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Varan the Unbelievable

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For lizards from the family Varanidae, see Monitor lizard.
Varan the Unbelievable
File:Varanjap.jpg
Japanese Theatrical release poster
Directed byIshiro Honda
Screenplay byShinichi Sekizawa [1]
Story byTakeshi "Ken" Kouronuma[1]
Produced byTomoyuki Tanaka[1]
Starring
CinematographyHajime Koizumi[1]
Edited byIchiji Taira[1]
Music byAkira Ifukube[1]
Production
company
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • 14 October 1958 (1958-10-14) (Japan)
Running time
87 minutes[1]
CountryJapan

Varan the Unbelievable (大怪獣バラン, Daikaijū Baran) is a 1958 color Japanese science fiction-kaijū film, produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka[1], directed by Ishirō Honda, that stars Kôzô Nomura, Ayumi Sonoda, Fumito Matsuo, and Haruo Nakajima as Varan.

The film's storyline focuses on Varan, a prehistoric creature reawakened by scientific experiments performed on the lake where Varan resides.

In 1962, for the American market, Crown International Pictures released a heavily re-edited adaptation of Varan the Unbelievable on a double bill with the re-edited, shortened, and retitled version of the East German/Polish science fiction film, First Spaceship on Venus.

Plot

A rare species of butterfly native only to the Kitakami River area of Japan is discovered by two Japanese students while vacationing in Siberia. In response, an expedition is dispatched to the Northwest Region (The Japanese Tibet) to study the butterflies in their native habitat.

While driving to the location, two researchers come across a village. They ask where the lake is but receive no answer. The pair travel and come upon a lake and find the butterflies, but are mysteriously crushed by something that the police can only describe as "powerful." The nearby villagers of the Kitakami River insist that the deaths were a result of the wrath of their god Baradagi-Sanjin (Mountain God Baradagi).

Another expedition is then dispatched to the area. This time the investigation is funded by the film company "20th Century Mysteries Solved", an organization that seeks to uncover the truth behind the two deaths to report on it. Staff of the firm are reporters Motohiko Horiguchi and Yuriko Shinjo (Ayumi Sonoda), the sister of one of the men killed, and an entomologist named Dr. Kenji Uozaki (Kozo Namura) from the scientific community come along.

The expedition travels further inland and stumbles upon a village doing a ritualistic prayer to their mountain god. The priest of the village warns the travelers that their presence will make the monster angry. The warnings fall of deaf ears, though, and the problem escalates when Ken, a young local boy, runs out of the village after his dog. Kenji and Horiguchi return to the village to rally the locals to help them, telling them their beliefs are little more than superstition. The villagers, minus the priest, agree, and head toward the lake to rescue Ken. Once there, Ken, along with Yuriko, are discovered. Their reunion is cut short, though, by the monster Varan rising from the lake. The villagers flee back to their homes, but Varan gives chase. The aquatic monster enters the village, killing the priest who was guarding the entrance. The beast then proceeds to tear apart the huts inside. After the destruction, the monster retreats to his underwater lair.

Reports of the creature's existence are sent back to Tokyo, and the defense force is mobilized near the lake to prepare for the beast's return. The nearby village is evacuated, as tanks and ground artillery units move into position. Shortly after the evacuation, the military begins releasing toxins into the river to drive the monster out.

The plan is a success, as Varan emerges from the water's surface. Phase two of the SDF's plan is put into operation as tanks and artillery units began to unleash their destructive fury on the monster. The conventional weapons have no effect, though, and the military is forced to retreat. Amongst the confusion, Yuriko manages to get caught under a falling tree, placing her right in Varan's path. Kenji narrowly manages to save his colleague, though, and the two seek safety in a nearby cave. Varan pursues the two, reaching into the cavern with his claws. Luckily, the military intervenes, firing flares over the monster's head. Varan becomes attracted by the flares, and climbs a nearby mountain in order to get a closer look. Once at the peak, though, Varan raises his arms to reveal hidden flaps of skin. The creature then leaps from the mountain and glides off towards the sea.

