Invasion of Astro-monster is a unique entry in the series because it was a co production between TOHO and the American distributor United Productions of America(UPA). The film featured American Actor Nick Adams in both versions. Adams would record his dialog in English and for the Japanese version his lines would be dubbed over. Both versions are identical except for the title change and some alternate music is used.
Two Astronauts
investigate the newly discovered planet X.
They run into aliens who say their planet has been made inhabitable by Monster Zero which turns out to be Ghidorah.
They ask to Borrow Godzilla and Rodan to fight the monster. The humans agree in exchange for the secret to cure all disease. The Aliens transport Godzilla and Rodan to Planet X where they fight Ghidorah. Ghidorah flees again, and Godzilla does a victory dance.
When the humans play a record with the secret to cure disease, it turns out to be a demand that they turn over control of the Earth to Planet X. The aliens unleash Godzilla, Rodan, and Ghidorah upon the Earth by controlling them with electromagnetic waves. The humans develop a device to disrupt the alien's control. They also discover the aliens have a weakness to sound, and exploit it. Godzilla and Rodan take on Ghidorah again. All three fall into the ocean and Ghidorah runs away to space. Yes I know he's a bit of a coward.
The film is very much a Science Fiction film.
The beginning doesn't even feel like a Godzilla film, but a sci fi film of the 60s. It is only time that Godzilla has left earth. It also marks the first time in the series aliens have tried to conquered the earth. The astronauts Fuji and Glenn played by Akira Takarada and Nick Adams have some great chemistry together.
They're the first to become suspicious of the aliens. There's a whole subplot involving Fuji's sister and how he treats her like a child. He dislikes her boyfriend who is an inventor, but he actually invents the device that defeats the aliens. This leads to some humorous moments between Glenn and Fuji when discussing the situation. Glenn has a romance with one of the aliens who was sent to spy on him, but she falls for him which leads to her death. Whether you call in Invasion of Astro-Monster or Monster Zero, this is a great entry in the series that took it to new heights.
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