Akira Takarada performs onstage in July 2015. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on April 29, 1934, in what is now Chongjin, North Korea, Akira Takarada joined Toho as a member of the studio’s sixth New Face class in 1953 and quickly established himself as one of its brightest stars. His big break came with the … Continue reading MY LIFE WITH GODZILLA! Toho Star Akira Takarada Reflects on His Decades-Long Association with Filmdom’s Mightiest Monster!
Monster Zero
RECOLLECTIONS OF TOHO’S GOD OF CLOUDS! Fuchimu Shimakura on Painting the Studio’s Tokusatsu Backdrops!
Fuchimu Shimakura in January 2021. Photo © Brett Homenick. Born on October 5, 1940, Fuchimu Shimakura began working at Toho in the late 1950s, creating or assisting in the creation of tokusatsu backdrops for the Showa era's most notable special effects movies, including Battle in Outer Space (1959), Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), … Continue reading RECOLLECTIONS OF TOHO’S GOD OF CLOUDS! Fuchimu Shimakura on Painting the Studio’s Tokusatsu Backdrops!
GODZILLA’S CROWNING MOMENT! UPA’s Post-Production Supervisor Richard Krown on Americanizing Toho Classics!
Photo © Richard Krown. Born on February 17, 1931, Richard Krown grew up in the Los Angeles area and joined United Productions of America in the 1960s. At UPA, Mr. Krown worked on some of the most beloved Americanizations of Toho monster films, usually as production (or post-production) supervisor. Among his Toho monster movie credits … Continue reading GODZILLA’S CROWNING MOMENT! UPA’s Post-Production Supervisor Richard Krown on Americanizing Toho Classics!
A SCREENWRITER FOR ALL SEASONS! Reuben Bercovitch’s Family Reflects on His Accomplished Life and Career!
Reuben Bercovitch in 2017. Photo © Stephen Bercovitch. Reuben Bercovitch was a producer and screenwriter who worked with Henry G. Saperstein at United Productions of America (UPA) on various film productions throughout the 1960s. On UPA's collaborations with Toho, Mr. Bercovitch's credits include: Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), Monster Zero (1965), The War of the … Continue reading A SCREENWRITER FOR ALL SEASONS! Reuben Bercovitch’s Family Reflects on His Accomplished Life and Career!
MISS NAMIKAWA SPEAKS! The First Lady of the Godzilla Series Remembers Her Legendary Toho Career!
Kumi Mizuno is an actress who needs no introduction to readers of Vantage Point Interviews. Among fans both in the United States and Japan, she is without a doubt the series’ most popular actress. Among her genre credits are: Gorath (1962), Matango (1963), Monster Zero (1965), Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), War of the Gargantuas (1966), Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster … Continue reading MISS NAMIKAWA SPEAKS! The First Lady of the Godzilla Series Remembers Her Legendary Toho Career!
TOHO’S MAN OF ACTION! Toru Ibuki Recalls His Adventurous Years On- and Off-screen!
Toru Ibuki was Toho’s action star of the 1960s, and some of the action scenes he performed proved to be more dangerous than mere stunts. Born on January 28, 1940, Mr. Ibuki’s acting career brought him to the attention of worldwide audiences via his roles in the Godzilla series. Most notably, Mr. Ibuki played the … Continue reading TOHO’S MAN OF ACTION! Toru Ibuki Recalls His Adventurous Years On- and Off-screen!
GODZILLA’S FIRST CO-STAR! Akira Takarada Reminisces About His Famous Classmate, the King of the Monsters!
Born on April 29, 1934, in what is now Chongjin, North Korea, Akira Takarada joined Toho as a member of the studio's sixth New Face class in 1953 and quickly established himself as one of its brightest stars. His big break came with the leading role of Hideto Ogata in Godzilla (1954), which was followed … Continue reading GODZILLA’S FIRST CO-STAR! Akira Takarada Reminisces About His Famous Classmate, the King of the Monsters!
THE ROAD TO M78! Bin Furuya on His Early Toho and Suit-Acting Roles!
Bin Furuya achieved stardom as Ultraman's first suit actor in the groundbreaking series Ultraman (1966-67) from Tsuburaya Productions. However, years before finding success on television, Mr. Furuya got his acting start working as an extra in movies at Toho Studios. Born on July 5, 1943, in Tokyo, Mr. Furuya was a member of Toho's 15th … Continue reading THE ROAD TO M78! Bin Furuya on His Early Toho and Suit-Acting Roles!
SHOOTING STAR! Allyson Adams Recalls Her Famous Father, Nick Adams!
Allyson Adams, the daughter of Oscar-nominated actor Nick Adams, is a writer, educator, and activist, who fondly remembers her father. Best known for writing, directing, and starring in the docu-drama Peace Is a Woman's Job (based on the life of Montana Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin), Ms. Adams released a book about her father's friendship with Elvis … Continue reading SHOOTING STAR! Allyson Adams Recalls Her Famous Father, Nick Adams!
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