King Kong vs. Godzilla - Japanese Version Restoration Thread

[SuperMonsterZero]

I'm trying to convince Baradagi to help me scope out a print of KKvsG's international dubbed version in the South Pacific where it played. If screenable prints were shown there as late as the early 1980s, then I'm certain they still exist. These may be the last remaining 35mm sources for the 9 minutes in shit LD quality.

If that works out, it would be great if you had the international dub as an alternate audio track.

[Tamura]

^Exactly, it works out two ways. I could preserve the international credits, too.

[The Dark Uniter]

I didn't know there was a actual International print for King Kong vs Godzilla. I mean granted I knew about the dub via a trailer, but I only thought since Universal own the English rights that their version would be the only authorized version to show.

[Tamura]

I believe that the agreement between John Beck/Universal and Toho was that Beck's version could be shown everywhere but Asia, and Toho's version everwhere but non-Asian territories.

[Goji]

^Exactly, it works out two ways. I could preserve the international credits, too.

Man, tracking down one of those seriously seems like it would be next to impossible.

[Tamura]

I just have a hunch that the Int'l version is still out there. If at least one usable print existed in the early 80's and nothing has happened to it, I'm convinced that it's still around. And if or when it can be located, then that's the key to finishing this restoration once and for all.

[Starshyne]

Boy, I'm pumped about tomorrow night!

[Gojira-Fan]

I believe that the agreement between John Beck/Universal and Toho was that Beck's version could be shown everywhere but Asia, and Toho's version everwhere but non-Asian territories.

So would that contract affect us even today? So that Universal legally cannot have the Japanese version on home video?

[Tamura]

I think that they can hypothetically release the film here, but they would have to buy the rights to it as a separate film.

[Gojira-Fan]

Too bad they didn't. The lack of the Japanese version being there was one of the reasons I didn't pick it up.

[Tamura]

If we give Universal enough demand, then yes, we might see the Japanese version on MOD DVD, or something.

[KaneLocke]

Considering I honestly don't think the demand is enough to warrant it...

[KaneLocke]

Sure, but it'd take a Hell of a lot more letters than those of TK could produce. We'd need a much larger portion of fans doing a letter campaign.

[Tamura]

The 2011 KKvsG restoration will be broadcasting in a few minutes on http://www.livestream.com/tokusatsuterebi!

[Starshyne]

Nice work!

[Proofpoochie]

Nice work!

Agreed. You did a great job!

[miguelnuva]

I missed the showing what's diffrent from the beck version?

[Goji]

It's practically a completely different film. Do a google search and I'm sure you can easily find an article listing the differences. There are far too many to list.

[miguelnuva]

It's practically a completely different film. Do a google search and I'm sure you can easily find an article listing the differences. There are far too many to list.

takes.

[Julia Bristow]

The John Beck version has a shreonk load of edits that make it totally different from its Japanese counterpart. I'll be willing to list at least some of the changes that were made:

90% or so of Akira Ifukube's great score was edited out & replaced with stock music from older Universal films like Creature from the Black Lagoon

Much of the dialogue was totally changed

Many scenes were removed to make room for the horrid American scenes which IMO ruins the flow of the film

The scene of King Kong & Godzilla's first meeting was moved to an early spot in the film

Many of the comedy scenes were cut to make this a kinda straight scifi film

Stock footage from The Mysterians was used to make the earthquake seen in this film much more violent in this version than the harmless tremor seen in the Japanese version.