Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) Differences
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Original Japanese Title: Mechagodzilla's Counterattack (March 15, 1975)
Original American Title: The Terror of Godzilla (1978)
Footage of the Japanese version is from the 2019 criterion collection Blu-Ray
Footage of American versions are from the classic media DVDs from 2002 and 2007
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There are two separate American versions that you’re conflating here. Both were first released in 1978, with one for theatrical exhibition (titled “The Terror of Godzilla”) and another (as “Terror of Mechagodzilla”) for television syndication. Because of how different these are, I think it’s best to consider these completely separate versions.
The TV release runs ~89 minutes and was prepared by UPA. The most notable aspect of this release is the added prologue, which was *only* seen on this version. UPA also held the rights to “Monster Zero” and “Godzilla’s Revenge,” which is why footage from both turn up in the prologue. Except for the deletion of the topless shot, no footage was removed from this version, although the editors muted several profanities.
The theatrical version was released by Bob Conn Enterprises. As you mentioned, this was the period when the audience for Japanese monster movies in America was strictly children, so a G rating was deemed necessary to maximize ticket sales. To that end, several minutes’ worth of footage was removed to satisfy the MPAA. This is the version in which Katsura seemingly doesn’t die. “The Terror of Godzilla” runs approximately 78 minutes.
All rights eventually reverted to UPA, and in the mid ‘80s, the original TV version was replaced by the shorter theatrical cut. This is where things get really confusing, however, as UPA decided to retitle “The Terror of Godzilla” as “Terror of Mechagodzilla”. This was subsequently released on video with various “Terror of Mechagodzilla” title cards (pictured bottom left and center at 1:29) or sometimes without a title at all. The original TV version didn’t resurface again until the early 2000s - first on satellite TV and then on the 2007 Classic Media DVD. The Classic Media DVD is actually a sloppy recreation of the TV version which mostly uses the Japanese version for the picture. Some of the edits you note here aren’t present in the original TV release.
If that weren’t confusing enough, both American releases are derived from Toho’s international version. That was dubbed in Hong Kong (the same dubbing is used for all English-dubbed releases around the world) but featured different credits and was edited identically to the Japanese version. The title was “Terror of Mechagodzilla” and you’ve pictured the title card for that version at the bottom right at 1:29. The international version’s uncut soundtrack was recently released by Criterion but that version in full (i.e. with the original English credits) has never been released in the U.S.
Thanks for sharing this. I figured one version was for TV, while the other was for theaters. This films gone through a lot of editing via the 2 Dub cuts, and classic medias recreation. i do find it funny that the more censored cut was for theaters while the almost uncut version was put to television. (where kids can still see it). Again thanks for the info.
Where could I find "The Terror of Godzilla" verison?
@@AcevedoVideoStore If you want to see that version of the film with that title card, you're out of luck. It's never been released on video and probably never made it to TV. You'd have to hunt down a 35mm exhibition print.
However, if you can get your hands on the 2002 Classic Media or Simitar DVDs, or any U.S. VHS release, that's the same version, albeit with the title card changed to "Terror of Mechagodzilla."
1:29
Is this accurate?
The title up to the left is newly made for the Classic Media DVD.
The one below and in the middle are from VHS releases by UPA.
The one down to the right is the "international english dub" made in Hong Kong.
Above it is the retitled U.S theatrical version.
Edit: misstankley swapped the ones below.
@@steamboatwill3.367 Close but not quite. Top left was *not* newly made for the Classic Media release. It’s the authentic title from the 1978 U.S. TV release. The only difference is that it was cropped to 1.78 from its original 1.37 aspect ratio.
Top right is from the U.S. theatrical release, or more precisely, from a TV spot. The title card from that version of the film isn’t shown in this video.
To clarify a bit of the history of the two major edits of this movie:
This movie was released as The Terror of Godzilla to U.S. theaters in 1977 through 1980 in a roadshow format. This is the version that features most of the cuts and modifications. It would later be released to home video under the title of Terror of Mechagodzilla. This is the version that was featured on every VHS released in the USA (and even a LaserDisc release), and the first Classic Media DVD.
