“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be dancing & jumping for joy for his big broadcast premiere of a classic mammoth kaiju monster battle masterpiece from Japan’s Toho Studios.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast premiere of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968)

Original 1968 Toho Studios trailer for the original theatrical release of Ishirô Honda‘s “Destroy All Monsters” in Japan.

Original 1968 Toho Studios Japanese-language theatrical release poster for :Destroy All Monsters” in Japan.

The legendary and iconic Berwyn/Chicago-based classic mammoth monster/creature film host will present his big broadcast premiere of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), this Sat., April 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

The classic mammoth 1968 Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” was co-directed by  veteran Toho Studios feature film director and the father of kaiju creature cinema, Ishirô Honda and veteran Toho Studios feature film drector Jun Fukuda.

Honda’s best-known productions throughout his feature film directorial career include his classic mammoth Toho Studios pioneering kaiju creature masterpiece production of “Gojira”/”Godzilla” (1954, released in the United States under the title of “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” with added scenes directed by Terry O. Morse that featured Raymond Burr of TV’s “Perry Mason” fame), “Rodan“ (1956), “Mothra” (1961, released through Columbia Pictures in the United States), “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (1963, released through Universal Studios in the United States). “Mothra vs. Godzilla” (1964, released theatrically in the United States by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures under the title of “Godzilla vs. the Thing”), “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster” (1964), “The War of the Gargantuas” (1966), “All Monsters Attack” (1969, released theatrically in the United States under the title of “Godzilla’s Revenge”) and “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (1975).

Alongside his numerous classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature cinema masterpiece productions throughout the majority of his filmmaking career, Honda also specialized in several classic mammoth sci-fi feature film masterpiece productions for Toho Studios included “The H-Man” (1958) and “Battle in Outer Space” (1959, both of Honda’s Toho productions of “The H-Man and “Battle in Outer Space” were released theatrically in the United States through Columbia Pictures by arrangement with Toho Studios, Sony/Columbia still owns the North American theatrical re-release, television syndication and home entertainment distribution rights to Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios masterpiece productions of “The H-Man,” “Battle in Outer Space” and “Mothra”).

Jun Fukuda previously directed the classic mammoth Toho Studios action-adventure spy comedy masterpiece production of “Ironfinger” (1965) with Akira Takarada, Mie Hama and Ichirô Arishima; which was Toho Studios’ answer to the classic mammoth Guy Hamilton-Eon Productions-United Artists “James Bond”/”007” action-adventure spy masterpiece production of “Goldfinger” (1964) with Sean Connery.  Fukuda’s first kaiju creature production was his classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Ebirah, Horror of the Deep” (1966).  His other classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature masterpiece productions include “Son of Godzilla” (1967), “Godzilla vs. Gigan” (1972), “Godzilla vs. Megalon” (1973), “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla” (1974) and “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (1975).

The original screenplay for the classic mammoth Honda-Fukuda production of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968) for Toho Studios was co-written by Honda, along with veteran screenwriter Takeshi Kimura;  who received screen credit under the pseudonym of Kaoru Mabuchi.

Veteran Toho Studios producer Tomoyuki Tanaka produced the original Japanese theatrical release edition of Honda’s classic mammoth 1968 kaiju creature masterpiece production.  Tanaka helped supervise many of the classic mammoth Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju creature feature masterpiece productions for the majority of his career; dating back to Honda’s original classic mammoth 1954 Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju creature masterpiece production and concluding with Tako Okawara‘s modern classic mammoth Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kajiu creature masterpiece production of “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah” (1995, the North American theatrical dub release was later handled through Columbia Pictures/Sony’s TriStar Pictures imprint).  Alongside Honda, it was noted that Tanaka was the other pioneer of Toho Studios’ classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece productions, notably for the studio’s classic mammoth “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju feature film masterpiece productions.

“The Monsters are in Revolt!” “The Battle-Cry that could save the World!” Original 1968 American-International theatrical poster art for the theatrical release of Toho Studios’ “Destroy All Monsters.”

The North American dubbed theatrical release edition of Honda’s classic mammoth 1968 Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” was handled by  Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures.  Both Arkoff and Nicholson established American-International as the American Releasing Corporation in 1954, according to the Samuel Z. Arkoff papers collection housed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.   Arkoff later sold American-International to television and feature film production-syndication company Filmways in 1979, which was later acquired by Orion Pictures in 1982.  Orion, along with the majority of the American-International (AIP)/Filmways holdings were then sold to the present incarnation of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1997.  Following MGM’s re-introduction of the “Orion Pictures” name for current feature films and current television productions, the modern incarnation of MGM recently revived the “American-International Pictures” name for select theatrical releases/feature film productions.

