States]])
*'''''Gappa, the Triphibian Monsters''''' (United States Video Title)
*'''''Gappa''''' (United Kingdom)
*'''''Gappa the Triphibian Monsters''''' (U.S. DVD title)
*'''''Gappa the Triphibian Monster''''' (UK theatrical release poster title, U.S. Blu-ray title)
*'''''The Monster That Threatens the World''''' (''El Monstruo Que Amenaza el Mundo''; Spain)
*'''''The Monster That Threatens the World''''' (''El Monstruo Que Amenaza el Mundo''; Spain)
*'''''Gappa, the Descendant of Godzilla''''' (''Gappa, le Descendant de Godzilla''; [[France]])
*'''''Gappa, the Descendant of Godzilla''''' (''Gappa, le Descendant de Godzilla''; [[France]])
Line 120: Line 133:
*'''''The Triphibian Monster''''' (''Ang Triphibian Halimaw''; [[Philippines]])
*'''''The Triphibian Monster''''' (''Ang Triphibian Halimaw''; [[Philippines]])
*'''''Gappa - Frankenstein's Flying Monster''''' (''Gappa - Frankensteins fliegende Monster''; West Germany)
*'''''Gappa - Frankenstein's Flying Monster''''' (''Gappa - Frankensteins fliegende Monster''; West Germany)
*'''''Gappa - Invasion of the Flying Beasts''''' (''Gappa - Invasion der Fliegenden-Bestien''; West Germany Re-Issue Title)
*'''''Gappa - Invasion of the Flying Beasts''''' (''Gappa - Invasion der Fliegenden-Bestien''; West Germany reissue title)
*'''''Gappa - The Terror of King-Kong''''' (''Gappa - Le Terreur de King-Kong''; French Belgium)
*'''''Gappa - The Horrors of King-Kong''''' (''Gappa - De Gruwelen van King-Kong''; Dutch Belgium)
*'''''Gappa, The Monster''''' (''Gappa, O Monstro''; Portugal)
*'''''Gappa - The Monsters of the Pacific''''' (''Gappa - Los monstruos del Pacífico''; Mexico)
==Theatrical releases==
*[[Japan]] - April 22, 1967
*West Germany - 1968
*United Kingdom - July 27, 1969<ref name="Unknown Culture">{{cite web|url=http://www.smguariento.com/monsters-from-an-unknown-culture-godzilla-and-friends-in-britain-1957-1980-by-sim-branaghan-part-3/|title=Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 - Part 3|author=Branaghan, Sim|work=SMGuariento.com|accessdate=16 August 2022}}</ref>
*Italy - 1970
*Mexico - 1970
*France - 1973
*Poland - 1973
*Czechoslovakia - April 1973
==[[United States|U.S.]] release==
==[[United States|U.S.]] release==
In July 1967, ''Gappa'' played at the Nikkatsu Theater in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], in Japanese with English subtitles.
In July 1967, ''Gappa'' played at the Nikkatsu Theater in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], in Japanese with English subtitles.


American-International Television released the film directly to television in 1968, as ''Monster from a Prehistoric Planet''. The English dubbing was recorded by the [[Tokyo]]-based studio Frontier Enterprises. The international cut of the film runs six minutes longer than the Japanese release, with the majority of the furthered run time gained from the extension of the special effects sequences featuring the adult [[Gappa]]s. The film's songs, "Colossal Beast Gappa" and "Don't Give Up, Baby Gappa!," were substituted with instrumental scoring, with the former replaced by an alternative orchestral piece.
[[American International Pictures|American International Television]] released the film directly to television syndication, also in [[1967]], as ''Monster from a Prehistoric Planet''. The English dubbing was recorded by the [[Tokyo]]-based studio Frontier Enterprises. The international version of the film runs six minutes longer than the Japanese version, with the majority of the furthered run time gained from the extension of the special effects sequences featuring the adult [[Gappa]]s. The film's songs, "Colossal Beast Gappa" and "Don't Give Up, Baby Gappa!," were substituted with instrumental scoring, with the former replaced by an alternative orchestral piece.
 
