First, let me apologize to the Patrons because I didn’t get this finished in time for early access. You see, I was tasked by the Board of Directors with caretaking for the Matango while Dr. Douriff was on sabbatical for Halloween weekend, and I had…a weird experience that left me in the Monster Island Infirmary. Then, as announced by the Board on Twitter, I was given a clean bill of health but told to take a paid week off work. Normally, I’d probably come into the studio anyway, but I got used to spending the extra time in my garage working on Mechani-Kong Mk. 2 with Jet Jaguar. That knocked me out of my normal routine, so this didn’t get written in time for Patrons. That shouldn’t be an issue going forward.
As usual, with this being a shorter episode and derived from Nathan’s grad school research paper, I don’t have a lot in my notes. Regardless, let’s get into them.
My Notes:
- Is it “Bar-a-gon” or “bare-a-gon,” Nathan? Pronunciations!
- Nathan forgot to mention Frankenberry cereal when he said he would bring it up in an episode I don’t feel like talking about.
- Was there a gremlin in Travis’s mic? It bugged out a few times. Did Goji-kun and Bro Kong return from fighting COVID-19 yet?
- Actually, Frankenstein has been translated into Japanese six times, and two of those were before this film was released (1953 and 1959).
- Can you blame me for crushing on Kumi Mizuno? I mean, look at her!
- I might have to buy one of Travis’s T-shirts. Nathan already has one.
- Yeah, I still don’t allow bearskin rugs into my apartment. And only recently did I let Chewbacca toys in. Because this thing.
Nathan’s Leftover Notes:
- Un-subtitled German later. Indiana Jones-style map sequence. Japanese officers suggests the Germans are giving them Hitler. Implies he wasn’t dead but was hiding. (He’s dead. No boys from Brazil here. –Jimmy)
- 15 years later, Dr. Bowen is working to treat radiation victims in Hiroshima. Treats dying child whose parents died in A-bomb. “The story of Hiroshima is too tragic. But it’s also a fact that is has given us the opportunity to study the cellular tissues of the human body. We must work to turn tragedy into eternal peace and happiness in the future.” (Nick Adams is awesome. –Jimmy)
- Dr. Bowen: “…I came here after the war, because I was one of the people concerned about the A-bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. I wanted to spend my life rehabilitating mankind, not in destroying it. But the more research work I do, the more I am troubled by my doubts. So I’m thinking of returning to America to start all over again.” (Nick Adams is still awesome. –Jimmy)
- Like in King Kong, the feminine presence calms the savage.
- A reporter asks if the boy was born after the war, but Bowen dodges it. (Like a boss! –Jimmy)
- Minor character says he wouldn’t be surprised if a boy like Frankenstein was born after thousands of people died in bombings.
- Baragon teased 23 minutes or so in.
- Frankenstein is violent but also curious. He smashes a TV but won’t hurt Sueko. Goes for her necklace when it seemed he would attack her.
- Is Frankenstein human? Some say he isn’t because he was manmade or acts savage. Put him in a zoo. Cut off his limbs to test if he is because he’s not a human being. Like Hibakusha.
- Why is he is growing gigantic now in a short time and not during the 15 years he was in the city? (Because reasons. –Jimmy)
- Like King Kong, he’s set off by lights.
- Interestingly, Frankenstein never eats people. (Unlike his “son.” –Jimmy)
- Frankenstein isn’t filmed like kaiju. He lacks the illusion of size because his footage wasn’t slowed down.
- It’s Thing! 😛 (Which “Thing”? There are several. –Jimmy)
- How and why did the severed hand shrink?
- Where does Frankenstein find clothes that fit him? (From Kaiju Weekly’s Tee Public store, of course! –Jimmy)
- The miniature work is still pretty effective.
- This is a road/travel movie with all of these locations! Another map sequence.
- Dr. Bowen is somewhat like Dr. Yamane in saying Frankie shouldn’t be killed.
- This story is like the Universal film in that Frankie is a misunderstood monster who is tragically killed.
- Baragon finally appears 56 minutes in. He seems to initially be filmed like proper kaiju.
- Kimura’s reporters don’t believe the story of an innocent Frankie and the evil dinosaur. Even seem callous. Laugh it off. Unlike Sekizawa’s reporters.
- At least two pieces of music in this film were recycled in Godzilla vs. Gigan.
- If you want to kill him, capture him and starve him of protein. The hand died. (For the record, he isn’t treated like this on Monster Island. –Jimmy)
- The noise Frankenstein makes at the end—the sorta scream—is a bit annoying.
- Now Baragon is moving too quickly. It’s like Godzilla Raids Again.
- Frankie has some nasty fangs.
- Sequel baits at the end. (Only in the alternate ending—which does kinda payoff.. –Jimmy)
That’s all for today.
Join us next week when Nathan is joined once again by his friend Nick Hayden. This time they discuss the first Ray Harryhausen film covered on MIFV, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. Then later this month Nathan will be visited by Sci-Fi Japan writer Ben Chaffins to talk about this film’s pseudo-sequel, War of the Gargantuas.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, that robot monkey is calling.
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