Godzilla (1954)

Almost immediately it is obvious that the Japanese version of the first Godzilla film is far superior to the bastardized American one. Paleontologist Takashi Shimura is called to investigate mass destruction on Odo Island, only to be among a number of witnesses to the Godzilla monster taking land. Meanwhile, after falling in love with ship captain Akira Takarada, Shimura’s daughter Momoko Kōchi goes to break her engagement with doctor Akihiko Hirata, only to find he may have discovered something that could take care of the Godzilla menace. While the trouble with Godzilla is center stage, his existence is completely put in the context of post-World War II Japan with a populace recovering from the devastation of the war, especially the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while even more recently dealing with fallout from nearby American hydrogen bomb testing, facts completely excised from the American version. Even beyond the resonant social commentary, the film has some enjoyable special effects, especially of Godzilla rampaging miniaturized sets.