by kpa » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:13 am
Ben is 100% right, David... the old "Warner Bros didn't know they could use the name" rumor was disproved by Steve Ryfle over a decade ago.
Toho sold US rights for GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN to a group made up of guys who had released GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS. Since Paul Schriebman, Edmund Goldman, Harold Ross, and Richard Kay had dealt with Toho for the original GODZILLA and handled the Americanization and distribution of that film they knew full well they could use the name "Godzilla" if they wanted. Schriebman told Ryfle he thought a "new" monster would sell better so he changed the name.
After they had edited, dubbed, and retitled the movie they sold theatrical rights to Warner Bros for 4 years. Warners had nothing to do with the name change; they simply released the movie as it was delivered to them.
And Legion is right about SON OF KONG, too... that was a direct sequel to KING KONG featuring recurring characters and the introduction a second Kong. GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN was a direct sequel to GODZILLA with a recurring character and the introduction a second Godzilla.
Keith