The Making of 1955

縫いぐるみの重さは何と約四十五キロもあった

The costume weighed approximately 45 kilograms.

第一 号から半年後、第二弾映画「『ゴジラの逆襲』が封切り」に

Six months after the first release, the second movie “Godzilla Raids Again”was released.

日本の怪獣映画の第一号『ゴジラ』が封切られたのは、昭和二十九年の十一月三日。この記念すべき日から半年後の三十年五月に第二弾『ゴジラの逆襲』が上映された。

The first Japanese monster movie, Godzilla, was released on November 3, 1954. In May 1955, six months after this memorable day, the second film, “Godzilla Raids Again,” was screened.

第一作目は、監督本多猪四郎。原始怪獣ゴジラが東京に現れ街を破壊し、人類を恐怖に陥れるという物語。特撮は円谷英二。この作品は、アメリカにも輸出され、海外でも評判をとった。

The first film was directed by Ishiro Honda. A story in which the primitive monster Godzilla appears in Tokyo, destroys the city, and terrorizes humanity. Special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. This work was exported to the United States and was well received overseas.

これに気分を良くした配給元の東宝では、特撮の将来性を高く認め、東洋一という約五百坪の特撮用スタジオを設けた。今回の『ゴジラの逆襲』は、このスタジオで作られたもの。監督も小田基義に代わり、舞台も東京から大阪に、またアンギラスという新怪獣も登場し、ヤマ場は二怪獣の決闘シーン。特撮はもちろん円谷英二。ゴジラの生みの親。

The distributor, Toho, was encouraged by this and highly recognized the future potential of special effects, and set up a special effects studio called Toyo No. This time, “Godzilla Raids Again” was made by this studio. Motoyoshi Oda will be the director, the setting will change from Tokyo to Osaka, and a new monster named Anguirus will appear, with the highlight being the duel scene between the two monsters. The special effects are of course Eiji Tsuburaya. The creator of Godzilla.

スタジオ内のあっちこっちには、大阪の目抜き街の模型が建てられ、足の踏み場もないくらい。七十一人のスタッフが、二十八日間、約二百五十万円もかけて作った大阪の街。「ブッこわすのが惜しいくらい」というスタッフを尻目に、ゴジラとアンギラスはことごとく壊すのである。

Models of Osaka’s main streets have been built here and there in the studio, so much so that there is no place to step. The city of Osaka was created by 71 staff over 28 days at a cost of approximately 2.5 million yen. Godzilla and Anguirus destroy everything, even though the staff says, “It would be a shame to destroy it.”

中でも二怪獣が争う場所となる大阪城は、二十五分の一に縮小され、外観は実物そっくり。これだけで約七万円かかったというシロモノで、さわるとすぐコワレるように石膏で作られてある。しかも模型の中には電線が通じ、踏みつぶすとチカチカ火花が散るようになっている。迫力を出すために芸もなかなか細かい。

Osaka Castle, the place where the two monsters fight, has been reduced to 1/25th of its size and looks exactly like the real thing. This alone cost about 70,000 yen, and it was made of plaster so that it would crack as soon as you touched it. What’s more, there are electric wires running through the model, so that when you step on it, sparks fly. The tricks are quite detailed in order to convey the impact.

細かいのは模型だけではない。ただ壊すだけならゴジラも楽しいだろうが、スゴミをみせて演技をしなければならないとなると話は違ってくる。怪獣の演技指導も入念をきわめる。「ここで四つに組んで、顔はこっちを向いて下さい」と円谷技師。高速度撮影なので怪獣の身ぶり手ぶりはかなりややっこしいらしい。

It’s not just the models that are detailed. Godzilla may be fun if it’s just about destroying things, but it’s a different story when you have to show off your awesomeness and act. The guidance on how to act as a monster is also extremely detailed. “Please cross your legs here and turn your faces towards me,” said Tsuburaya. The monster’s body language seems to be quite complicated since it was shot at high speed.

おまけに縫いぐるみの重さが約四十五キロ。プラスチックを高熱処理して作ったもので、大の男が四人がかりでヨイショと持ち上げるというこの衣装。運搬する人たちも、まるでハレ物に触るようなアンバイだとか。

What’s more, the suit weighs about 45 kilograms. This costume is made from high-heat treated plastic, and it takes four large men to lift it up. Even the people transporting the items are feeling uneasy, as if they are touching a bare item.

写真左下は、ひと壊しした後のゴジラとアンギラスのいっぷく。中央の人が小田監督で、「もう少しだから辛抱してくれよ」とはげましているところ。

The bottom left of the photo shows Godzilla and Anguirus together after they were destroyed. The person in the center is Director Oda, yelling, “It’s going to be a while, so please be patient.”

縫いぐるみに入ると、撮影が終了するまで約五キロはやせるという。暑いし、自由に動けないイラダチは中に入った人しか分からない。

It is said that if you wear a costume, you will lose about 5 kilograms until the end of filming. It’s hot and irritating one can’t move freely, so only those who are inside can understand.

特殊撮影の監督は、両手に怪獣のオモチャをもって、どう戦わせるかを一人ひそかに考えるという。その姿はまるで子供がオモチャで遊ぶ姿と同じように見える。

The director of special photography holds toy monsters in both hands and secretly thinks about how to make them fight. It looks just like a child playing with a toy.

大阪城は見事にケ飛ばされて、火花もパチパチ。ゴジラ大阪に現る。

Osaka Castle was beautifully blown away and the sparks crackled. Godzilla appears in Osaka.

怪獣ブームは、その後一層の拍車をかけてとどまるところがない。

Since then, the monster boom has gained further momentum and shows no signs of slowing down.

Source: The Sun Pictorial Daily, pp 26-27