Original Japenese Ending
Just wanted to post some info on the Japenese movie monster scene. Back in the day when TOHO was producing monster movie after monster movie, many of them had different endings than the american version. AIP, known as American International Pictures insisted on this and many of the movies from TOHO were shortened and butchered and edited footage was deleted or american actors were added in for the American Versions. A few examples are Gorath and the famous walrus scene named MANGA, and several other key scenes cut from the film, which I have both versions. Frankenstein conquers the world is no exception. I have both versions of that movie, the japenese movie running longer with key scenes intact, which were cut from the american AIP version. Many might not realize that the original Devilfish scene is a key ending in the japenese version because in War of the Gargantuas, the movie opens up with the Green Gargantua fighting a Devilfish. Many don't make the association or even know about the association because many havn't even seen the original ending of Frankenstien Conquers the World, aka Frankenstein Vs. Baragon with the Frankenstein Monster fighting the devilfish and then falling into the ocean, thus creating the spawn of the Green Gargantua who lives in the water, opening up the storyline for the sequel, War of the gargantuas.
The original Japenese version of Son of Godzilla has a totally different opening sequence cut from all US prints, which I have also in english/widescreen. In the original Gamera, Brian Donlevy was added for the american release whereas, in the japenese release there was no american actor.
Varan the unbelievable did the same thing, AIP added Myron Healey as its american actor with a lot of footage cut, making the american version very short as to comparison to the much longer japenese version.
Every japenese monster movie was renamed for its AIP american version release also, that is why there are so many alternate versions.
AIP also did this not only to the japenese movie market, but also to other markets. For example: "Reptilicus". AIP cut all the scenes of reptilicus flying, feeling they were too silly, but now a collectors dream. You can see the scenes on youtube.com and It was once offered on a dvd release, which I've been trying to locate.
Also on "Journey to the Seventh Planet", also from the netherlands, the spider scenes in the cave were replaced with scenes from AIP's "Earth vs. the Spider" because AIP thought the puppet spider scenes were silly as well, and yes again, in this day and time, a collectors dream.
AIP even changed the original endings of their own movies on occasion.
Just some history from a sci fi history buff.
Peace