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The first comprehensive biography of the director behind Godzilla and other Japanese sci-fi classics Ishiro Honda was arguably the most internationally successful Japanese director of his generation, with an unmatched succession of science fiction films that were commercial hits worldwide. From the atomic allegory of Godzilla and the beguiling charms of Mothra to the tragic mystery of Matango and the disaster and spectacle of Rodan, The Mysterians, King Kong vs. Godzilla, and many others, Honda's films reflected postwar Japan's real- life anxieties and incorporated fantastical special effects, a formula that appealed to audiences around the globe and created a popular culture phenomenon that spans generations. Now, in the first full account of this long overlooked director's life and career, authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski shed new light on Honda's work and the experiences that shaped it―including his days as a reluctant Japanese soldier, witnessing the aftermath of Hiroshima, and his lifelong friendship with Akira Kurosawa. Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa features close analysis of Honda's films (including, for the first time, his rarely seen dramas, comedies, and war films) and draws on previously untapped documents and interviews to explore how creative, economic, and industrial factors impacted his career. Fans of Honda, Godzilla, and tokusatsu (special effects) film, and of Japanese film in general, will welcome this in-depth study of a highly influential director who occupies a uniquely important position in science fiction and fantasy cinema, as well as in world cinema. Together, the authors have provided audio commentary tracks and produced supplemental material for numerous home video releases, including Ishiro Honda's Godzilla for the British Film Institute. They co-produced the documentary feature Bringing Godzilla Down to Size (2008). Read more
Publisher : Wesleyan University Press
Publication date : January 3, 2023
Language : English
Print length : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 0819500410
ISBN-13 : 10
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 7.2 x 1.4 x 9.6 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #1,247,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #130 in Documentary Movies #666 in Movie Director Biographies #709 in Science Fiction & Fantasy Movies
#130 in Documentary Movies:
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Hardcover
Anybody who is familiar with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski know that these two men know their stuff when it comes to Godzilla and Toho science-fiction and fantasy movies. These two not only wrote seminal books about Godzilla; they also provided excellent audio commentaries on MOTHRA, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE and several Godzilla movies and even a well-done documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE, which can only be found on the sadly out-of-print RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS set released by Classic Media. One can argue that it was through these audio commentaries that people in America started to take Godzilla and Ishiro Honda very seriously. Yet this book may in fact be their most crowning achievement, a culmination of their passion, knowledge, respect and enthusiasm for the movies they love and for a director they clearly respect. A labor of love that took almost a decade to create, ISHIRO HONDA: A LIFE OF FILM is also an obligation on the part of Ryfle and Godziszewski to re-evaluate and change Ishiro Honda’s stature and reputation here in the United States, from an inept director of campy, cut-rate fantasies and laughably cheap science-fiction movies to a serious artist that incorporated Japan’s real-life anxieties and political climates with wondrous special effects and larger-than-life monsters. It’s a formula that worked wonders for the Japanese box-office but were often compromised here in America due to executive meddling, painfully bad dubbing, censorship issues and the senseless rearrangement, deletion and butchering of many sequences, not just visually but through audio as well. But A LIFE OF FILM does more: it covers Honda’s background the a son of a Buddhist monk, the young kid who loved watching his movies and explaining their plots to his father, his years serving as a soldier during WWII and his return to a devastated Japan from the H-Bomb and how both periods influenced his filmmaking style, his working relationships with producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, music composer Akira Ifukube, special effect directors Eiji Tsuburaya and Teruyoshi Nakano and screenwriters Takeshi Kimura and Shinichi Sekizawa, and most intriguingly, Honda’s non-sci-fi works that he did before and after the release of GODZILLA, such as romantic comedies, family dramas and documentaries, most unpreserved in Japan and all virtually unknown in the States. It also covers Honda’s