New Restoration of Uncut Version to Premiere at TCM Classic Film Festival Source: Rialto Pictures Special Thanks to Bruce Goldstein and Dave Franklin
The original GODZILLA (???, Gojira, 1954) holds up as one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, a monster classic that has spawned six decades of sequels, imitations, and remakes. It is also crtically acclaimed... in 1984, the prestigious film journal Kinema Junpo rated it among the top 20 Japanese films of all time. In 1989, a published survey of 370 Japanese movie critics, Nihon Eiga Besuto 150 (Best 150 Japanese Films), ranked Godzilla the 27th greatest Japanese feature ever made. Despite its classic status, the original Japanese version of GODZILLA was rarely screened in the United States until New York-based Rialto Pictures licensed theatrical rights from Toho and gave the film its first-ever nationwide release. Following GODZILLA`s 50th anniversary theatrical run Rialto made their 35mm prints available for theatrical and event bookings, and the movie has occasionally played at festivals and repertory theaters around the country over the past several years. This year sees both Godzilla`s 60th anniversary and the worldwide release of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures` new GODZILLA remake. As the King of the Monsters once again takes center stage, Rialto boss Bruce Goldstein felt the time was right to revisit the original film in a big way. With the assistance of their associates at The Criterion Collection, Rialto Pictures will bring a new restoration of GODZILLA (reconstructed from a 35mm fine grain master positive) to theaters across the United States for the first time. To avoid any confusion with the new GODZILLA remake, Rialto is marketing the restored version with the title GODZILLA: THE JAPANESE ORIGINAL. Unlike the 2004 release, GODZILLA: THE JAPANESE ORIGINAL will now be screened digitally via theatrical quality Digital Cinema Package (DCP). The film also features revised and improved English subtitles. The restored GODZILLA: THE JAPANESE ORIGINAL will debut April 12th at the fifth TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. The film will be introduced by GODZILLA (2014) director Gareth Edwards and followed by a presentation by Bruce Goldstein, comparing the Japanese version of GODZILLA with the 1956 Americanized edit, GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS. The national release will begin at New York’s Film Forum, April 18-24. The following theaters and cities are now confirmed, with additional dates and locations to be announced... • April 12, HOLLYWOOD, CA: TCM Classic Film Festival • April 18 – 24, NEW YORK, NY: Film Forum • April 25 – May 1, SANTA FE, NM: Jean Cocteau Cinema • May 2 – 5, PORTLAND, OR: Hollywood Theatre • May 2 – 8, SEATTLE, WA: SIFF Cinema Uptown • May 8, AMBLER, PA: The Ambler Theater • May 9 – 15, DENVER, CO: Denver Film Society • May 9 – 15, FORT COLLINS, CO: Lyric Cinema Cafe • May 14, DOYLESTOWN, PA: The County Theater • May 15, JENKINTOWN, PA: The Hiway Theater • May 23 – 26, HOUSTON, TX: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston • May 28, LEXINGTON, KY: Kentucky Theatre • July 17, COLUMBUS, OH: Wexner Center for the Arts For additional information and updates -- including future screening dates, please visit Rialto`s GODZILLA page.
For more information on Rialto Pictures` GODZILLA: THE JAPANESE ORIGINAL, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: