Editing Frankenstein vs. Baragon

{{Infobox film
| name           = Frankenstein vs. Baragon
| image          = Frankenstein vs. Baragon Japanese Theatrical poster.jpg
 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| native_name    = {{Infobox Japanese| kanji=フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣バラゴン | revhep=Furankenshutain tai Chitei Kaijū Baragon}}
| director       = [[Ishirō Honda]]
| producer       = {{plainlist|
*[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
}}
| screenplay     = [[Takeshi Kimura]]
| story          = Reuben Bercovitch{{sfn|Craig|2019|p=154}}<br>[[Jerry Sohl]]{{sfn|Craig|2019|p=154}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
*[[Nick Adams (actor, born 1931)|Nick Adams]]
*[[Kumi Mizuno]]
*[[Tadao Takashima]]
}}
| music          = [[Akira Ifukube]]
| cinematography = [[:ja:小泉一|Hajime Koizumi]]<br/>[[:ja:有川貞昌|Sadamasa Arikawa]]
| editing        = [[:ja:藤井良平|Ryohei Fujii]]
| studio         = [[Toho|Toho Co., Ltd]]<br />[[United Productions of America|Henry G. Saperstein Enterprises]]
| distributor    = Toho (Japan)<br />[[American International Pictures]] (United States)
| released       = {{Film date|1965|8|8|Japan}}{{Film date|1966|7|8|United States}}
| runtime        = 89 minutes<ref name="MB DVD"/>
| country        = Japan<br>United States
| language       = Japanese{{efn|During filming, Nick Adams delivered all of his lines in English; however, he was dubbed over by [[Gorō Naya]] for the film's Japanese release.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=223}} Adams' original English dialogue was restored for the film's American release.<ref name="MB DVD"/>}}
| budget         = 
| gross          = {{¥|93000000|1965}}<br>(Japan){{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=226}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Frankenstein vs. Baragon'''''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works|date=2012|page=94|publisher=ヴィレッジブックス |isbn=978-4-864-91013-2}}</ref><ref name="TCC October"/>|フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣{{small|バラゴン}}|Furankenshutain tai Chitei Kaijū Baragon|{{literal translation|''Frankenstein vs. Subterranean Monster Baragon''}}|lead=yes}} is a 1965 ''[[kaiju]]'' film directed by [[Ishirō Honda]], with special effects by [[Eiji Tsuburaya]]. The film stars [[Nick Adams (actor, born 1931)|Nick Adams]], [[Kumi Mizuno]] and [[Tadao Takashima]], with Koji Furuhata as [[Frankenstein's monster|Frankenstein]] and [[Haruo Nakajima]] as [[Baragon]]. An international co-production of Japan and the United States; it was the first collaboration between [[Toho|Toho Co., Ltd]] and [[Henry G. Saperstein]].{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=225}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=302}} In the film, scientists investigate the origins of a mysterious boy and his resistance to radiation that makes him grow to monstrous size, while a second monster ravages the countryside.

''Frankenstein vs. Baragon'' was theatrically released in Japan on August 8, 1965, followed by a theatrical release in the United States on July 8, 1966 by [[American International Pictures]] as '''''Frankenstein Conquers the World'''''. The film was followed by ''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'', released on July 31, 1966.{{sfn|Galbraith IV|1998|p=181}}

== Plot ==
During [[World War II]] in [[Nazi Germany]], Nazi officers confiscate the living [[heart]] of the [[Frankenstein's monster|Frankenstein Monster]] from Dr. Riesendorf and pass it on to the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]], who take it to a research facility in [[Hiroshima]] for further experimentation. As the experiments begin, Hiroshima is [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|destroyed]] by the Americans using a [[Little Boy|nuclear bomb]] dropped by ''[[Enola Gay]]''. Fifteen years later, Hiroshima has been rapidly rebuilt. A feral boy runs rampant through the streets, catching and devouring small animals. This comes to the attention of American scientist Dr. James Bowen and his assistants Drs. Sueko Togami and Ken'ichiro Kawaji. A year later, they find the boy hiding in a cave on a beach, cornered by outraged villagers. Bowen and his team take care of the boy and discover that he is building a strong resistance to radiation.

