Godzilla (Criterion Collection)

Takashi Shimura, Akira Takarada. Director Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama made in Japan at a time when the country was still reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction. Includes digital restoration, audio commentary by film historian David Kalat, new interviews with the cast and special effects technicians, interview with composer Akira Ifukube, featurette focusing on the film’s special effects, new interview with Japanese critic Tadao Sato, The Unluckiest Dragon (2012), an illustrated audio essay with historian Greg Pflugfelder about the real-life event that inspired the opening scene of the film, trailers and booklet featuring new essay by critic J. Hoberman. Also includes Godzilla: King of the Monsters!, the 1956 American reworking starring Raymond Burr. In Japanese with English subtitles. 1954/b&w/96 min/NR/fullscreen.