MovieChat Forums > Furankenshutain tai Chitei Kaijû Baragon (1966) Discussion > regarding this film

regarding this film

posted 21 years ago by zorbathegeek
16 replies | jump to latest

I did see this one not too long ago. I wonder if Elvira ever showed this one on her show. As for Ivonna Cadaver and her Macabre theatre showing something like this on her show would even be a vast improvement over the other films that she has been showing.
I'll admit the story is an interesting and original one having the monster's heart being transported to Japan from Germany during the second world war. It ends up in Hiroshima and when the city is destroyed by an atom bomb the rest of the story really starts. Somehow Frankenstein's heart regenerates and grows into a human figure thanks to all that radioactive carbohydrates from the bomb I guess.
In order to really enjoy this film one has to suppress one's critical faculties
quite a bit.
Epecially in that scene where he starts growing in size to roughly over 60 feet in
height. He still had the same set of clothes on when he was a lot smaller!
Naturally you would think that as he increased in size he would outgrow them somehow, unless they were really made of some type of stretchable material.
Perhaps the reason for this was simple prudery. The censors in Japan where this film was made would probably have objected to the sight of a giant humanoid monster running around butt naked.
It would have been okay for Godzilla and Rodan but maybe not for this creature.
Has anybody else seen this movie? I would be really interested in hearing the comments. Of all the Frankenstein films I've seen this has got to be the most original and zaniest one ever.

[–] giantdevilfish 20 years ago

Background info on this film stats that a starving Japanese boy ate the irradiated heart and it caused him to grow into the giant. This also explains why Frankenstien's features are Oriental as opposed to European. That is the real origin of the monster as opposed to the "heart growing into a giant" theory.

Meanwhile if you think this movie was zany as it is, you should see the original ending. After killing Baragon, a giant octopus (called a Giant Devilfish and the inspiration for my name) crawls out of the forest and attacks Frankie dragging him into a lake and drowning him!!!!!

[–] BijouBob8mm 20 years ago

It would be nice for this to get a DVD release, and include the original ending as an extra. If I recall, a friend of mine said his laser disk included that footage.

[–] Joshuarayjames 19 years ago

I don't know if Elvira ever showed it but Billy Bob Thornton did on TNT about seven years ago.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] FlyingSaucersAreReal 7 years ago

You mean Joe Bob Briggs?

-I was born in a crossfire hurricane.

[–] marktayloruk (2378) 2 months ago

Watched it on dvd earlier

[–] rds24 17 years ago

"This also explains why Frankenstien's features are Oriental as opposed to European."

I have the original Japanese version of this movie with English subtitles, and the doctors in the movie comment that he is Caucasian. However, despite the fact that in the movie he is supposed to look European, he sure as hell looks Asian to me.

[–] mvance-1 18 years ago

Actually, the boy doesn't wear the same clothing throughout. He switches to furs (of some mighty large wild things, I would imagine) once he's on his own in the countryside. I really enjoy this chaotic little flick . . . but, then, I'm a sucker for virtually anything that features the glorious Kumi Mizuno. Steve.

[–] emarchetti 18 years ago

I just watched this film for the first time today (it was the uncut version too) and I thought it was one of the best kaiju films i've seen in a long time. Interesting story, great blend of science fiction and horror, and of course great direction but Ishiro Honda. I don't know why this film has such low votes. -Ed

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] GreatLummoxFilms 17 years ago

Tokyo Shock/Media Blasters is releasing a DVD of this in February. They are well known for also releasing 'The Mysterians', 'Varan', 'Matango', 'Atragon', 'Dogora', and 'Space Amoeba'

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] evolution_500_2 7 years ago

"I thought it was one of the best kaiju films i've seen in a long time."

It's definitely not one of the best kaiju films. It had potential, but it's not great.

[–] GreatLummoxFilms 17 years ago

It has a great plot to it and is a real treat to those who are fans of Godzilla and even of the old classic Universal horror movies.

[–] evolution_500_2 7 years ago

"It has a great plot to it"

Ehh, not really. It has a fascinating idea behind it, but the plot is....okay for what it is, I guess.

[–] 7 years ago

[deleted]