Daily Archives: January 20, 2019

Gammera the Invincible (1966)

Gammera the Invincible
Directed by Sandy Howard and Yoriaki Yuasa
Written by Richard Kraft and Niisan Takahashi
1966/US/Japan
Harris Associates/National Telefilm Associates
First viewing/Amazon Prime

 

[box] Tagline: The super-monster even the H-bomb cannot destroy…[/box]

Americanization makes what looks like a lame original even lamer.

A giant fire-breathing turtle is awoken from his Arctic hibernation and begins moving toward Tokyo.  Along the way, a young turtle-loving boy forms a special bond with him.  Japan eventually brings in both the Soviets and the Americans for a military solution.  With Albert Dekker as the U.S. Secretary of Defense and Brian Donlevy as a General.

This is a re-edited version of Daikaiju Gamera.  The American inserts feature some really bad acting.  Lousy miniature work plus annoying little kid so it’s not much of a good time. Love the rock-and-roll theme song!