AITV's version of the film was re-released on home video in the U.S. by numerous different companies starting in 2003, all of whom assumed it was in the public domain. In [[2000]], [[Media Blasters]] licensed ''Gappa'' from [[Nikkatsu]] and released the original Japanese-language and international English-dubbed versions of the film on DVD through its Tokyo Shock imprint as ''Gappa the Triphibian Monsters''. It re-released the film on both DVD and Blu-ray in [[2020]] as ''Gappa the Triphibian Monster''.
 
==Video releases==
==Video releases==
'''Kaiju Productions''' VHS (1998)
'''Kaiju Productions''' VHS (1998)
*Tapes: 1
*'''Tapes''': 1
*Audio: English
*'''Audio:''' English
*Notes: Letterboxed.
*'''Notes:''' Letterboxed.
 
'''[[Media Blasters|Tokyo Shock]]''' DVD (2000)<ref name="Amazon2">[http://www.amazon.com/Gappa-Triphibian-Monster-Tamio-Kawaji/dp/B00004YS8H/ Amazon.com: Gappa, the Triphibian Monster (2000) Tokyo Shock]</ref>
*'''Region:''' 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (2.0 Mono), English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Special features:''' Four pages of liner notes by Guy Mariner Tucker
*'''Notes:''' Subtitles correspond to the English dub's script. Letterboxed and non-anamorphic. Edits the international version of the film to correspond with the Japanese version. Out of print.


'''Tokyo Shock''' DVD (2000)<ref name="Amazon2">[http://www.amazon.com/Gappa-Triphibian-Monster-Tamio-Kawaji/dp/B00004YS8H/ Amazon.com: Gappa, the Triphibian Monster (2000) Tokyo Shock]</ref>
'''Tokyo Shock''' Blu-ray / DVD (2020)<ref name="RSA">[https://www.rightstufanime.com/Gappa-the-Triphibian-Monster-Blu-ray-DVD?fbclid=IwAR1AnMTO-ucZmVOKF62UHhsqEV1RvpBzQ6Oc1dF8gkIEWqXTCVb91bjVHwM RightStuf - Gappa the Triphibian Monster Blu-ray/DVD]</ref>
*Region: 1
*'''Region:''' A (Blu-ray), 1 (DVD)
*Discs: 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono), English (2.0 Mono)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese, English
*Special Features: Four pages of liner notes by Guy Mariner Tucker
*'''Subtitles:''' English
*Notes: Subtitles correspond to the English dub's script. Letterboxed and non-anamorphic. Out of print.
*'''Special features:''' None
*'''Note:''' Edits the international version of the film to correspond with the Japanese version.


'''Alpha Video''' DVD (2003)<ref name="Amazon3">[http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Prehistoric-Planet-Tamio-Kawaji/dp/B00009NH8C/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1421536893&sr=1-1&keywords=gappa/ Amazon.com: Monster From a Prehistoric Planet (2003) Alpha Video]</ref>
Extralucid Films, a French company, plans to release ''Gappa'' to Blu-ray in 2023, with the French dub included.<ref name="Extralucid">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ1lIS93-v0|title=Extra-Pâques : le line-œuf ressuscité ! Toutes nos sorties à venir...|author=Extralucid Films|date=4 April 2023|work=YouTube}}</ref>


'''Tokyo Shock''' Blu-ray / DVD (2020)<ref name="RSA">[https://www.rightstufanime.com/Gappa-the-Triphibian-Monster-Blu-ray-DVD?fbclid=IwAR1AnMTO-ucZmVOKF62UHhsqEV1RvpBzQ6Oc1dF8gkIEWqXTCVb91bjVHwM RightStuf - Gappa the Triphibian Monster Blu-ray/DVD]</ref>
In the [[United States|U.S.]], ''Gappa'' was long assumed to be in the public domain.<ref name="RSA"/>''Monster from a Prehistoric Planet'', the fullscreen English-dubbed version, was released on DVD by numerous companies starting in 2003, including [[wikipedia:Alpha Video|Alpha Video]], Sinister Cinema, [[wikipedia:Fred Olen Ray#2000s to present|Retromedia]]/Image Entertainment, Sling Shot, EastWest, Pop Flix, DVD Cult Classics, RPH Productions and PC Treasures.
*Region: A (Blu-ray), 1 (DVD)
*Discs: 1
*Audio: Japanese, English
*Subtitles: English
*Special Features: Unknown
*Note: Cropped to a 16:9 aspect ratio.<ref name="SFJ">[http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2020/02/08/gappa-the-triphibian-monster-makes-blu-ray-debut-in-north-america/ SciFi Japan - GAPPA: THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER Makes Blu-ray Debut in North America]</ref> To be released on February 25.


