Feeling the Wrath of 'Gorath' in 35mm!

The National Film Archive of Japan. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Today (Sunday, March 12), I had the distinct privilege of seeing the Toho classic Gorath (1962) in 35mm on the big screen for the first time. It was screened as part of the National Film Archive of Japan's Women Who Made Japanese Cinema [Part 1]: From the Silent Era to the 1960s program. 

Which women in Japanese cinema does this screening honor? In particular, the pamphlet singles out Reiko Kaneko, who edited many of Ishiro Honda's films from the late 1950s through the '60s, as well as Kiyoko Ishii, who specialized in editing tokusatsu for the Tsuburaya group. Also noted in the pamphlet are SFX scripter Keiko Hisamatsu, costume designer Etsuko Yagyu, and costume staff member Setsuko Asaki. 

The screening was actually a double feature. The first movie screened was Female Detective Story: Woman S.O.S. (1958). This is a 58-minute, black-and-white comedy directed by Hisanobu Marubayashi, starring Yumi Shirakawa, Kenji Sahara, Yoshio Tsuchiya, and Akihiko Hirata. This movie marks another pairing of Shirakawa and Sahara, but, unlike their previous outings together, this is truly Shirakawa's movie, and Sahara is basically her sidekick.

As the title would suggest, the story centers around a female detective played by Shirakawa. While she was often cast as an Audrey Hepburn-style leading lady around this time, here she gets to show her acting range, playing a plucky, resourceful investigator named Nobue Ogawa of the Imperial Secret Detective Agency. In fact, her role sort of reminded me of the ones Yuriko Hoshi played in Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964) and Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (1964). She isn't even afraid to dole out a few slaps when getting some sass from a young female she's trying to help.

Shirakawa is asked by a prominent family to look into the background of the man their daughter Midori wants to marry. The daughter's suitor seems to be the character played by Akihiko Hirata, who also goes against type in this film, playing a crude and somewhat slovenly louse. In one scene, Hirata uses a child's dart gun to shoot a dart at the rear end of a female co-worker. However, in a surprising twist, it turns out that it's playboy Yoshio Tsuchiya who's the real villain of the film.

And what a villain he is. The film pulls no punches in showing what a cad he is with women. I won't go into details, but let's just say that Harvey Weinstein probably saw this movie and took notes. Shirakawa is hot on his trail, though, and even gets an assist from her partner, Tsuyoshi Kinoshita (played by Kenji Sahara) in her pursuit. Sahara plays a character who is good-hearted but bumbling and jealous, hardly the stuff of the leading-man roles he usually got around this time.  

Today's movies screened at the National Film Archive. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The film ends when Shirakawa and Tsuchiya enter a hotel room together with a hidden recording device planted there to record Tsuchiya's misdeeds. Sahara is monitoring the encounter in an adjoining room, but his aforementioned jealousy often crops up when listening to their rendezvous. The movie gets a little dark during the climax, as Tsuchiya tries to "MeToo" Shirakawa. Sahara comes to the rescue, and a big brawl ensues. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, it's not handled quite that seriously and ends with Tsuchiya's jilted lover breaking a vase over his head to comedic effect. 

What an unusual movie! I'm really glad I saw this one, as I got to see all four leads playing against type. It was also fun seeing Shirakawa play a character who drove the story but was still able to maintain her femininity and sensuality. Very well done.

Almost immediately after the movie ended, Gorath started. I should point out that both films were screened in 35mm, and both films looked fantastic. I hardly noticed a flaw. They almost looked like 4K digital remasters, but they were advertised as 35mm, so I'm going to take their word for it.

I hadn't seen Gorath in many years -- maybe more than 20. I watched it quite a few times in the 1990s, and I guess you lose the impulse to watch a movie when you know it like the back of your hand. I still think the movie is quite good, but I did find that it was just a bit too talky with a few too many bland characters (played by Ryo Ikebe, Ken Uehara, and even Takashi Shimura) taking up too much screen time. I also found Magma's death scene surprisingly sad. I'm not sure how the filmmakers wanted me to feel seeing the bloody carcass of a creature that was hardly a monster lying dead after getting killed by laser beams, but it sure wasn't good. 

Overall, though, I did enjoy it. I just don't find it as successful as The Mysterians (1957) or even Battle in Outer Space (1959). It's got a great cast, and Akira Kubo really shines in it, but it gets a bit bogged down too often in talkiness to be considered one of the greats, in my humble opinion.