The former Imperial Navy officer Kawai, who brought the heart to Hiroshima's army hospital, is now working as a technician at an oil refinery in [[Akita Prefecture]], when a sudden earthquake destroys the refinery. Kawai catches a glimpse of a non-human monster within a fissure in the ground before it disappears. Meanwhile, Bowen and his team find out that the strange boy is growing in size due to an intake of [[protein]]. Afraid of his strength, the scientists lock and chain the boy in a cage and Sueko, who cares for him, feeds him some protein-filled food to sustain him. Bowen is visited by Kawai, who tells him that the boy could have grown from the heart of the Frankenstein Monster, as the boy was seen in Hiroshima more than once before. At Bowen's advice, Kawaji confers with Riesendorf in Frankfurt. Riesendorf recommends cutting off a limb, speculating that a new one will grow back. Sueko and Bowen strongly object to this method.

Ignoring Bowen's suggestion to think it over, Kawaji tenaciously attempts to sever one of the limbs of the boy-turned-giant, now called "Frankenstein". He is interrupted by a TV crew, who enrage Frankenstein with bright studio lights and Frankenstein breaks loose. Frankenstein visits Sueko at her apartment before escaping Hiroshima entirely, heading to fend for himself in the countryside. A severed, still-living hand of Frankenstein's is found, proving Riesendorf's theory, though it dies shortly after accidentally trapping itself under a grate without a supply of protein to sustain it. Unbeknownst to Bowen and his team, the subterranean burrowing [[dinosaur]] Baragon ravages various villages. The Japanese authorities and media believe this to be Frankenstein's doing and Frankenstein narrowly escapes being hunted down by the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces]]. Before Bowen and his team dismiss Frankenstein, Kawai returns to tell them that Frankenstein may not be responsible for the disasters; it could be the monster (Baragon) he saw in Akita. He tries to convince the authorities, but to no avail. Kawaji still wishes the scientists luck in finding and saving Frankenstein.

Bowen, Sueko and Kawaji attempt to find Frankenstein on their own. To Bowen and Sueko's shock, Kawaji reveals his plans to kill Frankenstein by blinding him with grenades in order to recover his heart and his brain. Kawaji presses on to find Frankenstein, but finds Baragon instead. Kawaji and Bowen try in vain to stop Baragon with the grenades. Frankenstein emerges in time to save the scientists and engages Baragon. The monsters battle until Frankenstein snaps Baragon's neck. Then the ground beneath them collapses and swallows them up. Kawaji states that the immortal heart will live on and they may one day see him again, but Bowen believes that Frankenstein is better off dead.

== Cast ==
{{castlist|
* [[Nick Adams (actor, born 1931)|Nick Adams]] as Dr. James Bowen
**Japanese voice actor: [[Gorō Naya]]
* [[Tadao Takashima]] as Dr. Ken'ichiro Kawaji
* [[Kumi Mizuno]] as Dr. Sueko Togami
* [[Yoshio Tsuchiya]] as Mr. Kawai
* [[Yoshifumi Tajima]] as Murata
* [[Takashi Shimura]] as Hiroshima surgeon
* [[Susumu Fujita]] as Osaka Police Chief
* Peter Mann as Dr. Riesendorf
**Japanese voice actor: [[Kazuo Kumakura]]
* Keiko Sawai as Tazuko Towoi
* Koji Furuhata as [[Frankenstein's monster|Frankenstein]]
* Sumio Nakao as the younger Frankenstein
* [[Haruo Nakajima]] as [[Baragon]]
}}

