Godzilla was the film that launched its own genre, the Japanese monster pictures. Not many films can claim that and not many countries have suffered more damage to their cities. You'd think that two atomic bombs would have been enough.

Actually in its own way and the original version was in fact trying to make a statement about the evils that could be launched from splitting the atom. Japan certainly was qualified to make such a film. Even the version that we in America saw contained that same message. Awakening this prehistoric evil into modern times could destroy mankind or at least Japan.

It was probably a good thing Godzilla was done in black and white. Later Japanese monster films in color showed some of the flimsiness of the cardboard and paper mache sets that the monster of the film would destroy as he was doing his thing be it Godzilla, Gammera, Rodan, Mothra, whomever.

It was thought that adding an American name would insure some box office. Raymond Burr was not yet Perry Mason, not yet Ironside, he was a well respected character actor who did play mostly villains. We're told his scenes were all shot in America and the Japanese players came over here to shoot with him. They do look like they were shoehorned into the film.

I'm not sure of the science involved in doing in Godzilla. It involved destroying all the oxygen in the water of Tokyo Bay and leaving it a bleached undersea graveyard. Godzilla's taken up residence there and rests during the day and prowls the city at night doing a lot of mayhem and destruction. The best part of the film is Godzilla's death scene, it's as dramatic as King Kong's. On that the special effects boys deserve a lot of credit.

Godzilla launched a genre as Japanese filmmakers looked to create bigger and better monsters who dealt in more and more death and destruction. What I never figured out is why it was always their cities?

American reporter Steve Martin (Raymond Burr) is a survivor in the aftermath of the devastation in Tokyo. He recounts the events of the past few days. He was flying to Japan to meet scientist Dr. Serizawa. He finds that Serizawa is engaged with some new developments and he joins to cover the situation. Ships have disappeared. Attacks continue and Godzilla lands on Japanese soil. Serizawa suspects that it has been raised by the detonation of the H-bombs.

This is the version of Godzilla reworked for the American audience. Raymond Burr's scenes are fine. They are essentially him and his Japanese co-stars reacting to the Godzilla movie. It's the same as the original where the Japanese actors are standing around reacting to the destruction unleashed by Godzilla. Other than being white, Burr's scenes don't stand out much from the rest of the movie. This is Godzilla redux. I do wish for better action with Steve's injury. A building falls on him but it's not really action oriented. This is fine for what it is. It's a cheap way to appeal to the western audience without remaking the entire movie. For purists, this is sacrilegious.

I saw this late one night. My parents were in bed and I sneaked downstairs to watch TV. I was about ten and I was transfixed. I was crazy for dinosaurs and had seen "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms." This was a nice addendum to my enjoyment of these big lizards. I think the big guy was handled very well in this film. I never felt Raymond Burr detracted from anything. This was the time of the fear of radiation, and Godzilla, like the Beast, had epic doses of it. Part of the fun is waiting for the thing to show up in the city and start knocking down buildings. He doesn't disappoint. It's too bad that these Japanese production companies went on the cheap later, also creating ludicrous monsters. I will always remember the first one fondly.