Alongside “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), Arkoff and Nicholson’s American-International Pictures also handled the North American theatrical dub releases of the classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece, “Godzilla vs. Mothra” (1964, released under the title of “Godzilla vs. the ‘Thing'”) and Yoshimitsu Banno’s classic mammoth Toho Studios “Gojira”/”Godzilla” kaiju creature masterpiece installment, “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” (1971, released in 1972 by American-International under the title of “Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster”).

Who was in Ishirō Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968)?

The players who appeared in Ishirō Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios kaiju creature battle masterpiece production of “Destroy All Monsters” (1968) were veteran Toho Studios stunt performer/kaiju creature suit stunt performer Haruo Nakajima (in the dual kaiju creature roles of Gojira/Godzilla and Baragon and in a human role as one of the Military Advisors), veteran stunt performer Teruo Nigaki (as Rodan), veteran stunt performer Yû Sekita (in the dual kaiju creature roles of Anguirus and Gorosaurus and in a human role as one of the medical doctors), veteran stunt performer Masao “Little Man” Machan Fukazawa (as Minya/Manilla), veteran stunt performer Susumu Utsumi (as King Ghidorah), Kenji Sahara (as Commander Nishikawa), Akira Kubo (as SY-3 Capt. Katsuo Yamabe), Jun Tazaki (as Dr. Yoshido), Yukiko Kobayashi (as Kyoko Manabe), Yoshio Tsuchiya (as Dr. Otani), Kyôko Ai (as the Kilaak Queen), Andrew Hughes (as Dr. Stevenson), Chôtarô Tôgin (as Ogata), Yoshifumi Tajima (as a General), Hisaya Itô (as Maj. Tada), Yoshio Katsube (as a young scientist), Heihachirô Ôkawa (as an engineer), Ikio Sawamura (as an old farmer), Saburô Iketani (as a news anchor/presenter), Wataru Ômae (as an SY-3 astronaut), Yutaka Sada (as a police officer), Atsuko Takahashi, Rei Maki, Yoshio Miyata, Ari Sagawa, Kôko Mori, Midori Uchiyama, Wakako Tanabe and Michiko Ishii (as Kilaaks); Kazuo Suzuki, Tôru Ibuki, Susumu Kurobe and Minoru Itô (as Kilaak-controlled officers).

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “King Kong Escapes” (1967), this Sat. on Me-TV

Fellow Svengoolie SvenPals everywhere will be jumping for joy for his big broadcast of a classic Toho Studios–Universal Studios mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece.

“Svengoolie” presents his big broadcast of “King Kong Escapes” (1967)

Original Toho Studios theatrical trailer for the Japanese theatrical release of Ishirô Honda’s classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece, “King Kong Escapes” (1967). Universal Studios handled the North American theatrical release of Honda’s production.

Original Toho Studios theatrical poster artwork for the Japanese theatrical release of Ishirô Honda’s classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece, “King Kong Escapes” (1967). Universal Studios handled the North American theatrical release of Honda’s production in 1968.

The legendry Berwyn/Chicago-based creature film host will present his big broadcast of “King Kong Escapes” (1967) this Sat., May 22 at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central on Me-TV.

Co-produced by Toho Studios of Japan and released in the states by Universal Studios, the classic 1967 mammoth kaiju creature feature film masterpiece was directed by veteran Toho Studios director Ishirô Honda, who received screen credit in the film under the name of Inoshiro Honda.  Honda’s best known classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece productions for Toho Studios of Japan include “Gojira”/”Godzilla” (1954, released/re-purposed in 1956 as “Godzilla: King of the Monsters!” in the United States with Raymond Burr in the North American dub); “Rodan“ (1956), “Mothra” (1961), “King Kong vs. Godzilla” (1962), “Mothra vs. Godzilla” (1964, released in the United States by Samuel Z. Arkoff and James H. Nicholson’s American-International Pictures under the title of “Godzilla vs. the Thing”), “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster” (1964), “Frankenstein vs. Baragon” (1965), “The War of the Gargantuas” (1966), “Destroy All Monsters” (1968), “All Monsters Attack” (1969, a.k.a. “Godzilla’s Revenge”) and “Terror of Mechagodzilla” (1975).