== Production ==
[[File:Frank-Bar.jpg|thumb|200px|Furuhata and Nakajima on-set with the special effects crew]]
===Development===
In the early 1960s, special effects technician [[Willis H. O'Brien]] (who provided the [[stop motion]] animation for the 1933 film ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'') proposed an idea for a new ''King Kong'' film to be filmed in color. O'Brien wrote a story outline titled ''King Kong vs. Frankenstein'' and succeeded in obtaining permission from [[RKO Pictures]] attorney Daniel O'Shea to use the King Kong character. O'Shea then introduced O'Brien to film producer [[John Beck (producer)|John Beck]] to help secure funding. With a completed script by [[George Worthing Yates]] (retitled as ''King Kong vs. Prometheus'', in reference to the [[Frankenstein|original Mary Shelley book]]), Beck generated some interest in Hollywood but failed to secure funding and reached out overseas.

Behind O'Brien's back, Beck succeeded in striking a deal with Japanese studio [[Toho|Toho Co., Ltd]] (producers of the 1954 film ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'') to produce ''King Kong vs. Prometheus''. Toho was only interested in acquiring the King Kong character and the project was redeveloped into ''[[King Kong vs. Godzilla]]''. O'Brien attempted to sue (presumably Beck) over the deal with Toho but dropped the lawsuit due to mounting attorney fees and died on November 8, 1962.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=80–81}}<ref>"Willis O'Brien - Creator of the Impossible" by Don Shay. ''Cinefex'' #7. R. B Graphics. 1982. pp. 69–70</ref>

Shortly after the release of ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'', Toho began work on a film that would potentially feature the Frankenstein monster, or simply named "Frankenstein". Inspired by a story concept by [[John Meredyth Lucas]] (who wrote the American localizations for three of Toho's films), Toho conceived of ''Frankenstein vs. The Human Vapor'' and tasked [[Ishirō Honda]] to direct and [[Shinichi Sekizawa]] to write the script. Sekizawa failed to finish the story treatment, citing lack of inspiration, and abandoned the idea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/cutting_room/frankenstein_human_vapour.htm|title=Lost Project: Frankenstein vs. The Human Vapour|first=|last=|work=Toho Kingdom|date=|access-date=June 29, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=June 29, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240629230837/https://www.tohokingdom.com/cutting_room/frankenstein_human_vapour.htm}}</ref>

In 1964, Honda traveled to the United States to help finalize a deal with [[Henry G. Saperstein]] and his [[United Productions of America]] (UPA) studio. The deal would see UPA co-producing three films with Toho, with "the right of final decision" on the film by Honda. The deal also allowed Saperstein to attach Hollywood actors as the leads, to provide half the financing for territorial rights, and consultation on the scripts. One of the films to be co-produced under the deal would be ''Frankenstein vs. Godzilla''.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=222}}

===Writing===
The idea for ''Frankenstein vs. Godzilla'' originated from UPA, with [[Jerry Sohl]] and Reuben Bercovitch providing the initial concept. Both writers retained credit for the story but it is unclear how much of their ideas were retained in the final film. [[Takeshi Kimura]]'s first drafted, dated July 3, 1964, features much of the same elements in the final film. The story dealt with the heart of the original Frankenstein monster becoming irradiated and growing into a giant Frankenstein Monster. Afraid the giant would start eating people, Godzilla would be awakened from slumber in the Kurile Trench by the JSDF and goaded into a fight with the Monster in hopes of destroying him. The story would end with natural disasters defeating the monsters as Godzilla disappears into a raging river flow, and the giant Frankenstein Monster disappears into magma caused by an erupting volcano.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=119-120}}{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=224}} 

A March 1965 draft replaced Godzilla with a new ''kaiju'' [[Baragon]] and the final draft from May 10, 1965 had Frankenstein acting less of a monster, with the human characters fostering compassion for him.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=224}} Honda criticized the decision by Toho and UPA to include a ''kaiju'', calling it "convenient" and originally wanted to explore the tragedy and immoral science behind Frankenstein instead.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=225}}

