ゴジラ対へドラ

Godzilla versus Hedorah

Stats & Staff
Release: July 24th, 1971
Produced by: Tomoyuki Tanaka
Written by: Takeshi Kimura & Yoshimitsu Banno
Directed by: Yoshimitsu Banno & Teruyoshi Nakano
Composed by: Riichiro Manabe
Runtime: 85 minutes

Appearances
Monsters: Godzilla (II), Hedorah (1st Generation)

Story
Synopsis: Fishing dries up in Suruga Bay and a mysterious new tadpole-like monster seems to be to blame. Dr. Toru Yano and his son, Ken, investigate the creature and discover it's made of an alien sludge called "Hedrium" and that the creatures feed on pollution. Hedorah begins to grow and evolve, coming onto land and becoming big enough to battle with Godzilla. Hedorah continues to evolve into a flying form, where it shows up again in broad daylight. Dr. Yano concocts a plan to dry out Hedorah with the use of giant electrodes, a plan which comes to a head during Hedorah's final confrontation with Godzilla around Mt. Fuji.

Theme: The film is very strongly about environmental pollution and it takes its theme deadly seriously. There are also undertones and stylings of early '70's counterculture.

English Versions
Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (February, 1972): Opening song dubbed with new English lyrics and called "Save the Earth!" Interstitial animated scenes given English text. English dubbing by Titra/Titan studios. Uncut.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (January 20th, 1996): Uncut international export dub by Axis International in Hong Kong, created shortly after the original but went unreleased until broadcast on the Sci-Fi channel in 1996.