Godzilla is a therapod dinosaur mutated by hydrogen bomb radiation from US nuclear tests. Godzilla is a mutated marine iguana mutated by radiation from French nuclear tests. Portly professional newsman Raymond Burr brings the news to the world. Gets hit in the head by falling timbers. Directed by Kurosawa's assistant Ishiro Honda, who went on to become the premiere Japanese director of SF films.
Monster looks like the apocalypse beast of ancient legend.
Monster looks nothing like Godzilla. Godzilla can breath a beam of atomic fire. Godzilla has really strong fish breath. Burr takes advantage of his friendship with old college buddy turned scientist Dr. Gorgeous but ditzy assistant reporter Maria Patillo gets scoops by taking advantage of her old college boyfriend, scientist Matthew Broderick.