A Quick Look: MONSTER ZERO (1965/70 - color)

   MONSTER ZERO is remembered not only as a fine Godzilla movie, but a good picture in general terms. Co-produced by American Henry Saperstein, the film starred Nick Adams alongside Japan's heartthrob Akira Takarada and the exotic beauty Kumi Mizuno. In the film, astronauts explore the newly-discovered Planet X and find it to be inhabited by a race ruled by machines. They've been having some trouble lately with Ghidrah, the three-headed monster -whom they've named Monster Zero. "Everything is numbered here. The Monster is Zero." The Xians beg our help, to loan them Godzilla and Rodan to fight off the space dragon, in exchange for the formula of miracle cure. When the tape containing this formula is played, however, the Xians announce a double-cross, and send their collection of monsters marching against Earth cities! Meanwhile, Nick has been seeing a girl who turns out to be an Xian agent! 

 

   MONSTER ZERO is set in the 1990's, placing itself outside the timeline of the other films, giving the results a vague Gerry Anderson flavor which is quite welcome (presumably, then, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS could be considered a more or less direct sequel). A wonderful cast brings to life a strong assortment of characters in a breathlessly-paced adventure from an exceptionally strong script. Filmed in 1965, the film was the first in the series to rely on stock footage to help reduce costs. For some reason, it didn't come to American shores until 1970 on a double bill with THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS -itself held back since 1966. Adams and Mizuno had a great screen chemistry, also making FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD the same year. (They also made a spy epic called THE KILLING BOTTLE. Despite being prepared for American release about three times, however, the film never made it to the States.) 

 

   MONSTER ZERO is great stuff, one of those perfect 60's adventure movies. The film is sometimes called by it's British title, INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER -the title on the very nice DVD release from Classic Media (but the print itself has the MONSTER ZERO title, so don't worry). It's 80's video/TV title, meanwhile, was "Godzilla vs Monster Zero."