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{{Tab
{{Tab
|soundtrack  =Godzilla vs. Hedorah (Soundtrack)
|soundtrack  =Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Soundtrack
|credits    =Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Credits
|credits    =Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Credits
}}
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|writer      =[[Yoshimitsu Banno]], [[Kaoru Mabuchi]]
|writer      =[[Yoshimitsu Banno]], [[Kaoru Mabuchi]]
|composer    =[[Riichiro Manabe]]
|composer    =[[Riichiro Manabe]]
|sfx        =[[Teruyoshi Nakano]]
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}, [[American International Pictures|AIP]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<ref name="Craig">{{cite book|title=American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography|author=Craig, Rob|date=2019|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|page=168|isbn= 9781476666310}}</ref>
|distributor =[[Toho]]{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}, [[American International Pictures|AIP]]{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}<ref name="Craig">{{cite book|title=American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography|author=Craig, Rob|date=2019|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|page=168|isbn= 9781476666310}}</ref>
|rating      =G{{sup|[[United States|US]], 1972}}, PG{{sup|[[United States|US]], 2004}}
|rating      =G{{sup|[[United States|US]], 1972}}, {{tt|PG|For sci-fi monster violence and brief mild language}}{{sup|[[United States|US]], 2004}}, PG{{sup|[[United Kingdom|UK]]}}
|budget      =¥90 million{{Citation needed}}
|budget      =¥90 million{{Citation needed}}
|gross      =¥300 million<ref name="Japanese Wikipedia">[https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B4%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A9%E5%AF%BE%E3%83%98%E3%83%89%E3%83%A9 ゴジラ対ヘドラ - Wikipedia]</ref><ref name="Nenda Ryuukou">{{cite web|url=https://nendai-ryuukou.com/article/089.html|title=List of Godzilla Movies|work=Nenda Ryuukou|accessdate=1 June 2021}}</ref>
|rentals    =¥290 million<ref name="Matsuri">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Toho Champion Festival Perfection]]|date=29 November 2014|publisher=[[Kadokawa|ASCII MEDIA WORKS]]|pages=125–126|isbn=978-4-04-866999-3}}</ref>
|runtime    =85 minutes<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 25 minutes)}}
|runtime    =85 minutes<br>{{Small|(1 hour, 25 minutes)}}
|aspectratio =2.35:1  
|aspectratio =2.35:1{{sup|[[Japan|JP]]}}<br>2.39:1{{sup|[[United States|US]]}}
}}
}}
{{Notice|For the upcoming short film, see [[Godzilla vs. Hedorah (short film)|''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' (2021)]].}}
{{Quote|The Smog Monster [[Hedorah]] arrives in a shooting star! Two giant monsters battle, crushing streets and forests underfoot!|parenthetical=流れ星でやって来た公害怪獣ヘドラ！ 街を森をふみつぶし二大怪獣が大決戦！|Japanese tagline}}
{{Quote|The Smog Monster [[Hedorah]] arrives in a shooting star! Two giant monsters battle, crushing streets and forests underfoot!|parenthetical=流れ星でやって来た公害怪獣ヘドラ！ 街を森をふみつぶし二大怪獣が大決戦！|Japanese tagline}}
{{Quote|All life doomed as a hideous monster is spawned in the filth of pollution|International tagline}}
{{Quote|All life doomed as a hideous monster is spawned in the filth of pollution|International tagline}}
{{Quote|Pollution's hideous spawn dooms the Earth to choking horror and pits... Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster. With deadly breath and venomous blood it slithers across the land. A poisoned slime in its wake... a trembling world in its path!|American taglines}}
{{Quote|Pollution's hideous spawn dooms the Earth to choking horror and pits...Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster<br>With deadly breath and venomed blood it slithers across the land<br>— A poisoned slime in its wake...<br>A trembling world in its path!|American taglines}}
'''''Godzilla vs. Hedorah''''' {{Nihongo|ゴジラ対ヘドラ|Gojira tai Hedora}} is a [[1971]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] produced by [[Toho]], and the eleventh installment in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla series]] as well as the [[Showa era|Showa series]]. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters on July 24, [[1971]].<ref name="Godzilla.jp">[http://godzilla.jp/work/1/ ゴジラ対ヘドラ｜ゴジラ　東宝公式サイト] (official [[Godzilla.jp]] page)</ref>
{{Notice|For the short film, see [[Godzilla vs. Hedorah (short film)|''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' (short film)]].}}
'''''Godzilla vs. Hedorah''''' {{Nihongo|ゴジラ対ヘドラ|Gojira tai Hedora}} is a [[1971]] [[tokusatsu]] [[:Category:Kaiju Films|kaiju film]] directed by [[Yoshimitsu Banno]] and written by Banno with [[Kaoru Mabuchi]], with special effects by [[Teruyoshi Nakano]]. Produced by [[Toho]], it is the 11th installment in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'' series]] as well as the [[Showa era|Showa series]]. It stars [[Akira Yamanouchi]], [[Hiroyuki Kawase]], Toshie Kimura, Mari Keiko, and Toshio Shibaki. The film was released to [[Japan]]ese theaters by Toho on July 24, [[1971]] as part of the Summer [[Toho Champion Festival]].<ref name="Godzilla.jp">[http://godzilla.jp/work/1/ ゴジラ対ヘドラ｜ゴジラ　東宝公式サイト] (official [[Godzilla.jp]] page)</ref> [[American International Pictures]] released an English-dubbed version of the film titled '''''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''''' to [[United States|American]] theaters in February [[1972]].


With a strong environmentally-focused message, ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' features the Smog Monster [[Hedorah]], who feeds on the pollution produced by mankind. As Hedorah continues to feed and evolve, [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] rises to confront the creature before it can threaten him as well as all of humanity. However, Hedorah is bolstered by mankind's pollution and continues to achieve larger and more powerful forms to the point it dwarfs even Godzilla and causes horrific devastation to all of Japan. Marine biologist [[Toru Yano]] and his son [[Ken Yano|Ken]] work to find a method to defeat Hedorah as Godzilla's war against the Smog Monster culminates in a decisive final battle atop [[Mount Fuji]].
With a strong environmentally-focused message, ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' features the Smog Monster [[Hedorah]], who feeds on the pollution produced by mankind. As Hedorah continues to feed and evolve, [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] rises to confront the creature before it can threaten him as well as all of humanity. However, Hedorah is bolstered by mankind's pollution and continues to achieve larger and more powerful forms to the point it dwarfs even Godzilla and causes horrific devastation to all of Japan. Marine biologist [[Toru Yano]] and his son [[Ken Yano|Ken]] work to find a method to defeat Hedorah as Godzilla's war against the Smog Monster culminates in a decisive final battle atop [[Mount Fuji]]. It was followed by ''[[Godzilla vs. Gigan]]'' in [[1972]]. Director Yoshimitsu Banno would go on to unsuccessfully pitch several successors to this film as well as executive produce the first three ''Godzilla'' films of [[Legendary Pictures]]' [[Monsterverse]] beginning in [[2014]].  
{{TOC}}
{{TOC}}
==Plot==
==Plot==
Young [[Ken Yano]] is playing outside with his [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] toys when his uncle [[Yukio Keuchi]] asks him if Godzilla is his favorite. Ken responds that to him, Godzilla is Superman. Local fisherman Gohei comes to the Yanos' home to show Ken's biologist father [[Toru Yano|Toru]] a strange black tadpole he found. Dr. Yano is unable to identify the specimen and asks where Gohei caught it. Gohei responds that he caught it in Suruga Bay, which is becoming more polluted by the day. Later, while watching the news, the family sees a report about an accident at Suruga Bay where a huge black monster attacked two oil tankers that had crashed. Ken immediately recognizes the monster as a larger version of the tadpole Gohei had brought over. Dr. Yano decides to investigate and dons a diving suit to explore Suruga Bay. Ken stays behind on the rocks to wait for his father. As Yano dives beneath Suruga Bay, he finds the seafloor polluted with all manner of garbage and even several dead waterfowl. While waiting for his father, Ken sees the huge monster tadpole from the television approaching him. The creature leaps from the water, with Ken defending himself with a knife. The knife slices harmlessly through the monster, which lands back in the water and swims toward Yano's location. Ken notices he is otherwise unharmed save for a burn on his hand, and calls out for his father, and tells him he saw the monster. Beneath the surface, Yano sees the monster tadpole approaching and hides. He is however unable to escape the creature, which attacks him.
At his family home on the outskirts of Fuji City, Shizuoka, young [[Ken Yano]] is playing outside with his [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] toys when his uncle [[Yukio Keuchi]] asks him if Godzilla is his favorite. Ken responds that to him, Godzilla is Superman. Local fisherman Gohei comes to the Yanos' home to show Ken's marine biologist father [[Toru Yano|Toru]] a strange black tadpole he found. Dr. Yano is unable to identify the specimen and asks where Gohei caught it. Gohei responds that he caught it in Suruga Bay, which is becoming more polluted by the day. Later, while watching the news, the family sees a report about an accident at Suruga Bay where a huge black monster attacked two oil tankers that had crashed. Ken immediately recognizes the monster as a larger version of the tadpole Gohei had brought over. Dr. Yano decides to investigate and dons a diving suit to explore Suruga Bay. Ken stays behind on the rocks to wait for his father. As Yano dives beneath Suruga Bay, he finds the seafloor polluted with all manner of garbage and even several dead waterfowl. While waiting for his father, Ken sees the huge monster tadpole from the television approaching him. The creature leaps from the water, with Ken defending himself with a knife. The knife slices harmlessly through the monster, which lands back in the water and swims toward Yano's location. Ken notices he is otherwise unharmed save for a burn on his hand, and calls out for his father, and tells him he saw the monster. Beneath the surface, Yano sees the monster tadpole approaching and hides. He is, however, unable to escape the creature, which attacks him.


Following the attack, Dr. Yano is confined to bed rest with gruesome burns on his face. Reporters interview him and Ken about their encounter with the monster, which Ken has named [[Hedorah]]. Ken tells the reporters that Hedorah comes from the sludge dumped into the sea and feeds on pollution. Furthermore, he says there is more than just one Hedorah. Yano agrees with what his son has said, adding that the Hedorah they encountered was dangerous enough to severely burn his face. The reporters prepare to take pictures of Yano's injuries, but his wife Toshie asks them not to. Yano says he wants people to see pictures of him so they know how severe the threat is, and asks the reporters to take photos. Ken shows the reporters his hand, saying Hedorah got him too. Over the following days, numerous accidents occur involving tankers, all caused by the monster dubbed Hedorah. Ken has a dream where Godzilla arises to battle Hedorah in response to the severe pollution of the sea. He heads to his father's laboratory to tell his parents about his dream. Inside the lab, Dr. Yano finds that the Hedorah Gohei brought him has dried out and begun to crumble. He is shocked to find that the so-called tadpole is actually a mineral. He places powder from the Hedorah in water, where it forms into very small Hedorahs. He notices that when he places them in dirty water, they will combine into a larger Hedorah. He says this proves Ken's theory that Hedorah comes to life in polluted waters.
Following the attack, Dr. Yano is confined to bed rest with gruesome burns on his face. Reporters interview him and Ken about their encounter with the monster, which Ken has named [[Hedorah]]. Ken tells the reporters that Hedorah comes from the sludge dumped into the sea and feeds on pollution. Furthermore, he says there is more than just one Hedorah. Yano agrees with what his son has said, adding that the Hedorah they encountered was dangerous enough to severely burn his face. The reporters prepare to take pictures of Yano's injuries, but his wife Toshie asks them not to. Yano says he wants people to see pictures of him so they know how severe the threat is, and asks the reporters to take their photos. Ken shows the reporters his hand, saying Hedorah got him too. Over the following days, numerous accidents occur involving tankers, all caused by the monster dubbed Hedorah. Ken has a dream where Godzilla arises to battle Hedorah in response to the severe pollution of the sea. He heads to his father's laboratory to tell his parents about his dream. Inside the lab, Dr. Yano finds that the Hedorah Gohei brought him has dried out and begun to crumble. He is shocked to find that the so-called tadpole is actually a mineral. He places powder from the Hedorah in water, where it forms into very small Hedorahs. He notices that when he places them in dirty water from Tagonoura Bay, they will combine into a larger Hedorah. He says this proves Ken's theory that Hedorah comes to life in polluted waters.