In 1978 UPA released the movie to television under the title of Terror of Mechagodzilla (is this getting confusing yet?) This is the version that features minor edits, mainly just the shot of Katsura’s chest, and the addition of the prologue. Classic Media’s second DVD features a widescreen reconstruction of this version (it was only ever seen in fullscreen on TV in the late 70s), but the prologue is heavily cropped. The TV version initially cropped the prologue from 2.35:1 to 1.33:1, then the DVD further crops the 1.33:1 image back to 1.78:1.
Very Informative and helpful. so the original Terror of Godzilla release is the bigger edited version that was on the early home media, and the minor edited one was for TV showings. Thats strange they released a nearly uncut version just a year after it played in theaters. Thank you for sharing this.
@@PaperFinz Its not just that it was airing uncut on TV, but that it was airing uncut on TV while the theatrical roadshow was still going. That's what is really weird to me.
One other thing that I forgot to mention. I don't have a quote on hand, but I'm pretty sure Henry Saperstein said at one point that he thought the TV version was the one that was supposed to be released on home media. Apparently there was a mixup (given the confusing titles, I can't blame them) and the home video master that was used was based on the theatrical version instead of the TV version. I think when he was interviewed about it (sometime in the 90s I think) was when he found out that the cut down version was the one that had been on home media.
Great work as always man. The Japanese version has a much more emotional and tragic ending, definitely the superior version.
Not to Mention That There is a Severe Amount of Cussing.
Yes, I watched both versions and I think both versions are great.
He’s back and with Mechagodzilla at that. *I’ve been looking forward to this*
I actually loved the opening prologue by that epic narrator from this film as a kid, it felt appropriate to look back on many battles with it being the final Showa film. The music is also legendary.
Finally, someone who sees things the way I do!
You would be surprised how many edits of these certain films have edits pertaining just to the channel showing them on local tv. In Chicago, we had a station that would regularly show Godzilla films, usually right after a Shaw Bros. Kung Fu Movie, early Jackie Chan or a Bruceploitation film (Samurai Saturday/Sunday), and capping it all off with Pro Wrestling.
Now...mind you....those films were considered (for the most part) geared towards kids, despite the fact that they all contained a high dose of stylized violence. I rarely saw any Godzilla film cut with the exception of this one. But it wasn't unheard of as to have the station edit out things for run time here and there, or for tiny little things like language. What struck me as odd (and this is also me being abl to watch some.of.the old Beta carts for these television prints at an old station in Chicago), is that foul language was a HUGE no no, but literal arterial blood spray and disembowelment were ok (Godzilla followed by Shaw's Super Ninjas). I found out from older people that worked in my field that Chicago Karens couldn't stand foul language and would call incessantly if they heard the words "damn" or "bastard". They told me it wasn't unheard of to have quite a few copy's of a Godzilla/Kung Fu movie to have different edit lists for whatever time slot the movie would be in. And anyone knows working in TV back then, that it was kind of a pain in the ass.
Sorry....I just thought that my old co-workers had a good point as to why there were so many different edits or cuts pertaining bto some Godzilla films for tv, especially the last few of the 70s. It also was pretty common for budget companies and releases to use a US tv print for the master, and sometimes using one that would have certain edits already in place. .This isn't an answer, but a theory I had heard from other G fans from back in the tape trading days. I'm sure there are other reasons more arbitrary than this one, hahaha. AWESOME vid by the way, and I hope you can get the gist of my ramblings above. Cheers
Intressting.
And some claim that people are "oversensitive nowadays"?
Give me a break...
@@steamboatwill3.367 They ARE oversensitive nowadays, just as they were back then. The difference is that now we know it thanks to social media. When the Karens of the world wanna bitch now they go to social media so that everyone knows about it, not just a television station manager.
I legitimately thought Katsura lived in this movie because of that edit, like you pointed out.
I saw the edited version, but I assumed she dies when the hero (I forget his name) was hugging her and MechaG suddenly conked out
Another great “Differences” video!
(This is one of my favorite Showa Era Godzilla movie as well)
Defiantly a fun movie to look back on, and thanks for liking the vid.
@@PaperFinz No problem. Keep up the good work!!!
Over here in the UK🇬🇧 we have all of the Japanese🇯🇵 cut footage Godzilla bleeds a lot we also have the scene with the kids when Godzilla helps them we also have the part when the girl's arm is bleeding i think the UK version is the same as the Japanese version just in English.
I remember the dubbed intro was shown when the film was on netflix.
