Frankenstein Conquers the World

Frankenstein Conquers the World (フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣（バラゴン）, Furankenshutain tai Baragon)[lower-alpha 2] is a 1965 kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The film stars Nick Adams, Kumi Mizuno, Tadao Takashima, with Koji Furuhata as Frankenstein and Haruo Nakajima as Baragon. The film was a Japanese-American co-production; it was the first collaboration between Toho and Henry G. Saperstein.[4][5] In the film, scientists investigate a child's resistance to radiation that makes him grow to monstrous size, while a second monster ravages the countryside.

Frankenstein Conquers the World
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIshirō Honda
Produced byTomoyuki Tanaka
Screenplay byTakeshi Kimura
Story byReuben Bercovitch
StarringNick Adams
Tadao Takashima
Kumi Mizuno
Music byAkira Ifukube
CinematographyHajime Koizumi
Sadamasa Arikawa
Edited byRyohei Fujii
Production
company
Toho
Henry G. Saperstein Enterprises
Benedict Productions
Distributed byToho (Japan)
American International Pictures (United States)
Release date
  • August 8, 1965 (1965-08-08) (Japan)
  • July 8, 1966 (1966-07-08) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes[1]
CountryJapan
United States
LanguageJapanese[lower-alpha 1]
Box office¥93 million[3]

Frankenstein Conquers the World was released in Japan on August 8, 1965 and was given a theatrical release in the United States on July 8, 1966 by American International Pictures. In 1966, Toho/UPA released a sequel titled The War of the Gargantuas.[6]

Plot

During World War II in Nazi Germany, Nazi officers confiscate the heart of Frankenstein's monster from Dr. Riesendorf and pass it on to the Imperial Japanese Navy, who take it to a research facility in Hiroshima for further experimentation. As the experiments begin, Hiroshima is bombed with a nuclear weapon by the Americans. 15 years later, a feral boy runs rampant in the streets of Hiroshima, catching and devouring small animals. This comes to the attention of American scientist Dr. James Bowen and his assistants, Drs. Sueko Togami and Ken'ichiro Kawaji. A year later, they find the boy hiding in a cave on a beach, cornered by outraged villagers. Bowen and his team take care of the boy and discover that he is building a strong resistance to radiation.

The former Imperial Navy officer Kawai, who brought the heart to Hiroshima's army hospital, is now working in an oil factory in Akita Prefecture, when a sudden earthquake destroys the refinery. Kawai catches a glimpse of a non-human monster within a fissure before it disappears. Meanwhile, Bowen and his team find out that the strange boy is growing in size due to an intake of protein. Afraid of his strength, the scientists lock and chain the boy in a cage and Sueko, who cares for him, feeds him some protein-filled food to sustain him. Bowen is visited by Kawai, who tells him that the boy could have grown from the heart of Frankenstein's monster, as the boy was seen in Hiroshima more than once before. At Bowen's advice, Kawaji confers with Riesendorf in Frankfurt. Riesendorf recommends cutting off a limb, speculating that a new one will grow back. Sueko and Bowen strongly object to this method.

Ignoring Bowen's suggestion to think it over, Kawaji tenaciously attempts to sever one of the limbs of the boy-turned-giant, now called "Frankenstein". He is interrupted by a TV crew, who enrage Frankenstein with bright studio lights and Frankenstein breaks loose. Frankenstein visits Sueko at her apartment before disappearing. Unbeknownst to Bowen and his team, the subterranean monster Baragon ravages various villages. The Japanese authorities and media believe this to be Frankenstein's doing, and the monster narrowly escapes being hunted down by the Self Defense Forces. Before Bowen and his team dismiss Frankenstein, Kawai returns to tell them that Frankenstein may not be responsible for the disasters; it could be the monster (Baragon) he saw in Akita. He tries to convince the authorities but to no avail. Kawaji still wishes the scientists luck in finding and saving Frankenstein.

Bowen, Sueko, and Kawaji attempt to find Frankenstein on their own. To Bowen and Sueko's shock, Kawaji reveals his plans to kill Frankenstein by blinding him with grenades, in order to recover his heart and his brain. Kawaji presses on to find Frankenstein but finds Baragon instead. Kawaji and Bowen try in vain to stop the monster with the grenades. Frankenstein emerges in time to save Sueko and engages Baragon. The monsters battle until Frankenstein snaps Baragon's neck. Then the earth beneath them collapses and swallows them. Kawaji states that the immortal heart will live on and they may one day see him again, but Bowen believes that Frankenstein is better off dead.