===Pre-production===
[[Nick Adams (actor, born 1931)|Nick Adams]] was handpicked by Saperstein for the lead. Several crew members spoke fondly of Adams, who would amuse his fellow co-stars and crew with stories from Hollywood. Co-director Koji Kajita regaled that Adams became good friends with Honda and [[Yoshio Tsuchiya]], often teasing them and them teasing Adams back. Despite being married, Adams flirted openly with [[Kumi Mizuno]] and called her every night. Mizuno admitted that Adams was "headstrong" and that she had to "get out of that situation", but stated it was "fun" to work with him. Adams delivered all of his lines in English, while everyone else delivered their lines in Japanese.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=223}}

Koji Furuhata earned the role of Frankenstein through an open audition. Furuhata wore green contact lenses to emulate a Caucasian look, a flat-head prosthetic and brow resembling [[Jack Pierce (makeup artist)|Jack Pierce]]'s Frankenstein Monster design and large shirts and loincloths. Honda had originally wanted to explore more of the science-gone-wrong theme, but was forced to change the story in the middle to reach a climactic monster battle.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=225}}

=== Alternate ending ===
Saperstein had requested an alternative ending for the international release in which Frankenstein battled a [[Gigantic octopus|giant octopus]], who eventually defeated Frankenstein by dragging him into a lake. This resulted in the cast and crew being reassembled after principal photography and post-production had wrapped, as well as building a new set and building a new prop to represent the giant octopus from foam, latex and sawdust initially moulded over a wire frame for support during construction.<ref>{{cite book|title=All Toho Monsters Pictorial Book|year=2016|publisher=Yosensha|page=109|isbn=9784800303622}}</ref> Despite filming the new ending, Saperstein ended up cutting it regardless because he believed the giant octopus "wasn't that good".{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=226}}

When the film was in production, trade magazines listed this film's title as ''Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devilfish''. Honda had stated that the reason why the giant octopus ending was initially requested was because the American co-producers were "astonished" by the giant octopus scene in ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' and wanted a similar scene in this film. Honda also confirmed that various endings were shot, stating: "In fact Mr. Tsuburaya had shot five or six final scenes for this film. The infamous giant octopus is only one of these endings." Honda also expressed that the alternate ending was never intended to be released on the Japanese version, stating: "there was never any official plan to utilize the sequence; but an alternative print with that ending was accidentally aired on television surprising many Japanese fans because it was not the ending they had remembered from the original theatrical release."<ref>"Memories of Ishiro Honda: Twenty Years After the Passing of Godzilla's Famed Director" by Hajime Ishida. ''Famous Monsters of Filmland'' #269. Movieland Classics LLC, 2013, p. 21</ref>

==Release==
===Theatrical===
The film was released in Japan on August 8, 1965, two days after the 20th anniversary of the [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|Hiroshima bombing]].{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=224}} The film grossed ¥93 million during its Japanese theatrical run.{{sfn|Ryfle|Godziszewski|2017|p=226}} The film was released theatrically in the United States as ''Frankenstein Conquers the World'' on July 8, 1966 by [[American International Pictures]].{{sfn|Galbraith IV|2008|p=221}} This version was dubbed in English by [[Titra Studios|Titan Productions]]{{sfn|Craig|2019|p=154}} and restored Adams' original English dialogue.<ref name="MB DVD"/>

