"Son of Godzilla" released 1967

Son of Godzilla, released December 16, 1967 in Japan, is the eighth movie in the Godzilla franchise.  It was released to television in the United States in 1969.  Scientists on an island are trying to create a weather-controlling system, but discover a group of gigantic praying mantises (Kamacuras).  The mantises dig up an enormous egg, which hatches, revealing a baby Godzilla.  The mantises attack the baby Godzilla called Minilla, but Godzilla comes to the rescue.  

Godzilla and Minilla work together to defeat Kumonga (Spiga), a giant spider.  

It starred frequent Godzilla actors Akira Kubo, Akihiko Hirata, Kenji Sahara and Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla.

"Godzilla 1985" released 1984

Godzilla 1985, released December 15, 1984 in Japan, was a reboot of the series starring Raymond Burr, who appeared in the Americanized version of the original in 1954.  He reprises his role as Steve Martin from the 1956 version. Akihiko Hirata, who had appeared in many Godzilla movies, wanted to have at least a cameo in the movie, but passed away before he could. 

I haven't seen this one, but it is on my bucket list.  

Happy birthday, Godzilla actor Kenji Sahara!

Kenji Sahara, born May 14, 1932 in Kanagawa, Japan, is an Japanese actor, but his real name is Masayoshi Kato.  He initially used the name Tadashi Ishihara before changing it to Kenji Sahara, when he got the lead role in Rodan in 1956.

He starred in the original Godzilla in 1954 and has starred in more Godzilla series than any other actor. 

With actor Akihiko Hirata, Sahara starred in the debuts of Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah!

"Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla" released 1974

Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, released March 21, 1974, is the 14th film in the Godzilla franchise.  It was released in a very limited run in the U.S. in 1977.  Cinema Shares released the movie as Godzilla vs the Bionic Monster, but Universal Television threatened to sue them for the use of the word 'bionic' because Universal owned The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman so Cinema Shares changed the name to Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster.

The film is the first appearance of King Caesar, the guardian of an ancient Japanese family.  He is awakened to help Godzilla defeat Mechagodzilla, who has been sent by the Aliens from the Third Planet of the Black Hole to conquer Earth.

It starred veteran Godzilla actors Akihiko Hirata and Kenji Sahara.

Akihiko Hirata, Godzilla and Rodan actor, born 1927

Akihiko Hirata, born December 26, 1927 in Kyogo, South Korea, has been in more Godzilla movies than anyone!  He played Dr. Serizawa in the original movie Godzilla in 1954.  He went on to star in Rodan (1956), Mothra (1961), Ghidorah, the Three-headed Monster (1964), Godzilla vs the Sea Monster (1966), Son of Godzilla (1967), Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (1974) and The Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975).

He is the only actor to appear in the debuts of monsters Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla!


Mr. Hirata passed away in July 1984.