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King Kong vs Godzilla was made in 1962. Around that time, when people realized there were two version of the movie, the myth of two different endings started: Godzilla won in the Japanese version, while Kong won in the Hollywood edition.
Interestingly enough, that is not the main difference between both versions. The biggest difference is the film itself. As it is usual when releasing a Godzilla movie to the US, additional footage is added or deleted to make it more appealing to the US audience. Many times such action leaves behind the essence of the original movie, and that was the case with this movie too. The film was meant to be a mix science fiction and humor, but Hollywood altered it heavily to try to make it a pure science fiction movie. The final product used 75% to 80% of the original Japanese film.
But regarding the end of the movie, the truth is that both versions share the same visual ending. King Kong swims away and Godzilla returns to the sea. It can be said that the end is ambiguous; Kong does not beat Godzilla nor Godzilla wins over Kong. However, there is a difference in the soundtrack, and that difference is used by some fans to explaiKing Kong vs Godzilla was made in 1962. Around that time, when people realized there were two version of the movie, the myth of two different endings started: Godzilla won in the Japanese version, while Kong won in the Hollywood edition.
Interestingly enough, that is not the main difference between both versions. The biggest difference is the film itself. As it is usual when releasing a Godzilla movie to the US, additional footage is added or deleted to make it more appealing to the US audience. Many times such action leaves behind the essence of the original movie, and that was the case with this movie too. The film was meant to be a mix science fiction and humor, but Hollywood altered it heavily to try to make it a pure science fiction movie. The final product used 75% to 80% of the original Japanese film.
But regarding the end of the movie, the truth is that both versions share the same visual ending. King Kong swims away and Godzilla returns to the sea. It can be said that the end is ambiguous; Kong does not beat Godzilla nor Godzilla wins over Kong. However, there is a difference in the soundtrack, and that difference is used by some fans to explain the myth
apanese version the Godzilla roar is heard after the Kong roar.
According to some Godzilla fans, because in the US version only Kong is heard, the movie goers thought Kong won. It is also possible that US viewers could not believe a Japanese horror film would show an US monster win over a Japanese monster. Adding to this, the rumors of two different movie versions helped cultivate the dual ending myth.
Despite this explanation, things could be much simpler.
At the time King Kong vs Godzilla was created, the huge Gorilla was much more popular than Godzilla; this was quite evident among Japanese children, for example. Besides, Godzilla was evil, as a result of the prior two Godzilla movies. As a result, the right commercial approach was for King Kong to win. The ambiguous end only left a door open for Godzilla to evolve.
What is not understandable, however, is how unfair Japanese were to the Kong character appearance. Its ugly suit could be one of the reasons Godzilla action figures manufacturing companies release so few King Kong toys. For example, Bandai Co. has released only one figure in 1993. Godzilla action figures collectors know King Kong toys are rare and hard to find. However, that is what makes King Kong vs Godzilla action figures so valuable and interesting.
apanese version the Godzilla roar is heard after the Kong roar.
According to some Godzilla fans, because in the US version only Kong is heard, the movie goers thought Kong won. It is also possible that US viewers could not believe a Japanese horror film would show an US monster win over a Japanese monster. Adding to this, the rumors of two different movie versions helped cultivate the dual ending myth.
Despite this explanation, things could be much simpler.
At the time King Kong vs Godzilla was created, the huge Gorilla was much more popular than Godzilla; this was quite evident among Japanese children, for example. Besides, Godzilla was evil, as a result of the prior two Godzilla movies. As a result, the right commercial approach was for King Kong to win. The ambiguous end only left a door open for Godzilla to evolve.
What is not understandable, however, is how unfair Japanese were to the Kong character appearance. Its ugly suit could be one of the reasons Godzilla action figures manufacturing companies release so few King Kong toys. For example, Bandai Co. has released only one figure in 1993. Godzilla action figures collectors know King Kong toys are rare and hard to find. However, that is what makes King Kong vs Godzilla action figures so valuable and interesting.
