"King Kong vs. Godzilla": 50 Years Since Release

Above, Godzilla and King Kong pose with Tomoyuki Tanaka (third from left) and Eiji Tsuburaya (far right).

Next year this month marks 50 years since King Kong vs. Godzilla was released in theaters in the United States by Universal Pictures.  It premiered in New York on June 26, 1963.  It was released 50 years ago in Japan in August 1962.

My parents took me (along with some friends) to see the movie at the Balboa Theater in the Vermont Ave./Manchester Blvd. area of Los Angeles.  I was nine years old at the time.

Above, Atami Castle, featured in "King Kong vs. Godzilla."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The first feature in the double-bill was John Wayne's Donovan's Reef.

There's an interesting interview with the Americanized King Kong vs. Godzilla screenwriter Paul Mason at Sci Fi Japan.  To read it, go here.

King Kong vs. Godzilla is the highest-grossing Godzilla movie produced by Toho Co., Ltd. to date.

Above, a view of Atami Castle (perched on the hill) from Atami's harbor.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The climax in both the Japanese and Americanized versions is the battle between Kong and Godzilla.  The battle began at Mount Fuji and ends with both monsters toppling into the sea after demolishing Atami Castle.  Contrary to legend, there is only one ending to the movie in both versions.  It was erroneously stated that Godzilla won the battle in Japanese and other Asian prints, whereas Kong wins in non-Asian countries.

Atami Castle is spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.