Cast

Production
Furuhata and Nakajima on-set with the special effects crew.

Toho had always been interested in the Frankenstein character as, in 1961, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka commissioned a film project called Frankenstein vs. the Human Vapor. Acting as a sequel to the 1960 film The Human Vapor, the Mizuno character from that film finds the Frankenstein Monster's body, and revives him, so that he can help him use the Frankenstein formula to revive his beloved girlfriend Fujichiyo (who had died at the end of said film). As a rough draft of the story was being written by Takeshi Kimura (using the pen name Kaoru Mabuchi), it was ultimately cancelled before the draft was finished.

In 1962, Toho purchased a script from an independent producer from America named John Beck called King Kong vs. Prometheus. Beck had stolen the story treatment (which was originally called King Kong Meets Frankenstein)[7] from Willis O'Brien and had George Worthing Yates flesh it out into a screenplay.[8] Toho wanted to have King Kong fight their own monster Godzilla instead of the Frankenstein giant in the original story and, after working out a deal with Beck as well as RKO, the copyright holder of King Kong at the time, produced King Kong vs. Godzilla.[9]

Influenced by the concept of the giant Frankenstein monster from the King Kong vs. Prometheus story, Toho planned on making Frankenstein vs. Godzilla as a follow-up to King Kong vs. Godzilla. Written in 1963 by Kimura, the story dealt with the heart of the original Frankenstein monster becoming irradiated and growing into a Frankenstein-monster giant. Afraid the giant would start eating people, Godzilla would be freed from an icy prison by the JSDF and goaded into a fight with the monster in hopes of killing him. Even though King Kong vs. Godzilla had already been made with Godzilla escaping from an iceberg that he was trapped in at the end of Godzilla Raids Again, script writer Mabuchi thought with Godzilla disappearing into the ocean at the end of that film, that the idea of Godzilla becoming frozen in the North Sea into another icy prison could still work. The story would end with natural disasters defeating the monsters as Godzilla disappears into a raging river flow, and the Frankenstein giant disappears into magma caused by an erupting volcano.[10][11][12]

Toho was not fond of the logistics of the story, so the idea was dropped. When the Godzilla series would resume a year later in 1964, Mothra was brought in as Godzilla's next opponent for the film Mothra vs. Godzilla instead.

In 1965, they would finally co-produce the story with financial backing from Henry G. Saperstein's film company Henry G. Saperstein Enterprises into this film. A new dinosaurian opponent named Baragon was created to replace Godzilla as Frankenstein's opponent, and the script was slightly altered. Most of the concepts from the original story treatment were retained in this version, such as the irradiated heart of the monster, the monster's relentless pursuit of food, and a natural disaster defeating the monster during the climax. In addition, most of the characters from the original story such as research scientist Dr. Bowen (played by Nick Adams), would be retained. In the American version, Jerry Sohl would get credit for a synopsis and executive producer Reuben Bercovitch would get credit for the story.[13]

Koji Furuhata earned the role of Frankenstein's monster through an open audition. Furuhata wore green contact lenses to emulate a Caucasian look, a flat-head prosthetic and brow resembling Jack Pierce's Frankenstein Monster design, and large shirts and loincloths. Honda had originally wanted to explore more of the science-gone-wrong theme, but was forced to change the story in the middle to reach a climactic monster battle.[14] Nick Adams delivered all of his lines in English, while everyone else delivered their lines in Japanese.[2]

Alternate ending

Henry G. Saperstein had requested an alternative ending for the international release in which Frankenstein battled a giant octopus. This resulted in the cast and crew being reassembled after principal photography and post-production had wrapped, as well as building a new set and creating the octopus. Despite filming the new ending, Saperstein ended up cutting it regardless because he believed the octopus "wasn't that good".[3]

When the film was in production, trade magazines listed this film's title as Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devilfish. Honda had stated that the reason why the octopus ending was initially requested was because the American co-producers were "astonished" by the octopus scene in King Kong vs. Godzilla and wanted a similar scene. Honda also confirmed that various endings were shot, stating: "In fact Mr. Tsuburaya had shot five or six final scenes for this film. The infamous giant octopus is only one of these endings." Honda also expressed that the alternate ending was never intended to be released on the Japanese version, stating: "there was never any official plan to utilize the sequence; but an alternative print with that ending was accidentally aired on television surprising many Japanese fans because it was not the ending they had remembered from the original theatrical release."[15]