Yukio attends a nightclub where his girlfriend [[Miki Fujinomiya]] is performing. For a brief moment, he hallucinates that all of the patrons have fish heads. Not far from the club, Hedorah evolves into a terrestrial Landing Stage and crawls onto land in a port area. The Smog Monster approaches a nearby factory and places its head over the smokestack, breathing in the toxic pollutants and growing. The creature's feeding is interrupted when it overhears Godzilla's roar. Hedorah responds to the call with its own roar and watches as Godzilla approaches. Hedorah leaps at Godzilla, who manages to tear himself free of the monster's grip. Godzilla grabs Hedorah and swings it through the air, causing a chunk of its body to crash into the upstairs of the nightclub. Yukio, Miki, and all of the patrons then witness the fragment of Hedorah slither down the stairs before retreating up, leaving a sludge-covered cat in its wake. Yukio and Miki escape to Yukio's car, from which they see Godzilla pursuing Hedorah. The monsters exchange taunts, with Hedorah seemingly mocking Godzilla's own gestures. They begin to fight again as Hedorah leaps at Godzilla but misses. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Hedorah when it is on the ground, but this only causes his enemy to spark. Hedorah quickly retreats into the ocean, with Godzilla in hot pursuit. Godzilla fires his atomic breath in the water, trying to hit Hedorah, but to no avail.
Yukio attends a nightclub where his girlfriend [[Miki Fujinomiya]] performs as a dancer. For a brief moment, he hallucinates that all of the patrons have fish heads. Not far from the club, Hedorah evolves into a terrestrial Landing Stage and crawls onto land in a port area. The Smog Monster approaches a nearby factory and places its head over the smokestack, breathing in the toxic pollutants and growing. The creature's feeding is interrupted when it overhears Godzilla's roar. Hedorah responds to the call with its own roar and watches as Godzilla approaches. Hedorah leaps at Godzilla, who manages to tear himself free of the monster's grip. Godzilla grabs Hedorah and swings it through the air, causing a chunk of its body to crash into the upstairs of the nightclub. Yukio, Miki, and all of the patrons then witness the fragment of Hedorah slither down the stairs before retreating up, leaving a sludge-covered cat in its wake. Yukio and Miki escape to Yukio's car, from which they see Godzilla pursuing Hedorah. The monsters exchange taunts, with Hedorah seemingly mocking Godzilla's own gestures. They begin to fight again as Hedorah leaps at Godzilla but misses. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Hedorah when it is on the ground, but this only causes his enemy to spark. Hedorah quickly retreats into Tagonoura Bay, with Godzilla in hot pursuit. Godzilla fires his atomic breath in the water, trying to hit Hedorah, but to no avail.


In the aftermath of the battle, Yukio takes Dr. Yano to the area in the port where he saw Hedorah spark. Yano asks his family to harvest as many samples of ash in the area that they can find. Back in his lab, Yano has uncovered the secret to Hedorah's biology. The creature is composed of an undiscovered element he calls Hedrium, which absorbs toxins and pollutants and converts them into energy for Hedorah. Thus, Hedorah literally feeds on manmade pollution. Miki asks if this would solve their pollution problem, but Yano responds that it would make things far worse. When Hedrium reacts with pollutants, it produces sulfuric acid, the same acid which caused the burns on his face. When it feeds on pollutants, Hedorah produces a deadly sulfuric smog which corroded metal in the area where it came ashore. While it absorbs manmade pollutants, Hedorah creates its own toxic smog that is far more deadly. Yano believes Hedorah is an alien which came to Earth on a comet, likely originating from a [[Dark Gaseous Nebula of the Orion|dark, sticky planet]] somewhere far away from Earth. Miki and Yukio take Ken to an amusement park on a bright and sunny day, when it is believed Hedorah won't come ashore. Ken sees Godzilla in the distance while he is on a rollercoaster and quickly gets off once the ride stops and runs off to call his father. He calls his father from a phone booth and says that if Godzilla is here, Hedorah must be as well. Yano tells his son to go to his mother's school, but their call is cut off by an explosion. Ken ducks as the explosion rocks the phone booth. When he is unable to contact his father, he runs away. Oil tanks at a nearby refinery begin to explode, and from the smoke emerges Hedorah in its new Flying Stage. Yukio and Miki try to pursue Ken in their car, but find it has stalled just before they see sludge running down the windshield. The two bail from the car as it is pulled in by Hedorah along with surrounding traffic. Hedorah takes flight once more and passes over the school where Toshie teaches, causing the students to collapse and choke for air as the plants wither around them. Godzilla confronts Hedorah near a factory, grabbing it from the air and throwing it to the ground. Godzilla punches Hedorah, but the blow is harmlessly absorbed by Hedorah's amorphous body. Hedorah takes flight again, spraying its sulfuric acid mist directly into Godzilla's face, causing him to fall to the ground gasping for air as the factory explodes around him. Hedorah flies above a fleeing crowd, its sulfuric mist reducing them to skeletons in a matter of moments. The creature then flies over a construction site, melting the metal girders with its sulfuric acid mist.
In the aftermath of the battle, Yukio takes Dr. Yano to the area in the port where he saw Hedorah spark. Yano asks his family to harvest as many samples of ash in the area that they can find. Back in his lab, Yano has uncovered the secret to Hedorah's biology. The creature is composed of an undiscovered element he calls Hedrium, which absorbs toxins and pollutants and converts them into energy for Hedorah; thus, Hedorah literally feeds on manmade pollution. Miki asks if this would solve their pollution problem, but Yano responds that it would make things far worse. When Hedrium reacts with pollutants, it produces sulfuric acid, the same acid which caused the burns on his face. When it feeds on pollutants, Hedorah produces a deadly sulfuric smog which corroded metal in the area where it came ashore. While it absorbs manmade pollutants, Hedorah creates its own toxic smog that is far more deadly. Yano believes Hedorah is an alien which came to Earth on a comet, likely originating from a [[Dark Gaseous Nebula of the Orion|dark, sticky planet]] somewhere far away from Earth. Miki and Yukio take Ken to an amusement park on a bright and sunny day, when it is believed Hedorah won't come ashore. Ken sees Godzilla in the distance while he is on a rollercoaster and quickly gets off once the ride stops and runs off to call his father. He calls his father from a phone booth and says that if Godzilla is here, Hedorah must be as well. Yano tells his son to go to the junior high school where his mother works, but their call is cut off by an explosion. Ken ducks as the explosion rocks the phone booth. When he is unable to contact his father, he runs away. Oil tanks at a nearby refinery begin to explode, and from the smoke emerges Hedorah in its new Flying Stage. Yukio and Miki try to pursue Ken in their car, but find it has stalled just before they see sludge running down the windshield. The two bail from the car as it is pulled in by Hedorah along with surrounding traffic. Hedorah takes flight once more and passes over the school where Toshie teaches, causing the students to collapse and choke for air as the plants wither around them. Godzilla confronts Hedorah near a factory, grabbing it from the air and throwing it to the ground. Godzilla punches Hedorah, but the blow is harmlessly absorbed by Hedorah's amorphous body. Hedorah takes flight again, spraying its sulfuric acid mist directly into Godzilla's face, causing him to fall to the ground gasping for air as the factory explodes around him. Hedorah flies above a fleeing crowd, its sulfuric mist reducing them to skeletons in a matter of moments. The creature then flies over a construction site, melting the metal girders with its sulfuric acid mist.


In the aftermath of Hedorah's daytime raid, Fuji City is enveloped in toxic smog as casualties number in the thousands. Rescue workers are hindered by the smog, as bodies reportedly pile up in the streets. No time of day or place is safe from Hedorah, which against expectations came ashore on a clear day and now has the ability to fly. Humanity is left to wonder which new terrifying form the creature will assume. Yukio meanwhile has organized a party for the youth at the top of [[Mount Fuji]] in a final act of defiance against Hedorah before it conquers all of Japan. Back at his home, Toru struggles to think of any way of stopping Hedorah. Oxygen may deter its growth, but this seems insufficient to defeat it. Ken proposes that if Hedorah is made of sludge, they should be able to just dry it out. This suggestion gives Yano an idea. He places a small Hedorah between two electrode panels, a method utilized to dry fields in [[Hokkaido]]. He activates the electrodes, which release an electrical current that dries out the Hedorah in a matter of moments. With this method proving effective, Yano decides to contact the JSDF to reproduce the electrodes on a larger scale.
In the aftermath of Hedorah's daytime raid, Fuji City is enveloped in toxic smog as casualties number in the thousands. Rescue workers are hindered by the smog, as bodies reportedly pile up in the streets. No time of day or place is safe from Hedorah, which against expectations came ashore on a clear day and now has the ability to fly. Humanity is left to wonder which new terrifying form the creature will assume. Yukio, meanwhile, has organized a party for the youth at the top of [[Mount Fuji]] in a final act of defiance against Hedorah before it conquers all of Japan. Back at his home, Toru struggles to think of any way of stopping Hedorah. Oxygen may deter its growth, but this seems insufficient to defeat it. Ken proposes that if Hedorah is made of sludge, they should be able to just dry it out. This suggestion gives Yano an idea. He places a small Hedorah between two electrode panels, a method utilized to dry fields in [[Hokkaido]]. He activates the electrodes, which release an electrical current that dries out the Hedorah in a matter of moments. With this method proving effective, Yano decides to contact the JSDF to reproduce the electrodes on a larger scale.
 
Ken attends the party at Mt. Fuji with Yukio and Miki but has a vision of Godzilla while he is there. He warns the others that Hedorah must be coming as well, which is proven to be true as the roars of both monsters are heard. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Hedorah as it flies overhead, but it dodges the blast. Hedorah knocks Godzilla down with its Hedrium Light Ray, then touches down and metamorphoses into its colossal Perfect Stage, which far exceeds Godzilla's size. Hedorah makes its way toward the partygoers. Yukio and the others throw torches at Hedorah, who retaliates by firing sludge at them, killing many of them, including Yukio. Miki and Ken watch helplessly as Hedorah continues its advance. Godzilla confronts his now-larger enemy before it can reach the survivors, hitting a rock with his tail to distract Hedorah. When the monster turns, Godzilla plunges his fist into Hedorah's eye, which bleeds profusely before Hedorah forces it closed. Hedorah's acidic blood burns the flesh off of Godzilla's hand down to the bone. Hedorah counterattacks Godzilla with blasts of acidic sludge from its body which cost Godzilla his eye, and its deadly Hedrium Light Ray. Hedorah transforms into its Flying Stage and lifts and drops Godzilla into a pit, then changes back and proceeds to nearly drown Godzilla in sludge. Godzilla escapes the pit and the two monsters roll down the hillside, damaging the power lines powering the [[Giant Electrode]] nearby. Hedorah is drawn by flashing headlights in front of the Electrode and flies there. Yano and Toshie arrive after learning that Ken is in danger and watch as the JSDF works to get the Giant Electrode working in time. Helicopters try to distract Hedorah with oxygen bombs, but it blasts them out of the sky with its Hedrium Light Ray. Hedorah continues advancing toward the trucks flashing their headlights and passes in front of the Giant Electrode. Suddenly, Godzilla fires his atomic breath at the Electrode which powers it on. The electrical current causes Hedorah to writhe in agony before falling to the ground as a dried husk. Godzilla approaches the fallen Hedorah and tears out its eyeballs before powering on the Electrode once more. The eyeballs are reduced to piles of ash in Godzilla's hands. Godzilla inspects Hedorah's carcass before walking away. However, he strikes a rock into Hedorah's carcass with his tail, only for the husk to split open and a Flying Stage Hedorah to fly out. Godzilla calmly holds his arms apart and fires his atomic breath at the ground, causing him to lift off into the air. Godzilla chases down Hedorah and knocks it out of the sky. Hedorah transforms into its Landing Stage, but is no match for Godzilla anymore and is easily subdued. Godzilla grabs Hedorah and flies back to the Giant Electrode. The JSDF activates it but blows a fuse. Godzilla shakes his head in disappointment and again fires his atomic breath, powering on the Electrode. Hedorah is again dried into a husk, but this time Godzilla tears into it to expose every square inch of moisture that could reanimate into another Hedorah. He then activates the Electrode and completely dries out all of Hedorah's remains, leaving no chance of the monster coming back to life. Godzilla briefly turns his head toward the onlooking humans before walking away. Ken and Miki follow Godzilla as he walks down the slopes of Mt. Fuji, with Ken calling after his hero. While Godzilla is victorious, continuing rampant pollution means that the emergence of a second Hedorah may not be out of the question.


