A Quick Look: THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (1966/70-color)

   This picture was a quasi-sequel to FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD. The connections are sparse, and practically erased in the American script for THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS. When a flesh-eating giant suddenly appears, research scientists suspect the connection to a baby "gargantua" they had in custody -where it came from is a complete mystery, but it's gentle nature is opposite the cruel manner of this new monster. Soon, it becomes evident that there are two hairy giants on the loose, and more new creatures can be grown from any loose cells the creatures might shed in battle. The titular war breaks out when the kind giant must go to blows against the killer beast. One of Toho's finest 60's monster flicks, but despite being an American co-production for 1966, it wasn't to see US screens until 1970 (when it was paired with the similarly late-in-getting-here co-production MONSTER ZERO -itself shot in '65). The lovely Kumi Mizuno is back, this time paired with former child actor and musical star Russ Tamblyn. Russ was on his way to being one of the major Hollywood stars of his era, but unfortunately came along at a time when musicals were dying off. His being forced to star in a Japanese-made monster movie was quite a come down. He may not've resented the assignment, but his boredom with the project is evident (oh, he's too good an actor to give a lousy performance or anything, but nor does he invest anything more than professionalism to the part). In recent years, Russ was asked about his sleepy approach. He was visibly sorry for his performance, having seen the film since and realizing just how good it was. (No doubt the years following THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS helped shape that opinion, as he was very shortly working in Al Adamson movies....)