The Mysterians (1957 film)

Headline text
The Mysterians, released in Japan as Chikyū Bōeigun (地球防衛軍, Chikyū Bōeigun? lit. "Earth Defense Force"), is a tokusatsu science fiction film produced and released by Toho Studios in 1957. It was directed by the "Golden Duo" of Ishirō Honda (drama) and Eiji Tsuburaya (special effects). It is notable for being the first tokusatsu filmed in TohoScope and the first Toho film to use Perspecta stereophonic sound. It is also known for its use of color, in particular its heavy use of day-for-night shots and bright alien costumes.

Synopsis
Scientifically advanced wanderers from the destroyed planet Mysteroid request a patch of land on Earth and the right to marry earthling women. After a demonstration of their destructive abilities from the help of their giant robot Moguera, mankind must decide whether to capitulate or to resist.

Cast

Kenji Sahara - Jōji Atsumi

Yumi Shirakawa - Etsuko Shiraishi

Momoko Kōchi - Hiroko Iwamoto

Akihiko Hirata - Ryōichi Shiraishi

Takashi Shimura - Dr. kenjirō Adachi

Susumu Fujita - General Morita

Hisaya Itō - Captain Seki

Yoshio Kosugi - Commander Sugimoto

Fuyuki Murakami - Dr. Nobu Kawanami

Tetsu Nakamura - Dr. Kōda

Yoshio Tsuchiya - Mysterian Leader

International distribution

A November 1, 1957 report states that Southeast Asian distribution rights to The Mysterians were sold to Shaw & Sons of Hong Kong for the highest amount paid for a Japanese film to that time.[1] Rights to other parts of the world were sold for a record price for a Japanese film to Topaz Film Corp. in February of 1958.[2]

Lobby card for the 1959 US release of The MysteriansThe film was released to the U.S. in May of 1959. In July, The New York Times called the film, "an ear-splitting Japanese-made fantasy, photographed in runny color and dubbed English," and concluded with, "This Metro release is crammed with routine footage of death rays and scrambling civilians, not one of whom can act. Tomoyuki Tanaka produced the mess and Inoshiro Honda directed it. Peter Riethof and Carlos Montalban are responsible for the 'English version,' and may it spread no further linguistically."

DVD releases

Mediablasters, 2005

Japanese and English audio tracks Photo Gallery Audio Commentary by Koichi Kawakita(Godzilla vs Biollante) and Shinji Higuchi (Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack). Japanese with English subtitles

Cultural references

A sequel was made two years later, titled Battle in Outer Space. The aliens in this film inspired Rudy Martinez to name his band Question Mark & the Mysterians. Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) special effects director Koichi Kawakita redesigned the giant robot Mogera into an anti-Godzilla mecha for the later film, called "M.O.G.U.E.R.A." (Mobile Operation Godzilla Universal Expert Robot Aerotype). Ryuhei Kitamura's Godzilla: Final Wars features an anti-kaiju defense organization called the Earth Defense Force (Chikyu Boeigun). In Destroy All Humans!, the Furons cannot reproduce because they also have lost their reproductive organs.