Where did Toho Studios get the idea for King Kong vs. Godzilla?
In 1963 Willis O’Brien tried to create interest in his script called King Kong vs. Frankenstein, which featured the giant ape pitted against a giant version of the Frankenstein monster. He hoped to make the film by using his stop-motion process to animate both Kong and the Frankenstein monster. Finding no luck inciting interest among American studios he was able to interest the Japanese studio, Toho, in the concept. He did several preliminary sketches and script treatments for Toho but eventually the deal fell through and the film was never made, but shortly after O’Brien’s death, Toho released King Kong vs. Godzilla which featured a story line almost identical to his King Kong vs. Frankenstein script except that the Frankenstein monster was replaced by Godzilla. Neither O’Brien nor his estate were ever compensated for the use of his idea. Godzilla, a giant dinosaur mutated by radio-activity, was the star of many Toho films since the late 1950’s. Since in previous Godzilla films Godzil
Related Questions
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- Were there different endings for the Japanese and American versions of King Kong vs. Godzilla?
- Where did Toho Studios get the idea for King Kong vs. Godzilla?
