cool movie, it was.
The showa series has left a taint in the minds of americans about Godzilla series forever.
This is a superterrific pic! Just bought the Toho Pack which includes this gem, Matango & the original Japanese version of Varan. The Mogera monster which the Mysterians unleashed later came into the Godzilla mythology circa Godzilla Vs Spacegodzilla. While Varan popped up in Destroy All Monsters.
This movie works because of its winning blend of sincerity and seriousness. There's no campy humor to speak of. Moreover, the story is presented in an admirably straightforward and unpretentious manner. I dug this picture a whole lot.
Nobody does W.C. Fields singing "Mama Told Me Not to Come" better than Paul Frees.
Ever notice there are sequences in this movie that show up in later Toho movies? For instance, there's a couple of shots of the Mysterians' mother ship that was recycled in later films. For instance, the mothership is supposed to be a satellite in "King Kong vs. Godzilla."
shareThis is a great Toho classic and the dvd that was released with "Mutango" & "Varan" in a box set is truly excellent.
"There's my buttercup!"
I've heard about this one all my life. Some say they love it, some say its not worth seeing. Finally sat down and watched it tonight, and I was quite impressed. Not only was it entertaining as hell, but it really struck me as a very ambitious project for 1957 Japan. The action sequences, miniatures, special effects, pyrotechnics, and of course the giant robot (Moguera) were all pretty well done, and there was plenty of all of them. I liked the costume work for the Mysterians too.
The one aspect that really jumped out at me from the start was the music. Phenomenal. I think this may be Akira Ifukube's finest work, though granted there is plenty I've not yet heard.
Anyway, if you've not seen it and enjoy the old Toho films, definitely check this one out. I'll probably pop it in tomorrow to listen to the commentary track.