Ken attends the party at Mt. Fuji with Yukio and Miki but has a vision of Godzilla while he is there. He warns the others that Hedorah must be coming as well, which is proven to be true as the roars of both monsters are heard. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Hedorah as it flies overhead, but it dodges the blast. Hedorah knocks Godzilla down with its Hedrium Light Ray then touches down and metamorphoses into its colossal Perfect Stage, which far exceeds Godzilla's size. Hedorah makes its way toward the partygoers. Yukio and the others throw torches at Hedorah, who retaliates by firing sludge at them, killing many of them including Yukio. Miki and Ken watch helplessly as Hedorah continues its advance. Godzilla confronts his now-larger enemy before it can reach the survivors, hitting a rock with his tail to distract Hedorah. When the monster turns, Godzilla plunges his fist into Hedorah's eye, which bleeds profusely before Hedorah forces it closed. Hedorah's acidic blood burns the flesh off of Godzilla's hand down to the bone. Hedorah counterattacks Godzilla with blasts of acidic sludge from its body which cost Godzilla his eye, and its deadly Hedrium Light Ray. Hedorah transforms into its Flying Stage and lifts and drops Godzilla into a pit, then changes back and proceeds to nearly drown Godzilla in sludge. Godzilla escapes the pit and the two monsters roll down the hillside, damaging the power lines powering the [[Giant Electrode]] nearby. Hedorah is drawn by flashing headlights in front of the Electrode and flies there. Yano and Toshie arrive after learning that Ken is in danger and watch as the JSDF works to get the Giant Electrode working in time. Helicopters try to distract Hedorah with oxygen bombs, but it blasts them out of the sky with its Hedrium Light Ray. Hedorah continues advancing toward the trucks flashing their headlights and passes in front of the Giant Electrode. Suddenly, Godzilla fires his atomic breath at the Electrode which powers it on. The electrical current causes Hedorah to writhe in agony before falling to the ground as a dried husk. Godzilla approaches the fallen Hedorah and tears out its eyeballs before powering on the Electrode once more. The eyeballs are reduced to piles of ash in Godzilla's hands. Godzilla inspects Hedorah's carcass before walking away. However, he strikes a rock into Hedorah's carcass with his tail, only for the husk to split open and a Flying Stage Hedorah to fly out. Godzilla calmly holds his arms apart and fires his atomic breath at the ground, causing him to lift off into the air. Godzilla chases down Hedorah and knocks it out of the sky. Hedorah transforms into its Landing Stage, but is no match for Godzilla anymore and is easily subdued. Godzilla grabs Hedorah and flies back to the Giant Electrode. The JSDF activates it but blows a fuse. Godzilla shakes his head in disappointment and again fires his atomic breath, powering on the Electrode. Hedorah is again dried into a husk, but this time Godzilla tears into it to expose every square inch of moisture that could reanimate into another Hedorah. He then activates the Electrode and completely dries out all of Hedorah's remains, leaving no chance of the monster coming back to life. Godzilla briefly turns his head toward the onlooking humans before walking away. Ken and Miki follow Godzilla as he walks down the slopes of Mt. Fuji, with Ken calling after his hero. While Godzilla is victorious, continuing rampant pollution means that the emergence of a second Hedorah may not be out of the question.
==Staff==
==Staff==
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Credits}}
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Credits}}
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|Directed by|[[Yoshimitsu Banno]]
|Directed by|[[Yoshimitsu Banno]]
|Written by|Yoshimitsu Banno, [[Kaoru Mabuchi]]
|Written by|Yoshimitsu Banno, [[Kaoru Mabuchi]]
|Produced by|[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Executive producer|[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
|Music by|[[Riichiro Manabe]]
|Music by|[[Riichiro Manabe]]
*Insert song "[[Return the Sun!]]"
*Insert song "[[Return the Sun!]]"
Line 63: Line 65:
|*Lyrics by|Yoshimitsu Banno
|*Lyrics by|Yoshimitsu Banno
|*Arranged by|Hiroshi Takada
|*Arranged by|Hiroshi Takada
|Cinematography by|Yoichi Manoda
|Cinematography by|[[Yoichi Manoda]]
|Edited by|Yoshitami Kuroiwa
|Edited by|[[Yoshitami Kuroiwa]]
|Production design by|Taiko Inoue
|Production design by|[[Yasuyuki Inoue]]
|1st assistant director|Heikichi Tsushima
|First assistant director|Heikichi Tsushima
|Director of special effects|[[Teruyoshi Nakano]]
|Director of special effects|[[Teruyoshi Nakano]]
|1st assistant director of special effects|[[Koichi Kawakita]]
|First assistant director of special effects|[[Yoshio Tabuchi]]
|Animated segments by|Etsuro Yasui (uncredited)<ref name="Animator">{{cite web|url=https://mykaiju.com/hedorah-animator/|title=Hedorah Animator|last=Ruffin|first=John|date=12 August 2023|work=MyKaiju}}</ref>
}}
}}
==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Cast
{{Cast
|Akira Yamauchi|Dr. [[Toru Yano]]
|[[Akira Yamanouchi]]|Dr. [[Toru Yano]], marine biologist
|Hiroyuki Kawase|[[Ken Yano]]
|[[Hiroyuki Kawase]]|[[Ken Yano]], 2nd grader
|Toshie Kimura|Toshie Yano, Ken's mother
|Toshie Kimura|Toshie Yano, junior high physical education instructor
|Mari Keiko|[[Miki Fujinomiya]]
|Mari Keiko|[[Miki Fujinomiya]], singer at nightclub
|Toshio Shibaki|[[Yukio Keuchi]]
|Toshio Shibaki|[[Yukio Keuchi]], All Japan Youth Federation member
|Yoshio Yoshida|Gohei, fisherman
|Yoshio Yoshida|Gohei, fisherman
|[[Haruo Suzuki]]|Suzuki, [[JSDF]] senior officer
|[[Haruo Suzuki]]|[[JSDF]] senior officer
|Yoshio Katsube|Katsube, JSDF technical officer
|Kentaro Watanabe|himself, announcer
|Tadashi Okabe|Scholar
|Tatsu Okabe|himself, announcer
|Yasuzo Ogawa|Person
|Yoshio Katsube|JSDF engineer
|Wataru Omae|Officer
|Takuya Yuki|communications officer
|Eizaburo Komatsu, [[Koji Uruki]]|Non-commissioned officers
|Tadashi Okabe|scholar
|Yukihiko Gondo|Helicopter pilot
|Yukihiko Gondo|helicopter pilot
|Tatsuhito Go|Young person
|Wataru Omae|police officer
|Kentaro Watanabe|Himself, announcer
|Yasuzo Ogawa|lead protestor
|Tatsu Okabe|Himself, announcer
|Kazuo Imai, Saburo Kadowaki, [[Masaki Shinohara]], Nobuo Katsura|mahjong players (uncredited)<ref name="Uncredited cast">{{cite web|url=https://mumeisha.fool.jp/eiga/godzilla_vs_hedorah2/|title=Thinking About "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (Actor Edition)|date=28 March 2022|work=Mumeisha Electric Network Transmission Processor}}</ref>
|Kazuo Imai, Saburo Kadowaki, [[Masaki Shinohara]], Nobuo Katsura|Mahjong players (uncredited)
|Eizaburo Komatsu, Koji Uruki, Hideo Otsuka, Yutaka Oka, Saburo Kadowaki, Yukio Kawamata, Masaki Shinohara, Eisuke Nakanishi|JSDF officers (uncredited)<ref name="Uncredited cast"/>
|Akio Kusama, Soji Ubukata|People on the TV screen (uncredited)
|Akio Kusama, Soji Ubukata. Ken Echigo, Saburo Kadowaki, Yoshie Kihira, Akio Kusama, Soya Kondo, Haruya Sakamoto, Toshiko Nakano, Mori Sachiko|protestors on TV screen (uncredited)<ref name="Uncredited cast"/>
|Shigeo Kato|Construction worker (uncredited)
|Tatsuhito Go, Mika Katsuragi, Soya Kondo, Setsuko Kawaguchi|teenagers (uncredited)<ref name="Uncredited cast"/>
|Yutaka Oka|Non-commissioned officer (uncredited)
|Hiroshi Akitsu, Onishi Yasumasa, Kyoko Ozawa, Jumpei Natsuki|old people in bushes (uncredited)<ref name="Uncredited cast"/>
|Shigeo Kato|construction worker (uncredited)<ref name="Uncredited cast"/>
|[[Kenpachiro Satsuma]]|[[Hedorah]] (as Kengo Nakayama)
|[[Kenpachiro Satsuma]]|[[Hedorah]] (as Kengo Nakayama)
|[[Haruo Nakajima]]|[[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] / man on TV screen / non-commissioned officer
|[[Haruo Nakajima]]|[[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] / man on TV screen / non-commissioned officer}}
}}
===International English dub===
===International English dub===
{{Cast
{{Cast|notice=no
|Barry Haigh|[[Yukio Keuchi]]<ref name="YT2">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLb9Z-qhW8M Barry Haigh, Hong Kong Voice Actor]</ref>
|Marc Toole|[[Ken Yano]]
|Linda Masson|[[Miki Fujinomiya]]
|Barry Haigh|[[Yukio Keuchi]]<ref name="YT2">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLb9Z-qhW8M Barry Haigh, Hong Kong Voice Actor]</ref> / [[Gohei]]
|Chris Hilton|[[JSDF]] officer<ref name="YT">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRROZBLHV0M Chris Hilton, Hong Kong Voice Actor]</ref>
|Barbara Laney|Miki Fujinomiya
|Chris Hilton|[[JSDF]] senior officer<ref name="YT">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRROZBLHV0M Chris Hilton, Hong Kong Voice Actor]</ref>
|Rex Ellis|Kentaro Watanabe / Tatsu Okabe / protestors / teenagers
|Jack Moore|JSDF technical officer / Kentaro Watanabe (one scene only) / helicopter pilot / protestors / teenagers
|Saul Lockhart|JSDF communications officer / scholar / teenagers
}}
}}
===Titan Productions English dub===
===Titan Productions English dub===
{{Cast
{{Cast|notice=no
|Bernard Grant|Dr. [[Toru Yano]]
|Bernard Grant|Dr. [[Toru Yano]]
|Peter Fernandez|[[Yukio Keuchi]]<ref name="Ryfle">{{cite book|title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G" |author=Steve Ryfle |date=1998 |publisher=ECW Press |pages=150, 163}}</ref>
|Peter Fernandez|[[Yukio Keuchi]]<ref name="Ryfle">{{cite book|title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G" |author=Steve Ryfle |date=1998 |publisher=ECW Press |pages=150, 163}}</ref>
|Lucy Martin|Toshie Yano
|Lucy Martin|Toshie Yano
|Earl Hammond|[[JSDF]] officer
|Earl Hammond|[[JSDF]] officer
|Kenneth Harvey|scholar
}}
}}
==Appearances==
==Appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
===Monsters===
===Monsters===
*[[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] ([[SoshingekiGoji]])
*[[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] ([[SoshingekiGoji]])
*[[Hedorah]]
*[[Hedorah]]
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Fish Person|Fish People]] (hallucination)
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Fish People|Fish People]] (hallucination)
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Smog Factory|Smog Factory]] (animation sequence)
*[[List of minor Toho monsters#Smog Factory|Smog Factory]] (animation sequence)
*[[King Ghidorah]] (toy)
*[[King Ghidorah]] (toy)
Line 128: Line 137:
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Gallery}}
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Gallery}}
==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Hedorah (Soundtrack)}}
{{Main|Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Soundtrack}}
==Alternate titles==
==Alternate titles==
*'''''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''''' ([[United States]]; United Kingdom)
*'''''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''''' ([[United States]]; United Kingdom)
Line 136: Line 145:
*'''''The Monsters of Smog''''' (''Los monstruos del smog''; Mexico)
*'''''The Monsters of Smog''''' (''Los monstruos del smog''; Mexico)
*'''''Frankenstein's Battle Against the Devil Monsters''''' (''Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster''; West Germany)
*'''''Frankenstein's Battle Against the Devil Monsters''''' (''Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster''; West Germany)
*'''''Godzilla: Fury of the Monster''''' (''Godzilla - Furia di Mostri''; Italy)
*'''''Godzilla: Fury of the Monsters''''' (''Godzilla - Furia di Mostri''; Italy)
*'''''Godzilla Against the Monster of Fog''''' (''Godzilla contre le monstre du brouillard''; French Belgium)
*'''''Godzilla Against the Monster of Fog''''' (''Godzilla contre le monstre du brouillard''; French Belgium)
*'''''Godzilla Against Hedora''''' (''Godzilla kontra Hedora''; Poland; ''Godzilla contre Hedora''; France)
*'''''Godzilla Against Hedora''''' (''Godzilla kontra Hedora''; Poland; ''Godzilla contre Hedora''; France)
*'''''Satan's Creature''''' (''Satans creatuur''; the Netherlands)
*'''''Satan's Creature''''' (''Satans creatuur''; Netherlands)
*'''''Monster Hedorah''''' (''Canavar Hedorah''; Turkey)
*'''''Monster Hedorah''''' (''Canavar Hedorah''; Turkey)
*'''''The Monsters Invade Earth''''' (''Os Monstros Invadem a Terra''; Brazil)
*'''''The Monsters Invade Earth''''' (''Os Monstros Invadem a Terra''; Brazil)
*'''''Earth's Last Moments''''' (Οι τελευταίες στιγμές της Γης ''Oi teleftaíes stigmés tis Gis''; Greece)
==Theatrical releases==
==Theatrical releases==
{{All Posters}}
{{All Posters}}
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*West Germany - December 10, 1971 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_Poster_Germany.png|caption=German poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*West Germany - December 10, 1971 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_Poster_Germany.png|caption=German poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*[[United States]] - February 1972 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Movie_Posters_-_Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_-English-.png|caption=American poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*[[United States]] - February 1972 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_Movie_Posters_-_Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_-English-.png|caption=American poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Canada - March 5, 1972
*Italy - 1972 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_Poster_Italy_2.png|caption=Italian poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Italy - 1972 {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_Poster_Italy_2.png|caption=Italian poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Belgium - 1972
*Belgium - 1972
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*Turkey {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_Poster_Turkey_1.jpg|caption=Turkish poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Turkey {{Popup-poster|file=Godzilla_vs._Hedorah_Poster_Turkey_1.jpg|caption=Turkish poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Israel {{Popup-poster|file=Ishtar_auction_87_lots_import_0_979_1.jpg|caption=Israeli poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
*Israel {{Popup-poster|file=Ishtar_auction_87_lots_import_0_979_1.jpg|caption=Israeli poster|link={{PAGENAME}}}}
==[[United States|U.S.]] release==
 