Honda’s classic 1967 Toho Studios/Universal mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece was produced by veteran Toho Studios producer Tomoyuki Tanaka.  Alongside producing the majority of Honda’s classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece productions, Tanaka also served as producer for Akira Kurosawa’s classic mammoth Japanese samurai drama masterpiece with Toshirô Mifune for Toho Studios, “Yojimbo” (1961).  The North American dub of “King Kong Escapes” was produced for Universal Studios by veteran producer Arthur Rankin Jr.  Rankin was known for working with veteran producer Jules Bass on their numerous classic mammoth “Animagic” stop-motion animation holiday television and feature film productions under the name of Rankin/Bass Productions (a.k.a. “Videocraft International”), including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964) and their classic mammoth Halloween/horror/comedy stop-motion Animagic feature film masterpiece released through Joseph E. Levine’s Embassy Pictures with the vocal characterizations of silver screen horror legend Boris Karloff and comedian legend Phyllis Diller, “Mad Monster Party?” (1967). The North American dub of “King Kong Escapes” (1967) was a joint collaboration between Toho Studios of Japan, Rankin/Bass Productions and Universal Studios.

The screenplay for Honda’s classic mammoth 1967 kaiju creature masterpiece was written by veteran Toho Studios screenwriter Takeshi Kimura, who received screen credit under the pseudonym of Kaoru Mabuchi.  Kimura previously wrote the screenplay for Ishirô Honda’s classic mammoth Toho Studios sci-fi/mystery masterpiece, “The H-Man” (1958, released theatrically in the United States by Columbia Pictures).  Mabuchi also wrote the screenplay for the latter Toho Studios classic mammoth kaiju creature masterpieces, including “Destroy All Monsters” (1968, under the pseudonym of Mabuchi), “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” (1971, Mabuchi), “Godzilla vs. Gigan” (1972) and “Godzilla vs. Megalon” (1973).

Kimura’s screenplay was partially inspired by screenwriter Edgar Wallace. Wallace wrote the screenplay for the original Ernest B. Schoedsack– Merian C. Cooper–Willis O’Brien–David O. Selznick–RKO Radio Pictures* classic mammoth stop-motion creature/fantasy masterpiece, “King Kong” (1933), which featured Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Noble Johnson, Victor Wong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher and the “eighth wonder of the world,” Kong!

This will mark Svengoolie’s fourth big broadcast of Ishirô Honda’s classic mammoth 1967 Toho Studios/Universal kaiju creature masterpiece production on Me-TV.  He previously showcased “King Kong Escapes” (1967) back in June 2013 (as a big coast-to-coast broadcast premiere), Jan. 2014 and Jan. 2016 (Fun Fact: I recall that Sven’s big Jan. 2016 Me-TV broadcast of “King Kong Escapes” was shown on my 28^th Birthday back on Jan. 16, 2016)! –C.H.

Who was in Ishirô Honda’s classic Toho Studios/Universal Studios mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece production of “King Kong Escapes” (1967)?

The players who appeared in Ishirô Honda’s classic Toho Studios/Universal mammoth kaiju creature masterpiece production of “King Kong Escapes” (1967) were veteran stunt performer Haruo Nakajima (in the “King Kong” suit), Yû Sekita (in the Mecha-Kong/Gorosaurus suits), Rhodes Reason (as Cmdr. Carl Nelson), Mie Hama (as Madame Piranha, a.k.a. “Madame X”**), Linda Miller (as Lt. Susan Watson), Akira Takarada (as Lt. Cmdr. Jiro Nomura), Hideyo Amamoto (as Dr. Who***), credited under the name of Eisei Amamoto), Yoshifumi Tajima, Shôichi Hirose, Susumu Kurobe, Nadao Kirino, Tôru Ibuki and Kazuo Suzuki (as henchmen); Yasuhisa Tsutsumi (as a General), Ikio Sawamura (as a Mondo Islander), Tadashi Okabe and Seishirô Kuno (as soldiers);  Andrew Hughes (as a United Nations reporter), the vocal stylings of Paul Frees (for the  dubbing of Hideyo/Eisei Amamoto’s characterization of Dr. Who***), the vocal stylings of Julie Bennett (for the dubbing of various characters) and the vocal stylings of David de Keyser (for the dubbing of various characters).