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Rialto Planning to Re-Release Classic 1954 'Godzilla' Back in Theaters

by Alex Billington
February 18, 2014
Source: Rialto

He's back again! Uncensored! The original Japanese monster that started it all. We know WB is bringing us a brand new Godzilla movie this year, directed by Gareth Evans (Monsters) with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but before then we're getting a throwback to the classics that introduced us to the giant lizard monster. Back in 2004, Rialto Pictures commissioned a brand new digital restoration of the uncut 1954 Japanese classic, Godzilla, or Gojira (which is also now on Blu-ray), and released it in theaters around the US. Now they're bringing it back for its 60th anniversary as well as upcoming release of the new Godzilla movie this summer.

The Rialto Pictures Godzilla page (since they have still the rights for the theatrical re-run) has been updated with some very basic details for the upcoming 2014 re-release of the film. Gojira will begin playing in New York at Film Forum starting mid-April this year - just in time for the new Godzilla in May. It will play at various other theaters in New Mexico, Portland, Washington, Texas, Kentucky and Ohio (with more likely to be added). We expect WB/Legendary to go all out with Godzilla marketing this summer, including possibly additional screenings/plans so stay tuned for updates. Here's the original Rialto re-release trailer:

Thanks to @jordanzakarin on the tip. For more details on the re-release, click. Here is Film Forum's listing.

The "original, uncut Japanese version" runs 96 minutes. Godzilla, or Gojira, was directed by Ishirô Honda and first released in November of 1954, despite taking two more years to hit US theaters. As explained in Film Forum's guide: "Released in the U.S. in a butchered version called Godzilla: King of the Monsters, it was re-cut, re-arranged and atrociously dubbed, with cheesy new scenes (shot in Hollywood) of a pre-Perry Mason Raymond Burr observing the action from the sidelines. To make room for Burr and to excise a strong anti-nuclear subtext, King of the Monsters deleted 40 minutes of the Japanese version — its very heart — including the opening credits and ominous main theme by the great Akira Ifukube." That's all back for this.

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