The Flying Monster
The cable supporting Rodan over Sasebo Bridge snapped, causing suit actor Haruo Nakajima to fall 25 feet into the water. The incident is left in the movie as the scene where Rodan dives into the water near the bridge and submerges. The cables were reattached for the scene where Rodan lifts off out of the water, but they almost broke again because the suit became waterlogged and doubled in weight.,The opening title says "Rodan © COPYRIGHT MCMXXX1V TOHO CO. LTD." This 1956 film was not copyrighted in 1934.,Professor Kyuichiro Kashiwagi (biology): Judging from a piece of its eggshell that we discovered, this one, which we've named Rodan, has a wingspan of 270 feet and weights over 100 tons.,In the U.S. version, special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya's name is misspelled "Eiji Tsuburya.",In the original Japanese version, there is no dialogue prior to Rodan's attack on the two honeymooners. The American version later added dialogue in which the young woman was joking about her husband taking pictures of the volcano rather than her. Also, in the original version the scene plays a little longer with Rodan making a pass above the couple, with his shadow passing over them, before he swoops in to carry the couple off.,Edited into Valley of the Dragons (1961),Taking a break from Godzilla, Inshiro Honda and Toho Studios went to another giant monster...this time a prehistoric pair of flying reptiles that can soar at sonic speeds. Unearthed in a volcano and brought to life by a mistake by an American ship, these two bird-like reptiles love to eat humans and leave only bones after they dine. Understandably, the Japanese are somewhat ill at ease and want these two flyers grounded. Toho's first monster film in color is a success. The mood is effective, and the color really adds to the action(even though at some parts you can tell the reptiles are nothing more than men in suits). It does not have the chilling doom, dread, and destruction of the first Godzilla, but it certainly has its share of cities being toppled, etc... The acting is okay, and the dubbing in the American version is not as irritating as with some Godzilla films. The ending is well-executed and even a bit ironic as the love of these two creatures plays a central role in their future.,