‘The War of the Gargantuas’ (1966) (B-Movie Review) — Part One

And now for another skewering review of an old B-movie: The War of the Gargantuas!

Anyone else detecting a message here? Who are the Gargantuas? Think hard.

This is another one of those Japanese movies where the atom bomb (most likely) has created a monster. Well, actually two monsters, but the first one is readily dispatched by the second one. (And, actually, there is a third monster.)

We open with a view of a toy boat being tossed about in a darkened bathroom the tub of a darkened bathroom. Then it turns into a big boat with a real guy steering it over the crashing waves. Next thing you know, a tentacle is reaching out for him, sneaking up from behind through a door to the pilot room helm. Basically, we’re talking about an abnormally large octopus, who stowed away on the boat. I guess.

When the octopus attacks, the wheelman fights back by smashing the tentacle repeatedly. Meanwhile, another tentacle sneaks in the window and grabs the hapless seaman.

But, then a giant, who vaguely resembles an extraordinarily hairy version of the Incredible Hulk, appears and makes short work of the giant octopus. Tosses it aside, muttering, “Just not in the mood for calamari.”

But THEN the Hulk giant makes swift work of the boat. He doesn’t exactly rescue it, but I think he puts the wheelman out of his misery the wheelman has no more worries.

Russ Tamblyn plays a scientist, even though he looks like a really tall 13-year-old. He seems to talk out of the side of his mouth (to look cool?) and manages to raise his eyebrows (to convey some emotion, I suppose), even though his expression is so placid, it appears he’s received a face full of Botox.

His character’s name is Dr. Paul Stewart, although he also goes by the name Rasu Tanburin. Let us not speculate on why. In any case, Rasu/Russ  has a lovely assistant in Dr. Akemi Tagawa. They once had a baby Frankenstein. Not their child, of course, but to study it. 

Well, this monster turns out to be a Frankenstein (and a carnivorous one who thinks humans are like chicken nuggets with legs). So the press descends upon Drs. Stewart and Tagawa (Akemi Tagawa) for answers.

The scientists are convinced pretty sure their Frankenstein didn’t do anything bad. (Meanwhile, Dr. Stewart checks his contract for provisions on personal liability.)

*****

Here’s the original trailer. You don’t need to speak Japanese to get the picture! 🙂

More to come, so stay tuned! 🙂