In the [[United States]], ''Gappa'' was long-assumed to be in the public domain.<ref name="RSA"/> The fullscreen English-dubbed version was released on DVD by numerous companies starting in 2003, including Alpha Video, Retromedia, Sling Shot, EastWest, Pop Flix, DVD Cult Classics, RPH Productions, Image Entertainment, and PC Treasures.
==Videos==
==Videos==
===Trailers===
===Trailers===
Line 154: Line 184:
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">fCPFnd9bIQU</youtube>|Japanese ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">fCPFnd9bIQU</youtube>|Japanese ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">ISZ4tMKU4PY</youtube>|International ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">ISZ4tMKU4PY</youtube>|International ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">vqJ7Hp8pgTE</youtube>|German ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">vqJ7Hp8pgTE</youtube>|West German ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">EXFN-gJ_nNE</youtube>|Fragment of Belgian ''Gappa'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">EXFN-gJ_nNE</youtube>|Fragment of the French Belgian ''Gappa'' trailer}}
}}
}}
===Miscellaneous===
===Miscellaneous===
{{videos|
{{videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">9saBBPp2JrY</youtube>|Opening from international version}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">9saBBPp2JrY</youtube>|Opening from the international version}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">WfzyC1lyFo4</youtube>|Example of extended Gappa<br>scenes in the international version}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">hxVnTomkB2k</youtube>|Footage exclusive to the Japanese and international versions of ''Gappa''}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">WfzyC1lyFo4</youtube>|Example of the extended Gappa<br>scenes in the international version}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">XlMu15rpvXA</youtube>|Comparison between the 2000 [[Media Blasters]] DVD and the 2020 Media Blasters Blu-ray}}
}}
}}
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Although ''Gappa'' shares the basic plot of a child monster rescued from human civilization by its parent(s) with the earlier ''[[Gorgo (film)|Gorgo]]'', screenwriters Gan Yamazaki and Ryuzo Nakanishi claimed to have never seen the movie.<ref name="MAT"/>
*Although ''Gappa'' shares the basic plot of a baby monster rescued from human civilization by its parent(s) with the 1961 British film ''[[Gorgo (film)|Gorgo]]'', screenwriters Gan Yamazaki and Ryuzo Nakanishi claimed to have never seen the earlier film.<ref name="MAT"/>
*The [[Obelisk Island Bird]] prop and the head of the female [[Gappa]] suit reappeared in the 1972 [[Nikkatsu]] roman porno film ''Amorous Family: Like a Fox and a Racoon''.
*Stock footage of the adult Gappas appears in an episode of the British sci-fi comedy series ''[[wikipedia:Red Dwarf|Red Dwarf]]'' titled "Meltdown", where they are enormous wax-droids roaming the Prehistoric World section of an abandoned theme park. Though intimidated, the mechanoid Kryten quips "I can't believe how feeble and improbable those creatures were, sir. I've seen more convincing dinosaurs given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes."
 
==External links==
*[https://tubitv.com/movies/559223/gappa-the-triphibian-monster-subbed?start=true ''Gappa'' on Tubi (Japanese with English subtitles)]
*[https://tubitv.com/movies/559022/gappa-the-triphibian-monster?start=true ''Gappa'' on Tubi (English dub)]
==References==
==References==
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{{Kaiju Movies}}
{{Kaiju Movies|tab=JP}}
{{Comments}}
{{Comments}}
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[[Category:1960's Films]]
[[Category:1960's Films]]
[[Category:Showa Films]]
[[Category:Showa Films]]
[[Category:Films dubbed by Frontier Enterprises]]

Latest revision as of 15:39, 29 December 2023

Article.png
Image gallery for Gappa (film)
Credits for Gappa (film)


