Favorite U.S. Double Bills
- MaxRebo320
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2903
- Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:56 pm
- Location: albaquarky
- Contact:
Favorite U.S. Double Bills
As was the case with a majority of "B" pictures at the time, many of Toho's Tokusatsu offerings were paired up with additional features when released to the U.S. theater/drive-in circuits. Mostly everyone here should be familiar with the legendary pairing that was Monster Zero and War of the Gargantuas, but there are a number of other great double bills, sometimes thanks to the films' similarities (Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster and Frogs) or being polar opposites (Mothra and The Three Stooges in Orbit).
Gigantis, the Fire Monster and Teenagers from Outer Space is an endearing, cheesy combo.
The Walter Reade triple-feature that is Night of the Living Dead, Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster and Dr. Who and the Daleks is a thing of legends.
I can't find an advert for it, but the pairing of The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Yog, Monster from Space is pretty awesome.
Gigantis, the Fire Monster and Teenagers from Outer Space is an endearing, cheesy combo.
The Walter Reade triple-feature that is Night of the Living Dead, Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster and Dr. Who and the Daleks is a thing of legends.
I can't find an advert for it, but the pairing of The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Yog, Monster from Space is pretty awesome.
Beta Capsule Reviews - Your Guide to Ultraman & other Tokusatsu episode-by-episode!
https://betacapsulereviews.wordpress.com
https://betacapsulereviews.wordpress.com
three wrote:leave me be maxrebo! damn you and your ability to play the game here....
-
- JXSDF Technician
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2022 5:24 am
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
I am trying to remember but I want to believe that Harum Scarum was double billed with Ghidorah.
-
- Keizer
- Posts: 8608
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:25 pm
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Gigantis and Teens from Outer Space would have been a hoot to see. I do have both movies, so........
However, Mothra has done nothing to deserve a double billing with the stooges.
However, Mothra has done nothing to deserve a double billing with the stooges.
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made.
The strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him.
The strength of the vampire is that people will not believe in him.
- shadowgigan
- Futurian
- Posts: 3164
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:11 pm
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Ghidorah and Night would have been an epic double bill for sure!
-
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 12:23 pm
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Actually, if you look up its Wikipedia article, this film was first released in this country in 83 theaters in Boston, MA on a double feature with a 1964 British spy comedy film titled Hot Enough for June in the UK and Agent 8 3/4 in the U.S. (btw, the U.S. release of this film had 20 minutes cut from it) In later areas, this was indeed changed to the 1965 Elvis Presley film Harum Scarum. Both of these films also have Wikipedia articles if you want to know more about them.StardustGenius wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 9:07 pm I am trying to remember but I want to believe that Harum Scarum was double billed with Ghidorah.
Last edited by mikelcho on Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:23 pm, edited 5 times in total.
- Thomas Latimer
- Yojimbo
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:49 am
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Weren't the U.S. versions of WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and MONSTER ZERO together in a double bill back in 1970?
Because that's so goddamn cool!
Because that's so goddamn cool!
-
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 12:23 pm
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Yes, they were, and in that order on the theatrical release poster.Thomas Latimer wrote: ↑Sat Apr 01, 2023 10:37 am Weren't the U.S. versions of WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and MONSTER ZERO together in a double bill back in 1970?
Because that's so goddamn cool!
- Thomas Latimer
- Yojimbo
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:49 am
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Fantastic! Probably my favorite Toho double bill ever!mikelcho wrote: ↑Sat Apr 01, 2023 1:04 pmYes, they were, and in that order on the theatrical release poster.Thomas Latimer wrote: ↑Sat Apr 01, 2023 10:37 am Weren't the U.S. versions of WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and MONSTER ZERO together in a double bill back in 1970?
Because that's so goddamn cool!
I also love the poster for the double bill.
Last edited by Thomas Latimer on Sat Apr 01, 2023 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Thomas Latimer
- Yojimbo
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:49 am
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
GODZILLA VS. THE THING was released in the U.S. in a double bill with VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE, apparently an americanization of IKARIE XB 1, i haven't seen the original one yet.
