WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS

THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (1966). Director: Ishiro Honda.

In this sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World [although "Frankenstein" is edited out of the American print], Dr. Stewart (Russ Tamblyn) is contacted when there are reports of his friendly brown giant or "gangantua" going on rampages and eating people. Stewart and his pretty assistant Akima (Kumi Mizuno) investigate and discover that there are actually two gargantuas, and the new green giant is causing all the trouble. Eventually the two big ugly guys come to blows. At one point the bad gargantua picks up a cleaning woman and devours her, chewing on her body and spitting out her clothing, but it is only in the American version that we see a close up of the torn up garments. "Special guest star" Kipp Hamilton, an actress who appeared on many TV shows of the period, shows up to croak out "The Words Get Caught in My Throat" in a rooftop nightclub. When the gargantua shows up you really hope he'll eat her ... Very sloppy process work, although the bad gargantua looks creepy rising from the sea at the opening. It battles a giant octopus before attacking a freighter.

Verdict: Tedious and pretty awful. *1/2.