In March 1954, the United States conducted a test test of a hydrogen bomb code-named "bra-vo" near the Bikini Islands. The power generated by its explosion far exceeded the original sea area. A Japanese fishing boat named Fukunryu Maru 5 was also affected by fishing in the vicinity, and many of the crew members on board were killed.
Since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S. military in 1945, the Japanese people have long been shrouded in the shadow of psychological fear of atomic bombs. The hydrogen bomb test radiation incident of "Fulong Maru No. 5" has further ignited a high anti-nuclear social sentiment. The issue of the nuclear threat has become a focus of extensive discussion.
Under the influence of such a social background, the idea of Eiji Marutani, Yuyuki Tanaka and others wanted to make a "nuclear monster" movie. So in November 1954, the first Godzilla monster movie produced and distributed by Japan's Toho Corporation came into being.
Early film storyboard design draft
Godzilla, set up as a giant monster contaminated with nuclear radiation. The name "Godzilla", corresponding to the Kanji word "WuErluo", is the name of the monster on the island of Oto in Japanese legend.
Stylistically, Godzilla is based on a dinosaur model, with the epidermis designed to resemble rough crocodile skin. The head is small, with a long tail behind it and a spine-like dorsal fin on the back. The mouth can also spew out a fiery breath.
In order to express the "nuclear terror" attribute represented by Godzilla, Godzilla's body shape is designed to be very large and full of oppression. The indiscriminate destruction of human cities by behemoths is like a great nuclear threat approaching people.
During the filming process, the production team also specially designed a complete set of large Godzilla models. For example, Godzilla's head, eyes and mouth are controlled by mechanical devices, and the main body parts rely on leather jacket actors taking turns wearing latex suits weighing 63 kilograms. The long tail part is hung with copper wire to help swing.
After the release of "Godzilla", it just stepped on the wave of anti-nuclear sentiment in Japanese society, and the film also received a high box office. Although the film's black-and-white close-up effect is relatively rough, it lays the foundation for this kind of giant monster movie mode that destroys the city.
Since it was the first Godzilla film, It is likely that Toho did not fully conceive of developing it into a large series at the beginning. So we can see that at the end of the film, a finale of Godzilla being completely killed by humans is arranged. Such an ending, even throughout the "Godzilla" series, is not common.
Let's introduce the story of this original Godzilla.
At the beginning of the film, it tells the story of the sudden death of a ship in the South China Sea of Japan, and even the search and rescue ship has never returned, and people have a lot of speculation about this. Finally, it was learned from the surviving crew that the strange incident was most likely caused by a "dinosaur"-like monster.
Professor Kyohei Yamane, a paleontologist, was ordered to investigate. Based on the traces of destruction left on the island and the carcasses of trilobites found at the giant footprints, the monster is supposed to be a prehistoric reptile that survived millions of years ago during the Jurassic era, between marine and terrestrial life.
This reptile feeds on deep-sea creatures, because under the influence of the atomic bomb, the habitat was destroyed, and it mutated into the monster it is today, Godzilla.
Since then, Godzilla has frequently appeared from the sea to land, and the army has also launched attacks on Godzilla. But Godzilla's power far exceeded human imagination, causing a great deal of damage to the city.
In response to Godzilla's attack, the military also developed a "high-voltage electric shock" battle plan, but it was still ineffective against Godzilla. Godzilla was also furious and used his mouth to spew flame-like breaths and wreak havoc everywhere.
Because Godzilla is under the influence of nuclear radiation, the body mutates and evolves a reactive organ, which can form a very unstable flammable gas through chemical reactions in the organ, and after the injection, it can form this kind of injury surface.
Just when humans are helpless, the famous character in the Godzilla series, Serizawa, makes his debut.
Serizawa is a former lover of Professor Yamane's daughter Emiko. In Serizawa's research institute, there is a terrible weapon that has great destructive power against aquatic creatures, the "Oxygen Destroyer". The "oxygen destroyer" was accidentally discovered by Serizawa during the research process, this special substance can completely destroy the oxygen in the water in an instant, and the nearby organisms will suffocate to death and be dissolved.
Emiko hopes that Serizawa will use the results of this research to eliminate Godzilla. In the end, after many ideological struggles, Serizawa agreed to give it a try.
In order to prevent the secret spread of the "oxygen saboteurs", Serizawa burned all relevant materials. And he personally sneaks into Tokyo Bay with the "Oxygen Saboteur" and finds Godzilla. With the release of the Oxygen Destroyer, Godzilla becomes a white bone, with which Serizawa is buried with the seabed.
The first Godzilla in 1954 was so easily killed by the "oxygen destroyers". However, with the expansion of the entire "Godzilla" series, today's Godzilla has made no small improvement in terms of strength and ecological status.
The "oxygen destroyer" in the film is like a real-life atomic bomb, powerful and difficult to control. Serizawa's choice of the same way to prevent the secret spread of the "oxygen saboteurs" is a reflection and awe of the use of powerful weapons. Such uncontrollable power should not be abused.
Although Godzilla is killed in the film, at the end of the film, Dr. Yamane says: "Godzilla is probably not the only one, as long as we continue to conduct nuclear tests, there may be a new Godzilla somewhere in the world." ”
This sentence, in addition to a profound reflection on human civilization and destruction, also lays the groundwork for Godzilla to come out of the mountains again in the future.