KING KONG VS. GODZILLA Movie Review

King Kong Tai Godzilla

The erroneous but widespread belief that Bogart said “Play it again, Sam” in Casablanca is nothing compared to the ultimate false movie myth: that different endings were filmed for Japan and the United States for King Kong vs. Godzilla. We Americans can chill; on no screens in the world are audiences seeing Kong get his ass kicked. It is true that Kong has an extra off-screen roar at the end of the American prints, but that's it; in both versions he leaves for home in one piece. One big piece. The major differences between the Japanese and American versions are the usual thing—an American actor (Michael Keith) who plays a reporter is inserted intrusively throughout the film, and an English-language narration is added (the always-reliable Les Tremayne has the honors). Much of the film's original score is replaced by stock library music in American prints, but nothing changes the big picture; both monsters survive in King Kong vs. Godzilla, regardless of your country of origin. Now, don't you feel better?

NEXT STOP … Godzilla vs. Megaton, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy

1963 105m/C JP Inoshiro Honda. Michael Keith, Tadao Takashima; D: Thomas Montgomery. VHS GKK