years working for TV, his role as an assistant director for several Kurosawa films, his death in 1993 and the reappraisal of his work that followed. Naturally, the main meat of this book is the sci-fi and fantasy movies Honda made from 1954-1975, all which are brilliantly documented by Ryfle and Godziszewski, both in how the movies were made and how they stand out today. This period is what defined Honda as a director, but it also became his curse. The success of GODZILLA caused Honda to be typecast into making sci-fi and fantasy movies from the late fifties to even his final film, TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. Honda remained a loyal company man a la Michael Curtiz and that loyalty resulted in many memorable movies such as RODAN, THE H-MAN, MOTHRA, ATRAGON, GORATH, MATANGO, WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and most of the excellent GODZILLA sequels, from MOTHRA vs. GODZILLA to DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, but Honda’s reservations and discomfort in these genres are apparent, particularly in the chapters depicting the mid-to-late sixties when GODZILLA was slowly metamorphizing from an allegory of the nuclear bomb to a defender of justice. It's also to Ryfle and Godziszewski's credit that, for all their professed love for these movies, they never romanticize them to the point of exclaiming each a masterpiece, pointing out both virtues and flaws of even Honda's worst movies. Their opinions are astute, informative and always fair. Perhaps the greatest source of discord is the fact that these movies came at the expense of the films Honda truly wanted to make, most particularly straightforward human dramas akin to THE RED SHOES or LA STRADA. There are moments when Honda expresses hope that he could finally make the movies he desired, only to be denied due to either his own doing or circumstances beyond his control. Ryfle and Godziszewski excellently captures Honda’s conflicted feelings towards these movies, as well as providing insight on how Honda and the GODZILLA franchise especially were hit hard by the rise in popularity of television and the disastrous state of the Japanese cinema in the seventies. The period resulted in viciously slashed budgets, studios going under, many actors and filmmakers out of work and disarrayed works like SPACE AMOEBA and LATITUDE ZERO. In fact, when Honda’s swan song TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA became the lowest-attended Godzilla movie of all time, it seemed that Japanese science-fiction and Honda’s career would go under, along with the rest of the industry. But unlike most directors, Honda’s career had a happy ending. Honda entered a new phase in his career when he worked as an assistant director with the great Akira Kurosawa on the master’s last five movies, from KAGEMUSHA to MADADAYO. It’s a wonderful irony that at the time Kurosawa was widely regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time while Honda was disparaged for those sci-fi and fantasy movies, yet it’s clear, from this book, that it was Honda who was the unsung hero in helping his friend achieve his vision without burning bridges and ruffling feathers from the studios. But the relationship was not always bell and whistles; Honda’s atypical reaction to Kurosawa’s ill-fated suicide attempt in the early seventies, which I won’t give away, is worth the price of admission alone. Darkly funny moments like this, however, are mainly offset by many more touching moments, most particularly when Martin Scorsese, who played Van Gogh in the crow sequence of Kurosawa’s DREAMS and even writes a preface for this book, took a photo with Honda and told him he was the reason he worked on DREAMS. In truth, Honda’s career was a success: a loyal studio director who, despite his misgivings, left behind an extraordinary body of work that continues to inspire directors and moviegoers alike, a man who helped his dear friend make some of the greatest movies of the eighties and someone genuinely respected and loved by the people who worked with him. Hopefully, the success of this book will encourage studios to restore and distribute many of Honda's most beloved and intriguing movies and even bring Japanese versions of films like GORATH, THE HUMAN VAPOR and KING KONG VS. GODZILLA to America. And with the eagerly anticipated US remake of KING KONG VS. GODZILLA coming out within a couple of years, the ripe for rediscovery and restoration is perfect. There is so much fascinating detail and information about this unheralded director that it would shock contemporary readers as to why this man was not appreciated, let alone understood, here in America. This book may have taken years to make, but it was worth the wait. Impeccably researched, beautifully written and consistently engaging from beginning to end, Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski’s ISHIRO HONDA: A LIFE OF FILM belongs in every movie lover’s collection, especially lovers of science-fiction, fantasy and Japanese cinema in general.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017 by JLR