Oh, and while I was checking out the National Film Archives' horror movie poster gallery, I saw this sign posted as I was buying my ticket. It's for this kaiju-themed letterpress card collection. I didn't buy it, but I thought it was worth sharing.

A Double Feature at the Laputa Asagaya!

Signage for the Laputa Asagaya's Yuzo Kawashima Retrospective. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight -- that's Thursday, March 2 -- I returned to the Laputa Asagaya a bit earlier than I expected. A new film program has started, the Yuzo Kawashima Retrospective. As you've probably gathered, the retrospective focuses on the career of director Yuzo Kawashima. Tonight's film was a 35mm print of Romance Express (1961), a comedic ensemble featuring several notable Toho performers. I've wanted to see the film for a while, having seen some publicity stills that make the flick look like a lot of fun. The timing was good, so I went to the theater to check it out.

Publicity material for Romance Express (1961) in the theater lobby. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The film stars Frankie Sakai, who in the story is in a relationship with the leading lady, Reiko Dan. Sakai plays a cook working the dining car of a Kodama limited express train, and Dan plays a waitress who also works on the train. There's a bit of a love triangle involving Yumi Shirakawa, who plays a train attendant.

Reiko Dan wants to marry Frankie Sakai, but, because she wants to open a bento shop after they get married, Sakai isn't sure about the proposal. So he has six and a half hours -- the time it takes for the train to travel from Tokyo to Osaka -- to make his decision.

In addition, a lot of assorted kookiness takes place on the train, including the shenanigans of a lecherous company president, a loud, drunken weirdo, and pickpocket gang. As if that weren't enough, there's also a bomb scare to top things off. 

If that sounds even remotely serious, don't worry; it's not. In fact, Frankie Sakai has a slapstick fight with the pickpockets toward the end of the movie, complete with over-the-top, cartoonish sound effects. It's all done for entertainment and laughs. The movie is presented in black and white, but I think a movie this metaphorically colorful would have easily benefited from some literal color.

Oh, and I briefly spotted Shigeo Kato standing on a train platform and Haruo Nakajima as the Kodama driver. Fun stuff!

A Romance Express poster in the theater lobby. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Another note of interest is that the score was composed by Riichiro Manabe. Kaiju fans typically don't think of Manabe as having scored Toho movies during the golden age, but here's an example of his having done just that. The score itself matches the light-hearted tone of the proceedings, and it even reminded me a bit of the score to Roger Corman's The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) in places. 

The last scene takes place completely without dialogue. The camera is positioned outside the train, so the audience can only see the action take place inside the train, but it follows the characters as they move around inside. In this scene, Frankie Sakai gives Reiko Dan his answer about their getting married. It's all cleverly done, and it's a fun visual experience.

After the movie, I decided to hang around and catch another screening of Goke Body Snatcher from Hell (1968) -- again, in glorious 35mm -- as part of the Science Fiction Film Festival. Even though I literally just saw it a few days ago, I was up for another screening. I don't have anything to add to my blog post from a few days ago, other than to say I never got bored watching it again so soon after the last time and enjoyed it immensely again. What a great film! 

GO, RODIE BABY, GO! Attending a Screening of 'Rodan' at Toho Cinemas!

Signage for Rodan just outside the theater screening room. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tuesday, December 20, proved to be a rather unusual morning. Just before 9:00 a.m., I arrived at Toho Cinemas Nihinbashi to take in a 4K screening of the kaiju classic Rodan (1956), remastered from the original camera negative. 

I'm not so sure a movie from 1956 counts as "new." Photo by Brett Homenick.

The quality, of course, was top-notch. Rodan has truly never looked better, and I could spot a lot of details that I never could before. I had a lot of fun trying to read the signs and billboards during Rodan's attack, but the scene would usually cut away before I could finish reading them. Yumi Shirakawa was absolutely radiant (when is she not?), I never noticed that Haruo Nakajima was in that much of the movie as an extra, and the ending still packs one heck of a punch. I was moved all over again.

After the showing, I sat in one of the comfy leather chairs that were available to patrons (never seen these before at a Toho Cinemas) and had a blast messing around on Facebook with my buddies. It sure made the mad dash to the movie theater battling the morning rush hour worth it. I'm still kicking myself for not checking out the remastered Mothra (1961) screenings last year, but I'm glad I didn't repeat that mistake with Rodan. 

Can't wait for this one to come out on Blu-ray!

Yuriko Hoshi Passes Away at 74

Actress Yuriko Hoshi in May 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick.

