Godzilla vs Hedorah a.k.a Godzilla vs the Smog Monster (1971-Film)

## Godzilla vs Hedorah a.k.a Godzilla vs the Smog Monster (1971)

***Godzilla vs. Hedorah*** (ゴジラ対ヘドラ, *Gojira tai Hedora*) is a 1971 Japanese *kaiju* film directed by Yoshimitsu Banno, written by Banno and Takeshi Kimura, and produced and distributed by Toho Studios. It is the 11th film in the *Godzilla* franchise, and features the fictional monster characters Godzilla and Hedorah. The film stars Akira Yamauchi, Toshie Kimura, and Hiroyuki Kawase, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano, and features Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Kenpachiro Satsuma as Hedorah. Satsuma would go on to portray Godzilla in later *Godzilla* films.

*Godzilla vs. Hedorah* features an environmentalist message, with the malevolent Hedorah being spawned from pollution. The film was released theatrically in Japan on July 24, 1971. It received a theatrical release in the United States under the title ***Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster*** in July 1972 by American International Pictures, as a double feature with the American film *The Thing With Two Heads.*

## Plot

The microscopic alien life-form Hedorah feeds on Earth's pollution and grows into a poisonous, acid-secreting sea monster. After he sinks an oil tanker and attacks Dr. Toru Yano and his young son Ken Yano, scarring the doctor, Hedorah's toxic existence is revealed to the public. Ken Yano has visions of Godzilla fighting the world's pollution and insists Godzilla will come to humankind's aid against Hedorah.

Hedorah metamorphoses into an amphibious form, allowing him to move onto land to feed on additional sources of pollution. Hedorah, having emerged at a power station to consume pollutant gases from the smokestacks, is confronted by Godzilla. Hedorah is easily overpowered by Godzilla and retreats into the sea. During the fight, however, several pieces of his new body are flung nearby, which then crawl back into the sea to grow anew and allow the monster to become even more powerful. He returns shortly thereafter in a flying saucer-like shape and demonstrating newer, even deadlier forms which he can switch between at will.

Thousands of people die in Hedorah's raids and even Godzilla is unable to defend against Hedorah's poisonous emissions. As hope sinks, a party is thrown on Mt. Fuji to celebrate one last day of life before humankind succumbs to Hedorah. Ken Yano, Yukio Keuchi, Miki Fujinomiya, and the other partygoers realize that Godzilla and Hedorah have come to Mt. Fuji as well for a final confrontation. During the battle, Godzilla fights valiantly against Hedorah, but is overpowered by the amorphous alien, losing an eye and having his hand burnt right the way down to the bone by Hedorah’s acid. Finally, Godzilla is almost killed by Hedorah after he hurls him into a pit, then proceeds to attempt to drown him in a deluge of chemicals.

Dr. Toru Yano and his wife Toshie Yano has determined that drying out Hedorah's body may destroy the otherwise unkillable monster. The JSDF swiftly constructs two gigantic electrodes for this purpose and attempts to fire them, giving Godzilla the chance to return to the fight. All of a sudden the electrodes short out, the power cut off by Godzilla and Hedorah's violent battle. Godzilla reactivates and energises the electrodes with his atomic heat ray, dehydrating Hedorah's outer body. Hedorah sheds this outer body and takes flight to escape, but Godzilla propels himself through the air with his atomic heat ray to give chase. Godzilla drags Hedorah back to the electrodes and continues to dehydrate him until Hedorah is on the brink of defeat. Godzilla tears open Hedorah's dried-out body and exposes it to the electrodes again, dehydrating the pieces until nothing remains but dust.

Godzilla returns to the sea, but not before glaring threateningly at the surviving humanity whose pollution spawned Hedorah. Ken Yano bids goodbye to Godzilla.