THE
MYSTERIANS (1957)After the success of GODZILLA and RODAN, Toho producer Tomoyuki Tanaka reassembled the talented team of director Ishiro Honda, special effects man Eiji Tsuburaya, composer Akira Ifukube, along with various cast members from both movies for another project. As before, the new film would have a science-fiction premise, touch upon the dangers of the atom bomb, and feature numerous opportunities to depict sequences of mass destruction. But THE MYSTERIANS would utilize alien invaders rather than the usual giant monster as its main focus of mass terror, and it’s the first Japanese film to do so.
During a festival,
a Japanese town is totally destroyed by radioactive flames, and the military
are called in to investigate. They soon come face to face with a bulky, beaked
giant r
obot
that squashes everything in site, knocking down buildings and incinerating cars
with its deadly eye-beams. Though the robot (known as Mogera) is resistant to
blow-torch fire, it is easily defeated when a bridge on which it is standing
is detonated. We then discover that Mogera was from the planet Mysteriod, and
the inhabitants of that planet have set up base here on Earth in a dome that
submerges from the ground. The Mysterians are seemingly civil aliens who sport
color-coordinated helmets and capes, claiming to have come in peace. Calling
a group of Earth scientists into their dome for a private meeting, they request
a piece of land, as well as wanting to obtain a group of Earth women for breeding
purposes. The request causes outrage, enough for Earth to declare war against
the Mysterians. World officials spend a lot of time in meetings, deciding what
weapons to use against the alien invaders, and with the Mysterians' advanced
technology, matching them is no easy challenge!
THE
MYSTERIANS was the first Japanese science fiction film shot in Scope (2.35:1)
and it takes full advantage of the then-innovative anamorphic widescreen process.
The alien invasion themes seem to be somewhat inspired here by Hollywood films
like WAR OF THE WORLDS, but Toho really proved they knew how to construct this
sort of film. It’s fast paced, almost like a pulp comic book coming to
life, and the special effects (with the expected visible flaws) represent some
of the best of its type, especially considering this was shot almost 50 years
ago. Flying saucers, zeppelin-like air vehicles, ray gun blasts, mass floods,
and violent explosions are all well depicted with the help of convincing miniatures
and matte shots. The alien suits are pretty slick and ahead of their time, and
the clunky metallic Mogera was thrown in as an afterthought, but is a real treat
for giant monster fanatics. The capable cast includes a lot of actors from the
original GODZILLA and RODAN, including Yumi Shirakawa, Kenji Sahara, Momoko
Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, and Takashi Shimura.
THE MYSTERIANS
is the first in a series of non-Godzilla Toho titles that Media Blasters has
gotten the DVD rights to, and the resulting product is marvelous. Any U.S. viewer
used to faded and cropped VHS and TV transfers will be very pleased. Presented
it its original 2.35:1 Tohoscope aspect ratio with anamorphic enhancement, the
original Eastman colors look pleasing, if not overly dazzling. The print source
is in impeccable shape, and only shows blemishes when optical effects are employed.
The original Japanese language track is playable in mono or stereo (with optional
English subtitles), and there’s a new English track in 5.1 stereo. The
newly dubbed track will disappoint those used to the original American version,
but it’s actually respectably done, except for a few unfitting voices.
A mono Spanish track is also included, as is a track where Akira Ifukube’s
stirring score can be isolated. Also not that this DVD edition is the full uncut
Japanese version with several extra minutes of footage 
not
in the U.S. cut, including the brief appearance of a second Mogera during the
climax. All the credits are in Japanese as well.
Extras include
a Japanese language commentary with Toho effects directors Koichi Kawakita and
Shinji Higuchi, who started their careers in 1962 and 1984 respectively. There
is a commentator on hand, and English subtitles accompany it. Both men share
a lot of knowledge about Toho, as well as their craft, revealing a few effects
secrets, and they both obviously have a lot of respect and admiration for THE
MYSTERIANS. Also included are three different photo galleries, including black
and white stills, costume and set designs and storyboards. There is also the
original Japanese trailer, original trailers for the upcoming DVDs of MATANGO,
VARAN and DOGORA, as well as GAPPA and ONE MISSED CALL. (George
R. Reis)