In Search of Godzilla: Myth, Stagecraft and Politics in Ishiro Honda's Masterpiece

by Rick Wallach

Unique among books about Godzilla, this work concentrates on the original 1954 version of the film. It explores the subtler, culturally determined motives of its director, writers, and characters, including ancient Japanese myth, Buddhism, Shinto, and the trauma of war beyond the often-discussed atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It also discusses how traditional Japanese stagecraft makes the alien situation feel familiar to the film's domestic audience--a usually overlooked aspect. In addition, the book includes two chapters on the most recent cinematic commentaries, Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One.

174 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2025