Release

Theatrical

The film was released in Japan on August 8, 1965, two days after the 20th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.[13] The film grossed ¥93 million during its Japanese theatrical run.[3] The film was released theatrically in the United States as Frankenstein Conquers the World on July 8, 1966 by American International Pictures.[16] This version was dubbed in English by Titan Productions[17] and restored Adams' original English dialogue.[1]

Home media

In June 2007, Tokyo Shock released Frankenstein Conquers the World on a two-disc DVD, the first time the film was released on DVD in North America. This version includes the original Japanese theatrical version, the original American English version from American International Pictures (running at 84 minutes), and the international version with the alternate giant octopus ending (running at 93 minutes). All three versions were presented in widescreen. The international version (titled Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devilfish) features an audio commentary by Sadamasa Arikawa, the film's special effects photographer. Disc two features two Japanese trailers, deleted scenes, and a photo gallery, which was provided by Ed Godziszewski (editor of Japanese Giants and author of The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Godzilla).[1] In November 2017, Toho released the film on Blu-ray in Japan. This release also includes an HD remaster of the international version, Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devilfish.[18]

Sequel
Main article: The War of the Gargantuas

The following year, Toho released a sequel titled The War of the Gargantuas, also co-produced with UPA. In the film, pieces of Frankenstein's cells mutate into two giant humanoid monsters: Sanda (the Brown Gargantua) and Gaira (the Green Gargantua). The former is a benevolent and peace-loving creature, the latter is murderous and savage. Apart from a reference to a severed hand, UPA obscured all references to Frankenstein in the American version and the names of the monsters were changed to the Brown Gargantua and the Green Gargantua. Gaira and Sanda would later appear in two of Toho's tokusatsu series, Ike! Godman and Ike! Greenman, before remaining absent for over 40 years, with Gaira making his latest appearance in a 2008 Go! Godman special.

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See also

Notes
  1. During filming, Nick Adams delivered all of his lines in English, however, he was dubbed over by Gorō Naya for the film's Japanese release.[2] Adams' original English dialogue was restored for the film's American release.[1]
  2. Also known as Frankenstein vs. Baragon[1]

References
  1. Aiken, Keith (April 13, 2007). "Frankenstein Conquers the World Final DVD Specs". SciFi Japan. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  2. Ryfle & Godziszewski 2017, p. 223.
  3. Ryfle & Godziszewski 2017, p. 226.
  4. Galbraith IV 2008, p. 225.
  5. Ryfle & Godziszewski 2017, p. 302.
  6. Galbraith IV 1998, p. 181.
  7. Cotta Vaz 2005, p. 361.
  8. Steve Archer. Willis O'Brien: Special Effects Genius. Mcfarland, 1993.
  9. "Willis O'Brien-Creator of the Impossible" by Don Shay. Cinefex #7. R.B Graphics. 1982. pp. 69–70
  10. Ryfle 1998, p. 119.
  11. Ryfle 1998, p. 120.
  12. Ryfle & Godziszewski 2017, p. 234.
  13. Ryfle & Godziszewski 2017, p. 224.
  14. Ryfle & Godziszewski 2017, p. 225.
  15. Memories of Ishiro Honda: Twenty Years After The Passing Of Godzilla's Famed Director by Hajime Ishida. Famous Monsters of Filmland #269. Movieland Classics LLC, 2013. Pg. 21
  16. Galbraith IV 2008, p. 221.
  17. Craig 2019, p. 154.
  18. "ビデオの日記念！『日本のいちばん長い日』『激動の昭和史 沖縄決戦』『マタンゴ』『フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣（バラゴン）』『モスラ3部作』が待望の初ブルーレイ化". Tower Records. Retrieved December 19, 2017.

Bibliography
  • Cotta Vaz, Mark (2005). Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, Creator of King Kong. Villard. ISBN 978-1-4000-6276-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Craig, Rob (2019). American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography. McFarland. ISBN 9781476666310.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Famous Monsters of Filmland. June 1966 (#39). Cover, and p. 10–24. (pictures & plot summary)
  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (1998). Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films. Feral House. ISBN 0922915474.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 1461673747.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kalat, David (2010). A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series (2nd Edition). McFarland. ISBN 9780786447497.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ragone, August (2007). Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-6078-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ryfle, Steve (1998). Japan’s Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G. ECW Press. ISBN 1550223488.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ryfle, Steve; Godziszewski, Ed (2017). Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819570871.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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