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King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) |
Japanese businessman flips 50 yen coin while watching battle of the monsters
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The 1962 film "King Kong vs. Godzilla" was one of a series of films produced by the Japanese company Toho Films
which starred the giant reptilian monster Godzilla. In this film he battles the American giant ape King Kong in Japan.
This film is a version destined for American and western audiences which changed some of the story and added American actors.
Godzilla is accidently released from an iceberg and King Kong is brought to Japan as an attraction.
The two meet and fight, then both are lured to Mount Fujiyama where there is a final battle.
During the first battle three Japanese businessmen watch the fight and the manager flips a coin
to decide which creature to bet on. The coin is a then-current nickel Japanese 50 yen coin.
1. Title
The film opens with the quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet:
"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
An American announcer appears.
"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
2. American announcer
He explains that unusual things have been going on and that a United Nations submarine has been sent
to investigate. The submarine accidently collides with an iceberg freeing Godzilla who was inside it.
3. Godzilla
He heads for Japan and attacks a military post.
A Japanese business man sends three employees to an island where they capture King Kong and bring him to Japan
as an attraction. The two giant monsters become aware of each other.
4. First battle
The three employees watch the battle and the manager flips a coin.
The manager states "Oh, I'll bet Kong has no chance, I'll toss you, heads for King Kong."
5. Looks at coin
The manager exclaims "Tails!".
6. The coin
The coin is a Japanese 50 yen coin and only the reverse is shown.
A Japanese 50 yen coin of the period:
7. Japan 50 yen Showa year 37 (1962)
Nickel, 25.0 mm, 5.90 gm
The Showa year is on the obverse and is the year of the Emperor's (Hirohito) reign which began in 1926 (Showa 1).
This coin type was minted from Showa 34 to 41 (1959 to 1966).
Back to the film:
Godzilla heads for Mt. Fujiyama and Kong is brought to the mountain.
8. Final battle
The two monsters fight and both finally fall off a cliff into the ocean.
9. King Kong swims away
Godzilla does not reappear.
Cast, Directors, Writers:
Shoichi Hirose as King Kong
Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla
Tadao Takashima as Osamu Sakurai
Kenji Sahara as Kazuo Fujita
Ichiro Arishima as Mr. Tako
Mie Hama as Fumiko Sakurai
Michael Keith as Eric Carter, U.N. reporter (American version)
Director: Ishiro Honda
Writers: Shinichi Sekizawa
Director (American version): Thomas Montgomery
Writers (American version): John Beck, George Worthing Yates, Paul Mason, Bruce Howard
Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla
Tadao Takashima as Osamu Sakurai
Kenji Sahara as Kazuo Fujita
Ichiro Arishima as Mr. Tako
Mie Hama as Fumiko Sakurai
Michael Keith as Eric Carter, U.N. reporter (American version)
Writers: Shinichi Sekizawa
Director (American version): Thomas Montgomery
Writers (American version): John Beck, George Worthing Yates, Paul Mason, Bruce Howard
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