==Foreign releases==
===[[United States|U.S.]] release===
[[File: Godzilla Movie Posters - Godzilla vs. Hedorah -English-.png|thumb|right|200px|U.S. ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' poster]]
[[File: Godzilla Movie Posters - Godzilla vs. Hedorah -English-.png|thumb|right|200px|U.S. ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' poster]]
''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' was released theatrically in the [[United States]] in February [[1972]] by [[American International Pictures]] under the title ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''. It was dubbed into English by Titan Productions, in the company's last work on a Godzilla film.<ref name="Craig"/> No footage was cut or replaced, apart from shots of Japanese text. Notably, the anti-pollution song which reappears throughout the film, "[[Return the Sun!]]", was replaced by a new version with English lyrics called "[[Return the Sun!#"Save the Earth"|Save the Earth]]," written by Adryan Russ and Guy Hemric and performed by Russ.<ref name=" Craig"/> The AIP version of the film is only available on VHS and LaserDisc.
''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' was released theatrically in the [[United States]] in February [[1972]] by [[American International Pictures]] under the title ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''. It was dubbed into English by Titan Productions, in the company's last work on a Godzilla film.<ref name="Craig"/> Almost no footage was cut or replaced apart from shots of Japanese text, which were either left textless or rendered in English accordingly. Changes in AIP's version include:
*A partly reanimated graphic for "HEDORAH" during the first animated segment, which replaces "Cheerful" {{Nihongo|ごきげん|Gokigen}}. This only appears in AIP's theatrical prints and Orion Home Video's VHS and LaserDisc releases, and it is absent from the cropped 16mm prints that AIP struck for television distribution.
*The shots over which [[Ken Yano]]'s anti-pollution poem is recited are left textless.
*The astronomical backgrounds in the sequence where [[Toru Yano|Dr. Yano]] and Ken discuss Hedorah's origins are textless. The Japanese visuals are used in the AIP TV prints.
*A newly filmed English version of the shot showing the map of the damage in Fuji City, which replaces an equivalent shot with a newscaster onscreen. Titan's dubbing conforms to his speech and the Japanese shot was included in the AIP TV prints.
*The sequence containing the animated segment depicting nuclear fission, the explosion of a silver atom, and the supernova remnant the [[wikipedia:Crab Nebula|Crab Nebula]] is left textless. The Japanese visuals are used in the AIP TV prints.
*The shot of the [[wikipedia:Woodblock printing in Japan|woodblock print]] ''[[wikipedia:The Great Wave off Kanagawa|The Great Wave off Kanagawa]]'', the title "And Yet Another One?" and the shot of Hedorah emerging from the sea from the opening titles are omitted, and AIP's end title plays over the duration of the audio that they occupied.
*Notably, the anti-pollution song which reappears throughout the film, "[[Return the Sun!]]", was replaced by a new version with English lyrics called "[[Return the Sun!#"Save the Earth"|Save the Earth]]," written by Adryan Russ and Guy Hemric and performed by Russ.<ref name=" Craig"/>


''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' was initially rated PG by the MPAA, but re-rated G despite the unusual amount of on-screen death for a [[kaiju]] film.<ref name="Variety">{{cite book|title=Pictures: PG, G prevail this week; reissues and newcomers without particular trend. |date=February 23, 1972 |publisher=Variety|page=7}}</ref> When [[TriStar Pictures]] released the international version of the film on DVD, it was rated PG once more. The film does not appear to have been widely released as a double feature, though 103 theaters in the New York City area paired it with ''[[wikipedia:Frogs (film)|Frogs]]'' and five Houston theaters with ''[[Space Amoeba#U.S. release|Yog, Monster from Space]]''.<ref name="Variety2">{{cite book|title=Pictures: This Week's N.Y. Showcases |date=July 12, 1972 |publisher=Variety |page=8}}</ref><ref name="Variety3">{{cite book|title=Pictures Grosses: 'Balzac' Fair $5,100 In Houston; 'Corky' Fairish $1,600, 'Rock' $7,300, 2d |date=March 22, 1972 |publisher=Variety |page=16}}</ref>
The AIP version of the film was released on home video in 1989 by Orion Home Entertainment, on VHS as a standalone title, and on LaserDisc (distributed by Image Entertainment) as part of a double feature with ''[[Gappa (film)#U.S. release|Monster From a Prehistoric Planet]]''.<ref name="LDDb">{{cite web|url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/01867/ID6923OR/Godzilla-Vs.The-Smog-Monster/Monster-From-A-Prehistoric-Planet|title=LaserDisc Database - Godzilla Vs.The Smog Monster/Monster From A Prehistoric Planet [ID6923OR]|author=laserking|date=9 October 2002|work=LDDb|accessdate=18 February 2023}}</ref> Orion's version contains a representation of AIP's theatrical version cropped to 1.66:1, but squeezed to 1.33:1. An unlicensed VHS release by [[Simitar Entertainment]] followed in 1990, which contains a transfer of a print of AIP's 16mm TV version.


Before AIP's Americanization, Toho commissioned an international English dub<ref>[[File:Ujfq53_jul_71.png|150px]]</ref> from a company in [[Hong Kong]], which went unreleased in English speaking territories until the Sci-Fi Channel aired it on January 20, 1996. It has since been included on the DVD and Blu-ray releases by Power Multimedia, [[TriStar Pictures|Columbia TriStar Home Video]], Madman Entertainment, and Kraken Releasing.
''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' was initially rated PG by the MPAA, but re-rated G despite the unusual amount of on-screen death for a [[kaiju]] film.<ref name="Variety">{{cite book|title=Pictures: PG, G prevail this week; reissues and newcomers without particular trend. |date=February 23, 1972 |publisher=Variety|page=7}}</ref> When [[TriStar Pictures]] released the international version of the film on DVD in 2004, it was rated PG once more. The film does not appear to have been widely released as a double feature, though 103 theaters in the [[New York City]] area released it as the second half of a double feature with ''[[wikipedia:Frogs (film)|Frogs]]'' (a U.S. eco-horror film with a similar anti-pollution theme) and five Houston theaters paired it with ''[[Space Amoeba#U.S. release|Yog, Monster from Space]]''.<ref name="Variety2">{{cite book|title=Pictures: This Week's N.Y. Showcases |date=July 12, 1972 |publisher=Variety |page=8}}</ref><ref name="Variety3">{{cite book|title=Pictures Grosses: 'Balzac' Fair $5,100 In Houston; 'Corky' Fairish $1,600, 'Rock' $7,300, 2d |date=March 22, 1972 |publisher=Variety |page=16}}</ref>
 
Before AIP's Americanization of the film, Toho commissioned an international English dub for it<ref>[[File:Ujfq53_jul_71.png|150px]]</ref> from an unknown company in [[Hong Kong]], which went unreleased in English-speaking territories until the Sci-Fi Channel aired it on January 20, 1996. It has since been included on the DVD and Blu-ray releases of the film by Power Multimedia, [[TriStar Pictures|Columbia TriStar Home Video]], [[Madman Entertainment]], and [[Kraken Releasing]].
===United Kingdom release===
[[File:Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster UK poster.png|thumb|right|200px|UK ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' poster]]
Eaton Films released ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' in cinemas on a double bill with another [[American International Pictures|AIP]] film, ''[[wikipedia:The Thing with Two Heads|The Thing with Two Heads]]'', in April 1975. It was given an "A" (Adult Content) rating by the BBFC and passed with no cuts.<ref name="MFAUC">[http://www.smguariento.com/monsters-from-an-unknown-culture-godzilla-and-friends-in-britain-1957-1980-by-sim-branaghan-part-2/ Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 by Sim Branaghan – Part 2]</ref> While the AIP version would remain unreleased on home video in the UK, Carlton Home Entertainment released Toho's international export version on VHS in 1998 to tie in with [[TriStar Pictures]]' release of ''[[GODZILLA (1998 film)|GODZILLA]]''. This release was classified by the BBFC as PG.<ref name="OFDb UK VHS">{{cite web|url=https://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=3423&vid=9129|title=OFDb - VHS: Carlton (Großbritannien), Freigabe: ungeprüft von Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster (1971)|author=Odessa James|date=10 February 2001|work=OFDb|accessdate=18 February 2018}}</ref> The assembly of the export version used for the video transfer differs slightly from the version used for the U.S. Sci-Fi Channel broadcasts. The Japanese visuals for [[Ken Yano]]'s poem are used instead of the English ones, and the end title is repositioned to be below [[Hedorah]]. [[Sony]] released the Japanese version of the film on Blu-ray in 2019 as part of [[The Criterion Collection]]'s ''Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975'' box set. It has maintained a PG rating for "mild threat, violence, language."<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/godzilla-vs-hedorah-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmjcwmja|title=Godzilla Vs. Hedorah|work=BBFC|accessdate=2 December 2023}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}


==Box office==
==Box office==
''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' was the main feature of the 1971 Summer Toho Champion Film Festival, alongside an edited version of episodes 5 and 6 of ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Return of Ultraman|Return of Ultraman]]'', simply titled ''Return of Ultraman'', and various cartoons. It recorded 1,740,000 admissions, grossing ¥300,000,000 against a budget of ¥90,000,000. It was Toho's second-highest earner in 1971, and fifth 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=276}}</ref>
''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' earned ¥290 million in distributor rentals.{{R|Matsuri}}
==Reception==
==Reception==
''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' was panned by the few Japanese critics who reviewed it, except the ''Yomiuri Shimbun''.<ref name=" Tokyo Reporter">[http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2008/06/14/yoshimitsu-banno-behind-hedorah/ "Yoshimitsu Banno: Behind Hedorah" by Tokyo Reporter Staff]</ref> It was mentioned in passing by ''New York Times'' critic Vincent Canby in his review of ''Frogs'', with [[Godzilla/Showa|Godzilla]] described as "a sort of Japanese Smokey the Bear... looking as embarrassed and pious as an elderly clergyman at a charity masquerade ball."<ref name="NYT">[http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0DE2DA1F3EE63BBC4E53DFB1668389669EDE "Screen: In 'Frogs,' the Animals Do In Ray Milland" by Vincent Canby]</ref> Writing for the British ''Monthly Film Bulletin'', David McGillivray remarked that, "Times certainly have changed since the days when Godzilla was an 'X' certified Thing bent on destroying Tokyo. Today he is a comic figure (with his own signature tune) obligated to save mankind from destroying ''itself'' by way of water and atmospheric pollution."<ref name=" MFB">{{cite book|title=Gojira tai Hedora (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster |author=David McGillivray |date=April 1975 |publisher=Monthly Film Bulletin |page=82}}</ref> He concluded by saying, "[T]here is scarcely a minute when the monsters are not exploding something or other with their death rays. Eight-five minutes of such excess is a little wearying, although one has to admire [[Toho]]'s public-spirited enthusiasm." ''Boxoffice'', in its Review Digest, simply rated the film "good."<ref name="BO">{{cite book|title=Review Digest and Alphabetical Index |date=August 28, 1972 |publisher=Boxoffice |page=5}}</ref>
''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' was panned by the few Japanese critics who reviewed it, except the ''Yomiuri Shimbun''.<ref name=" Tokyo Reporter">[http://www.tokyoreporter.com/2008/06/14/yoshimitsu-banno-behind-hedorah/ "Yoshimitsu Banno: Behind Hedorah" by Tokyo Reporter Staff]</ref> It was mentioned in passing by ''New York Times'' critic Vincent Canby in his review of ''Frogs'', with [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] described as "a sort of Japanese Smokey the Bear...looking as embarrassed and pious as an elderly clergyman at a charity masquerade ball."<ref name="NYT">[http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0DE2DA1F3EE63BBC4E53DFB1668389669EDE "Screen: In 'Frogs,' the Animals Do In Ray Milland" by Vincent Canby]</ref> Writing for the British ''Monthly Film Bulletin'', David McGillivray remarked that, "Times certainly have changed since the days when Godzilla was an 'X' certified Thing bent on destroying Tokyo. Today he is a comic figure (with his own signature tune) obligated to save mankind from destroying ''itself'' by way of water and atmospheric pollution."<ref name=" MFB">{{cite book|title=Gojira tai Hedora (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster |author=David McGillivray |date=April 1975 |publisher=Monthly Film Bulletin |page=82}}</ref> He concluded by saying, "[T]here is scarcely a minute when the monsters are not exploding something or other with their death rays. Eighty-five minutes of such excess is a little wearying, although one has to admire [[Toho]]'s public-spirited enthusiasm." ''Boxoffice'', in its Review Digest, simply rated the film "good."<ref name="BO">{{cite book|title=Review Digest and Alphabetical Index |date=August 28, 1972 |publisher=Boxoffice |page=5}}</ref>


Among genre fans, ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' has long sparked divisive opinions, though they are generally more favorable now than in past decades. In ''G-Fan''{{'}}s reader surveys, its rating has consistently risen, from 5.81 in 1996 (18th out of 22 Godzilla films) to 7 in 2014 (19th of 29). Praise for the movie tends to focus on its experimental style, powerful anti-pollution message, and [[Hedorah]]'s strength as a villain, while criticism targets the frequent shifts in tone, [[Riichiro Manabe]]'s score, and, most prominently, the decision to make Godzilla fly. Scott Ashlin, writing for the website 10,000 Misspent Hours, encapsulates those mixed opinions: "I'm not sure I've seen such an intractable tangle of the laugh-out-loud stupid and the chills-up-the-spine disturbing in one movie, ever. Yeah, this is the flick in which Godzilla flies by using his atomic breath as a jet engine, but it’s also the one in which entire crowds of extras melt away into muddy skeletons as Hedorah flies overhead."<ref name="10,000">[http://www.1000misspenthours.com/reviews/reviewse-g/godzillavsthesmogmonster.htm Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster - 10,000 Misspent Hours]</ref>
Among genre fans, ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' has long sparked divisive opinions, though they are generally more favorable now than in past decades. In ''G-FAN''{{'}}s reader surveys, its rating has consistently risen, from 5.81 in 1996 (18th out of 22 Godzilla films) to 7 in 2014 (19th of 29). Praise for the movie tends to focus on its experimental style, powerful anti-pollution message, and [[Hedorah]]'s strength as a villain, while criticism targets the frequent shifts in tone, [[Riichiro Manabe]]'s score, and, most prominently, the decision to make Godzilla fly. Scott Ashlin, writing for the website 10,000 Misspent Hours, encapsulates those mixed opinions: "I'm not sure I've seen such an intractable tangle of the laugh-out-loud stupid and the chills-up-the-spine disturbing in one movie, ever. Yeah, this is the flick in which Godzilla flies by using his atomic breath as a jet engine, but it’s also the one in which entire crowds of extras melt away into muddy skeletons as Hedorah flies overhead."<ref name="10,000">[http://www.1000misspenthours.com/reviews/reviewse-g/godzillavsthesmogmonster.htm Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster - 10,000 Misspent Hours]</ref>


