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

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.

Rick Wallach taught literature and American studies at the University of Miami and at Nova Southeastern University before retiring in 2017. He co-founded the Cormac McCarthy Society in 1993, is the senior editor of the Society’s casebook series and has lectured and written on numerous topics in literature, film, media and contemporary music. He lives in Miami, Florida.