An Interview with David Milner Has Been Published on Vantage Point Interviews!

David Milner poses with director Noriaki Yuasa. Photo courtesy of David Milner.

Check out my new interview with Godzilla fandom pioneer David Milner on Vantage Point Interviews. Not only was he a contributor to the early fanzines of the '70s, but he interviewed Toho legends like Ishiro Honda, Jun Fukuda, Akira Ifukube, and many others. These stories and many more are recounted in the interview linked above. Content is proven once again to be king!

A Comedic Start to 2020!

 Fumio Ishimori. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Over the holidays, I received a letter from Fumio Ishimori, who invited me to attend a play in Asakusa for which he wrote the script. Today was the first performance, and Ishimori-san was in attendance, so naturally I went, too. I've seen several of Ishimori-san's plays in Asakusa. He often writes scripts for this comedy troupe. I hadn't seen Ishimori-san since June, so I was especially pleased to attend. Besides, I really wanted to greet him and personally wish him a happy New Year.

Ishimori-san was a screenwriter who wrote many scripts for Shochiku and Nikkatsu, including Toshio Masuda's war film Monument to the Girls' Corps (1968). Genre fans might know Ishimori-san as co-screenwriter of the Toho horror film Crest of the Wolf (1973) with Jun Fukuda. He also penned numerous episodes of Kamen Rider (1971-73), along with episodes of Ultraman Ace (1972-73) and Zone Fighter (1973).

Ishimori-san was a true gentleman, as he always is. I had a great time in his company, and I hope to see him again very soon.

Ishimori-san Returns to the Stage!

Fumio Ishimori, after the Friday evening performance of his play. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

On Friday night, June 14, I left work and immediately headed to a theater in Naka-Meguro to catch Fumio Ishimori's latest stage play. I've blogged about Ishimori-san countless times, but as a reminder, Ishimori-san was a screenwriter who wrote many scripts for Shochiku and Nikkatsu, including Toshio Masuda's war film Monument to the Girls' Corps (1968). Genre fans might know Ishimori-san as co-screenwriter of the Toho horror film Crest of the Wolf (1973) with Jun Fukuda. He also penned numerous episodes of Kamen Rider (1971-73), along with episodes of Ultraman Ace (1972-73) and Zone Fighter (1973).

After the show finished, I caught up with Ishimori-san, who invited me to stick around and share drinks with the cast. We all had a great time taking photos and generally shooting the breeze. I missed Ishimori-san at a few of his other recent stage plays, and aside from a chance encounter last March at Kichijoji Station, I hadn't seen him since last year. I'm very glad to have had the chance to see him again on Friday evening.

Here's to Ishimori-san's continued success!

SEEING A PAIR OF TOHO FILMS! A Double Feature of Crime and Horror!

Evil of Dracula poster on display in the theater lobby. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Tonight was another evening of Toho movies at the Laputa Asagaya. Tonight's double bill began with Jun Fukuda's Dai Nippon Suri Shudan (1969), a crime story (with strong elements of comedy) that pits a determined detective against a gang of pickpockets in Osaka. The detective (played by Keiju Kobayashi) and the leader of the gang (played by Norihei Miki) have an interesting wartime backstory together that fuels much of the story.

A poster for Dai Nippon Suri Shudan on display. Photo by Brett Homenick.

At one point, the detective attempts to arrest a gang member (played by a particularly dapper Akihiko Hirata) in a pachiko parlor after he catches Hirata's criminal in the act of pickpocketing. Hirata escapes, and Kobayashi gives chase. The ensuing chase through the streets of Osaka was quite exciting, bringing a bit of cinema verite to the proceedings that was often missing from Toho films during the 1960s. The chase ends when a car hits and kills Hirata's character, and the effect was surprisingly convincing.

I didn't know what to expect from the film, but it works on several levels. The comedy and drama seemed to blend well, and the audience I saw it with laughed with the film when it was funny. I'd strongly recommend this film to anyone who's still under the false impression that Jun Fukuda was some second-rate director.

Tonight's other film was Evil of Dracula (1974), which I'd rank as my favorite of the Bloodthirsty trilogy. (Lake of Dracula would get ranked at the bottom for me, but I still enjoy it.) It was a joy to see this one on the big screen in glorious 35mm. The detail in the gore effects at the end of the film was quite evident onscreen and was something of a revelation. Fun stuff!

MECHAGODZILLA'S SCREENWRITER! Hiroyasu Yamaura Headlines an Event in Kawasaki!

Kampai! Screenwriter Hiroyasu Yamaura and I toast each other during our first meeting.

I've just come back from a very cool event in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, with screenwriter Hiroyasu Yamaura. Yamaura-san was the principal screenwriter for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974). According to Yamaura-san, he was personally asked by director Jun Fukuda to write the script for Mechagodzilla. He completed the script by himself, but afterward director Fukuda rewrote it, which is why both men are credited as writers.

Yamaura-san's other credits include episodes of Ultra Q (1966), Space Giants (1966-67), Ultra Seven (1967-68), Mirrorman (1971-72), Galaxy Express 999 (1978-81), and Ultraman 80 (1980-81), among many other titles.

Yamaura-san was a very personable and friendly individual. During dinner, when he mentioned that his favorite movie is Singin' in the Rain (1952), I began singing the title song, which Yamaura-san joined me in singing. After I told him I grew up in San Diego, he told me that he's visited the city in the past and enjoyed it immensely. We also sang the traditional Japanese song "Furusato," which can be heard in War of the Gargantuas (1966).

All in all, it was a wonderful event, and it was quite an honor to meet the screenwriter for one of my favorite Godzilla movies. I look forward to meetin Yamaura-san again in the future!