Gamera vs. Outer Space Monster Viras

Directed by
81 minutes (Current) (Japan)
 Budget

Gamera vs. Outer Space Monster Viras is a 1968 Daiei tokusatsu kaiju film, directed by Noriaki Yuasa.

## Plot

A New deadly alien force approaches Planet Earth. Gamera intervenes and destroys the alien vessel; but before the ship is destroyed, the aliens broadcast a warning to their world, stating that Gamera is their enemy.

Later on Earth, a Boy Scout troop is visiting an aquarium to see the scientists working on a small two-man submarine. Masao and Jim, two of the scouts, manage to talk their way aboard the sub. While in the water they spot Gamera, who engages in a little race with the boys. However, their hijinks come to an end when the second alien vessel envelops the both of them in a super-catch ray. Gamera helps the boys to escape, but remains trapped in the force field while the aliens scan his memories. They learn of Gamera's one weakness, his soft spot for children. Soon after, the field weakens and Gamera is free. The aliens capture Jim and Masao, threatening to kill the boys. Powerless to help them, Gamera lands. Attaching a brainwave control device to Gamera's head, the aliens force the turtle kaiju to do their bidding.

While aboard the spaceship, the boys continually try to escape. Gamera, however (under the influence of the aliens), is destroying dams and cities by the handful. Jim and Masao discover a squid-like creature, thinking that he is another captive of the aliens. In fact, he is the leader of the aliens. The boys help Gamera break free from the brainwave device and he begins to attack the spaceship. Grounded by Gamera, the aliens reveal that their human forms were just disguises. The aliens all merge to form the giant monster Viras. Gamera and Viras duke it out in a big beachside battle. Gamera manages to pull Viras into the upper atmosphere, freezing him to death. He then flings Viras' body back into the ocean. The boys and a crowd of adults celebrate Gamera's victory.

## Cast

* Kojiro Hongo   as   Scoutmaster Mr. Shimida
* Michiko Yaegaki   as   Mariko
* Mari Atsumi   as   Junko Aoki
* Junko Yashiro   as   Masako Shibata
* Yoshiro Kitahara   as   Masao's Father
* Akira Natsuki   as   Doctor C
* Koji Fujiyama   as   Self-Defense Force Commander
* Chikara Hashimoto   as   Doctor A
* Carl Craig   as   Jim Crane
* Toru Takatsuka   as   Masao Nakaya
* Kenji Go   as   Doctor B
* Munehiko Takada   as   Jim's Father
* Peter Williams   as   Dr. Dobie
* Ken Nakahara   as   Doctor D
* Kenichiro Yamane   as   Doctor E
* Mary Morris   as   Mrs. Crane
* Himawari and Kojika Acting Troupes
* Teruo Aragaki   as   Gamera

## Staff

* Directed by   Noriaki Yuasa
* Written by   Nisan Takahashi
* Produced by   Hidemasa Nagata
* Executive producing by   Masaichi Nagata
* Music by   Kenjiro Hirose
* Cinematography by   Akira Kitazaki
* Edited by   Shoji Sekiguchi
* Production design by   Tomohisa Yano
* Assistant directing by   Masayoshi Imago
* Special effects by   Kazufumi Fujii, Yuzo Kaneko

## Titles

* Gamera vs. Outer Space Monster Viras (Original Japanese release title)
* Gamera vs. the Giant Space Monster (ガメラ対宇宙大怪獣 Gamera tai Uchū Daikaijū, early Japanese title)
* Gamela vs. Outer space Monster Bairus (alternate romanization)
* Gamela vs. Bairus (alternate romanization)
* Gamera versus Space Monster Bairas (English Japanese title)
* Gamera: Destroy All Planets (United States)

## U.S. release

In June 1968, Gamera vs. Viras played alongside Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare at the New Kokusai Theater in Honolulu, Hawaii, presented in Japanese with English subtitles. Advertisements referred to the film as either Gamela vs. Outerspace Monster Bairus or just Gamela vs. Bairus.

In 1969, Gamera vs. Viras premiered in the continental United States through American International Television, under the title Destroy All Planets, likely to capitalize on the success of the Godzilla film, Destroy All Monsters, which American International released to theaters the same year. This version contained an additional ten minutes of stock footage in the scene where the Virasians examine Gamera's memories. Both Shout! Factory and Mill Creek Entertainment have released the film on DVD as Gamera vs. Viras, with its original Japanese audio track and English subtitles. The Destroy All Planets version of the film is in the public domain in the United States, and has been released on DVD by countless different companies.

## DVD

**Shout! Factory** DVD (2010)

* Region: 1
* Discs: 1
* Audio: Japanese (1.0 Mono), English (1.0 Mono)
* Special Features: Gallery of publicity materials
* Notes: Both versions of the film use the same Japanese video track, with the English dub reverting to the Japanese audio in scenes removed by AIP-TV. Packaged with *Gamera vs. Gyaos*.