Although subsequent films in the kaiju genre would see the character’s purpose change, the original incarnation of Godzilla came very much in the shadow of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as the fate of the crew of the Lucky Dragon 5 at the Bikini Atoll in 1954, all of which loomed large in Japanese popular consciousness. Awoken by nuclear testing in the Pacific, the giant, prehistoric sea monster causes destruction on land and at sea. Seemingly impervious to radiation, authorities seek a way to destroy the monster, against the advice of palaeontologist Kyohei Yamane (Takashi Shimura), who believes it should be studied. The monster’s subsequent rampage of destruction through the country held bleak resonance for the traumatised populace, who nonetheless made it a hit.
Notes by Kevin Coyne.