Mothra 1961 Thread.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

Right...

I was able to find an excellent beautiful DVD of this film and saw it for the first time in the way it was originally seen (via DVD...>_>!)

Man, what a beautifully filmed film! Some of the fx scenes (specifically the New Kirk City ones) were off...

But man, how big was the budget for this film? It seemed a lot higher than most other ones! I mean did you see the amount of extras in the running mob scenes!? Or how intricate the JSDF assault on Mothra was? Did I mentioned the amount of PR the JSDF got out in this film in all of those evacuation scenes?!

I think the entire Larva sequence in Tokyo should be mentioned as one of the high points of the Genre.

*faints*

>_> Now I wanna get me some Shermans!

EDIT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyNsyhjkaJI WTF...

[briizilla]

[ryuuseipro]

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[August]

Here's what I wrote for the "Godzillafest" program book on MOTHRA (one of my favorite all-time Toho monster movies):

At the time of its production, MOTHRA was Toho's largest scale kaiju eiga made during the Golden Age, starting with GODZILLA and refined with RODAN. The studio solicited three novelists to each write one-third of a story, based on the treatment for the film, and serialized in the Weekly Asahi newspaper. Screenwriter Sekizawa only took basic cues from the short story, added the fairy tale atmosphere, and created a wonderful synergy between the three main characters. The climax in New Kirk City (a hybrid of San Francisco and NYC) was not in the original screenplay, but was commissioned by Columbia Pictures, due to the success of their Stateside releases of THE H-MAN and BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE. The original ending was already shot and was jettisoned in favor of this new ending, which added far greater scope.

A major element of MOTHRA is the wondrous and beautiful score by seasoned composer Yuji Koseki (1908-1989), who occasionally wrote film music (TOWER OF LILLIES), but whose career concentrated on penning hit songs for Nippon Columbia's pop stars. Koseki was not only chosen because of his previous work with pop sensation The Peanuts (twins Yumi and Emi Ito, who were cast as the "Little Beauties"), but because the film is essentially operatic -- the music is an integral part of the story. Koseki had been instrumental in writing The Peanuts' biggest hits, and penned their songs for MOTHRA, "The Song of Mothra" (lyrics by Honda) and "The Daughters of Infant Island" (lyrics by Sekizawa). Koseki and The Peanuts were the perfect choice for MOTHRA, as its fairly tale setting could have been lost in the heavy compositions of Akira Ifukube.

Tsuburaya's team had their work cut out for them, with the scope and size of the miniature sets needed, as well the sheer number of effects sequences required by the screenplay. The Minato Ward, landmarked by the massive Tokyo Tower, was the most enormous miniature set ever built at the time, and accurate, right down to the last house (in 1/100 scale to accommodate the four foot-long mechanical prop of the caterpillar). Other scenes of the caterpillar wrecking havoc was accomplished with a nearly forty foot-long "costume," needing seven operators (with veteran monster suit actor Haruo "Godzilla" Nakajima in the lead). The sequence where Mothra thrashes the Shibuya Ward (and it's train station in glorious 1/20-scale) is now fully restored in this presentation. The volume and detail of the visual effects are pure motion picture spectacle -- and 43 years after it's first release, is still awe-inspiring in its scope, craftsmanship and sheer audacity.

MOTHRA was a massive hit, selling over sold over nine million tickets (impressive for a country the size of California). There is much to appreciate about viewing MOTHRA, but it is also the vital lynchpin in the development of the genre. No kaiju eiga, before or since, has touched its size and magnitude -- a film like MOTHRA simply could not be produced today. Sekizawa's witty screenplay, spot-on acting from leads Frankie Sakai (SHOGUN), Kyoko Kagawa (HIGH AND LOW) and our Guests of Honor Hiroshi Koizumi and Jerry Ito (see Guest Biographies), inspired direction by Honda and the visual detail of Tsuburaya, make MOTHRA irresistible entertainment -- and one of the finest films ever produced by Toho Motion Picture Company.