Some time later, Varan's reign of terror continues as he capsizes a fishing boat not far from Tokyo's shores. The defense force then remobilizes, sending a squadron of jets to intercept the creature. The jets are met with little success, however, as Varan manages to destroy one of them that ventures to close to the water's surface. The monster submerges and continues his descent toward Tokyo. The military moves into phase two of their counterattack, deploying destroyers to the surrounding waters. Unfortunately, the ship's artillery has no effect against the creature.

Undiscouraged, the SDF quickly launches a third campaign to try and stop Varan's advancement, this time using mine sweepers to seal off Tokyo. The attack, like the rest, is met with failure, though. Out of options, the defense force again remobilizes its forces to the area around Tokyo bay, lining the water with landing-ships carrying rocket artillery vehicles and dispatching a battalion of tanks near Haneda airport. A large amount of Special Gun Powder, which they hope will have better success at destroying the monster, is also readied. Tokyo is then evacuated, as the military awaits the appearance of Varan.

Varan finally emerges from the water, ready to attack the Japanese mainland. The creature is immediately shelled by the surrounding forces, but that doesn't deter his advancement on land. Kenji drives a truck filled with Special Gun Powder to the runway of Haneda airport. Varan advances on the small vehicle, as Kenji escapes to a safe distance. With Varan directly over the truck, the detonate trigger is pulled, causing the monster to fall flat on his stomach. The SDF celebrates prematurely, though, as the beast rises from the attack seemingly unfazed, and begins an assault on his hind legs.

Flares are once again deployed to try and attract the monster, while the defense force witnesses Varan eating one of the flares. A new plan is then hatched, as they prepare light bombs filled with the Special Gun Powder. The bombs are unleashed, as the monster eats two of them out of the night sky. Shortly after, the first bomb detonates, causing the monster to retreat back to the sea. The second detonates as the creature is underwater and the defense force declares the creature long gone.

Cast

Production

File:Varanusa.jpg
Crown International Pictures theatrical poster for the 1962 U.S release of Varan the Unbelievable.

Varan the Unbelievable was originally planned as a Japanese and American co-production for American television.[1] It was the only film on record filmed on "Toho Pan Scan" which was shot as 2.35:1 scale.[1] When American financing did not end up happening, the film resumed as being filmed in TohoScope.[1]

During the filming, suit actor Haruo Nakajima was injured by an explosives mishap and had to be replaced for the remainder of the shoot.[2]

Release

Varan the Unbelievable was released theatrically in Japan on October 14, 1958, where it was distributed by Toho.[1] An English-dubbed version was produced by Toho, but does not appear to have been released in North America.[1]

The American theatrical release of the film is substantially altered, with new scenes directed by Jerry A Baerwitz that were written by Sid Harris.[1] This version included new American cast members, including Myron Healey, Tsuruko Kobayashi, Clifford Kawada and Derick Shimazu.[1] The American version has a 70-minute running time and was released on December 12, 1962, as a double feature with First Spaceship on Venus.[1]

The film was released on home video in the United States in 2005 by Tokyo Shock with the original Japanese version.[1]

Reception

In a contemporary review, Variety referred to the film as an "uninspired monster meller for saturation supporting niches" and after Godzilla, Gorgo and Dinosaurus.[3][4] The review was of the American version of the film, where they stated that "Neither Harris' scenario nor Baewritz's direction of it can sustain interest."[4]

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Galbraith IV 2008, p. 149.
  2. ^ Lees, J.D. and Cerasini, Marc. (1998). The Official Godzilla Compendium Random House, p. 28.
  3. ^ Willis 1985, p. 168: "Reviewed on December 12, 1962"
  4. ^ a b Willis 1985, p. 169: "Reviewed on December 12, 1962"

Sources

  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (2008). The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 1461673747. Retrieved October 29, 2013. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Willis, Donald, ed. (1985). Variety's Complete Science Fiction Reviews. Garland Publishing Inc. ISBN 0-8240-6263-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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