Movies - War of the Gargantuas

Home > Listing Index > Movies > War of the Gargantuas

	Movies - War of the Gargantuas

War of the Gargantuas (フランケンシュタインの怪獣サンダ対ガイラ - Furankenshutain no Kaijû: Sanda tai Gaira, "Frankenstein's Monsters: Sanda versus Gaila") is a 1966 daikaiju eiga, and a semisequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World
. It introduces two giant, hairy humanoids called Gargantuas, which spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster from the previous film and are described as brothers. The Green Gargantua is violent and savage, preying upon human beings; as he lives in sea water, he is given the name Guila (ガイラ - Guira, from kai (or gai), corresponding to Japanese characters for "sea"). The Brown Gargantua had been raised in captivity, and is docile and gentle; because he resides in the Japan Alps, he is called Sanda (サンダ, from san, "mountain"). The film follows the investigation and military engagements of these creatures until their climatic confrontation in Tokyo.

Several ambiguous references are made to Frankenstein Conquers the World, but the only direct link between the films is the term "Frankenstein", which appears in the title and is used to refer to the Gargantuas ("Frankensteins") in the original (Japanese) dialog. Like the previous film, which starred Nick Adams, War of the Gargantuas features a Hollywood actor (Russ Tamblyn) in the lead as a scientist, Kumi Mizuno as his collegue, and another Japanese scientist (previously Tadao Takashima, here Kenji Sahara). The similar casting has led to speculation that the film was intended to feature recurring characters. Again Eiji Tsuburaya helmed the special effects crew with Haruo Nakajima portraying the antagonistic daikaiju (Guila).

Trivia

An elder scientist discusses the fraternal relationship between the Gargantuas, and in the English dub refers to Cain and Abel. Likely in reference to the American Civil War, Dr. Stewart replies, "Brother against brother, huh? Sounds like some countries I know."
Masers are used as weapons for the first time in a Toho film, though their design mimics the Atomic Heat Ray of Mothra
.
This is one of several daikaiju eiga with a volcanic climax; see also Rodan
, Gamera vs. Gyaos
, The Return of Godzilla
.
This is one of the few times that the military forces actually succeed in hurting the monsters (partially via use of the new maser weapons).
A song from the film, The Words Get Stuck In My Throat was adapted by the band Devo, sung at concerts by the character of Booji Boy

References and homages

Besides its cast and crew, War of the Gargantuas (WOG) makes several homages and vocal references to Frankenstein Conquers the World (FCTW), though none conclusively tie the two films together:

The Japanese ending of FCTW featured a battle between Frankenstein and a giant octopus (the "Devilfish"); WOG begins with a battle between Gaila and a giant octopus (possibly the same prop).
The young Frankenstein loses a (still-living) hand during his escape in FCTW; in the English dub of WOG, Dr. Stewart refers to a "desiccated" hand belonging to no "known creature".
Akemi (Mizuno) flashes back to her experience with a Gargantua (the young Sanda) in the laboratory, scenes reminiscent of those of Sueko (also Mizuno) with the young Frankenstein in FCTW.
Frankenstein fled to the mountains after his escape in FCTW; Sanda is discovered in the mountains in WOG.
The U.S. release of FCTW ends when a sudden earthquake envelopes Frankenstein after his bout with Baragon
; another natural disaster (a volcano) destroys the Gargantuas when their battle takes them to sea.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for War of the Gargantuas ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article War of the Gargantuas; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Movies - War of the Gargantuas

Trivia

References and homages

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay