Dr Yamane and Godzilla

P 124

「私は見た。確かにジュラ紀の生物だ!!」

“I saw it. It’s definitely a Jurassic creature!!”

山根博士〔志村喬〕1954年『ゴジラ』より

Dr. Yamane [Takashi Shimura] from “Godzilla” 1954

『七人の侍』『生きる』などの黒沢明監督作品での名演が有名な志村喬は、東宝怪獣映画の中でもその存在感を大にしている。『ゴジラ』の古生物学者・山根恭平博士は学術的見地から、ただ一人ゴジラを殺すことに反対している人物だ。冒頭のセリフは、大戸島調査団としてゴジラ上陸の痕跡を探していた博士が、折しも白昼に現れたゴジラを指して言ったもの。数分前までゴジラの足跡の上で三葉虫を見つけて喜んでいたのに、いつのまにか高台に一人登ってゴジラ本体をも見つけてしまう、凄い機動力を持つ博士なのである。また博士の台詞には、

Shimura Takashi, who is famous for his outstanding performances in Akira Kurosawa’s films such as “Seven Samurai” and “Ikiru,” also makes his presence known in Toho’s monster films. In “Godzilla,” paleontologist Dr. Yamane Kyohei is the only person who is opposed to killing Godzilla from an academic point of view. The opening line is spoken by the doctor, who was searching for signs of Godzilla’s landing as part of the Odo Island research team, and is referring to Godzilla, who just so happens to appear in broad daylight. A few minutes earlier, he had been delighted to find a trilobite in Godzilla’s footprints, but before he knows it, he has climbed up to high ground by himself and found Godzilla himself, a doctor with incredible mobility. The doctor’s lines also include:

「まずあの不思議な生命力を研究することこそ、第一の急務です」や

“The most urgent task is to study that mysterious life force.”

「ゴジラに光を当ててはいけません。ますます怒るばかりです!!」

“Don’t shine a light on Godzilla. It will only make him angrier!!”

など、ゴジラの災厄が甚大となる映画後半部において尚、ゴジラに対する愛情が強く見られる言葉が多い。ちなみに、香山滋の書き下ろし原作「G作品検討用台本」にて描かれる山根博士は、ゴジラに肩入れするあまりに、ゴジラ防御の高圧線の管理員を鉄棒で殴り飛ばすといったキレてる人物像(普段から黒マントを着ているという怪しいハカセ)であり、それが映画のような人間味あるキャラになったのは、脚本担当・村田武雄の発案に拠るところが大きい。

Even in the second half of the film, when Godzilla’s disasters become more severe, there are many words that show strong affection for Godzilla. Incidentally, Dr. Yamane, who is depicted in the original work “G Work Consideration Script” written by Shigeru Kayama, is an angry character (a suspicious professor who usually wears a black cape) who is so supportive of Godzilla that he hits the manager of the high-voltage line that protects Godzilla with an iron bar, but it was largely due to the idea of ​​screenwriter Takeo Murata that he became a human character like in the film.

P 125

怪獣の理解者・山根博士は次作『ゴジラの逆襲』にも連続出演。第二のゴジラ対策本部となった大阪に駆けつけ、ゴジラの「光を憎む」習性を指摘して付近住民の灯火管制を提案。愛弟子の化学者・芹沢博士を初代ゴジラと共に失ったためか、その姿はどこか寂しそうだった。

Dr. Yamane, an understanding person of monsters, also appears in the next film, “Godzilla Raids Again.” He rushes to Osaka, which has become the second Godzilla countermeasure headquarters, and, pointing out Godzilla’s “hate of light,” proposes a blackout for the surrounding residents. He looks somewhat lonely, perhaps because he lost his beloved student, chemist Dr. Serizawa, along with the original Godzilla.

「焼き殺してしまうのは惜しいな。せめて骨だけでも標本に持って帰りたいね」

“It would be a shame to burn him alive. I’d like to at least take his bones and bring them home as a specimen.”

とは、『妖星ゴラス』において志村の演じた動物学者・園田博士の言葉だが、地球が物凄い勢いで移動を始めた矢先、おごそかに正月を祝う独特のペースを持つ博士らしいセリフである。極地に降り立った園田博士と、河野・田沢両博士は、一部設備を破壊した怪獣・マグマの咆哮を聞き避難するが、園田博士だけは学問的興味からよろよろとマグマのほうに向かって行きかけるというイイ場面を見せる。命知らずの探求心が泣かせるねえ。

These are the words of Dr. Sonoda, a zoologist played by Shimura in “Gorath,” and they are fitting for a doctor with a unique pace who celebrates New Year’s solemnly just as the Earth begins to move at an incredible speed. After landing on the polar region, Dr. Sonoda, along with Dr. Kono and Dr. Tazawa, hear the roar of the monster Magma, which has destroyed some of the equipment, and evacuate, but Dr. Sonoda alone, out of academic curiosity, staggers towards Magma, creating a great scene. His fearless spirit of inquiry is tear-jerking.

「いかなる理由にせよ、原水爆の使用はいけません。それこそミステリアンの二の舞い、地球の破滅です!!」

“Whatever the reason, the use of atomic and hydrogen bombs is unacceptable. It would be a repeat of the Mysterians and the destruction of the Earth!!”

これは『地球防衛軍』での安達博士の台詞。博士代表される科学の善なる部分が、宇宙人の暴力から地球を守る。志村喬の朴訥な演技が、絵空事になりかねないSF映像に、限りないリアリティを生み出しているのだ。

This is a line from Dr. Adachi in “Earth Defense Force.” The good side of science, represented by the doctor, protects the Earth from the violence of aliens. Takashi Shimura’s simple acting brings infinite realism to a sci-fi film that could easily become a fantasy.

Caption

▲ 山根先生の脇にいる田辺博士(村上冬樹)の理知的なたたずまいも目立たないが「ゴジラ」のリアルさに一役買っている。

▲ The intellectual demeanor of Dr. Tanabe (Murakami Fuyuki), standing next to Professor Yamane, is not conspicuous, but he contributes to the realism of “Godzilla.”

Source: ゴジラ来襲!!, pp 124-25