An American scientist and his Japanese colleagues study a feral boy born from the radiated heart of Frankenstein's monster, while a subterranean dinosaur ravages the Japanese countryside.
“TWO ATOMIC HEAVYWEIGHTS BATTLE FOR THE RIGHT TO DESTROY!”
Released internationally as Frankenstein Conquers the World, FRANKENSTEIN VS BARAGON フランケンシュタイン対地底怪獣バラゴン | Furankenshutain tai Chitei Kaijū Baragon (1965) is a rarely-screened fan favourite that found its international audience on American TV. It was made by the four founding fathers of the Godzilla franchise – mega producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, director Ishirō Honda, special effects maestro Eiji Tsuburaya, and composer Akira Ifukube – and is worthy of their giant reputations. Like many films of its generation, it spawned a sequel, THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (1966), where Frankenstein’s monster’s cells split, forming two new mutations.
KING KONG (1933) was one of several cinematic inspirations for GODZILLA (1954), and perhaps unexpectedly gave rise to this film too. In the early 1960s, stop-motion supremo Willis H. O’Brien – the creator and animator of Kong – pitched a new film starring his giant ape called King Kong vs. Frankenstein. Whilst the idea failed to secure funding in Hollywood, producer John Beck allegedly sold the idea behind O’Brien’s back to Japanese studio Toho Co, the home of Godzilla.
Like Mary Shelley’s creation, the final film would be stitched together through several other deals and developments that would have seen Frankenstein vs. Godzilla released as an international co-production. Eventually shot without the big guy as FRANKENSTEIN VS BARAGON, Ishirō Honda criticised the studio’s decision to insert a new kaijū into the narrative, but the film still reflects his signature concerns with the corrupting science behind mankind’s weapons of mass destruction.
Polite notice: We are showing FRANKENSTEIN VS BARAGON (1965) in Japanese with English subtitles from the best available digital source.
Part of ATOMIC ORIGINS, an apocalyptic season of sci-fi films unleashed by the monstrous power of the atom bomb. Hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo (creator of BAR TRASH and QUEER HORROR NIGHTS), all films screen in the Members’ Bar with an introduction, intermission, and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets £8 (£5 for Picturehouse members). Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates.