The Japanese media is reporting that Toho actress Yuriko Hoshi passed away on May 16 in Kyoto due to lung cancer. She was 74. Making her screen debut in 1959, Hoshi-san was best known in the West for her starring roles in The Last War (1961), Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964), and Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster (1964). She returned to the Godzilla series many years later in Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000).

From left to right: Yuriko Hoshi, Yosuke Natsuki, and Yumi Shirakawa. All have since passed away. Photo by Brett Homenick.

When I received the invitation to attend Yosuke Natsuki's memorial event in April of this year, Hoshi-san was listed as one of the guest speakers, so I was surprised when she didn't appear. Now it seems I know why.

RIP, Hoshi-san.

ANOTHER NIGHT AT THE FLICKS! Seeing Toho and Shochiku Classics!

Poster art promoting the "Into Nightmares" program at the Laputa Asagaya. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Tonight, I returned to the Laputa Asagaya for another fun evening of flicks. Tonight's double featured started with the Toho drama One's Longing (1961), directed by Seiji Maruyama. After that, the horror classic Goke Body Snatcher from Hell (1968) was screened. It should probably go without saying that it was a superb double feature.

My tickets for the evening! Photo by Brett Homenick. 

One's Longing was of particular interest to me due to the fact that it stars Yumi Shirakawa, my favorite actress. For most Japanese movie buffs, however, it's more notable for being one of the last films of Setsuko Hara before her sudden retirement in the early '60s. The movie tells the story of a love triangle between Shirakawa, Hara, and the object of their affections, Tatsuya Mihashi.

A poster for One's Longing hangs in the theater lobby. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I mostly know director Maruyama from his war films, so this quiet drama was something of a revelation for me. There are some outdoor scenes in the woods that are simply gorgeous. It is very often a stunning film. We also get to see a different side of Yumi Shirakawa, who (at least in the films I've seen her in) usually plays mature and feminine women. Here, she plays a girlish (even impish) young lady, which in the context of this film makes a lot of sense, considering that Setsuko Hara was the older and more mature of the two actresses in the picture.

A poster for Goke Body Snatcher from Hell, also in the lobby. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

After One's Longing wrapped, there was a short break before Goke Body Snatcher from Hell screened. This was the second time I've seen the film screened in Japan, and I've enjoyed it immensely both times.

Promotional material for Goke. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

One funny thing to note. While I was waiting for One's Longing to start, the theater played a pre-recorded audio announcement for the Toho movie Mount Hakone (1962), to be screened next week. I thought to myself how much the voice sounded like that of Shinichi Yanagisawa, only to have the voice identify itself as being that of ... Shinichi Yanagisawa.

Promotional material for One's Longing. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

It was an amusing moment. In the recording, Yanagisawa-san discussed the cast and crew of the film and injected his brand of comedy into the announcement. I'll have to mention it to Yanagisawa-san the next time I see him.

More promotional material for One's Longing. Photo by Brett Homenick.

All in all, it was another enjoyable night at the movies. I'm very glad I caught both movies, and I'm already planning my next evening in Asagaya.

Yumi Shirakawa: One Glorious Day

Toho star Yumi Shirakawa in May 2015. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Writing this blog entry will be difficult for a few reasons. First, there's a lot to say. Second, I don't want to say too much. Third, the news of Shirakawa-san's passing is still a bit too fresh in my mind. Still, some of my blog readers requested more details about my meeting Shirakawa-san, and I thought it was a splendid idea. Here goes.

Yumi Shirakawa breaks into laughter when presented with a piece of memorabilia for her to sign, as Yosuke Natsuki looks on. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I met Yumi Shirakawa for the first and only time on Sunday, May 3, 2015. The event was Akira Takarada's 81st birthday celebration, which took place in a restaurant high up the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (a.k.a. the Tax Towers). The event was a star-studded one, and it featured several celebrity guests who rarely (if ever) make personal appearances. The luminaries included: Yumi Shirakawa, Yuriko Hoshi, Yosuke Natsuki, Machiko Naka, Akira Wakamatsu, and several others. The guest who jumped immediately out to me was Yumi Shirakawa. There's a reason for that.

Yosuke Natsuki and Yumi Shirakawa, two Toho stars who remained close friends for decades. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yumi Shirakawa is my favorite actress. She an aura and a presence onscreen unlike any other actress I've seen. Watch her in The H-Man (1958) and The Secret of the Telegian (1960), and you're likely to see what I mean. She was beautiful, feminine, vulnerable, and ethereal. There was something about her that appealed to me more than any other Toho actress. She seemed a bit mysterious to me, and I liked that.