(BTW, we're screening an uncut 35mm print of the Japanese version with English subtitles with BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, next month at the Clay Theater in San Francisco, courtesy of Sony Repertory) -- check out the banner below:

[metal_bryan]

Easily my favorite TOHO film other than Gojira. I absolute LOVE this movie.

[MouthForWar]

Easily one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. Saw it on the big screen last year and it gorgeous.

A classic.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[mr.negativity]

From Hero CompleX:

[quote="Susan King"]
Tim Burton’s gleefully macabre aesthetic is currently on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art — the exhibition that bears the filmmaker’s name and runs through Halloween brings together more than 700 drawings, paintings, photographs, film and video works, storyboards, puppets, concept art, costumes and other movie memorabilia. During a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Burbank-born director talked about the influence classic monster movies have had on his life’s work, and picking up on that theme, the museum this weekend will launch a Saturday Monster Matinee series spotlighting nine films that are close to Burton’s heart. Here’s a look at the lineup:

[b]“Mothraâ€

[MekaGojira3k]

Neat. 7th Voyage is in that list as well. Also a great movie.

[Green Dragon]

[Timz]

[mr.negativity]

[Timz]

[Barnzilla]

[Dai]

On this week's show: Mothra flies Godzilla to his hip replacement operation, but the weight throws her back out. Meanwhile, Ultraman is having a midlife crisis and has started coveting one of Kamen Rider's motorbikes.

[lhb412]

Just re-watched this.

Definitely one of the all-time great Honda films. Steve and Ed's commentary on the DVD really hits the nail on the head in describing how this film really carves the distinct formula for the kaiju and Japanese sci-fi genre that followed in being a synthesis of many kinds of movies instead of just straight science fiction. Mothra is a sci-fi film, a fairy tale, a comedy, a musical, ect. ect. ect.


I love how Nelson is like Carl Denham if instead of just being misguided and unscrupulous Denham was just pure freaking evil.

[lhb412]

More thoughts: Frankie Sakai makes a great main character. Despite being a comedic actor who frequently does comedic things you still take him seriously as a hero.

[MekaGojira3k]

[lhb412]

[tbeasley]

I think Mothra is the first film to have a tone most of us are familiar with in Toho genre movies. Prior entries had an eerier sci-fi/ horror edge while Mothra and later movies are a friendlier blend of sci-fi/ fantasy. Because Mothra is a giant bug some (in the West at least) might point to Them! as inspiration, but the movie is closer in tone to King Kong or Mighty Joe Young. The monster might be destructive, but humans are to blame - or in this case Clark Nelson. I really do agree in him being an even nastier take on Carl Denham. I almost wish the original ending was used with Mothra knocking him off a cliff. That would have been nice.

[lhb412]

^That would have been too epic a death for him. I love how he ends up going out like a chump. The sheer ignobility of it is so great.

[MekaGojira3k]

[DannyBeane]

This movie needs to hurry up and be released on blu ray. I love this film and its been ages since I've seen it.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

This is a personal favorite of mine. I absolutely love it. If you ever see any film articles or reviews that state this is the closest the genre has ever gotten to an Epic (the term is WAY overused), but I do feel because of it's huge scope, cast, vision, and cinematography I'm not exaggerating.

I like it more than Gojira, and I feel its a better made, and even better film than Gojira.

You'd be surprised as to how influential it is among many creators especially in animation, and across generations. Just recently Brianne Drouhard of Princess Amethyst and Harpy Gee fame was referencing it. It's probably the second most influential kaiju film, after Godzilla/Gojira.

It's got a Happy Ending. What else can I want?

Also seeing Nelson go down like a chump, with the uh.. I guess it was the FBI and police looking for his ass was perfect. Picking a fight with an old man too.

Only Onodera from Gamera vs Barugon is a bigger scumbag.