===Home media===
In June 2007, [[Media Blasters#Tokyo Shock|Tokyo Shock]] released ''Frankenstein vs. Baragon'' on a two-disc DVD, the first time the film was released on DVD in North America. This version includes the original Japanese theatrical version, the American version (running at 84 minutes), and the international version with the alternate giant octopus ending (running at 93 minutes). All three versions were presented in widescreen. The international version (titled ''Frankenstein vs. the Giant Devilfish'') features an audio commentary by Sadamasa Arikawa, the film's special effects photographer. Disc two features two Japanese trailers, deleted scenes and a photo gallery, which was provided by Ed Godziszewski (editor of ''Japanese Giants'' and author of ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Godzilla'').<ref name="MB DVD">{{cite web|url=https://www.scifijapan.com/dvd-blu-ray-digital/frankenstein-conquers-the-world-final-dvd-specs|title=Frankenstein Conquers the World Final DVD Specs|last=Aiken|first=Keith|work=SciFi Japan|date=April 13, 2007|access-date=December 19, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613100334/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/04/13/frankenstein-conquers-the-world-final-dvd-specs/}}</ref> In November 2017, [[Toho]] released the film on [[Blu-ray]] in Japan. This release also includes an HD remaster of the international version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tower.jp/article/feature_item/2017/08/14/2502|title=ビデオの日記念！『日本のいちばん長い日』『激動の昭和史 沖縄決戦』『マタンゴ』『フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣（バラゴン）』『モスラ3部作』が待望の初ブルーレイ化|work=Tower Records|access-date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2022, [[The Criterion Collection]] announced to have acquired the Japanese version to stream on their site the Criterion Channel.<ref name="TCC October">{{cite web|url= https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7944-the-criterion-channels-october-2022-lineup 
|title=The Criterion Channel's October 2022 Lineup|work=The Criterion Collection|access-date=October 3, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=December 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230151132/https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7944-the-criterion-channels-october-2022-lineup}}</ref>

== Sequel ==
{{main|The War of the Gargantuas}}
The following year, Toho released a sequel titled ''[[The War of the Gargantuas]]'', also co-produced with UPA. In the film, pieces of Frankenstein's cells mutate into two giant humanoid monsters: Sanda (the Brown Gargantua) and Gaira (the Green Gargantua). The former is a benevolent and peace-loving creature, while the latter is murderous and savage. Apart from a reference to a severed hand, UPA obscured all references to Frankenstein in the American version and the names of the monsters were changed to the Brown Gargantua and the Green Gargantua. Gaira and Sanda would later appear in two of Toho's ''[[tokusatsu]]'' series, ''[[Ike! Godman]]'' and ''[[Ike! Greenman]]'', before remaining absent for over 40 years, with Gaira making his latest appearance in a 2008 ''Go! Godman'' special.

== See also ==
* [[List of films featuring Frankenstein's monster]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|last=Cotta Vaz|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Cotta Vaz|year=2005|title=Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, Creator of King Kong|publisher=Villard|isbn=978-1-4000-6276-8|url=https://archive.org/details/livingdangerousl00vazm}}
* {{cite book|title=American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography|first=Rob|last=Craig|year=2019|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|isbn= 9781476666310}}
* ''[[Famous Monsters of Filmland]]'' #39 (June 1966), cover and pp.&nbsp;10–24 (pictures and plot summary)
* {{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |title=Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films|publisher=Feral House|date=1998 |isbn=0922915474 }}
* {{cite book |last=Galbraith IV |first=Stuart |title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography |publisher=Scarecrow Press |date=2008 |isbn=978-1461673743 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kalat|first=David|year=2010|title=A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786447497|edition=2nd}}
*{{cite book  |last=Picart|first=Carolyn Joan |year=2001 |title=The Frankenstein Film Sourcebook |publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=0-313-31350-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Ragone |first=August |year=2007 |title=Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-0-8118-6078-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Rovin |title=The Encyclopedia of Monsters |location=New York |publisher=Facts on File |date=1989 |isbn=0-8160-1824-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofmo00rovi_0 |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Ryfle |first=Steve |year=1998 |title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=1550223488 |url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl }}
* {{cite book |last1=Ryfle|first1=Steve|last2=Godziszewski|first2=Ed|title=Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|year=2017|isbn=9780819570871}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0059205|title=Frankenstein vs. Baragon}}
* {{AllMovie title|92291}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|frankenstein_conquers_the_world}}
* {{TCMDb title|id=75589}}
* [http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1965/co002680.htm ''フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣 (Furankenshutain tai Chitei Kaijū Baragon)''] at [[Japanese Movie Database]] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Frankenstein}}
{{Ishirō Honda}}

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