Baker's Log

Monday, January 10, 2022

A Quick Look: SON OF GODZILLA (1967 - color)

During the classic era, only two Godzilla movies were released directly to television States-side. One was GODZILLA VERSUS THE SEA MONSTER, the other was SON OF GODZILLA. SON OF GODZILLA tells of a top-secret weather control experiment being conducted on a small island in the Pacific. Strange waves of unknown origin are messing with the equipment, resulting in an accident which bathes the island in severe radioactive heat. When it again becomes safe to leave the protection of the scientists' compound, it is discovered the storm has caused the island's man-sized mantises to balloon into dinosaur-scale monstrosities! The insects converge on a single point and begin digging, unearthing a massive prehistoric egg. From this hatches "a baby Godzilla" just as the big blue dinosaur himself hits the scene in answer to the baby's brainwaves which have been causing all the trouble with the scientists' electronics. Delightful, entertaining entry is one of the most casual and fun, mixing science fiction, giant monsters, and jungle themes. The film features a jungle girl, the first human being to befriend a giant monster when she meets Godzilla's son. Also on hand is an enormous spider that wants to eat the junior monster! Godzilla takes on the role of protector for this new creature of his species, and Godzilla's son would figure into the next few films rather prominently -much to the ire of fans who remain hostile to the annoying little squirt! The recent DVD release has been a mixed blessing. On the one hand, we can finally see the film scope. On the other, it uses one of those awful international dubs instead of the superior Titra dub heard on television for decades. One of my very favorite entries, right behind GODZILLA VS THE THING and KING KONG VS GODZILLA.