Format: Hardcover
This book is a combination of biography and films of, 47 movies get covered in a chapter by chapter basis and there is also coverage of Ishiro Honda's television work, documentaries and even unmade projects. In the case of movies that were either made or he hoped to make, the text reveals that he is more of an auteur than is given credit for, and he often provided input in his productions, and that includes movies that he was assigned to direct such as the seminal Godzilla. I also like how all genres are covered, one of his features involved the ama divers and it even has a touches of the fantastic such as a legendary cursed pearl and references to a sea deity, Ryujin-sama. Indeed, some of his unmade projects involved regional folklore and folkways, giving this volume a lot of education value. For those who are curious, his TV work includes episodes of Thunder Mask, Return of Ultraman, Mirror Man, Meteor Man Zone and Emergency Command 10-4, 10-10. All of the well-known movies that he directed are covered, those with Godzilla, Rodan, Kong, Mothra, the Mysterians, they are all in this book. Historical context is often given, such as protests and bank robberies that in part inspired the movie The Human Vapor. There is plenty of monochrome photos that include rare ones, such as one of the shooting of the unused original ending of Mothra. Overall, superb, and worth getting, even if a fan has the book that focuses mostly on his 27 genre features.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025 by Charles Floyd Rhodes
Format: Hardcover
This is the book I have been waiting for!!! What an inspiring, thoughtful and extraordinarily well-researched book this is. I haven’t been so engrossed in a book in quite some time as I was by reading Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa. This biography is a love letter to one of the most under appreciated directors in all of cinema history; Ishiro Honda. Growing up I was inspired by Honda’s work and its why I went into a career in film. The ironic thing is that Honda was perhaps the most financially successful Japanese filmmakers of all time, yet his non Godzilla films are lost to obscurity. Authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski have knocked this book out of the park. Not only is this a book for fans of Godzilla; but also anyone who loves classic films or inspiring true-life stories should pick this one up. After reading about this mans life I have even more respect for him not only as a director but also as a human being. It is utterly refreshing to read about someone who was a good person and really cared for those around him. Ishiro Honda always made it a point to remind us in his films that we are all human and we must work together and treat everyone and the world around us with respect. What is truly unique about this book is that it’s the first time ever in English that authors delve into Honda’s non-monster films. This was something I was most interested in reading about and it didn't disappoint. The rare opportunity of reading about these films automatically makes this biography a must have. It was informative and enlightening to know about Hondas entire filmography and how diverse he was as a director. Ryfle and Godziszewski illustrate beautifully the life of a man, filmmaker, husband, reluctant solider and survivor. This profound story of perseverance even in the face of many obstacles was moving to me. Honda never stopped believing and always had in focus his dream of directing films. Anyone who shares these aspirations should read this biography. It puts things into perspective and is a reminder that you can achieve your goals. I cant praise the authors enough. Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski have assembled this scholarly book on Ishiro Honda like its never been told before. The research and love they put into this book is incredible and will be cherished for years to come. It's a beautiful portrait of Hondas life and career. I for one am so grateful to both Steve and Ed for taking me on this journey as a reader. The years they spent working on this have given rise to this finely crafted book. I found their work informative, honest and profoundly though provoking. Please be sure to add this book to your collection today!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2018 by Christopher Oglio
Format: Hardcover
If you're a fan of the Toho Godzilla/Monster/Sci-Fi films, you are more than familiar with director Ishiro Honda. I've listened to the authors' audio commentary on countless Godzilla films & always enjoy them--they're both very knowledgeable and truly love the subject matter. They've educated many Westerners about the history of Japanese filmmaking & filmmakers with info just not readily available outside Japan. This book is a great companion to August Ragone's book on Eiji Tsubaraya & Steve Ryfe's previous book "Japan's Favorite Mon-Star". Add to the mix Stuart Galbriath's "Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo!" which is more of a compilation of interviews & an oral history of the Japanese monster movies by the folks who created them--and you've practically got an encyclopedia of knowledge on the genre!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2021 by FordAnglia
