TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA (1975) – Episode 165 – Decades Of Horror 1970s

“They had their chance to learn about my ideas 15 years ago. *evil chuckle* Now they’ll pay for their scorn! I’ll exact vengeance upon those fools who treated me like a madman and drove me into the shadows! *maniacal laugh*” And with the help of his robotic daughter! Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they go to Toho-land for Ishirô Honda’s Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 165 – Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

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Attempts to salvage Mechagodzilla are thwarted, causing an INTERPOL investigation that uncovers the work of a shunned biologist and his daughter, whose life becomes entwined with the resurrected machine.

• Director: Ishirô Honda; Jun Fukuda (earlier film clips)
• Writer: Yukiko Takayama
• Selected cast:
  • Katsuhiko Sasaki as Akira Ichinose
  • Tomoko Ai as Katsura Mafune
  • Akihiko Hirata as Dr. Shinzo Mafune
  • Katsumasa Uchida as Jiro Murakoshi, Interpol Agent
  • Gorō Mutsumi as Mugal, Black Hole Alien leader
  • Toru Ibuki as Tsuda, Black Hole Alien lieutenant
  • Kenji Sahara as General Segawa
  • Tadao Nakamaru as Chief of Interpol Tagawa
  • Akinori Umezu as boy #1
  • Toru Kawai as Godzilla
  • Ise Mori as Mechagodzilla 2
  • Katsumi Nimiamoto as Titanosaurus

Terror of Mechagodzilla, aka Mekagojira no gyakushu, is Bill’s pick and even he is a bit surprised how little Godzilla is in the film. Even though Titanosaurus isn’t normally held in high regard, Bill thinks he’s a cool kaiju. Jeff is a relative newcomer to the world of Toho kaiju and he feels lucky to be shepherded through his introduction by the other members of the Grue-Crew. He gets into the campiness of Terror of Mechagodzilla, especially the fight scenes which seemed to him like a mashup of pro wrestling, boxing, and the Three Stooges. Chad loves all Godzilla films and sees him as emblematic of a good character that can be dropped into any situation – whether it be a comedy, child-oriented, or serious – and still tell a good story. He loves Terror of Mechagodzilla even though Godzilla does show up rather later in the story. Wacky aliens, a scientist that looks like Colonel Sanders, a robot daughter, and Godzilla appearing out of nowhere are all elements that pulled Doc into Terror of Mechagodzilla. He notes that even though this movie has a darker tone than recent Godzilla fare, it is still a lot of fun.

If you’re a fan of Godzilla, and we know you are, check out these other Decades of Horror podcasts on films from the Showa Era:

• Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) – Episode 134 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• Godzilla (Gojira, 1954) – Episode 58 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971) – Episode 25 – Decades of Horror 1970s

At the time of this writing, Terror of Mechagodzilla is available to stream from HBOmax, the Criterion Channel, tubi, and various other streaming services. In terms of physical media,  it is available in Godzilla: the Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 (the Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray].

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode in their very flexible schedule, chosen by Chad, will be The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977) from the H.G. Wells novel, starring Burt Lancaster, Micahel York, Barbara Carrera, Nigel Davenport, and Richard Basehart. 

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