Gamera vs. Viras

Gamera vs. Viras
Kanji	ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス
Rōmaji	Gamera tai Uchu Kaijū Bairasu
Directed by	Noriaki Yuasa
Produced by	Hidemasa Nagata Masaichi Nagata
Written by	Nisan Takahashi
Starring	Kojiro Hongo Toru Takatsuka Carl Craig Jr.
Music by	Kenjiro Hirose
Cinematography	Akira Kitazaki
Editing by	Shoji Sekiguchi
Distributed by	Daiei
Release date(s)	March 20, 1968
Running time	90 minutes
Language	Japanese

Gamera vs. Viras (ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス, Gamera Tai Uchū Kaijū Bairasu^?, Gamera Versus Space Monster Viras, released in the U.S. as Destroy All Planets) is the fourth entry in the original Gamera film series.

Plot

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

Later on earth a Boy Scout troop is visiting an aquarium to 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. Releasing the boys, Gamera remains trapped in the force field while the aliens scan his memory-waves. 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, Gamera lands. Attaching a brain-wave 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 he is another captive of the aliens. In fact he is the leader of the aliens. The boys help Gamera break from the brain-wave device, and he begins to attack the spaceship. Grounded by Gamera, the aliens reveal that their human forms were just disguises. The aliens form together making the giant monster Viras! Gamera and Viras duke it out in a big beachside battle. Gamera manages to pull Viras into the atmosphere, freezing him to death.

Production notes

In the U.S. version of the film, the memory-scan of Gamera yields nineteen minutes of stock footage for this film, making it second only to Gamera: Super Monster in its use of stock footage. The film was titled Destroy All Planets in US distribution as an attempt to capitalize on the success of Toho's Godzilla film Destroy All Monsters (1968).

2010 DVD Release

Shout! Factory released the film on September 21, 2010 as a double feature with Gamera vs. Gyaos.^[1] The films include the original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles. It also includes the original AIP-TV English dub.

DVD releases

Alpha Video

• Released: July 22, 2003
• Aspect Ratio: Full screen (1.33:1)
• Sound: English mono
• Region: 1
• Note: Features the American version of the film, Destroy All Planets.

Vintage Home Entertainment

• Released: May 17, 2005
• Aspect Ratio: Full screen (1.33:1)
• Sound: English mono
• Region: 1
• Note: Gamera: The Ultimate Collection three-film DVD set. Features the American version of the film, Destroy All Planets. Also includes Gamera and Gamera vs. Barugon.

St. Clair Entertainment

• Released: February 19, 2008
• Aspect Ratio: Full screen (1.33:1)
• Sound: English mono
• Region: All
• Note: Monsters Unleashed nine-film DVD set. Features the American version of the film, Destroy All Planets. Also includes Gamera, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, Gamera vs. Jiger, Yonggary, Daikyojū Gappa, Warning from Space, and The Giant Gila Monster.

Shout! Factory

• Released: September 21, 2010
• Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
• Sound: Japanese mono and English mono
• Region: 1
• Note: Features the original Japanese version of the film with English Subtitles, English dubbing by AIP Productions, and a Publicity Gallery on Production Stills.

References

1. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003NHMYJC

External links

• Gamera web archive (Japanese)
• Variety Weekly. May 22, 1968.
• "ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス (Gamera tai Uchu Kaijū Bairasu)" (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1968/cr000600.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-18. 
• Gamera Versus Space Monster Viras at the Internet Movie Database
• Destroy All Planets is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• Gamera Versus Space Monster Viras at AllRovi