The Italian Godzilla film! (Cozzilla 1977-Film)

lost film.

In 1977, Italian filmmaker Luigi Cozzi released to Italian theaters a further modified and colorized version of *Godzilla, King of the Monsters*, with a soundtrack that used a magnetic tape process similar to Sensurround. Though the Italian colorized version was released as *Godzilla*, it is referred to by fans, and Cozzi himself, as *Cozzilla*. Cozzi coined the title *Cozzilla* as a pen-name when he was writing for magazines, and later adopted it as the production company name for re-releasing the film. According to Cozzi, Toho had licensed the colorized version to Turkey. Cozzi noted that his colorization was the first attempt ever done at colorizing a black-and-white film.

Due to the success of the 1976 remake of *King Kong*, Cozzi attempted to cash in on the film's success by re-releasing *Gorgo*. Cozzi, however, was unable to acquire the film because "the King Brothers asked for too much money". Cozzi then chose *Godzilla* as a second option. He originally intended to acquire the original 1954 Japanese cut, but Toho was only able to provide negatives for the 1956 American version. Cozzi's regional distributors refused to release it after discovering the film was in black-and-white, so he chose to colorize the film to secure its release. Cozzi renegotiated with Toho, gaining their approval. Included in the new deal was that Toho retained sole ownership of the colorized negative. Cozzi had final approval over the stock footage, music, and the colorization. At the time, theatrical films were required to run 90 minutes. Therefore, Cozzi was "forced" to add the stock footage to extend the film's runtime:

The decision to specifically add real footage of death and destruction from war-time film reels was intentional on Cozzi's part. Cozzi wanted to give an old film an "up-to-date and more violent look". While editing the film, Cozzi was aware that certain stock footage didn't match the Godzilla footage, but he chose to proceed, feeling that the "effect would have been stronger than the defects". Additional footage was recycled from *The Train* and *The Day the Earth Caught Fire*. Cozzi added brief clips from *The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms* and *Godzilla Raids Again* as tributes, taken from his personal 16mm prints. He coined the term "Spectrorama 70" for advertising purposes, the term referring to colorization and the feeling of 70mm. Cozzi stated that it "helped to give a 'bigger' look at my *Godzilla* theatrical re-release advertising materials".

For the soundtrack, Cozzi reprocessed the original 1956 soundtrack, turning it into a eight-track magnetic band stereophonic variation by adding new music and sound effects. Cozzi later added Sensurround effects and special giant loudspeakers to the theaters playing the film. Using the pseudonym "Magnetic System", Vince Tempera composed the film's additional score using his personal electric piano. Cozzi hired Tempera after he expressed interest in collaborating on a project. Tempera immediately accepted due to his being a fan of Godzilla. Cozzi selected synth music because he wanted the score to give his version of the film a "modern look" and have audiences see the difference between the new scenes and the originals. During the film's opening weekend, Tempera's additional score was released as a 45 rpm record. It was later released as a 33 rpm LP.

Cozzi hired Enzo Nistri to paint a new poster for the colorized release (Nistri's poster was later used on the cover of Fangoria magazine). Cozzi hired Armando Valcauda to do the colorization of the film, while Alberto Moro, Cozzi's mentor, was hired to edit the film. It was colorized frame-by-frame using stop motion gel photography. The process took only three months, as they were in a rush to release the film. Valcauda did all the colorization himself, while Cozzi edited the film with Moro. Cozzi noted that Yamato Video in Milan owns one new 35mm print of the colorized version, as well as an original colorized 35mm film negative, acquired from Toho. Yamato planned to release the 1954 Japanese cut, the 1956 American cut, and the 1977 Italian color cut on DVD. Those plans, however, were abandoned after the DVD release of the 1954 cut flopped financially.

## Plot

Injured American reporter Steve Martin is brought from the ruins of Tokyo to a hospital filled with maimed and wounded citizens. A recent acquaintance, Emiko, discovers him by chance among the victims and attempts to find a doctor for him.

Martin recalls in flashback stopping over in Tokyo, where a series of inexplicable ship disasters catches his attention. When a victim of those disasters washes up on Odo Island, Martin flies there for the story, along with Tomo Iwanaga, a representative of the Japanese Security Defense Forces (JSDF). There he learns of the island inhabitants' long-held belief in a sea monster god known as "Godzilla", which they believe is causing the disasters. That night, a heavy rain and wind storm strikes the island, destroying many houses and killing some villagers. The islanders believe that Godzilla and not the storm is responsible for the destruction.

Martin returns to the devastated island with Dr. Yamane, who is leading a team to investigate its ruins. Huge radioactive footprints and a prehistoric trilobite are discovered. An alarm rings and Martin, the villagers, and Dr. Yamane's team head up a hill for safety. Near the summit, they see Godzilla's head and upper torso looking down at them, and they quickly flee downhill. Dr. Yamane later returns to Tokyo and presents his findings. Godzilla was resurrected by repeated Pacific nuclear tests. He estimates the creature to be more than 400 feet tall. To Yamane's dismay, the military responds by attempting to kill the giant creature with depth charges. Martin contacts his old friend, Dr. Daisuke Serizawa, for dinner, but Serizawa declines due to planned commitments with his fiancé.

Emiko, Dr. Yamane's daughter, goes to Serizawa's home to break off her arranged engagement to him because she is actually in love with Hideo Ogata, a salvage ship captain. Dr. Serizawa, however, gives her a demonstration of his secret project, which horrifies her. She is sworn to secrecy and unable to bring herself to break off the engagement. Godzilla surfaces from Tokyo Bay, unharmed by the depth charges, and attacks the city, destroying a train before returning to the bay. The next morning, to repel the monster, the JSDF supercharges the tall electrical towers along Tokyo's coast.

The King of the Monsters resurfaces that night and breaks through the electrical towers and JSDF tank and artillery defense line using his atomic heat breath. With his tape recorder, Martin documents Godzilla's annihilation of the city and is injured during the attack. The military sends in more tanks and even fighter jets, but their counter-attack fails. Godzilla returns to the sea leaving Tokyo a burning, destroyed ruin (the flashback ends).

Martin wakes up in the hospital with Emiko and Ogata. Horrified by the destruction, Emiko reveals to Martin and Ogata the existence of Dr. Serizawa's Oxygen Destroyer, which disintegrates oxygen atoms in salt water and causes all marine organisms to die of acidic asphyxiation. Emiko and Ogata go to Dr. Serizawa to convince him to use his weapon on Godzilla, but he initially refuses. After watching a television broadcast showing the nation's plight, Serizawa finally gives in to their pleas.

A Navy ship takes Ogata, Serizawa, Yamame, Martin, and Emiko out to the deepest part of Tokyo Bay. Wearing deep sea diving gear, Ogata and Serizawa are lowered down by lifelines near the sleeping Godzilla to plant the weapon. On the bottom, they quickly move into position, awakening the monster. Serizawa signals the surface and Ogata is pulled up, but Serizawa delays his ascent and activates the device. He radios the surface to tell them that it is working and also wishes Emiko and Ogata happiness together. Removing his knife, he cuts his diving helmet's oxygen supply line and rope tether, taking the secret of his invention to the grave. Godzilla succumbs to the force of the Oxygen Destroyer, eventually dissolving to just a pile of bones. All aboard the ship mourn the loss of Dr. Serizawa. In this solemn moment Martin makes a final observation, "The menace was gone, so was a great man. But the whole world could wake up and live again".