Gappa
The Japanese poster for Gappa
Alternate titles
Flagicon Japan.png Colossal Beast Gappa (1967)
Flagicon United States.png Monster from a Prehistoric
Planet
(TV 1967)
See alternate titles
Directed by Haruyasu Noguchi
Producer Eisei Koi
Written by Gan Yamazaki, Ryuzo Nakanishi
Music by Seitaro Omori
Special
effects by
Akira Watanabe
Funded by Nikkatsu, Manson Distributing Corp.
Production company Nikkatsu, Nippon Special Effects
Motion Picture Co.
Distributor Nikkatsu,JP AITVU.S.
Rating Not Rated
Budget ¥500,000,000[1]
Running time 84 minutesJP
(1 hour, 24 minutes
90 minutesInt'l
(1 hour, 30 minutes)
Aspect ratio 2.35:1JP
1.33:1US TV
Rate this film!
3.62
(13 votes)

Gappa (大巨獣ガッパ,   Daikyojū Gappa, lit. Colossal Beast Gappa) is a 1967 tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Haruyasu Noguchi and written by Gan Yamazaki and Ryuzo Nakanishi based on a story by Akira Watanabe, with effects by Watanabe. Funded by the Nikkatsu Corporation and the Manson Distributing Corporation, it was produced by Nikkatsu in association with the Nippon Special Effects Motion Picture Company. The film stars Tamio Kawachi, Yoko Yamamoto, Koji Wada, Tatsuya Fuji, and Masanori Machida. Nikkatsu released it to Japanese theaters on April 22, 1967.

Plot

Playmate magazine publisher Tonoka dispatches several of his employees, along with scientists from Toto University, on an expedition to the South Seas to collect rare animals for an island resort. Daize is fishing one night when he sees a pair of massive yellow eyes underwater, just before the ship is rocked by what his crewmates believe to be an earthquake. They scoff at his story.

Shortly thereafter, the captain notices a volcano erupting on Obelisk Island, and they decide to begin the expedition there. Itoko, a photographer, spots a statue resembling those on Easter Island as they approach. The island turns out to be inhabited, and they are quickly surrounded by men wielding spears as they enter the village. Once they announce they are from Japan, however, the chief sets off a raucous celebration. Another group from Japan promised to return many years ago, and they believe the new arrivals will appease a being called “Gappa.”

A young boy leads Hiroshi, a scientist, and Itoko to the statue, but tries to prevent them examining it. As they argue, another earthquake strikes and the statue topples, revealing the entrance to a cave. There, they and Daize discover a massive skeleton and a large egg. A third earthquake causes it to hatch, revealing a docile baby bird-reptile monster. Over the villagers' protestations, the expedition brings the young monster to Japan. Their fears are well-founded: after the expedition leaves, two adult Gappas emerge from the cave and pursue the islanders into the sea. A U.S. submarine rescues them.

Tonoka is enraptured with the baby Gappa and makes plans to smuggle it into the country, the better to preserve the secret until it can be unveiled at his resort. Kurosaki is reluctant to see the creature so exploited, but realizes it is the only way he can be studied. Upon internment at the Toto University laboratory, the baby Gappa grows dramatically in size. By analyzing his brain waves, Kurosaki concludes that his hypothetical parents would be able to track his location.

After bursting out of the water behind the U.S. submarine, the adult Gappas buzz over Haneda Airport before making landfall in Atami. The JSDF deploys tanks to stop them, but the monsters quickly incinerate them with their heat rays. Fighter jets engage them as they smash Atami Castle and are equally unsuccessful. The adult Gappas then submerge into Lake Kawaguchi to rest.

The next day, Playmate runs the baby Gappa as its cover story and issues fly off the shelves. During a defense meeting, Hiroshi recommends using a sonic attack to lure the adult Gappas out of the lake, exposing them to a missile barrage. While his theory proves correct, the adult Gappas are unfazed by the missiles. Flying out of the lake and flooding the nearby town, they advance towards Tokyo.

Even amidst all the destruction, Tonoka refuses to release the baby Gappa, fearing that he would be ruined if his role in the parents’ rampage was revealed. Ultimately, however, he is powerless to stop Itoko, Hiroshi, and the military from taking the baby Gappa themselves. Two blimps towed by helicopters transport him to Tokyo, where his parents are wreaking havoc at an oil refinery. The family joyfully reunites at Haneda Airport and the parents quickly teach their baby how to fly, after which all three of them fly back to Obelisk Island.

Staff

Main article: Gappa (film)/Credits.

