Things You Never Knew About GIGANTIS THE FIRE MONSTER

[Mr. Lobo]

Things You Never Knew About Gigantis: The Fire Monster (1955)

by Mr. Lobo


*   There have been 14 different stories as to why Godzilla's name was changed to "Gigantis" in the American version:



1.   The studio thought the name was too ethnic.
2.   The Original Godzilla was killed by the oxygen destroyer in the first film - and our of respect for the widow they refrained from using the name.
3.   Warner Brothers could not get permission to use Godzilla from Rogers and Hammerstein, who secured the name for their musical "The King Of Monsters and I".
4.   Paul Schreibman, the producer of the American version, said that he changed Godzilla's name to "Gigantis" because that was the name of his dog at the time. He has since regretted that decision.
5.   All of the contracts were done up in the style of a crossword puzzle, and Gigantis also started with a "G" and fit seven letters across.
6.   Gigantis is a common pseudonym used by members of the Screen Monsters Guild when their films were clearly taken away from her/him and recut heavily against her/his wishes in ways that completely altered the film.
7.   Gigantis means "Godzilla" in pidgeon English.
8.   Protests from religious groups for use of the word "God" in a monster movie.
9.   Protests from atheists for use of the word "God" in a monster movie.
10.   The American producers simply forgot the name of the monster and gave the excuse, "that Chong-man talk don't make no sense anyhow".
11.   Gigantis is the name of the Aztec God of Marketing Mistakes.
12.   Godzilla converted to the Muslim religion and his full name became Mohammed Gigantisofo X.
13.   Warner Brothers used name Gigantis after the Fire Monster formerly known as Godzilla legally changed his name to an unpronouncable symbol.
14.   All Of The Above.



*   The cameraman accidentally undercranked (instead of overcranked) the film for the giant monsters' fights so that they appeared sped up instead of slowed down, as is typical in all other Kaiju pictures. Special Effects Director Eiji Tsuburaya liked the effect, and decided to used it for the entire film. After viewing the film sober, Tsuburaya decided to check himself and into rehab. The cameraman died of alcoholism in 1967.
*   Instead of using Masaru Satô's original score, Warner substituted themes from Kronos (1957), The Deerslayer (1957), Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Popeye The Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves (1937) and Million Dollar Mermaid (1952).
*   Many times when Gigantis opens his mouth during the American dubbed version, instead of the Godzilla trademark roar we more often hear hear Anguirus' roar, the MGM Lion's roar, an automotive horn, slide whistle, or a train wreck.
*   Other titles for this film are Bad News Behemoths Go To Japan, Firemonster Walk With Me , Godzilla Vs. Koosh-O-Saurus, Don't Look Back in Anguiris, Attack of the Sweaty Japanese Men In Rubber Suits, and Barney and Friends.
*   There is remake with homoerotic overtones called Godzilla On Fire Island.
*   This is the first film in which Godzilla fights another monster - American greed.
*   This suit used in this movie was very similar to the first one used in Godzilla, King of the Monsters in that it is made of rubber and there is a guy inside.
*   The suit used for Gigantis - The Fire Monster was slimmed down to fit Haruo Nakajima better, and to make the acting process a little more comfortable. He only passed out once every hour instead of once every half-hour like he did in the first Godzilla film.
*   The irises on Gigantis' eyes were much bigger than the original suit, which had smaller, "beadier" eyes. However larger the eyes became on newer versions of the Godzilla suit, it didn't really help the guy inside looking out of slits in its neck.
*   This film was made before Hollywood image consultants pressured Gigantis to have those little ears pinned back.
*   The dorsal fins on the monster in Gigantis were kept about the same size and shape as the original Godzilla and there were still four toes on each foot, proving once again that I have far too much time on my hands.
*   This film was going to be remade in the US as The Fire Monsters. It followed a similar plotline where a tyranosaurus and an ankylosaurus are captured, then brought to San Francisco - but the producers were sued by the owners of Godzilla On Fire Island.
*   Godzilla (1954) became such a huge hit that Toho produced this sequel and got it into theaters -despite the numerous special effects scenes required - in less than six months after the original film was released, instead of the six and a half months it usually takes.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Ok, I'm a very pro Kaiju, and like this one a lot.  Numbers 3 and 6 especially.
 Good job Lobo.  
-Ed

[Mr. Lobo]

Thanks for the Kaiju Kudos!

[Shadow]

Hey Mr. Lobo, is anyone here in Sacramento going to carry your show?

[Mr. Lobo]

No one is carrying the show now in Sacramento and it's breaking your horror hosts heart. I finally got the Bay Area locked in with KTEH, though--Perhaps Sacramento will fall to the pressure.

Keep the faith, Insomniac!
Mr. Lobo

[Just Plain Horse]

Why Raymond Burr wasn't asked to "Americanize" this one is beyond me... chop it up? Fine. Do anything to make it connect better with an American audience? No sireee! (Maybe the idea of "Steve Martin" going back to the hell of being buried alive under tons of radioactive debris seemed like a bad idea...)

Just stay the hell away from Japan... and never look back in Anguirus.