Steve Ryfle thought poorly of the way the film's message was presented, saying, "The problem is that its treatment of pollution is visually didactic and dramatically childish... the issue of pollution is reduced to terms a child can understand (a monster) and its root causes are never discussed, making it hard to take the picture seriously."<ref name=" Ryfle"/> David Kalat noted the film's many parallels with the original ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' - the on-screen suffering of civilians, [[Toru Yano|Dr. Yano's]] damaged eye, fish killed by chemicals in a tank, the ending raising the prospect of a second Hedorah, and an allegorical monster who "embodies and symbolizes humanity's poison (industrial pollution) without assigning responsibility to any one person or group."<ref name="Kalat">{{cite book|title=A Critical History and Filmography of the Godzilla Series |author=David Kalat |date=1997 |publisher=McFarland |page=116}}</ref> Godzilla, no longer the villain, also departs from the role of heroic kaiju in many of Toho's 1960s films, as he is "not recruited by any human interest group. In fact, Godzilla saves the human race only as a side effect of battling Hedorah, which Godzilla does for his own reasons. Godzilla acts as a free agent, motivated by his own agenda. Hedorah threatens the world, so Godzilla acts to save it." The film is, in his estimation, "a cynical, depressing picture with no real hope for the future. The authorities are stupid and incompetent, and the counter-cultural youth movement is also stupid and incompetent. Industry, which caused the problem in the first place, makes no effort to redress their wrongs."
Steve Ryfle thought poorly of the way the film's message was presented, saying, "The problem is that its treatment of pollution is visually didactic and dramatically childish...the issue of pollution is reduced to terms a child can understand (a monster) and its root causes are never discussed, making it hard to take the picture seriously."<ref name=" Ryfle"/> David Kalat noted the film's many parallels with the original ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' - the on-screen suffering of civilians, [[Toru Yano|Dr. Yano]]'s damaged eye, fish killed by chemicals in a tank, the ending raising the prospect of a second Hedorah, and an allegorical monster who "embodies and symbolizes humanity's poison (industrial pollution) without assigning responsibility to any one person or group."<ref name="Kalat">{{cite book|title=A Critical History and Filmography of the Godzilla Series |author=David Kalat |date=1997 |publisher=McFarland |page=116}}</ref> Godzilla, no longer the villain, also departs from the role of heroic kaiju in many of Toho's 1960s films, as he is "not recruited by any human interest group. In fact, Godzilla saves the human race only as a side effect of battling Hedorah, which Godzilla does for his own reasons. Godzilla acts as a free agent, motivated by his own agenda. Hedorah threatens the world, so Godzilla acts to save it." The film is, in his estimation, "a cynical, depressing picture with no real hope for the future. The authorities are stupid and incompetent, and the counter-cultural youth movement is also stupid and incompetent. Industry, which caused the problem in the first place, makes no effort to redress their wrongs."


On his blog, artist [[Matt Frank]] suggests that Banno's documentarian background should be taken into account when considering the film's unique style: "The various animated segments call to mind the chapter-breaks in a documentary. The other cutaways and nonsequiturs, such as the television interview, the collage of people shouting (not to mention the baby submerged in sludge) all remind me of something you’d see in a Michael Moore-style production highlighting the effect of pollution and the public's call to action."<ref name="Mattzilla">[http://spankzilla85.tumblr.com/post/106880178040/is-godzilla-vs-hedorah-1971-and-effective Mattzilla - Ask]</ref>
On his blog, artist [[Matt Frank]] suggests that Banno's documentarian background should be taken into account when considering the film's unique style: "The various animated segments call to mind the chapter-breaks in a documentary. The other cutaways and non sequiturs, such as the television interview, the collage of people shouting (not to mention the baby submerged in sludge) all remind me of something you’d see in a Michael Moore-style production highlighting the effect of pollution and the public's call to action."<ref name="Mattzilla">[https://spankzilla85.tumblr.com/post/106880178040/is-godzilla-vs-hedorah-1971-and-effective Mattzilla - Ask]</ref>


==Video releases==
==Video releases==
Line 184: Line 210:
*'''Special features:''' None
*'''Special features:''' None
*''' Notes:''' Presents an unaltered 16mm transfer of the film's international version, albeit cropped to 1.33:1. Out of print.
*''' Notes:''' Presents an unaltered 16mm transfer of the film's international version, albeit cropped to 1.33:1. Out of print.
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2004)
'''[[Toho]]''' DVD (2004)
*'''Region:''' 2
*'''Region:''' 2
Line 190: Line 217:
*'''Subtitles:''' Japanese
*'''Subtitles:''' Japanese
*'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by special effects director [[Teruyoshi Nakano]], Japanese theatrical trailer, scans from publicity material, "[[Return the Sun!]]" sing-along, scans of publicity materials, behind-the-scenes video of Hedorah (2 minutes)
*'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by special effects director [[Teruyoshi Nakano]], Japanese theatrical trailer, scans from publicity material, "[[Return the Sun!]]" sing-along, scans of publicity materials, behind-the-scenes video of Hedorah (2 minutes)
'''[[TriStar Pictures]]''' DVD (2004)<ref name="TriStar">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002V7OEM Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs Hedorah (1972)]</ref>
 
'''[[TriStar Pictures]]''' DVD (2004)<ref name="TriStar">[https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002V7OEM Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs Hedorah (1972)]</ref>
*'''Region:''' 1
*'''Region:''' 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
Line 197: Line 225:
*'''Special features:''' Trailers
*'''Special features:''' Trailers
*'''Notes:''' Out of print.
*'''Notes:''' Out of print.
'''Madman Entertainment''' DVD (2006)
 
'''[[Madman Entertainment]]''' DVD (2006)
*'''Region:''' 4
*'''Region:''' 4
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
Line 203: Line 232:
*'''Subtitles:''' English
*'''Subtitles:''' English
*'''Special features:''' Japanese theatrical trailer, poster gallery
*'''Special features:''' Japanese theatrical trailer, poster gallery
'''Kraken Releasing''' DVD/Blu-ray (2014)<ref name="Kraken DVD">[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00I462Y60 Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (1971)]</ref>
 
*'''Region:''' 1 (DVD) or A/1 (Blu-ray)
'''[[Kraken Releasing]]''' DVD/Blu-ray (2014)<ref name="Kraken DVD">[https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00I462Y60 Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (1971)]</ref>
*'''Region:''' 1 (DVD) or A (Blu-ray)
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Audio:''' Japanese, English (2.0 Mono, international dub)
*'''Audio:''' Japanese, English (2.0 Mono, international dub)
Line 210: Line 240:
*'''Special features:''' Japanese trailer
*'''Special features:''' Japanese trailer
*'''Notes:''' Subtitles alternate between translating the Japanese dialogue and following the English dub. "[[Return the Sun!]]" is not translated.
*'''Notes:''' Subtitles alternate between translating the Japanese dialogue and following the English dub. "[[Return the Sun!]]" is not translated.
'''[[The Criterion Collection]]''' Blu-ray (2019) [''Godzilla: The [[Showa era|Showa-Era]] Films, 1954–1975'']
'''[[The Criterion Collection]]''' Blu-ray (2019) [''Godzilla: The [[Showa era|Showa-Era]] Films, 1954–1975'']
*'''Region:''' A/1 or B/2
*'''Region:''' A or B
*'''Discs:''' 8
*'''Discs:''' 8
*'''Audio:''' Japanese
*'''Audio:''' Japanese
*'''Subtitles:''' English
*'''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, unused effects sequences from Toho releases including ''[[Destroy All Monsters]]'', 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>
*'''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. [[Sony]] distributed a Region B/2 version of the set in the United Kingdom.
*'''Notes:''' Uses a new English subtitle translation. [[Sony]] distributed a Region B version of the set in the United Kingdom.
 
'''Toho''' 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray (December 20, 2023)
*'''Region:''' N/A (4K Ultra HD) or A (Blu-ray)
*'''Discs:''' 1
*'''Audio:''' Japanese (1.0 Mono and 5.1 Surround)
*'''Subtitles:''' Japanese
*'''Special features:''' Audio commentary by Teruyoshi Nakano, interview with Yoshimitsu Banno and Kekio Mari (25 minutes), "Return the Sun" sing-along, [[Yasuyuki Inoue]] World of Art featurette (12 minutes), 8mm behind the scenes (2 minutes), newsreels (''Birth of the Pollution Monster! Hedorah'', ''Fierce Monsters! Godzilla and Hedorah'', ''Highlight of the Week: Godzilla vs. Hedorah''; 5 minutes), Japanese theatrical trailer, textless trailer, international trailer, still gallery
*'''Notes:''' Both formats of this release use a 4K restoration of the film which first aired on Japanese satellite TV in 2021.<ref name="nihon-eiga">
[https://www.nihon-eiga.com/osusume/godzilla4K_2021/]</ref>
<gallery widths="90" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small">
91Jh+RP-uqL._AC_SL1500_.jpg|4K Ultra HD cover
</gallery>
 
==Videos==
==Videos==
===Trailers===
===Trailers===
{{Videos|
{{Videos|
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">SEdHd3Y2Uvo</youtube>|Japanese ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">jdm8xgG5rR8</youtube>|Japanese trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">tBjDLzlBtRA</youtube>|U.S. ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' trailer}}
{{vid|<dailymotion dimensions="300x149">kThNxn1qsYAbKizMozl</dailymotion>|Export trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">H3vvdW1xhdI</youtube>|U.S. ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' TV spot #1}}
{{vid|<dailymotion dimensions="300x149">k265uqUdQCifeqzNNxk</dailymotion>|Textless trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">TWIIT4VEAwI</youtube>|U.S. ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' TV spot #2}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">tBjDLzlBtRA</youtube>|U.S. {{small|''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''}} trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">6qcA_GKmvxE</youtube>|U.S. ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' TV spot #3}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">H3vvdW1xhdI</youtube>|U.S. {{small|''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''}} TV spot #1}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">321Yst5aH80</youtube>|Ad for the 1996 Sci-Fi Channel premiere of ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah''}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">TWIIT4VEAwI</youtube>|U.S. {{small|''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''}} TV spot #2}}
{{vid|<dailymotion width="300" height="169">x7fq3jm</dailymotion>|West German ''Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster'' trailer}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">6qcA_GKmvxE</youtube>|U.S. {{small|''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''}} TV spot #3}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">ZVEWBqycjJE</youtube>|Ad for the 1996 Sci-Fi Channel premiere}}
{{vid|<dailymotion dimensions="300x149">x7fq3jm</dailymotion>|West German trailer}}
}}
}}
===Miscellaneous===
===Miscellaneous===
{{Videos|
{{Videos|
Line 235: Line 282:
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">szsVXYgrSnw</youtube>|English visuals in the theatrical version<br>of ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''}}
{{vid|<youtube width="300" height="169">szsVXYgrSnw</youtube>|English visuals in the theatrical version<br>of ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster''}}
}}
}}
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' played in Japanese theaters as the main feature in the Summer 1971 [[Toho Champion Festival]], accompanied by a ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Return of Ultraman|Return of Ultraman]]'' compilation film, ''Hutch the Honeybee: The Injured Ballerina'', ''General Inakappe: The Great One/We Must Give All'', and ''Japanese Folklore Tales: The Straw Millionaire''.<ref name="GTCFPerfection">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Toho Champion Festival Perfection]]|date=29 November 2014|publisher=[[Kadokawa|ASCII MEDIA WORKS]]|page=40|isbn=978-4-04-866999-3}}</ref>
*''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' played in Japanese theaters as the main feature in the Summer 1971 [[Toho Champion Festival]], accompanied by a ''[[wikia:w:c:ultra:Return of Ultraman (film)|Return of Ultraman]]'' compilation film (which contained episodes 5 and 6 of [[wikia:w:c:ultra:Return of Ultraman#Movies|the TV series]]), ''Hutch the Honeybee: The Injured Ballerina'', ''General Inakappe: The Great One/We Must Give All'', and ''Japanese Folklore Tales: The Straw Millionaire''.<ref name="GTCFPerfection">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Toho Champion Festival Perfection]]|date=29 November 2014|publisher=[[Kadokawa|ASCII MEDIA WORKS]]|page=40|isbn=978-4-04-866999-3}}</ref>
*'' Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' includes a scene that is the first, and only, time Godzilla demonstrated the ability of flight in a film, using his atomic breath as jet propulsion. [[Yoshimitsu Banno]] reportedly added the scene to provide a light moment in what is otherwise a fairly dark movie compared to many of those which preceded it. Godzilla also demonstrated this ability in the comic series ''[[Godzilla: Ongoing]]'' and in [[Godzilla (2014 video game)|Bandai Namco's ''Godzilla'']].
*'' Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' includes a scene that is the first, and only, time [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] demonstrated the ability of flight in a film, using his atomic breath as jet propulsion. [[Yoshimitsu Banno]] reportedly added the scene to provide a light moment in what is otherwise a fairly dark movie compared to many of those which preceded it. Godzilla also demonstrated this ability in the [[IDW Publishing]] comic series ''[[Godzilla (IDW comic)|Godzilla]]'' and in the video game [[Godzilla (2014 video game)|''Godzilla'']] for the PlayStation 4.
*Despite [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] reportedly prohibiting [[Yoshimitsu Banno]] from ever working on another Godzilla film, [[Toho]] attempted to produce a [[Godzilla vs. Hedorah 2|sequel to ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'']] with Banno as director, though this never made it past the concept stage. After Tanaka's death, Banno attempted to create a spiritual successor to ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' called ''[[Godzilla 3-D]]'', which was scrapped in favor of [[Godzilla (2014 film)|Legendary Pictures' ''Godzilla'']], for which Banno was credited as an executive producer.
*Despite [[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] allegedly prohibiting [[Yoshimitsu Banno]] from ever working on another ''[[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla]]'' film, [[Toho]] attempted to produce a [[Godzilla vs. Hedorah 2|sequel to ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'']] with Banno as director as the 15th entry in the series, though Banno was eventually replaced with [[Ishiro Honda]] who directed ''[[Terror of Mechagodzilla]]'' instead. After Tanaka's death, Banno attempted to create a spiritual successor to ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'' called ''[[Godzilla 3-D]]'', which in its search for funding ultimately led to [[Legendary Pictures]] reaching a deal with Toho to produce a new [[Godzilla (2014 film)|Hollywood ''Godzilla'' film]] and begin the film franchise later known as the [[Monsterverse]]. Banno has been credited as an executive producer on all Monsterverse ''Godzilla'' films, though all but one of these credits are posthumous.
*During the fight against Hedorah in the countryside, Godzilla tries to fend off one of Hedorah's eye beams by forming a cross with his arms, a reference to the pose [[wikia:w:c:ultra: Ultraman (character)|Ultraman]] strikes when firing his Specium Ray.
*During the fight against Hedorah in the countryside, Godzilla tries to fend off one of [[Hedorah]]'s eye beams by forming a cross with his arms, a reference to the pose [[wikia:w:c:ultra: Ultraman (character)|Ultraman]] strikes when firing his Spacium Ray.
*Hedorah is the last monster that Godzilla battles in the Showa series that acts independently and is not under the control of some other being or beings.
*Hedorah is the last monster that Godzilla battles in the [[Showa era|Showa series]] who acts independently and is not under the control of some other being(s) such as an alien race or a scientist.
*[[Kenpachiro Satsuma]] suffered acute appendicitis while promoting ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'', which required surgery.<ref>Godziszewski, Ed, and Michiko Imamura. "Inside Godzilla: An Interview with Kenpachiro Satsuma." ''G-Fan'', September/October 1995, pg. 25.</ref> During the procedure, he discovered that he was unaffected by painkillers, forcing the doctor to knock him out with chloroform. Satsuma wore part of the [[Hedorah]] costume for an interview just before his diagnosis, giving rise to a myth that the surgery had taken place with him still inside the suit.
*[[Kenpachiro Satsuma]] suffered acute appendicitis while promoting ''Godzilla vs. Hedorah'', which required surgery.<ref>Godziszewski, Ed, and Michiko Imamura. "Inside Godzilla: An Interview with Kenpachiro Satsuma." ''G-Fan'', September/October 1995, pg. 25.</ref> During the procedure, he discovered that he was unaffected by painkillers, forcing the doctor to knock him out with chloroform. Satsuma wore part of the [[Hedorah]] costume for an interview just before his diagnosis, giving rise to a popular myth that the surgery had taken place with him still inside the suit.
*[[Hedorah]] is the first monster to make [[Godzilla]] visibly bleed, splitting his head open during their final battle in an attempt to flee. The original special effects director for the [[Godzilla (franchise)|Godzilla series]], [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], seldom showed the monsters bleeding in the films, as he did not wish for the series' younger viewers to see such graphic images. After Tsuburaya's death, [[Teruyoshi Nakano]] took over as the head of the special effects department, and many of the Godzilla films he worked on included scenes of monster bloodshed.
*In this film, Hedorah became the first monster to make Godzilla visibly bleed, splitting his head open during their final battle in an attempt to flee. The original special effects director for the ''Godzilla'' series, [[Eiji Tsuburaya]], seldom showed the monsters bleeding in the films, as he did not wish for the series' younger viewers to see such graphic images. After Tsuburaya's death, [[Teruyoshi Nakano]] took over as the head of the special effects department, and many of the ''Godzilla'' films he worked on included scenes of monster bloodshed.


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxhk3p_godzilla-vs-hedorah-dub-comparison_shortfilms Comparison of the film's two English dubs]
*[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxhk3p_godzilla-vs-hedorah-dub-comparison_shortfilms Comparison of the film's two English dubs]
*[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x10y9bj_ken-s-poem-godzilla-vs-hedorah-1971_shortfilms English visuals from Ken's poem in the international version, which were not included in TriStar and Kraken's DVD and Blu-ray releases]
*[https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x10y9bj_ken-s-poem-godzilla-vs-hedorah-1971_shortfilms English visuals from Ken's poem in the international version, which were not included in TriStar and Kraken's DVD and Blu-ray releases]
*[http://snakeandboris.blogspot.com/2013/11/godzilla-vs-smog-monster-pressbook-1972.html Scans of AIP's ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' pressbook]
*[https://snakeandboris.blogspot.com/2013/11/godzilla-vs-smog-monster-pressbook-1972.html Scans of AIP's ''Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster'' pressbook]
*[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3_pDy1xd3T/ Footage from a stage show promoting the film]
 
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Godzilla vs. Hedorah}}
{{Godzilla vs. Hedorah}}
{{Kaiju Movies}}
{{Kaiju Movies|tab=Godzilla}}
{{Comments|scroll=yes}}
{{Comments|scroll=yes}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|FIL|GOD|HED}}
{{Era|TOH|SHO|FIL|GOD|HED}}
<seo metakeywords="Godzilla vs Hedorah, Godzilla vs the smog monster, the smog monster, Godzilla, hedorah, 1972, the smog monster, Yoshimitsu banno, Godzilla vs hedorah wikizilla, Godzilla vs the smog monster wikizilla, Godzilla vs hedorah wiki, Godzilla vs the smog monster wiki, the smog monster wikizilla, the smog monster wiki, Godzilla against hedorah, Gojira Tai hedora"/>
[[de:Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster]]
[[de:Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster]]
[[es: Godzilla vs. Hedorah]]
[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Showa Series]]
[[Category:Showa Series]]

Latest revision as of 22:27, 25 March 2024

Article.png
Image gallery for Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Credits for Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Godzilla vs. Hedorah soundtrack


Godzilla films
← All Monsters Attack
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Godzilla vs. Gigan →
Godzilla vs. Hedorah
The Japanese poster for Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Alternate titles
Flagicon United States.png Godzilla vs. the
Smog Monster (1972)
See alternate titles
Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno
Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka
Written by Yoshimitsu Banno, Kaoru Mabuchi
Music by Riichiro Manabe
Special
effects by 		Teruyoshi Nakano
Distributor TohoJP, AIPUS[1]
Rating GUS, 1972, PGUS, 2004, PGUK
Budget ¥90 million[citation needed]
Distributor rentals ¥290 million[2]
Running time 85 minutes
(1 hour, 25 minutes)
Aspect ratio 2.35:1JP
2.39:1US
Rate this film!
3.63
(91 votes)

“
The Smog Monster Hedorah arrives in a shooting star! Two giant monsters battle, crushing streets and forests underfoot! (流れ星でやって来た公害怪獣ヘドラ！ 街を森をふみつぶし二大怪獣が大決戦！)
„ 

— Japanese tagline
“
All life doomed as a hideous monster is spawned in the filth of pollution
„ 

— International tagline
“
Pollution's hideous spawn dooms the Earth to choking horror and pits...Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster
With deadly breath and venomed blood it slithers across the land
— A poisoned slime in its wake...
A trembling world in its path!
„ 

— American taglines
For the short film, see Godzilla vs. Hedorah (short film).

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (ゴジラ対ヘドラ,   Gojira tai Hedora) is a 1971 tokusatsu kaiju film directed by Yoshimitsu Banno and written by Banno with Kaoru Mabuchi, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Produced by Toho, it is the 11th installment in the Godzilla series as well as the Showa series. It stars Akira Yamanouchi, Hiroyuki Kawase, Toshie Kimura, Mari Keiko, and Toshio Shibaki. The film was released to Japanese theaters by Toho on July 24, 1971 as part of the Summer Toho Champion Festival.[3] American International Pictures released an English-dubbed version of the film titled Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster to American theaters in February 1972.

With a strong environmentally-focused message, Godzilla vs. Hedorah features the Smog Monster Hedorah, who feeds on the pollution produced by mankind. As Hedorah continues to feed and evolve, Godzilla rises to confront the creature before it can threaten him as well as all of humanity. However, Hedorah is bolstered by mankind's pollution and continues to achieve larger and more powerful forms to the point it dwarfs even Godzilla and causes horrific devastation to all of Japan. Marine biologist Toru Yano and his son Ken work to find a method to defeat Hedorah as Godzilla's war against the Smog Monster culminates in a decisive final battle atop Mount Fuji. It was followed by Godzilla vs. Gigan in 1972. Director Yoshimitsu Banno would go on to unsuccessfully pitch several successors to this film as well as executive produce the first three Godzilla films of Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse beginning in 2014.

Plot

At his family home on the outskirts of Fuji City, Shizuoka, young Ken Yano is playing outside with his Godzilla toys when his uncle Yukio Keuchi asks him if Godzilla is his favorite. Ken responds that to him, Godzilla is Superman. Local fisherman Gohei comes to the Yanos' home to show Ken's marine biologist father Toru a strange black tadpole he found. Dr. Yano is unable to identify the specimen and asks where Gohei caught it. Gohei responds that he caught it in Suruga Bay, which is becoming more polluted by the day. Later, while watching the news, the family sees a report about an accident at Suruga Bay where a huge black monster attacked two oil tankers that had crashed. Ken immediately recognizes the monster as a larger version of the tadpole Gohei had brought over. Dr. Yano decides to investigate and dons a diving suit to explore Suruga Bay. Ken stays behind on the rocks to wait for his father. As Yano dives beneath Suruga Bay, he finds the seafloor polluted with all manner of garbage and even several dead waterfowl. While waiting for his father, Ken sees the huge monster tadpole from the television approaching him. The creature leaps from the water, with Ken defending himself with a knife. The knife slices harmlessly through the monster, which lands back in the water and swims toward Yano's location. Ken notices he is otherwise unharmed save for a burn on his hand, and calls out for his father, and tells him he saw the monster. Beneath the surface, Yano sees the monster tadpole approaching and hides. He is, however, unable to escape the creature, which attacks him.

Following the attack, Dr. Yano is confined to bed rest with gruesome burns on his face. Reporters interview him and Ken about their encounter with the monster, which Ken has named Hedorah. Ken tells the reporters that Hedorah comes from the sludge dumped into the sea and feeds on pollution. Furthermore, he says there is more than just one Hedorah. Yano agrees with what his son has said, adding that the Hedorah they encountered was dangerous enough to severely burn his face. The reporters prepare to take pictures of Yano's injuries, but his wife Toshie asks them not to. Yano says he wants people to see pictures of him so they know how severe the threat is, and asks the reporters to take their photos. Ken shows the reporters his hand, saying Hedorah got him too. Over the following days, numerous accidents occur involving tankers, all caused by the monster dubbed Hedorah. Ken has a dream where Godzilla arises to battle Hedorah in response to the severe pollution of the sea. He heads to his father's laboratory to tell his parents about his dream. Inside the lab, Dr. Yano finds that the Hedorah Gohei brought him has dried out and begun to crumble. He is shocked to find that the so-called tadpole is actually a mineral. He places powder from the Hedorah in water, where it forms into very small Hedorahs. He notices that when he places them in dirty water from Tagonoura Bay, they will combine into a larger Hedorah. He says this proves Ken's theory that Hedorah comes to life in polluted waters.

Yukio attends a nightclub where his girlfriend Miki Fujinomiya performs as a dancer. For a brief moment, he hallucinates that all of the patrons have fish heads. Not far from the club, Hedorah evolves into a terrestrial Landing Stage and crawls onto land in a port area. The Smog Monster approaches a nearby factory and places its head over the smokestack, breathing in the toxic pollutants and growing. The creature's feeding is interrupted when it overhears Godzilla's roar. Hedorah responds to the call with its own roar and watches as Godzilla approaches. Hedorah leaps at Godzilla, who manages to tear himself free of the monster's grip. Godzilla grabs Hedorah and swings it through the air, causing a chunk of its body to crash into the upstairs of the nightclub. Yukio, Miki, and all of the patrons then witness the fragment of Hedorah slither down the stairs before retreating up, leaving a sludge-covered cat in its wake. Yukio and Miki escape to Yukio's car, from which they see Godzilla pursuing Hedorah. The monsters exchange taunts, with Hedorah seemingly mocking Godzilla's own gestures. They begin to fight again as Hedorah leaps at Godzilla but misses. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Hedorah when it is on the ground, but this only causes his enemy to spark. Hedorah quickly retreats into Tagonoura Bay, with Godzilla in hot pursuit. Godzilla fires his atomic breath in the water, trying to hit Hedorah, but to no avail.