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

  • Directed by   Haruyasu Noguchi
  • Written by   Gan Yamazaki, Ryuzo Nakanishi
  • Based on a story by   Akira Watanabe
  • Planned by   Eisei Koi
  • Music by   Seitaro Omori
  • Theme song "Gappa"
    • Performed by   Katsuhiko Miki
    • Written by   Hikari Ichijo
    • Composed by   Masao Yoneyama
  • Cinematography by   Muneo Ueda
  • Edited by   Masanori Tsujii
  • Production design by   Kazumi Moike
  • Assistant directors   Hiroshi Hashimoto, Isao Hayashi, Masaru Konuma
  • Director of special effects   Akira Watanabe

Cast

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

  • Tamio Kawaji   as   Hiroshi Kurosaki
  • Yôko Yamamoto   as   Itoko Koyanagi
  • Yuji Okada   as   Daize Tonoka
  • Kôji Wada   as   Mashida
  • Tatsuya Fuji   as   George Inoue
  • Keisuke Inoue   as   President Funazu
  • Zenji Yamada   as   Captain of the Kamome Maru
  • Bumon Koto   as   Chieftain
  • Kôtarô Sugie   as   Reporter #1 (as Hiroshi Sugie)
  • Saburô Hiromatsu   as   Hosoda
  • Binnosuke Nagao   as   Commander Riku
  • Masaru Kamiyama   as   the Professor
  • Kokan Katsura   as   Saburo Hayashi
  • Shirô Oshimi   as   Oyama
  • Yoko Oyagi   as   Aihara
  • Sanpei Mine   as   Islander #1
  • Takashi Koshiba   as   Reporter #2
  • Kensuke Tamai   as   Islander #2
  • Minoru Sato   as   Reporter #3
  • Kiyoshi Matsuoka   as   Islander #3 (as Seiji Matsuoka)
  • Hiroshi Itoh   as   Reporter #4
  • Mike Danine   as   Petty Officer
  • Ruich Fidancer   as   Captain of the Sea Angels
  • Paul Scheman   as   Professor

International English dub

  • Burr Middleton   as   Hiroshi Kurosaki
  • Carole Wyand   as   Itoko Koyanagi
  • Robert Dunham   as   Mashida
  • Cliff Harrington   as   President Funazu
  • William Ross   as   Saburo Hayashi

Appearances

Monsters

Weapons, vehicles, and races

Development

Main articles: Gigant, Arkitius, Momonra, Reigon: Devil of the Seabed.

Gappa was the fifth and final kaiju film project idea that Nikkatsu came up with, after Giant Monster Gigant, Giant Squid Monster Arkitius, Giant Monster Momonra, and Reigon: Devil of the Seabed. It was also the only one of the five that was actually made. Planning for all four of the unreleased films was done by Hideo Kodama.[2]

Production

Principal photography on Gappa lasted for about 40 days, twice the time that director Haruyasu Noguchi usually took to shoot a film.[1]

Gallery

Main article: Gappa (film)/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: Gappa (Soundtrack).

Alternate titles

  • Colossal Beast Gappa (literal Japanese title)
  • Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (United States)
  • Gappa (United Kingdom)
  • Gappa the Triphibian Monsters (U.S. DVD title)
  • Gappa the Triphibian Monster (UK theatrical release poster title, U.S. Blu-ray title)
  • The Monster That Threatens the World (El Monstruo Que Amenaza el Mundo; Spain)
  • Gappa, the Descendant of Godzilla (Gappa, le Descendant de Godzilla; France)
  • Gappa, the Monster of the Sea (Γάππα, το τέρας της θάλασσας Gáppa, to téras tis thálassas; Greece)
  • The Triphibian Monster (Ang Triphibian Halimaw; Philippines)
  • Gappa - Frankenstein's Flying Monster (Gappa - Frankensteins fliegende Monster; West Germany)
  • Gappa - Invasion of the Flying Beasts (Gappa - Invasion der Fliegenden-Bestien; West Germany reissue title)
  • Gappa - The Terror of King-Kong (Gappa - Le Terreur de King-Kong; French Belgium)
  • Gappa - The Horrors of King-Kong (Gappa - De Gruwelen van King-Kong; Dutch Belgium)
  • Gappa, The Monster (Gappa, O Monstro; Portugal)
  • Gappa - The Monsters of the Pacific (Gappa - Los monstruos del Pacífico; Mexico)

Theatrical releases

  • Japan - April 22, 1967
  • West Germany - 1968
  • United Kingdom - July 27, 1969[3]
  • Italy - 1970
  • Mexico - 1970
  • France - 1973
  • Poland - 1973
  • Czechoslovakia - April 1973

U.S. release

In July 1967, Gappa played at the Nikkatsu Theater in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Japanese with English subtitles.