It's an interesting combo.
It's an interesting combo.
- MaxRebo320
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2903
- Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:56 pm
- Location: albaquarky
- Contact:
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
That is a pretty interesting one (I haven't watched either version of IKARIE myself yet), but I do think I prefer the UK double-bill with AIP'a The Time Travelers.Thomas Latimer wrote: ↑Thu Jun 01, 2023 12:51 pm GODZILLA VS. THE THING was released in the U.S. in a double bill with VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE, apparently an americanization of IKARIE XB 1, i haven't seen the original one yet.
Beta Capsule Reviews - Your Guide to Ultraman & other Tokusatsu episode-by-episode!
https://betacapsulereviews.wordpress.com
https://betacapsulereviews.wordpress.com
three wrote:leave me be maxrebo! damn you and your ability to play the game here....
-
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 12:23 pm
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
According to Wikizilla's page on it, Godzilla vs. Hedorah (under the title Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) was released as a double feature with Frogs in 103 theaters in New York, NY, with Yog, Monster from Space in five theaters in Houston, TX and with The Thing with Two Heads in the UK in April 1975.MaxRebo320 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 4:14 pm As was the case with a majority of "B" pictures at the time, many of Toho's Tokusatsu offerings were paired up with additional features when released to the U.S. theater/drive-in circuits. Mostly everyone here should be familiar with the legendary pairing that was Monster Zero and War of the Gargantuas, but there are a number of other great double bills, sometimes thanks to the films' similarities (Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster and Frogs) or being polar opposites (Mothra and The Three Stooges in Orbit).
Gigantis, the Fire Monster and Teenagers from Outer Space is an endearing, cheesy combo.
The Walter Reade triple-feature that is Night of the Living Dead, Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster and Dr. Who and the Daleks is a thing of legends.
I can't find an advert for it, but the pairing of The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Yog, Monster from Space is pretty awesome.
- Voyager
- Keizer
- Posts: 7983
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 12:34 pm
- Location: On a boat
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Ghidorah with Harum Scarum starring Elvis, of course. Anything with Elvis is an automatic win.
For Emperor and Empire!
- Thomas Latimer
- Yojimbo
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:49 am
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Jesus Christ, GHIDRAH with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.
I can't stop thinking about it, even after 2 months...
I mean, that's really cool and all but it just doesn't fit at all.
I can't stop thinking about it, even after 2 months...
I mean, that's really cool and all but it just doesn't fit at all.
-
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 12:23 pm
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
There's another U.S. double feature I just thought of (I don't have a picture of it, though: can anyone help out here?): Monster from Green Hell and Half Human.
- LegendZilla
- Sazer
- Posts: 10373
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:57 am
- Location: British Columbia, Canada
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
IoAM and WoG.
- Thomas Latimer
- Yojimbo
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:49 am
Re: Favorite U.S. Double Bills
Ok, so far we've got:
- GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER and TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE (1959)
- MOTHRA and THE THREE STOOGES IN ORBIT (1962)
- GODZILLA VS. THE THING and VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE or THE TIME TRAVELERS (1964)
- GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and HARUM SCARUM or AGENT 8 1/2 or NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS (1965?)
- THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and MONSTER ZERO (1970)
- YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE and THE ABOMINABLE MR. PHIBES (1971)
- GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER and FROGS (1972)
Is there more strange or epic Toho/Tokusatsu double bills?
- GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER and TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE (1959)
- MOTHRA and THE THREE STOOGES IN ORBIT (1962)
- GODZILLA VS. THE THING and VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE or THE TIME TRAVELERS (1964)
- GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and HARUM SCARUM or AGENT 8 1/2 or NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS (1965?)
- THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and MONSTER ZERO (1970)
- YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE and THE ABOMINABLE MR. PHIBES (1971)
- GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER and FROGS (1972)
Is there more strange or epic Toho/Tokusatsu double bills?