In the aftermath of the battle, Yukio takes Dr. Yano to the area in the port where he saw Hedorah spark. Yano asks his family to harvest as many samples of ash in the area that they can find. Back in his lab, Yano has uncovered the secret to Hedorah's biology. The creature is composed of an undiscovered element he calls Hedrium, which absorbs toxins and pollutants and converts them into energy for Hedorah; thus, Hedorah literally feeds on manmade pollution. Miki asks if this would solve their pollution problem, but Yano responds that it would make things far worse. When Hedrium reacts with pollutants, it produces sulfuric acid, the same acid which caused the burns on his face. When it feeds on pollutants, Hedorah produces a deadly sulfuric smog which corroded metal in the area where it came ashore. While it absorbs manmade pollutants, Hedorah creates its own toxic smog that is far more deadly. Yano believes Hedorah is an alien which came to Earth on a comet, likely originating from a dark, sticky planet somewhere far away from Earth. Miki and Yukio take Ken to an amusement park on a bright and sunny day, when it is believed Hedorah won't come ashore. Ken sees Godzilla in the distance while he is on a rollercoaster and quickly gets off once the ride stops and runs off to call his father. He calls his father from a phone booth and says that if Godzilla is here, Hedorah must be as well. Yano tells his son to go to the junior high school where his mother works, but their call is cut off by an explosion. Ken ducks as the explosion rocks the phone booth. When he is unable to contact his father, he runs away. Oil tanks at a nearby refinery begin to explode, and from the smoke emerges Hedorah in its new Flying Stage. Yukio and Miki try to pursue Ken in their car, but find it has stalled just before they see sludge running down the windshield. The two bail from the car as it is pulled in by Hedorah along with surrounding traffic. Hedorah takes flight once more and passes over the school where Toshie teaches, causing the students to collapse and choke for air as the plants wither around them. Godzilla confronts Hedorah near a factory, grabbing it from the air and throwing it to the ground. Godzilla punches Hedorah, but the blow is harmlessly absorbed by Hedorah's amorphous body. Hedorah takes flight again, spraying its sulfuric acid mist directly into Godzilla's face, causing him to fall to the ground gasping for air as the factory explodes around him. Hedorah flies above a fleeing crowd, its sulfuric mist reducing them to skeletons in a matter of moments. The creature then flies over a construction site, melting the metal girders with its sulfuric acid mist.

In the aftermath of Hedorah's daytime raid, Fuji City is enveloped in toxic smog as casualties number in the thousands. Rescue workers are hindered by the smog, as bodies reportedly pile up in the streets. No time of day or place is safe from Hedorah, which against expectations came ashore on a clear day and now has the ability to fly. Humanity is left to wonder which new terrifying form the creature will assume. Yukio, meanwhile, has organized a party for the youth at the top of Mount Fuji in a final act of defiance against Hedorah before it conquers all of Japan. Back at his home, Toru struggles to think of any way of stopping Hedorah. Oxygen may deter its growth, but this seems insufficient to defeat it. Ken proposes that if Hedorah is made of sludge, they should be able to just dry it out. This suggestion gives Yano an idea. He places a small Hedorah between two electrode panels, a method utilized to dry fields in Hokkaido. He activates the electrodes, which release an electrical current that dries out the Hedorah in a matter of moments. With this method proving effective, Yano decides to contact the JSDF to reproduce the electrodes on a larger scale.

Ken attends the party at Mt. Fuji with Yukio and Miki but has a vision of Godzilla while he is there. He warns the others that Hedorah must be coming as well, which is proven to be true as the roars of both monsters are heard. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at Hedorah as it flies overhead, but it dodges the blast. Hedorah knocks Godzilla down with its Hedrium Light Ray, then touches down and metamorphoses into its colossal Perfect Stage, which far exceeds Godzilla's size. Hedorah makes its way toward the partygoers. Yukio and the others throw torches at Hedorah, who retaliates by firing sludge at them, killing many of them, including Yukio. Miki and Ken watch helplessly as Hedorah continues its advance. Godzilla confronts his now-larger enemy before it can reach the survivors, hitting a rock with his tail to distract Hedorah. When the monster turns, Godzilla plunges his fist into Hedorah's eye, which bleeds profusely before Hedorah forces it closed. Hedorah's acidic blood burns the flesh off of Godzilla's hand down to the bone. Hedorah counterattacks Godzilla with blasts of acidic sludge from its body which cost Godzilla his eye, and its deadly Hedrium Light Ray. Hedorah transforms into its Flying Stage and lifts and drops Godzilla into a pit, then changes back and proceeds to nearly drown Godzilla in sludge. Godzilla escapes the pit and the two monsters roll down the hillside, damaging the power lines powering the Giant Electrode nearby. Hedorah is drawn by flashing headlights in front of the Electrode and flies there. Yano and Toshie arrive after learning that Ken is in danger and watch as the JSDF works to get the Giant Electrode working in time. Helicopters try to distract Hedorah with oxygen bombs, but it blasts them out of the sky with its Hedrium Light Ray. Hedorah continues advancing toward the trucks flashing their headlights and passes in front of the Giant Electrode. Suddenly, Godzilla fires his atomic breath at the Electrode which powers it on. The electrical current causes Hedorah to writhe in agony before falling to the ground as a dried husk. Godzilla approaches the fallen Hedorah and tears out its eyeballs before powering on the Electrode once more. The eyeballs are reduced to piles of ash in Godzilla's hands. Godzilla inspects Hedorah's carcass before walking away. However, he strikes a rock into Hedorah's carcass with his tail, only for the husk to split open and a Flying Stage Hedorah to fly out. Godzilla calmly holds his arms apart and fires his atomic breath at the ground, causing him to lift off into the air. Godzilla chases down Hedorah and knocks it out of the sky. Hedorah transforms into its Landing Stage, but is no match for Godzilla anymore and is easily subdued. Godzilla grabs Hedorah and flies back to the Giant Electrode. The JSDF activates it but blows a fuse. Godzilla shakes his head in disappointment and again fires his atomic breath, powering on the Electrode. Hedorah is again dried into a husk, but this time Godzilla tears into it to expose every square inch of moisture that could reanimate into another Hedorah. He then activates the Electrode and completely dries out all of Hedorah's remains, leaving no chance of the monster coming back to life. Godzilla briefly turns his head toward the onlooking humans before walking away. Ken and Miki follow Godzilla as he walks down the slopes of Mt. Fuji, with Ken calling after his hero. While Godzilla is victorious, continuing rampant pollution means that the emergence of a second Hedorah may not be out of the question.

Staff

Main article: Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Credits.

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

Cast

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

  • Akira Yamanouchi   as   Dr. Toru Yano, marine biologist
  • Hiroyuki Kawase   as   Ken Yano, 2nd grader
  • Toshie Kimura   as   Toshie Yano, junior high physical education instructor
  • Mari Keiko   as   Miki Fujinomiya, singer at nightclub
  • Toshio Shibaki   as   Yukio Keuchi, All Japan Youth Federation member
  • Yoshio Yoshida   as   Gohei, fisherman
  • Haruo Suzuki   as   JSDF senior officer
  • Kentaro Watanabe   as   himself, announcer
  • Tatsu Okabe   as   himself, announcer
  • Yoshio Katsube   as   JSDF engineer
  • Takuya Yuki   as   communications officer
  • Tadashi Okabe   as   scholar
  • Yukihiko Gondo   as   helicopter pilot
  • Wataru Omae   as   police officer
  • Yasuzo Ogawa   as   lead protestor
  • Kazuo Imai, Saburo Kadowaki, Masaki Shinohara, Nobuo Katsura   as   mahjong players (uncredited)[5]
  • Eizaburo Komatsu, Koji Uruki, Hideo Otsuka, Yutaka Oka, Saburo Kadowaki, Yukio Kawamata, Masaki Shinohara, Eisuke Nakanishi   as   JSDF officers (uncredited)[5]
  • Akio Kusama, Soji Ubukata. Ken Echigo, Saburo Kadowaki, Yoshie Kihira, Akio Kusama, Soya Kondo, Haruya Sakamoto, Toshiko Nakano, Mori Sachiko   as   protestors on TV screen (uncredited)[5]
  • Tatsuhito Go, Mika Katsuragi, Soya Kondo, Setsuko Kawaguchi   as   teenagers (uncredited)[5]
  • Hiroshi Akitsu, Onishi Yasumasa, Kyoko Ozawa, Jumpei Natsuki   as   old people in bushes (uncredited)[5]
  • Shigeo Kato   as   construction worker (uncredited)[5]
  • Kenpachiro Satsuma   as   Hedorah (as Kengo Nakayama)
  • Haruo Nakajima   as   Godzilla / man on TV screen / non-commissioned officer

International English dub

  • Marc Toole   as   Ken Yano
  • Barry Haigh   as   Yukio Keuchi[6] / Gohei
  • Barbara Laney   as   Miki Fujinomiya
  • Chris Hilton   as   JSDF senior officer[7]
  • Rex Ellis   as   Kentaro Watanabe / Tatsu Okabe / protestors / teenagers
  • Jack Moore   as   JSDF technical officer / Kentaro Watanabe (one scene only) / helicopter pilot / protestors / teenagers
  • Saul Lockhart   as   JSDF communications officer / scholar / teenagers

Titan Productions English dub

  • Bernard Grant   as   Dr. Toru Yano
  • Peter Fernandez   as   Yukio Keuchi[8]
  • Lucy Martin   as   Toshie Yano
  • Earl Hammond   as   JSDF officer
  • Kenneth Harvey   as   scholar


Appearances

Monsters

Weapons, vehicles, and races

Gallery

Main article: Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Gallery.

Soundtrack

Main article: Godzilla vs. Hedorah/Soundtrack.

Alternate titles

  • Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (United States; United Kingdom)
  • Hedorah, the Toxic Bubble (Hedorah, la burbuja tóxica; Spain)
  • Godzilla Against Hedorah, the Toxic Bubble (Godzilla contra Hedorah, la burbuja tóxica; Spanish video title)
  • Godzilla Against Monsters of Smog (Godzilla contra monstruos del smog; Mexico)
  • The Monsters of Smog (Los monstruos del smog; Mexico)
  • Frankenstein's Battle Against the Devil Monsters (Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster; West Germany)
  • Godzilla: Fury of the Monsters (Godzilla - Furia di Mostri; Italy)
  • Godzilla Against the Monster of Fog (Godzilla contre le monstre du brouillard; French Belgium)
  • Godzilla Against Hedora (Godzilla kontra Hedora; Poland; Godzilla contre Hedora; France)
  • Satan's Creature (Satans creatuur; Netherlands)
  • Monster Hedorah (Canavar Hedorah; Turkey)
  • The Monsters Invade Earth (Os Monstros Invadem a Terra; Brazil)
  • Earth's Last Moments (Οι τελευταίες στιγμές της Γης Oi teleftaíes stigmés tis Gis; Greece)

Theatrical releases

View all posters for the film here.

  • Japan - July 24, 1971[3]   [view poster]Japanese poster
  • West Germany - December 10, 1971   [view poster]German poster
  • United States - February 1972   [view poster]American poster
  • Canada - March 5, 1972
  • Italy - 1972   [view poster]Italian poster
  • Belgium - 1972
  • Netherlands - August 9, 1972
  • Brazil - October 1972
  • Mexico - 1973   [view poster]Mexican poster
  • Poland - 1973   [view poster]Polish poster
  • United Kingdom - April 1975
  • Turkey   [view poster]Turkish poster
  • Israel   [view poster]Israeli poster

Foreign releases

U.S. release

U.S. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster poster

Godzilla vs. Hedorah was released theatrically in the United States in February 1972 by American International Pictures under the title Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster. It was dubbed into English by Titan Productions, in the company's last work on a Godzilla film.[1] Almost no footage was cut or replaced apart from shots of Japanese text, which were either left textless or rendered in English accordingly. Changes in AIP's version include:

  • A partly reanimated graphic for "HEDORAH" during the first animated segment, which replaces "Cheerful" (ごきげん,   Gokigen). This only appears in AIP's theatrical prints and Orion Home Video's VHS and LaserDisc releases, and it is absent from the cropped 16mm prints that AIP struck for television distribution.
  • The shots over which Ken Yano's anti-pollution poem is recited are left textless.
  • The astronomical backgrounds in the sequence where Dr. Yano and Ken discuss Hedorah's origins are textless. The Japanese visuals are used in the AIP TV prints.
  • A newly filmed English version of the shot showing the map of the damage in Fuji City, which replaces an equivalent shot with a newscaster onscreen. Titan's dubbing conforms to his speech and the Japanese shot was included in the AIP TV prints.
  • The sequence containing the animated segment depicting nuclear fission, the explosion of a silver atom, and the supernova remnant the Crab Nebula is left textless. The Japanese visuals are used in the AIP TV prints.
  • The shot of the woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa, the title "And Yet Another One?" and the shot of Hedorah emerging from the sea from the opening titles are omitted, and AIP's end title plays over the duration of the audio that they occupied.
  • Notably, the anti-pollution song which reappears throughout the film, "Return the Sun!", was replaced by a new version with English lyrics called "Save the Earth," written by Adryan Russ and Guy Hemric and performed by Russ.[1]

The AIP version of the film was released on home video in 1989 by Orion Home Entertainment, on VHS as a standalone title, and on LaserDisc (distributed by Image Entertainment) as part of a double feature with Monster From a Prehistoric Planet.[9] Orion's version contains a representation of AIP's theatrical version cropped to 1.66:1, but squeezed to 1.33:1. An unlicensed VHS release by Simitar Entertainment followed in 1990, which contains a transfer of a print of AIP's 16mm TV version.