American International Television released the film directly to television syndication, also in 1967, as Monster from a Prehistoric Planet. The English dubbing was recorded by the Tokyo-based studio Frontier Enterprises. The international version of the film runs six minutes longer than the Japanese version, with the majority of the furthered run time gained from the extension of the special effects sequences featuring the adult Gappas. The film's songs, "Colossal Beast Gappa" and "Don't Give Up, Baby Gappa!," were substituted with instrumental scoring, with the former replaced by an alternative orchestral piece.

AITV's version of the film was re-released on home video in the U.S. by numerous different companies starting in 2003, all of whom assumed it was in the public domain. In 2000, Media Blasters licensed Gappa from Nikkatsu and released the original Japanese-language and international English-dubbed versions of the film on DVD through its Tokyo Shock imprint as Gappa the Triphibian Monsters. It re-released the film on both DVD and Blu-ray in 2020 as Gappa the Triphibian Monster.

Video releases

Kaiju Productions VHS (1998)

  • Tapes: 1
  • Audio: English
  • Notes: Letterboxed.

Tokyo Shock DVD (2000)[4]

  • Region: 1
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono), English (2.0 Mono)
  • Special features: Four pages of liner notes by Guy Mariner Tucker
  • Notes: Subtitles correspond to the English dub's script. Letterboxed and non-anamorphic. Edits the international version of the film to correspond with the Japanese version. Out of print.

Tokyo Shock Blu-ray / DVD (2020)[5]

  • Region: A (Blu-ray), 1 (DVD)
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese, English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Special features: None
  • Note: Edits the international version of the film to correspond with the Japanese version.

Extralucid Films, a French company, plans to release Gappa to Blu-ray in 2023, with the French dub included.[6]

In the U.S., Gappa was long assumed to be in the public domain.[5]Monster from a Prehistoric Planet, the fullscreen English-dubbed version, was released on DVD by numerous companies starting in 2003, including Alpha Video, Sinister Cinema, Retromedia/Image Entertainment, Sling Shot, EastWest, Pop Flix, DVD Cult Classics, RPH Productions and PC Treasures.

Videos

Trailers

Japanese Gappa trailer
International Gappa trailer
West German Gappa trailer
Fragment of the French Belgian Gappa trailer

Miscellaneous

Opening from the international version
Footage exclusive to the Japanese and international versions of Gappa
Example of the extended Gappa
scenes in the international version
Comparison between the 2000 Media Blasters DVD and the 2020 Media Blasters Blu-ray

Trivia

  • Although Gappa shares the basic plot of a baby monster rescued from human civilization by its parent(s) with the 1961 British film Gorgo, screenwriters Gan Yamazaki and Ryuzo Nakanishi claimed to have never seen the earlier film.[1]
  • The Obelisk Island Bird prop and the head of the female Gappa suit reappeared in the 1972 Nikkatsu roman porno film Amorous Family: Like a Fox and a Racoon.
  • Stock footage of the adult Gappas appears in an episode of the British sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf titled "Meltdown", where they are enormous wax-droids roaming the Prehistoric World section of an abandoned theme park. Though intimidated, the mechanoid Kryten quips "I can't believe how feeble and improbable those creatures were, sir. I've seen more convincing dinosaurs given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes."

External links

References

This is a list of references for Gappa (film). 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. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Stuart Galbraith IV (1998). Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films. Feral House. p. 110. ISBN 0-922915-47-4.
  2. 番外篇『日活特撮の世界』
  3. Branaghan, Sim. "Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 - Part 3". SMGuariento.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  4. Amazon.com: Gappa, the Triphibian Monster (2000) Tokyo Shock
  5. 5.0 5.1 RightStuf - Gappa the Triphibian Monster Blu-ray/DVD
  6. Extralucid Films (4 April 2023). "Extra-Pâques : le line-œuf ressuscité ! Toutes nos sorties à venir..." YouTube.

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