King Kong vs Godzilla was made in 1962. Around that time, when people realized there were two version of the movie, the myth of two different endings started: Godzilla won in the Japanese version, while Kong won in the Hollywood edition.
Interestingly enough, that is not the main difference between both versions. The biggest difference is the film itself. As it is usual when releasing a Godzilla movie to the US, additional footage is added or deleted to make it more appealing to the US audience. Many times such action leaves behind the essence of the original movie, and that was the case with this movie too. The film was meant to be a mix science fiction and humor, but Hollywood altered it heavily to try to make it a pure science fiction movie. The final product used 75% to 80% of the original Japanese film.
But regarding the end of the movie, the truth is that both versions share the same visual ending. King Kong swims away and Godzilla returns to the sea. It can be said that the end is ambiguous; Kong does not beat Godzilla nor Godzilla wins over Kong. However, there is a difference in the soundtrack, and that difference is used by some fans to explaiKing Kong vs Godzilla was made in 1962. Around that time, when people realized there were two version of the movie, the myth of two different endings started: Godzilla won in the Japanese version, while Kong won in the Hollywood edition.
Interestingly enough, that is not the main difference between both versions. The biggest difference is the film itself. As it is usual when releasing a Godzilla movie to the US, additional footage is added or deleted to make it more appealing to the US audience. Many times such action leaves behind the essence of the original movie, and that was the case with this movie too. The film was meant to be a mix science fiction and humor, but Hollywood altered it heavily to try to make it a pure science fiction movie. The final product used 75% to 80% of the original Japanese film.
But regarding the end of the movie, the truth is that both versions share the same visual ending. King Kong swims away and Godzilla returns to the sea. It can be said that the end is ambiguous; Kong does not beat Godzilla nor Godzilla wins over Kong. However, there is a difference in the soundtrack, and that difference is used by some fans to explain the myth
apanese version the Godzilla roar is heard after the Kong roar.
According to some Godzilla fans, because in the US version only Kong is heard, the movie goers thought Kong won. It is also possible that US viewers could not believe a Japanese horror film would show an US monster win over a Japanese monster. Adding to this, the rumors of two different movie versions helped cultivate the dual ending myth.
Despite this explanation, things could be much simpler.
At the time King Kong vs Godzilla was created, the huge Gorilla was much more popular than Godzilla; this was quite evident among Japanese children, for example. Besides, Godzilla was evil, as a result of the prior two Godzilla movies. As a result, the right commercial approach was for King Kong to win. The ambiguous end only left a door open for Godzilla to evolve.
What is not understandable, however, is how unfair Japanese were to the Kong character appearance. Its ugly suit could be one of the reasons Godzilla action figures manufacturing companies release so few King Kong toys. For example, Bandai Co. has released only one figure in 1993. Godzilla action figures collectors know King Kong toys are rare and hard to find. However, that is what makes King Kong vs Godzilla action figures so valuable and interesting.
apanese version the Godzilla roar is heard after the Kong roar.
According to some Godzilla fans, because in the US version only Kong is heard, the movie goers thought Kong won. It is also possible that US viewers could not believe a Japanese horror film would show an US monster win over a Japanese monster. Adding to this, the rumors of two different movie versions helped cultivate the dual ending myth.
Despite this explanation, things could be much simpler.
At the time King Kong vs Godzilla was created, the huge Gorilla was much more popular than Godzilla; this was quite evident among Japanese children, for example. Besides, Godzilla was evil, as a result of the prior two Godzilla movies. As a result, the right commercial approach was for King Kong to win. The ambiguous end only left a door open for Godzilla to evolve.
What is not understandable, however, is how unfair Japanese were to the Kong character appearance. Its ugly suit could be one of the reasons Godzilla action figures manufacturing companies release so few King Kong toys. For example, Bandai Co. has released only one figure in 1993. Godzilla action figures collectors know King Kong toys are rare and hard to find. However, that is what makes King Kong vs Godzilla action figures so valuable and interesting.
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