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster was initially rated PG by the MPAA, but re-rated G despite the unusual amount of on-screen death for a kaiju film.[10] When TriStar Pictures released the international version of the film on DVD in 2004, it was rated PG once more. The film does not appear to have been widely released as a double feature, though 103 theaters in the New York City area released it as the second half of a double feature with Frogs (a U.S. eco-horror film with a similar anti-pollution theme) and five Houston theaters paired it with Yog, Monster from Space.[11][12]

Before AIP's Americanization of the film, Toho commissioned an international English dub for it[13] from an unknown company in Hong Kong, which went unreleased in English-speaking territories until the Sci-Fi Channel aired it on January 20, 1996. It has since been included on the DVD and Blu-ray releases of the film by Power Multimedia, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Madman Entertainment, and Kraken Releasing.

United Kingdom release

UK Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster poster

Eaton Films released Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster in cinemas on a double bill with another AIP film, The Thing with Two Heads, in April 1975. It was given an "A" (Adult Content) rating by the BBFC and passed with no cuts.[14] While the AIP version would remain unreleased on home video in the UK, Carlton Home Entertainment released Toho's international export version on VHS in 1998 to tie in with TriStar Pictures' release of GODZILLA. This release was classified by the BBFC as PG.[15] The assembly of the export version used for the video transfer differs slightly from the version used for the U.S. Sci-Fi Channel broadcasts. The Japanese visuals for Ken Yano's poem are used instead of the English ones, and the end title is repositioned to be below Hedorah. Sony released the Japanese version of the film on Blu-ray in 2019 as part of The Criterion Collection's Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 box set. It has maintained a PG rating for "mild threat, violence, language."[16]

Box office

Godzilla vs. Hedorah earned ¥290 million in distributor rentals.[2]

Reception

Godzilla vs. Hedorah was panned by the few Japanese critics who reviewed it, except the Yomiuri Shimbun.[17] It was mentioned in passing by New York Times critic Vincent Canby in his review of Frogs, with Godzilla described as "a sort of Japanese Smokey the Bear...looking as embarrassed and pious as an elderly clergyman at a charity masquerade ball."[18] Writing for the British Monthly Film Bulletin, David McGillivray remarked that, "Times certainly have changed since the days when Godzilla was an 'X' certified Thing bent on destroying Tokyo. Today he is a comic figure (with his own signature tune) obligated to save mankind from destroying itself by way of water and atmospheric pollution."[19] He concluded by saying, "[T]here is scarcely a minute when the monsters are not exploding something or other with their death rays. Eighty-five minutes of such excess is a little wearying, although one has to admire Toho's public-spirited enthusiasm." Boxoffice, in its Review Digest, simply rated the film "good."[20]

Among genre fans, Godzilla vs. Hedorah has long sparked divisive opinions, though they are generally more favorable now than in past decades. In G-FAN's reader surveys, its rating has consistently risen, from 5.81 in 1996 (18th out of 22 Godzilla films) to 7 in 2014 (19th of 29). Praise for the movie tends to focus on its experimental style, powerful anti-pollution message, and Hedorah's strength as a villain, while criticism targets the frequent shifts in tone, Riichiro Manabe's score, and, most prominently, the decision to make Godzilla fly. Scott Ashlin, writing for the website 10,000 Misspent Hours, encapsulates those mixed opinions: "I'm not sure I've seen such an intractable tangle of the laugh-out-loud stupid and the chills-up-the-spine disturbing in one movie, ever. Yeah, this is the flick in which Godzilla flies by using his atomic breath as a jet engine, but it’s also the one in which entire crowds of extras melt away into muddy skeletons as Hedorah flies overhead."[21]

Steve Ryfle thought poorly of the way the film's message was presented, saying, "The problem is that its treatment of pollution is visually didactic and dramatically childish...the issue of pollution is reduced to terms a child can understand (a monster) and its root causes are never discussed, making it hard to take the picture seriously."[8] David Kalat noted the film's many parallels with the original Godzilla - the on-screen suffering of civilians, Dr. Yano's damaged eye, fish killed by chemicals in a tank, the ending raising the prospect of a second Hedorah, and an allegorical monster who "embodies and symbolizes humanity's poison (industrial pollution) without assigning responsibility to any one person or group."[22] Godzilla, no longer the villain, also departs from the role of heroic kaiju in many of Toho's 1960s films, as he is "not recruited by any human interest group. In fact, Godzilla saves the human race only as a side effect of battling Hedorah, which Godzilla does for his own reasons. Godzilla acts as a free agent, motivated by his own agenda. Hedorah threatens the world, so Godzilla acts to save it." The film is, in his estimation, "a cynical, depressing picture with no real hope for the future. The authorities are stupid and incompetent, and the counter-cultural youth movement is also stupid and incompetent. Industry, which caused the problem in the first place, makes no effort to redress their wrongs."

On his blog, artist Matt Frank suggests that Banno's documentarian background should be taken into account when considering the film's unique style: "The various animated segments call to mind the chapter-breaks in a documentary. The other cutaways and non sequiturs, such as the television interview, the collage of people shouting (not to mention the baby submerged in sludge) all remind me of something you’d see in a Michael Moore-style production highlighting the effect of pollution and the public's call to action."[23]

Video releases

Power Multimedia DVD (1999)

  • Region: N/A
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: English (Mono, international dub), Mandarin (Mono)
  • Subtitles: English, Chinese (traditional and simplified)
  • Special features: None
  • Notes: Presents an unaltered 16mm transfer of the film's international version, albeit cropped to 1.33:1. Out of print.

Toho DVD (2004)

  • Region: 2
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono and 5.1 Surround)
  • Subtitles: Japanese
  • Special features: Audio commentary by special effects director Teruyoshi Nakano, Japanese theatrical trailer, scans from publicity material, "Return the Sun!" sing-along, scans of publicity materials, behind-the-scenes video of Hedorah (2 minutes)

TriStar Pictures DVD (2004)[24]

  • Region: 1
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese, English (2.0 Mono, international dub)
  • Subtitles: English, French
  • Special features: Trailers
  • Notes: Out of print.

Madman Entertainment DVD (2006)

  • Region: 4
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (2.0 Mono, 5.1 Surround), English (2.0 Mono, international dub)
  • Subtitles: English
  • Special features: Japanese theatrical trailer, poster gallery

Kraken Releasing DVD/Blu-ray (2014)[25]

  • Region: 1 (DVD) or A (Blu-ray)
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese, English (2.0 Mono, international dub)
  • Subtitles: English
  • Special features: Japanese trailer
  • Notes: Subtitles alternate between translating the Japanese dialogue and following the English dub. "Return the Sun!" is not translated.

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

Toho 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray (December 20, 2023)

  • Region: N/A (4K Ultra HD) or A (Blu-ray)
  • Discs: 1
  • Audio: Japanese (1.0 Mono and 5.1 Surround)
  • Subtitles: Japanese
  • Special features: Audio commentary by Teruyoshi Nakano, interview with Yoshimitsu Banno and Kekio Mari (25 minutes), "Return the Sun" sing-along, Yasuyuki Inoue World of Art featurette (12 minutes), 8mm behind the scenes (2 minutes), newsreels (Birth of the Pollution Monster! Hedorah, Fierce Monsters! Godzilla and Hedorah, Highlight of the Week: Godzilla vs. Hedorah; 5 minutes), Japanese theatrical trailer, textless trailer, international trailer, still gallery
  • Notes: Both formats of this release use a 4K restoration of the film which first aired on Japanese satellite TV in 2021.[27]
  • 4K Ultra HD cover

    4K Ultra HD cover

Videos

Trailers

Japanese trailer
Export trailer
Textless trailer
U.S. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster trailer
U.S. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster TV spot #1
U.S. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster TV spot #2
U.S. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster TV spot #3
Ad for the 1996 Sci-Fi Channel premiere
West German trailer

Miscellaneous

Set footage of Hedorah's
flying and perfect stages
Textless version of the scene where
Ken and Dr. Yano discuss Hedorah's origins
Dubbed vocals from the international dub missing from TriStar and Kraken's releases
English visuals in the theatrical version
of Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster

Trivia

  • Godzilla vs. Hedorah played in Japanese theaters as the main feature in the Summer 1971 Toho Champion Festival, accompanied by a Return of Ultraman compilation film (which contained episodes 5 and 6 of the TV series), Hutch the Honeybee: The Injured Ballerina, General Inakappe: The Great One/We Must Give All, and Japanese Folklore Tales: The Straw Millionaire.[28]
  • Godzilla vs. Hedorah includes a scene that is the first, and only, time Godzilla demonstrated the ability of flight in a film, using his atomic breath as jet propulsion. Yoshimitsu Banno reportedly added the scene to provide a light moment in what is otherwise a fairly dark movie compared to many of those which preceded it. Godzilla also demonstrated this ability in the IDW Publishing comic series Godzilla and in the video game Godzilla for the PlayStation 4.
  • Despite Tomoyuki Tanaka allegedly prohibiting Yoshimitsu Banno from ever working on another Godzilla film, Toho attempted to produce a sequel to Godzilla vs. Hedorah with Banno as director as the 15th entry in the series, though Banno was eventually replaced with Ishiro Honda who directed Terror of Mechagodzilla instead. After Tanaka's death, Banno attempted to create a spiritual successor to Godzilla vs. Hedorah called Godzilla 3-D, which in its search for funding ultimately led to Legendary Pictures reaching a deal with Toho to produce a new Hollywood Godzilla film and begin the film franchise later known as the Monsterverse. Banno has been credited as an executive producer on all Monsterverse Godzilla films, though all but one of these credits are posthumous.
  • During the fight against Hedorah in the countryside, Godzilla tries to fend off one of Hedorah's eye beams by forming a cross with his arms, a reference to the pose Ultraman strikes when firing his Spacium Ray.
  • Hedorah is the last monster that Godzilla battles in the Showa series who acts independently and is not under the control of some other being(s) such as an alien race or a scientist.
  • Kenpachiro Satsuma suffered acute appendicitis while promoting Godzilla vs. Hedorah, which required surgery.[29] During the procedure, he discovered that he was unaffected by painkillers, forcing the doctor to knock him out with chloroform. Satsuma wore part of the Hedorah costume for an interview just before his diagnosis, giving rise to a popular myth that the surgery had taken place with him still inside the suit.
  • In this film, Hedorah became the first monster to make Godzilla visibly bleed, splitting his head open during their final battle in an attempt to flee. The original special effects director for the Godzilla series, Eiji Tsuburaya, seldom showed the monsters bleeding in the films, as he did not wish for the series' younger viewers to see such graphic images. After Tsuburaya's death, Teruyoshi Nakano took over as the head of the special effects department, and many of the Godzilla films he worked on included scenes of monster bloodshed.

External links

References

This is a list of references for Godzilla vs. Hedorah. 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 Craig, Rob (2019). American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 168. ISBN 9781476666310.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Godzilla Toho Champion Festival Perfection. ASCII MEDIA WORKS. 29 November 2014. pp. 125–126. ISBN 978-4-04-866999-3.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ゴジラ対ヘドラ｜ゴジラ　東宝公式サイト (official Godzilla.jp page)
  4. ↑ Ruffin, John (12 August 2023). "Hedorah Animator". MyKaiju.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Thinking About "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (Actor Edition)". Mumeisha Electric Network Transmission Processor. 28 March 2022.
  6. ↑ Barry Haigh, Hong Kong Voice Actor
  7. ↑ Chris Hilton, Hong Kong Voice Actor
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Steve Ryfle (1998). Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G". ECW Press. pp. 150, 163.
  9. ↑ laserking (9 October 2002). "LaserDisc Database - Godzilla Vs.The Smog Monster/Monster From A Prehistoric Planet [ID6923OR]". LDDb. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Pictures: PG, G prevail this week; reissues and newcomers without particular trend. Variety. February 23, 1972. p. 7.
  11. ↑ Pictures: This Week's N.Y. Showcases. Variety. July 12, 1972. p. 8.
  12. ↑ Pictures Grosses: 'Balzac' Fair $5,100 In Houston; 'Corky' Fairish $1,600, 'Rock' $7,300, 2d. Variety. March 22, 1972. p. 16.
  13. ↑ Ujfq53 jul 71.png
  14. ↑ Monsters From An Unknown Culture: Godzilla (and friends) in Britain 1957-1980 by Sim Branaghan – Part 2
  15. ↑ Odessa James (10 February 2001). "OFDb - VHS: Carlton (Großbritannien), Freigabe: ungeprüft von Frankensteins Kampf gegen die Teufelsmonster (1971)". OFDb. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  16. ↑ "Godzilla Vs. Hedorah". BBFC. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Yoshimitsu Banno: Behind Hedorah" by Tokyo Reporter Staff
  18. ↑ "Screen: In 'Frogs,' the Animals Do In Ray Milland" by Vincent Canby
  19. ↑ David McGillivray (April 1975). Gojira tai Hedora (Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster. Monthly Film Bulletin. p. 82.
  20. ↑ Review Digest and Alphabetical Index. Boxoffice. August 28, 1972. p. 5.
  21. ↑ Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster - 10,000 Misspent Hours
  22. ↑ David Kalat (1997). A Critical History and Filmography of the Godzilla Series. McFarland. p. 116.
  23. ↑ Mattzilla - Ask
  24. ↑ Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs Hedorah (1972)
  25. ↑ Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (1971)
  26. ↑ Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975 | The Criterion Collection
  27. ↑ [1]
  28. ↑ Godzilla Toho Champion Festival Perfection. ASCII MEDIA WORKS. 29 November 2014. p. 40. ISBN 978-4-04-866999-3.
  29. ↑ Godziszewski, Ed, and Michiko Imamura. "Inside Godzilla: An Interview with Kenpachiro Satsuma." G-Fan, September/October 1995, pg. 25.

 
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