Godzilla, King of the Monsters (Episode 62) - Hot Date with Dan and Vicky

In 1954, Japanese film production company Toho was looking to cash in on the monster movie mania inspired by the American film Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.  They conceived of Godzilla, named Gojira locally, as a way to announce the power and independence of the Japanese film industry post World War II but also as a metaphor for the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by American weapons of war.  The film was a huge hit and American producers were eagerly looking for a way to translate Godzilla to a stateside audience.  Their answer was to cut 16 minutes from the Japanese version, shoot new scenes with actor Raymond Burr and add the King of the Monsters subtitle for a 1956 release.  It was a "monster" hit! Dan and Vicky gush over the monster movie masterpiece and the nostalgia it inspires in both it's 1954 and 1956 versions.  In addition to the film your hosts tell us what they did over the holidays and what they were watching during their time off.  Vicky checks in with Stranger Things season 2, She's Gotta Have It season 1 and the movies Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Bright and Mayhem.  Dan has thoughts on Call Me By Your Name, The Post, Personal Shopper, Downsizing, Colossal, and Hammer classic Island of Terror.   Hot Date 62: Godzilla is stomping into 2018!  Take a listen and leave us some feedback.