Must-Watch Movies: Godzilla (1954)

Godzilla (1954) is a Japanese monster movie that should be on everyone’s “must-watch” list. This film marked the birth of the popular Godzilla franchise and has remained a cult classic. Directed by Ishiro Honda, it follows the story of a prehistoric dinosaur-like creature, awakened by nuclear bomb testing. Godzilla wreaks havoc on Tokyo, leading to catastrophic destruction. The movie serves as a metaphor for the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare and the fear it generated in post-WWII Japan. With its haunting and thought-provoking storyline, impressive special effects for its time, and powerful social commentary, Godzilla (1954) is a timeless masterpiece worth experiencing..

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How good is the original 1954 Godzilla (or Gojira if you’re Japanese or a nerd)? It’s perhaps the only entry in the long-running franchise where both the English and original Japanese versions get almost an equal amount of respect. The original Japanese version is scarier by a considerable margin, and the overall story is much more interesting and effectively told, but the English version still manages to retain and emphasize the power of this character and story.

It’s also always nice to see Raymond Burr, who respected Godzilla and what he stood for so much that he supposedly refused to do any comedic lines when he reprised his character for Godzilla 1985. The American version has its flaws, since some of the best elements of the film were removed or altered in the name of making the movie more “accessible” to western audiences.

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I think that’s generally a pile of crap, but I can’t help but feel affection for the U.S. release, which was the only legitimate way to see the first entry in the franchise in North America until the 1954 original was released on DVD in 2004. The dubbing isn’t great, but you put up with it, and the movie really did benefit from the presence of Burr, whose career includes literal decades on television as Perry Mason and Ironside, and appearances in such films as Rear Window and A Place in the Sun.

My memories of watching this version inevitably compel me to still seek it out sometimes, and it’s always a pleasant revisit. Godzilla is such a powerhouse, the genuine creepiness and brutal despair of this first incarnation is apparent in any language, and in spite of gratuitous, absurd editing choices. Burr’s narration and dialog in the American version curiously adds to that energy in its own singular way. It’s worth at least one watch.

However, if you haven’t seen either version, and for some reason you’ll only watch one, the Japanese version is far and away the best. It is a beautiful, terrifying way to experience the world’s introduction to one of the most iconic movie characters anyone will ever create. The original Gojira is for many still the best Godzilla movie ever made. Even the parts that look a little dated are still astonishing in their effectiveness.

The human performances and characters of Godzilla, particularly Akihiko Hirata as Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (it’s also a treat to have Kurosawa regular Takashi Shimura in this), gives this movie some serious emotional weight. This is a story about a sort of cosmic vengeance borne out of humanity’s most dreadful, downright hideous decisions. The natural order of actions and consequences, as the movie is literally about a physical manifestation of our “success” with nuclear weaponry. The original Gojira is thrilling as a kaiju movie, but it’s also a brutally honest, downbeat story of the inevitably of death and chaos as payment for our collective arrogance.

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Godzilla himself is still a really big deal almost 70 years later, and that extends to the original still being discovered and enjoyed by audiences. I’m still a fan of this franchise, and this masterpiece is one of the reasons why.

Itching for more movie heritage? The rest of MTSBYD is calling.

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The original 1954 Godzilla film, known as Gojira in Japan, is highly respected in both the English and Japanese versions. The Japanese version is scarier and has a more interesting story, while the English version still captures the power of the character. Raymond Burr’s presence in the American version adds to its appeal. Despite some flaws in the American version, it holds sentimental value for many as it was the only way to watch the film in North America for a long time. The Japanese version, however, is considered the best and is a terrifying and beautiful introduction to the iconic character. The film explores themes of humanity’s destructive actions and the consequences of nuclear weaponry. Despite its age, the original Godzilla film continues to be appreciated by audiences and is a testament to the franchise’s enduring popularity.

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