In fact, when I was planning a move to Japan, Yumi Shirakawa was at the top of the list of actors and actresses I wanted to meet. No joke. She was always in the number-one spot. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but it was a challenge I couldn't refuse. It was worth doing.

A fun group shot featuring Yumi Shirakawa and many of her co-stars. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I didn't get my opportunity until four years into my stay. Yosuke Natsuki gave me a big assist, and I will always be grateful for his help. Not only did Natsuki-san personally introduce me to her, but he invited me to sit at the table reserved for the special guests with him and Shirakawa-san. I was the only fan at the event invited to do so. So I essentially got to spend the entire afternoon with Shirakawa-san, and even though she didn't speak English, I most certainly enjoyed our time together.

Actresses Yuriko Hoshi and Yumi Shirakawa listen to a speech. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

What impressed me most was how unlike her screen persona she was. She was open-minded, down-to-earth, and friendly -- not at all like the reserved and shy presence I saw in the movies. She also seemed to have an impish sense of humor. She was very close with Natsuki-san, and I snapped many photos of the two of them together on her camera. Of course, I was more than happy to make myself available to her for anything she needed.

Bin Furuya and Yumi Shirakawa pose for pictures. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

When the party moved to a nearby restaurant, Shirakawa-san was the only female guest to join us. When attendees and guests were taking seats, I intentionally tried to sit at a different table from Shirakawa-san and Natsuki-san (in order to give other fans a chance), but Natsuki-san wouldn't hear of it, and he insisted I sit with them. At the restaurant, Shirakawa-san posed for many photos (including a few with Bin Furuya) and signed many shikishi boards and DVDs. She seemed amused by seeing so many fans of her movies. When I asked a few of my friends who their favorite guest of the day was, they unanimously said Yumi Shirakawa. I agreed.

Yours truly with Yumi Shirakawa.

Look at this picture, and you'll see why. A picture truly does speak a thousand words -- and more. I couldn't tell you how excited I was to meet her, but she looks much more excited than I do! Unfortunately for them, a lot of tokusatsu fans in the Western world never seemed very interested in Shirakawa-san, probably because she never starred in a Godzilla movie. Those people truly missed out on an exceptional person, someone I am honored to have met.

And now she's gone. I took the news of her passing pretty hard. She gave me a lot to look forward to, as I was confident our paths would cross again. The world seems like a darker place without her. Seems like? Okay, I'll say it. It is a darker place without her.

Rest in peace, Shirakawa-san. Your life brought joy to so many others. I'll always remember.

Yumi Shirakawa Remembered

Yumi Shirakawa poses with a fan at gathering in Tokyo. Photo by Brett Homenick.

On June 14, Toho actress Yumi Shirakawa died of heart failure at the age of 79. She starred in such Toho classics as Rodan (1956), The Mysterians (1957), The H-Man (1958), The Secret of the Telegian (1960), The Last War (1961), and Gorath (1962). In 1964, she married Nikkatsu star Hideaki Nitani, who would later star in the Tsuburaya Productions TV series Mighty Jack (1968).  

Yuriko Hoshi, Yosuke Natsuki, and Yumi Shirakawa pose for pictures. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

I had the distinct honor (a word I most certainly don't use lightly) to meet Shirakawa-san at an event in Tokyo in May 2015. It was billed by the organizers as a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I couldn't disagree with that assessment. Stars like Shirakawa-san, Yuriko Hoshi, Yosuke Natsuki, Akira Takarada, Machiko Naka, and others gathered to celebrate Takarada-san's 81st birthday. Thanks to Natsuki-san, I was able to spend quite a bit of time around Shirakawa-san.

I'd always hoped to visit Shirakawa-san again, but I will always cherish the memories of that afternoon when I was able to meet my favorite actress in person. I couldn't have asked for a nicer, warmer person to meet.

Rest in peace, Shirakawa-san.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE AKIRA TAKARADA BIRTHDAY BASH! An Extra Look at This Extraordinary Celebration!

Akira Takarada and Yosuke Natsuki share a laugh while Akira Wakamatsu looks on in the background. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Having taken many pictures at the birthday celebration for Toho star Akira Takarada last Sunday, there was not nearly enough room to include even most of the highlights from my last report. So I will present an additional look at the celebration in this blog post with even more photos. After all, they're worth a thousand words!

