The Mysterians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Mysterians | |
|---|---|
| Image:Mysterians 1957.jpg | |
| Directed by | Ishirō Honda |
| Produced by | Tomoyuki Tanaka |
| Written by | Jojiro Okami Shigeru Kayama Takeshi Kimura |
| Starring | Kenji Sahara Yumi Shirakawa Takashi Shimura |
| Music by | Akira Ifukube |
| Cinematography | Hajime Koizumi |
| Editing by | Koichi Iwashita |
| Distributed by | Toho MGM (USA) |
| Release date(s) | December 28, 1957 May 15, 1959 |
| Running time | 88 min. 85 min. (USA) |
| Language | Japanese English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Mysterians (地球防衛軍 Chikyū Bōeigun?, Earth Defense Force), is a tokusatsu science fiction film produced and released by Toho Studios in 1957. It was directed by the "Golden Duo" of Ishirō Honda (drama) and Eiji Tsuburaya (special effects). It is notable for being the first tokusatsu filmed in TohoScope and the first Toho film to use stereophonic sound. It is also known for its use of color, in particular its heavy use of day-for-night shots and bright alien costumes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Scientifically advanced wanderers from the destroyed planet Mysteroid request a patch of land on Earth and the right to marry earthling women. After a demonstration of their destructive abilities, mankind must decide whether to capitulate or to resist.
[edit] Cast
- Kenji Sahara - Joji Atsumi
- Yumi Shirakawa - Etsuko Shiraishi
- Momoko Kōchi - Hiroko Iwamoto
- Akihiko Hirata - Ryoichi Shiraishi
- Takashi Shimura - Dr. Tanjiro Adachi
- Susumu Fujita - General Morita
- Hisaya Ito - Captain Seki
- Yoshio Kosugi - Commander Sugimoto
- Fuyuki Murakami - Dr. Nobu Kawanami
- Tetsu Nakamura - Dr. Koda
- Yoshio Tsuchiya - Mysterian Leader
[edit] International distribution
A November 1, 1957 report states that Southeast Asian distribution rights to The Mysterians were sold to Shaw & Sons of Hong Kong for the highest amount paid for a Japanese film to that time. <ref>"Toho's 'Mysterians' Sold to Shaw & Sons for Part of SEAsia" Far East Film News, November 8, 1957, p.14 </ref> Rights to other parts of the world were sold for a record price for a Japanese film to Topaz Film Corp. in February of 1958. <ref>"Topaz Gets Rights to 'Mysterians'" Far East Film News, February 7, 1958, p.1 </ref>
The film was released to the U.S. in May of 1959. In July, The New York Times called the film, "an ear-splitting Japanese-made fantasy, photographed in runny color and dubbed English," and concluded with, "This Metro release is crammed with routine footage of death rays and scrambling civilians, not one of whom can act. Tomoyuki Tanaka produced the mess and Inoshiro Honda directed it. Peter Riethof and Carlos Montalban are responsible for the 'English version,' and may it spread no further linguistically."
[edit] Cultural references
- A sequel was made two years later, titled Battle in Outer Space.
- The aliens in this film inspired Rudy Martinez to name his band ? & the Mysterians.
- Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) special effects director Koichi Kawakita redesigned the giant robot Moguera into an anti-Godzilla mecha for the later film.
- Ryuhei Kitamura's Godzilla: Final Wars features an anti-kaiju defense organization called the Earth Defense Force (Chikyu Boeigun).
[edit] Footnotes
<references/>
[edit] References
- H. H. T. "Screen: A Double Bill; ' Watusi' Arrives With 'The Mysterians'" (film review) The New York Times. July 2, 1959.