The freeze frame sequence had some hilarious captions, surprised you didn't mention them. Like saying this was created by the Mechagodzilla Company, or frame sequence done by Freeze Frame, among some other gems.
The paramount 1983 and 1989 and some 1994 vhs tapes don't even have a title card but all the other credits. That video generated title on the simitar and classic media dvd was added later but my paramount tape has no title card. And from my understanding it is the "terror of godzilla" version. I recommend looking at the sticky'd toho kingdom forum thread on general discussion about the many english versions of these
Thanks, that makes sense the "Terror of Godzilla:" logo wouldn't be on certain versions considering the name at that point had now been changed to "Terror of Mechagodzilla". it is kinda odd they just don't put a title at all. Definitely gonna check the forums out to make some sense of the whole thing.
@@PaperFinz i think the "terror of godzilla" version only exists on film prints. that version wasn't the default until the "godzilla vs monster zero" and" godzilla vs mothra" retitles of monster zero and godzilla vs the thing. For some reason terror of mechgodzilla didn't have a title card but before the theatrical version became the default version thru the 80s and 90s at kr around the same time the bob conn version called "terror of godzilla" was playing in theaters the
Almost uncut upa "terror of mechagodzilla" played on tv. Only deleting the breast and adding stock footage from monster zero and godzillas revenge with narration. This version being the one that was restored on The 2007 classic media dvd
@@PaperFinz did you know that paramount did a sonic movie in 2020
I remember recording this movie on VHS when it aired on TV during the mid-80s. Believe it or not it was the almost-unedited version that aired, the one with the prologue. For whatever reason I either lost or erased that version, so when I saw that it was going to air on TV again I eagerly awaited its broadcast so that I could record it again - only to find out that it was the edited version, since the prologue was missing this time. I was so confused and disappointed. For years I longed to see that other version again until FINALLY in 2008 Classic Media released it on DVD. I've had it ever since.
Bob Conn Enterprises butchered the movie. I saw it's television premier. Henry .G. Saperstein's U.P.A. company did a faithful adaptation. The only flaw was using a loop of Godzilla film footage in the prologue. When I purchased the movie on Paramount home video; I was disgusted to find the castrated Bob Conn Version playing. I had to wait years before I got the Classic Media Dvd to see what I remembered so long ago. Now the flaw of the prologue; was it's choice of footage. It wasn't dynamic enough for the narration. I remedied that with my Video: The Remastered Prologue to Terror of MECHAGODZILLA. It's posted on youtube. I created it years before there was any DVDs. I bought the Japanese Toho Laser Disc collection and used a editing SVHS recorder. The audio is a bit low; but the selected footage gives the movie a more dramatic effect.
I like how mismatched the footage is.... its oddly charming.
This movie is my favorite of all the 70s Godzilla films
You have 1 mistake I noticed. In the early classic media dvd from the godzilla ultimate dvd collection, Katsura and Mafune do still share final words with each other, I used to watch that dvd all the time. There might some other mistakes too but I'd have to go watch that dvd again, it's not my go to for this movie anymore.
Edit: I went back to the dvd just to watch the one scene really fast. The first time Katsura shouts "father!" after Mafune gets shot is removed. The scene of Mafune lowering is head as he dies is removed but he still shouts "Katsura!" before it cuts back to Katsura shouting "father!" for the second time right before Ichinose shakes her by the shoulder as he calls her name. Btw, great video. Always happy to learn more about one of my favorites
Weird, that Bob Conn Enterprises, he removed from the American version, where Godzilla spraying blood from his neck and Mechagodzilla shot the finger missiles to Godzilla in opening credits, these are footage from “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla”, but in American version of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, called “Godzilla vs. Cosmic Monster”, Godzilla spraying blood and Godzilla is shot by finger missiles was not censored or removed, and the movie got “G” rating in America! This movie was almost uncut, but swearing is censored and aliens s’ death, Bob Conn didn’t watched the first Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla movie 100%, if this two scenes was not removed, it would still got a “G” rating.
The American TV cut which was the one you first talked about was also shown on TV in 2006 on the station "Monsters HD"
I just watched Terror of Mechagodzilla here on RUclips a couple of weeks ago, and all the "cut scenes" were included. And it was all dub. And it didn't have the narration at the beginning. The whole movie played out exact as the original Japanese version, only with English dub.
The 6 minute prolog was kick ass!!!
So, the version I saw (reels owned at a local theatre) had the swearing and other parts removed. I only recently (in the last 5 years) saw the unedited version, and was surprised at the bad language and whipping scene
I saw this at a short-lived theatre chain called 'Jerry Lewis Family Theaters' and then being surprised when it was shown on regular TV not too long after, minus that interesting but like you said not crazy accurate prologue. So far as I know, Lewis himself likely had little or no input on how the theaters were run. There was this trend at the time of celebrities getting roped into investments that plopped hard, and may have had one scam artist who pitched it to them - Singer Mary Wells and actor Mickey Rooney were two others. That said, it being a chain plainly aimed at children and their touchy parents, the cuts may have gone a bit deeper than they otherwise would, though I can't really say. I was intrigued years later by someone saying that, while the Black Hole Aliens in MG1 were the Apes from POTA, the ones in 'Terror' were supposed to be the Underdweller mutants from 'Beneath POTA'.
I have also heard that theory about the aliens and the two Planet of the Apes movies!
Fun video, but all your questions should be answered in the audio commentary on the Classic Media DVD.
I have a cut of the american version, but I remember the title card being the same as the original one, and the opening history lesson thing wasn't on the DVD I own. I have seen the original Japanese version, and I won't deny that the plastic boobies caught me off guard, and the part with Katsura dying at the end because I thought she had survived the ordeal.
I thought the American prologue does occasionally play on tv, or at least a few years ago it did. I may be misremembering, because I haven’t watched any tv airings of this film in around 4 years.
Great video 👍🏻.
Thanks.
I actually seen the unedited American version and it's good.
in The American Version, Dr. Mafune Says “God Damn it Titanosaurus!”.
I actually love terror of mechagodzilla more than most people
it is fun movie to watch. Titanosarus is one of my favs so its always a treat to watch just for him alone. as for the Redman comic i did pick up the first issue and did enjoy what i read (or viewed considering theres not much dialog) id like to do a video at least till i get the 3rd issue.
@@PaperFinz what sonic character should be titanosaurus
I think titanosuarus could be shadow the hedgehog
Look at all the censorship
The movie said it was made in 1977 when I look at my TV
Yo. Ever hear about the international dubb on VHS.
The heavily cut version was the terror of godzilla
Weird that the aliens are not apes like the previous entry, they are supposed to be the same race.
In the UK we got the uncut English dub on VHS meaning it got a 15 rating the UK equivalent of a R rating , most likely for the bare breast shot
You guys got Lucky. Up here in America we were stuck with the censored version. up until the 2007 DVD release of the film came with the uncut version. did by chance the other Godzilla films get censored in the UK?
@@PaperFinz the U.K. releases of these films are few and far between, atm we only have 16 of the Japanese Godzilla films readily available to buy, 15 of them being that Shōwa set. All the modern American made films are readily available.
@@PaperFinz as far as I know they weren't. I also used to have VHS copies of godzilla vs Megalon , Godzilla vs gigan ( although it was originally retitled war of the monsters in the first vhs release) and Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla and they were rated PG and had all the mild swearing and violent scenes intact
I know which we he's talking about! High five!
@@PaperFinz I'd rather see the edited versions. A shame that in the 70s they started making the movies more violent (and vulgar language)
4:30
Wow, Terror on Mechagodzilla, I see
can you do godzilla vs king ghidorah 1991 differences
I Want to Nickname the Movie Godzilla: The Mechagodzilla Wars
I actually never have seen the American port I've only seen the Japanese one and wasn't expecting the nudity for the first time. (My brother almost walked into that part btw lol)
Will you do ebirah horror of the deep?
yes, may not be the next few videos, but i defiantly would like to do Ebirah sometime.
Wait, terror of mechagodzilla isn’t the official title?
3:17 I really hate this version for trying to make the movie less dark, its a really dumb idea
Hey Buddy you ok
I actually like it. I would have been disappointed at the bad language and other stuff if I saw it that way as a kid. Actually, the scene in the previous movie with the faux Godzilla (MechaG in disguise) breaking Angurillus' jaw was too intense
5:16 d*mn hear count
Is the hbo max is uncensored.
@King Kong Fan DON’T CALL HIM SUS