Format: Hardcover
When I listened to Guillemo del Toro's commentary track for Pacific Rim he told the story of Ishiro Honda gathering his collaborators before work began on the original Godzilla. Honda said he believed completely in this weird, unconventional movie he was making and said if anyone doesn't feel the same they should leave the project now. I had never heard that story, and having read a few books on the making of Godzilla and kaiju movies I wondered if Guillermo hadn't combined different stories in his mind, just misremembered? It was such a dramatic moment, you'd think I would have heard this story before and so I doubted it. Naturally, the story is recounted in this book. Confirmation! An incredible amount of time and research went into this book, which both illustrates the life story and character of Honda while at the same time providing in-depth information on his films (wanna know if Russ Tamblyn got along well on the set of War of the Gargantuas?). There's so much I learned here that was new to me, even after a lifetime of Godzilla fandom. For one thing, the events that lead to Honda being 'pigeonholed' as a director of sci-fi adventures is different from what I'd imagined, having a lot to do with changes in the entertainment industry more than anything. Honda was known for making modestly budgeted family dramas and comedies in between the high budget monster and sci-fi flicks in the '50s, but in the '60s those types of mid-teir movies were superseded by TV and Toho turned to making 'epics' only, essentially leaving Honda with one genre. The much lambasted All Monsters Attack (the kid's movie where a young boy visits Godzilla only in dream sequences) is one Honda actually had a lot of fondness for, as he was able to return to the family dynamics and social commentary he was able to tap into in those earlier non-genre films. Now that I know more about Honda it just makes me excited to revisit his films with new context.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2018 by Rosewater
Format: Hardcover
If you are the type of film buff who enjoys watching CRITERION COLLECTION discs to go in depth behind the scenes of an old movie - to learn about the making of, the actors and production crew, culture contemporary to the film, and critical response, both positive and negative, then you will probably enjoy this book. If you have ever watched one of Mr. Honda's films and wished that he had left a commentary track behind for the film, then this book is the next best thing. Flipping back and forth between text and the hundreds of documented notes, it is apparent that the authors' work in researching and translating original source materials and interviews was a monumental task. The text is dense yet not artsy or pretentious. The authors are objective and present both positive and negative viewpoints of Mr. Honda's works from his former staff and actors, contemporary critics, and even his own words. I felt that this book greatly enriched my understanding of Japanese cinema, culture, and 20th century Japanese history.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2018 by Hi-Tech
Format: Hardcover
Honda the movie director, Honda the company man, Honda the human being – authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski explore these three facets of filmmaker Ishiro Honda’s life in this captivating biography. Especially praiseworthy is the decision to provide detailed examinations of Honda’s non-genre movies, which are not only fascinating in and of themselves, but also provide keen insight into Honda’s genre films. We also get a fuller picture of Honda the company man, an often frustrated visionary who nevertheless refused to make waves for Toho. And then, of course, there is Honda the human being, a gentle soul who never raised his voice to actors in a business known for its histrionic directors. The authors’ painstaking research and consummate prose reward the reader from beginning to end – a major accomplishment, a must-have for any kaiju eiga fan.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2017 by Mike Bogue
A passionate look into a quiet man who directed many children's favorite movies and their first look into Japanese cinema. Honda-san survived a terrible war and was able to project how he felt in the films he created. It is almost a crime that we do not have access his Honda-san's entire filmography because almost every film that is described in this book would be worth watching. C'mon Criterion! You gave us the entire Godzilla Showa series, give us Honda-san's other science fiction works like Rodan, The Human Vapor, The Mysterians, Frankenstein Conquers the World, and his other classics!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2020 by Emily