Creature Feature: Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster (1971)

2 months ago
60

In 1971 the world was coming to an end because of man's pollution. No wonder an actual smog monster would be created. I saw this movie in the movie theater when it came out at the Wonderland Theater in San Antonio, TX.
Godzilla vs. Hedorah (Japanese: ゴジラ対ヘドラ, Hepburn: Gojira tai Hedora) is a 1971 Japanese kaiju film directed and co-written by Yoshimitsu Banno, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. Produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the 11th film in the Godzilla franchise and Banno's directorial debut. The ensemble cast includes Akira Yamauchi [ja], Toshio Shiba [ja], Hiroyuki Kawase [ja], Keiko Mari [ja], and Toshie Kimura [ja], with Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Kenpachiro Satsuma as Hedorah. The film features an environmentalist message as symbolized by Hedorah being spawned from pollution. It was released in the United States as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.
Godzilla vs. Hedorah was distributed in Japan on July 24, 1971, as part of the Toho Champion Festival. It was a moderate box office success, grossing ¥290–300 million, and largely ignored by Japanese critics. The few contemporary reviews of the film were generally unfavorable, with particular criticism being given to the scene where Godzilla uses his atomic breath to fly.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is now considered a cult classic and has often been described as the most "unique" film in the Godzilla franchise. Retrospective critical reviews have been mixed to positive. Roger Ebert, Adam Wingard, and Nicolas Cage have hailed the film as their favorite in the Godzilla series.

Loading comments...