Behind The Stomping: Baragon

[TitanoGoji16]

A woman is seen standing in the middle of a small room, facing the camera. She speaks.

"Hello, and welcome to Behind The Stomping. The goal of this series is to spread some light on the enigma that is daikaiju eiga, more commonly known as Japanese giant monster movies. It is unknown when the creatures known as kaiju came into existance, but the fact remainds that they became some of the greatest actors in science fiction cinema. Names like Godzilla, King Kong, and Gamera are all house-hold names, but what of the lesser kaiju? How many people do you know that would recognize names such as Gaira, Ganime, or Odako?"

She pauses for a second, then speaks again.

"For this, the first episode of Behind The Stomping, we will focus on a popular, yet misunderstood, daikaiju from the 1960s. Debuting in Toho's Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon (1965), Baragon is a kaiju whose origins are shrouded in mystery. Tonight, we shall talk with Baragon's friends and family, directors and co-stars, and see if we can't discover more about Baragon's past."

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Narrator: "Baragon was born in Osaka in 1942. He was raised by loving parents, father Baragon, Sr. and mother Subterra. By the age of five, Baragon knew he wanted to be in show business. Unfortunately, this was still a time where kaiju weren't as integrated into society as they are today, and were somewhat looked down upon by humans. Of course, King Kong has starred in one of the greatest films of all time a decade prior, but he was a rare exception."

[Baragon is shown goofing around on some old home movies.]

Subterra: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Baragon: "Movie-man!"

Subterra: "You mean an actor?"

Baragon: "Movie-man!"

Narrator: "Baragon was an only child, but he didn't grow up alone. Baragon Sr.'s sister and her husband lived only a few blocks away from them, as did their son - Angilas."

[Cut to Angilas sitting in a large chair. A subtitle at the bottom of the screen reads, "Angilas - Cousin/Actor."]

Angilas: "Yeah, Bara and I are cousins. Little known fact, that. Man, I can barely remember our childhood. I remember we were the best of friends. I don't know of any cousins - kaiju or human - who were as close as us. Whenever we got together, we'd always play the classics - Cops & Robbers, Hide & Seek, Destroy Humanity - you know, the usual."

Narrator: "Yes, Baragon and Angilas were inseperable. Much to Baragon's delight, Angilas shared his vision of becoming an actor."

[Cut to another kaiju, an old, silvery insectoid-like creature. "Mantris - Family Friend."]

Mantris: "I remember those two rascals. They were always putting on plays in their backyards for their parents and friends, and were always applauded. You'd think they were glued at the hip or something. Then... then IT happened."

Narrator: "Angilas got a job at Toho Studios. It was a lowly job - coffee boy - but nevertheless, Angilas became the pride and joy of his family."

Angilas: "It was like a dream come true for me. It was as close to my dream as I figured I'd get. It wasn't an actor, but hell, at the time, I didn't care if I was a janitor, so long as I worked at Toho. I remember getting some strange glares by others there - not many kaiju worked at Toho, and all that did were behind-the-scenes."

Narrator: "This development had some adverse effects on Angilas' relationship with Baragon, who had yet to achieve much of anything. No matter what he did, Baragon could not catch a break."

Angilas: "I think it was when I got my job at Toho that Baragon began to resent me."

Narrator: "The year was 1954. Inspired by the giant monster movies that had been made in the United States, Toho decided to respond with one of their own. Thus, the hunt for their own 'King Kong' went underway. Upon hearing this news, Baragon rushed to Toho. He was one of the first kaiju to audition. Unfortunately, he was also one of the first kaiju to be rejected."

[Cut to some old archive footage of Tomoyuki Tanaka. "Tomoyuki Tanaka - Series Producer."]

Tomoyuki Tanaka: "I remember Baragon's audition... it was good, one of the better ones we had. Ultimately, he just wasn't what we were looking for. His appearance was one factor. We wanted something fierce-looking, that would strike terror in men's hearts. Those ears... another thing was the aura he gave. While he tried to give the performance of an evil kaiju, it was more of a scared animal, like a wild bear in a city. We were looking for an unholy terror, an unstoppable jaggernaut. Unfortunately, we didn't find it in Baragon."

Angilas: "Yeah, I auditioned. They said I gave a great performance, but that a quadraped kaiju simply wouldn't work for their film."

Narrator: "Three days after Baragon's failed audition, Toho found the kaiju they were looking for."

[Footage from Gojira (1954) is played: Godzilla peaking over the hill on Odo Island, Godzilla chewing on the train and tossing it aside, and Godzilla being attacked by the fighter jets in Tokyo Bay.]

[Cut to Godzilla in a chair. "Godzilla - Actor."]

Godzilla: "Oh, man... what a rush! I starred in one of the greatest Japanese films of all time! I mean, it woulda been great had I simply had a small role in a movie like that. But I was the star! And what a star, I've got 27 movies under my belt. Beat that, Kong!"

Narrator: "Baragon was down, but not out. He continued to look for work, but aside from a few minor roles in theater, came up short. When Toho announced that they would be making a sequel to their smash hit Gojira, this time with a second kaiju, Baragon thought that his time had finally come. He auditioned once more at Toho Studios. Near the end of the auditioning process, it was down between Baragon and another kaiju - a tusked turtle known as Gamera."

[Cut to Gamera in his home. "Gamera - Actor."]

Gamera: "I came THIS close to fighting Godzilla! If I hadn't gone and broken my leg... oh, well. I'm certainly not complaining. If I had to choose between getting my own series, or being the guy who gets his throat ripped out, the choice is obvious. But still... I can't help but imagine the two of us going at it."

Narrator: "With Gamera out of the way, Baragon seemed to be guaranteed the role of Godzilla's enemy. But, once again, it was not to be."

Angilas: "It was the very last day of the auditions. For some reason or another, I hadn't yet had a chance to audition. But finally, I got a chance, and got there just as they were leaving. I begged them to stay long enough to see what I had, and for some reason, they did. And I swept them off their feet! They said I would be perfect as the first daikaiju to challenge the King of the Monsters. I'd hate to think what would've happened had I been even a minute late."

Narrator: "While Angilas was ecstatic over his getting the part, Baragon had no idea about what had happened. On the first day of filming, he showed up on the set, only to have Tomoyuki Tanaka take him aside."

[Cut to archive footage of Masaru Sato in his home. "Masaru Sato - Composer."]

Masaru Sato: "I was a few feet away when Tanaka took Baragon aside and explained to him that he no longer had the part. The result was disasterous. Baragon flew apart immediately, cursing and swearing at Tanaka. Security guards were called to escort him off the set, and eventually even Godzilla had to lend a hand. Just when we thought it was over, an orange blast nearly singed Tanaka's head. Baragon had apparently taken a shot at him before he disappeared from sight. It's still a terrible event to recall."

Narrator: "That ended Baragon's presence in show business for quite some time. But he soon found something to distract himself from show business - a lovely woman named Naoko Hazumi."

[Cut to a woman in a chair. "Akane Hazumi - Naoko's Sister."]

Akane Hazumi: "I remember Baragon. He was something. I joined him and my sister for dinner once or twice. He was a nice fellow, but seemed rather distant. I think the incident with losing his role in Gojira no gyakushu was very upsetting for him, moreso than even he'd admit."

Angilas: "I really felt sorry for him. I began feeling guilty, wondering if I should've auditioned. I knew it wasn't truly my fault - after all, I hadn't commanded Toho to pick me over him - but I still felt bad. I tried cheering him up in any way I could, but he wouldn't have any of it. Whenever we talked he seemed cold. Bitter. After a while, I simply gave up."

Narrator: "Despite the obvious strain on their relationship due to Baragon's lack of work, Baragon and Naoko courted for a few years. During this time, quite a few more daikaiju eiga were released from Toho: Sora no daikaijû Radon (1956), Varan (1958), and Mosura (1961). As much as it pained him, Baragon knew better than to try to audition for any kaiju films at Toho, thanks to his outburst against Tomoyuki Tanaka, at least at the time. When Godzilla returned in Kingukongu tai Gojira (1962) and Mosura tai Gojira (1964), Baragon avoided the theaters altogether. However, soon after the release of San daikaijû: Chikyu saidai no kessen (1964), Baragon received a call from Toho Studios. It was the call he had been waiting for all his life."

Angilas: "Bara was absolutely ecstatic. He called me up shrieking like an excited school girl, screaming “I got a part! I got a part in a Toho kaiju movie!â€