The delightful Yumi Shirakawa and Akira Takarada share the stage. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yuriko Hoshi honors Akira Takarada. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Shogo Tomiyama poses with actress Machiko Naka. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Akira Takarada addresses the audience. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yuriko Hoshi, Yosuke Natsuki, and Yumi Shirakawa pose for the paparazzi. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Machiko Naka and Yuriko Hoshi, both veterans of the Young Guy series, pose for a picture. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

This dynamic group shot only shows a few of the folks in attendance. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yosuke Natsuki offers some words of praise for Akira Takarada at the after-party. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Akira Takarada addresses the gathering. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Yosuke Natsuki has a chat with Bin Furuya at the after-party. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AKIRA TAKARADA! The Toho Legend Hosts an All-Star Birthday Bash in Shinjuku!

Yours truly with Akira Takarada at his birthday bash in Shinjuku.

Sunday, May 3, saw an incredible all-star birthday celebration of one of Japan's biggest stars, Akira Takarada. Held on the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (a.k.a. the Tax Towers), it was a once-in-a-lifetime affair, and certainly the most star-studded event I've ever attended in Japan.

Takarada-san greets fellow Toho actors Yuriko Hoshi (middle) and Machiko Naka (right). 

Among the guests were Yuriko Hoshi (Godzilla vs. the Thing, Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster), Machiko Naka (the Young Guy series, Godzilla's Revenge), Yosuke Natsuki (Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla 1985), Akira Wakamatsu (Mothra, Dogora the Space Monster), Shogo Tomiyama (Godzilla series producer), and (at the after-party) Bin Furuya (Ultraman, Ultra Seven).

With actress Yuriko Hoshi, the star of many films from Toho.

As the party was just beginning, Natsuki-san invited me to join him at the VIP table with him, Shirakawa-san, and Wakamatsu-san. Natsuki-san and I jumped right in to talking about the latest news and what we were both up to.

Natsuki-san introduced me to Shirakawa-san and Hoshi-san (whom I last met in August of last year), and I introduced myself to Naka-san. I interviewed Naka-san about her acting career by correspondence several years ago, and pointed out that I was the one who interviewed her. As I expected, Naka-san was very kind and warm.

The two stars of Godzilla vs. the Thing reunite with an old colleague. Photo by Brett Homenick.

In the best Japanese I could muster, I spoke to Hoshi-san about her fellow Toho alumnus Tatsuyoshi Ehara, as well as her involvement in a few Toho films. Hoshi-san was more than happy to mix and mingle with her fans.

With actress Machiko Naka.

Each of the special guests took the stage (one by one) and addressed Takarada-san, wishing him a happy birthday. The chemistry between the guests and Takarada-san was palpable, and the audience could sense a feeling of genuine admiration between them.

Yosuke Natsuki (left) shares a laugh with actor Akira Wakamatsu. Photo by Brett Homenick.

I enjoyed meeting all the guests, and everyone went out of his and her way to accommodate the fans. Given that many in attendance simply never attend public events, many fans were eager to get their items signed and photos taken. But I'd like to single out one guest in particular who went above and beyond the call of duty.

A picture is, indeed, worth a thousand words. Yumi Shirakawa and I pose for a photo.

Yumi Shirakawa was exceptionally friendly with her fans and admirers. I'd often heard that she was an open-minded person, but never having a chance to meet her myself, I couldn't be sure until I got such a chance. But, after Natsuki-san introduced us, it became clear that she was very open-minded ... and then some! I mean, just look at the above picture!

One of the highlights for me was borrowing her camera and taking pictures of some of the goings-on at the party. It was truly my pleasure to be in her company.

Hanging with Shirakawa-san and Natsuki-san at the after-party. 

After the main celebration completed, many of the attendees and a few of the guests moved to another building for the after-party. Natsuki-san and Shirakawa-san were the first to arrived, followed by Takarada-san and later Bin Furuya. Once again, Natsuki-san invited me to sit at the VIP table with him, which was another honor for me.

With Bin Furuya, who flew in from M78 for the occasion!

The after-party was much more laid back, and guests and fans freely hung out and spoke with one another. I congratulated the organizers on a job well done, and I hope more such events will take place in the future. After the after-party, Bin Furuya and a few of us (including Takarada-san's secretary and Kyoko Ifukube, the composer's daughter) went to a Japanese restaurant for perhaps an after-after-party. This gathering was even more relaxed, and many laughs were had by all.

Yum! That birthday cake looks good! Photo by Brett Homenick.

All in all, it was an excellent event. The phrase "once in a lifetime" is thrown around a lot these days, but this celebration certainly had all the earmarks of such a description. It was the perfect way to cap off what was already an amazing week.

Happy birthday, Takarada-san!