King Kong vs. Godzilla

"King Kong could kill us all! You wouldn't care! Publicity's all you want! Publicity!"

—Kinsaburo to Mr. Tako

The third entry of the Godzilla Showa series. King Kong vs. Godzilla is the second film to be directed by the known director Ishiro Honda.

King Kong vs. Godzilla, released in 1962, is notable for many things. First, it was the first movie to feature both King Kong and Godzilla in color and widescreen. Second, and this is really important, it had both King Kong and Godzilla in sharing the screen at the same time. Originally released in 1962, Toho's 30th anniversary, King Kong vs. Godzilla remains the most commercially successful film the franchise. The Japanese version of the film was a satire, while the American version was more of a straight-forward monster movie. The biggest difference between the two versions of the movie is the removal of most of Akira Ifukube's score, which is usually regarded today as one of the maestro's greatest works ever. The only pieces of music to survive this butchery were the the natives' chants and a brief piece that plays during the jungle trek. It was in this film that Godzilla's theme would be properly introduced, although it was first heard by American audiences in 1964 with the tastefully intact release of Mothra vs. Godzilla, although the Godzilla theme in that film was also a modified version of the theme heard here. Fortunately, La-La-Land Records released the original Japanese version of the score, in it's original stereo along with two bonus tracks, in America in 2005.

The original idea for the film was actually conceived by Willis O'Brien, although it didn't feature Godzilla at all. It was only through numerous rewrites that Godzilla eventually became King Kong's adversary, and that was only after the script was bought by John Beck, who then sold it to Toho. The differences between the Japanese version of the film and the American version will be discussed in detail on the trivia page, when that eventually gets added. The plot description below will cover the Japanese version of the film.

The film was a commercial success back in 1962, and made over 350,000,000 yen at the box office, with a budget of 5,000,000 yen. Contrary to popular belief, King Kong is the victor in both versions of the movie. At the time the movie was made, King Kong was still more popular than Godzilla. The Godzilla suit used in the film, named the KingGoji suit by fans, is very popular, and would be reused in the next film, Mothra vs. Godzilla when Godzilla is swimming towards Iwa Jima and when the titanic saurian falls into the ocean after being covered by the Mothra larvae's silk.

King Kong vs. Godzilla also remains notorious for being one of the most poorly preserved Kaiju Films from the 1960s. In the 1970s, the film was edited down to 70 minutes for the Toho Champion film festival. During this process, parts of the original negatives were cut out. These remaining parts only exist in fading 16mm copies. Toho's own DVD of the film is sourced from an archaic LaserDisc master of said copies, resulting in muddy picture and even worse color.

Tropes used in King Kong vs. Godzilla include:

A-Team Firing: In the Artic base scene, the military really missed Godzilla. Only two shells hit him, but to no avail.
Character Tics: Godzilla's "clap" seen throughout the course of the two battles. It even has its own sound effect.
Chekhov's Gun: Fujita's super strong thread comes in useful for lifting King Kong up to Mt. Fuji.
Chekhov's Skill: During the making of a commercial at the beginning of the movie, Sakurai is playing the drums. This comes in handy later on when rescuing Fumiko fom Kong's clutches.
Cut and Paste Translation: as mentioned above, Akira Ifukube's score was almost completely removed from the American version and replaced with stock music. It remains one of the greatest crimes in cinema yet.
Diabolus Ex Nihilo: The Giant Octopus Kong battles on Faro Island.
Damsel in Distress: Fumiko, who is menaced by both monsters, each time while on board a train.
Executive Meddling: Not production-wise, but in-universe. Mr. Tako is rather meddling in this film because he wants to boost his ratings by Godzilla and King Komg's publicity. Yeah, having two destructive monsters to boost your ratings (even title dropping to drive the point home) is a "Good idea".
Eleventh-Hour Superpower: Kong's ability to harness electricity against Godzilla. Ironic, as Godzilla would gain an electricity based power in a later film.
Establishing Character Moment: Kong and Godzilla both have one. Godzilla attacks a military base, where he melts tanks and sets the entire complex ablaze with his heat-ray. Kong battles a giant octopus, which shows he is indeed powerful, but clearly outmatched by Godzilla.
Heads or Tails: Mr. Tako habitually does this to make decisions. He even does it when the two monsters first confront each other in an attempt to predict the winner.
Helicopter Flyswatter: Although he doesn't actually touch it, Godzilla does down a helicopter with his heat-ray.
Jerkass: Godzilla. Oh so very much. He doesn't respect Kong as an opponent in the slightest, pretty much laughing just at the sight of him.
It Only Works Once: Averted. The military manage to use the high-tension towers on Godzilla when the previous idea failed in the original Gojira.
Large Ham: Mr. Tako.
Lost World: Although it's easily accessible and has been mapped and charted, Faro Island is certainly one.
Mobile Shrubbery: Sakurai and the others attempt to sneak past the JSDF to film King Kong and Godzilla by hiding in the grass and holding branches over their heads.
Monster Popsicle: Godzilla after Godzilla Raids Again.
Monumental Damage: Godzilla and Kong do their best to tear the Atami Castle to shreds.
Mr. Exposition: Dr. Shigezawa, played by Akihiko Hirata.
Off-Model: The stop-motion model used for Godzilla's infamous dropkick only resembles the suit very slightly. Kong's puppet used for closeups also qualifies.
Opening Narration: Parodied. It's revealed the ominous narration was only part of the show Tako was sponsoring. The show's host even says it sounds like something out of a comic book. Played straight in the U.S. cut, complete with the same fake spinning globe and a stock quote from Hamlet.
Pit Trap: The Self-Defence Force's plan to defeat Godzilla. Naturally, it doesn't work and he simply climbs out of it.
Sealed Evil in a Can: Tying in with the last film, Godzilla is still frozen in ice at the beginning.
Spell My Name with an "S": In the Japanese version of the film:

(After Godzilla breaks free) Helicopter pilot: IT'S GOJIRA!!!

- To note this, he says this in English.
This Is My Boomstick: Sakurai's transistor radio and cigarettes serve this purpose.
Title Drop: Mentioned above when Mr. Tako's trying to gain publicity.
Urban Legend: There's an old myth that the film has two endings. A Japanese ending where Godzilla wins and an American ending where King Kong wins. For the record, however, both the Japanese and American versions have the same ending.
Where's the Kaboom?: A classic example occurs during a scene aboard the ship.
Word of God: According to Toho Studios, the winner of the battle is King Kong.