Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
Audio Commentary by Steve Ryfle featuring Stuart Galbraith IV and Ed Godziszewski
Classic Media DVD - 2006
Classic Media DVD - 2012
Classic Media DVD Box Set - The Godzilla Collection
Godzilla Raids Again made its Region 1 DVD debut in 2006 thanks to Classic Media. In addition to the uncut Japanese version, which had never been available on any home media format in North America, the disc also includes the edited US version that was released in theaters as Gigantis the Fire Monster in 1959.
Steve Ryfle's audio commentary plays over the US version on the DVD, as he describes the process of adapting GRA for American audiences. He points out the numerous stock footage shots that were added throughout the film and he dispels the old rumor that the US producers came up with the name Gigantis because they couldn’t use the name Godzilla.
About 17 minutes in, while the Japanese authorities are searching for Godzilla, Ryfle brings in Stuart Galbraith IV as a guest commentator. Galbraith provides biographical information on director Motoyoshi Oda.
Ryfle quotes Hiroshi Koizumi from a 1999 interview. Later, when the self-defense forces mobilize 24 minutes into the film, Galbraith returns to talk about composer Masaru Sato and read some direct quotes from him as well.
The one downside to this commentary is the occasional stretch of silence, most notably during the prisoner escape sequence. Considering how that subplot is such a diversion from the story, I would have thought that this would be the time to squeeze in general information that wouldn't necessarily tie into the onscreen events.
At the 36-minute mark, as Godzilla and Anguirus begin fighting in Osaka, Ed Godziszewski joins the commentary and sticks around through the end of the battle. He and Ryfle talk about how the monster action was shot, comparing it to Tsuburaya's work on the first film, and they also discuss the suit acting and scene composition.
For the rest of the commentary, Ryfle alternates between expounding on the film’s character arcs and detailing the entire chronology of how Godzilla Raids Again almost became The Volcano Monsters and eventually became Gigantis the Fire Monster. While the movie is slowing down, the commentary is going full steam ahead!
As many fans know, Toho actually created new Godzilla and Anguirus suits and sent them to GRA's American producers around 1957 so they could shoot new special effects footage which ultimately never happened. About 52 minutes into the film, Ryfle plays a two-minute recording from his interview with Bob Burns, who describes shooting special effects for Invasion of the Saucer Men at Howard A. Anderson Special Effects Studio and finding those Godzilla and Anguirus suits stashed away. This is a fascinating anecdote.
At about 56 minutes, as Ryfle is discussing the actors, Galbraith chimes in again briefly to talk about the classic Japanese film studio system. Ryfle then reads a quote from Yoshio Tsuchiya.
Just before the 61-minute mark, Ryfle plays two classic Gigantis the Fire Monster US radio ads from 1959, each running 20 seconds.
At the 68-minute mark, Godziszewski returns for the final round of the JSDF burying Godzilla under ice. He and Ryfle describe how many of the special effects were achieved. Ryfle then wraps up the commentary by pointing out the final American stock footage edits in the ending.
It's a very entertaining and informative commentary overall. It was definitely the right choice to pair it with the US version of the film.
