In 1972's "Godzilla vs. Gigan" (also known as "Godzilla on Monster Island, 地球攻撃命令 ゴジラ対ガイガン, lit. "Earth Destruction Directive: Godzilla vs. Gigan"), the music score was assembled almost entirely from retracked music of previous productions using Akira Ifukube's music (many of which were not Godzilla-related). For audience members not familiar with the source films, the approach works well enough, and the retracked cues are applied in a fairly thematic way. The music was retracked from the following 11 productions and the cues indicated:
- THE BIG BOSS: M12T2, M15B
- A LIFETIME OF BUSINESS SAVVY - THE TOUGHEST GUY AROUND: The Meiji Restoration
- ATRAGON: The Film That Was Sent, The Submarine Returns to Port
- BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE: Opening, Main Title
- FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: Main Title, Search March, Encounter in the Rain, The Whereabouts of the Wrist, Search in the Fog
- KING KONG ESCAPES: Element X
- LATITUDE ZERO: Mariku and Dr. Okada
- GODZILLA VS. THE THING: Destruction of the Hamikaze Hotel, Godzilla and Nagoya, Plan B: Electrocution
- GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Discovery of the Meteor, The Three Giant Monsters Enter the Fray, The Two Monsters Appear in Yokohama, The Fury of the Gravity Beam
- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: Monster Land, SY-3 Sortie, Escape From Monster Land, Major Battle at Fuji I/II
- EXPO '70 Mitsubishi exhibit: Volcano, Storm
Story-wise, a young artist becomes employed by designers of the under-construction Children's Land amusement park. The artist (Gengo) meets some new friends who reveal to him that his employers are actually evil aliens. The aliens use a special tape to call King Ghidorah and Gigan to Earth in order to wreak havoc. Godzilla and Anguiras come to the rescue (though Anguiras gets a decidedly chilly reception on his initial reconnaissance mission). A "Godzilla Tower" exhibit at the Children's Land park shoots lasers at Godzilla, but Gengo and his friends blow it up. In the end the space monsters are sent fleeing through the clever teamwork employed by the Earth protectors.
The score to Godzilla vs. Gigan has seen several releases over the years. The below table is based on the main score tracks from Godzilla Perfect Box 3, Disc 2, which also includes 7 bonus tracks of karaoke and alternate versions at the end.
| Trk | Dur | Title | Film Sequence |
| 1 | 2:13 | Main Title | 0:00: Logo. Tremolo strings, fanfare with piano clusters (THE BIG BOSS: Cue M12T2). 0:20: Main Title with brief sequence of Godzilla. Terror motif on brass/piano (GODZILLA VS. THE THING: Destruction of the Hamikaze Hotel, edit). 0:38: Pan across control desks. Rhythmic strings joined by brass fanfares and accents with timpani, ending in rising gliss (EXPO '70 Mitsubishi exhibit: Volcano, edit). |
| 2 | 0:38 | Childland Construction | The Children's Land Construction
site is seen. A miniature is shown to
Gengo. Piano/horn figure into playful wind theme and rhythm (A LIFETIME OF BUSINESS SAVVY - THE TOUGHEST GUY AROUND: The Meiji Restoration). |
| 3 | 0:30 | Monster Island | The Children's Land developer
tells Gengo that Monster Island will be destroyed, as the camera pans over
the Monster Island monsters. Horn call over timpani roll, accents (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: Monster Land, edit). |
| 4 | 0:20 | Special Tape | Gengo picks up a mysterious tape
which a nervous girl escaping from Children's Land has dropped. Tremolo strings, piano/bass/vibraphone accents (ATRAGON: The Film That Was Sent). |
| 5 | 1:17 | Construction Committee President | Gengo meets the unusually young
Children's Land chairman, Fumio, in his office. Chairman Fumio is informed that Action Tape 2
has been stolen. Low piano rhythm under suspenseful figures in alto flute, gong, bass clarinet, muted brass, and string clusters (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: Main Title, edit). |
| 6 | 1:04 | Night Park | Gengo is accosted by the girl
and a hippy friend at night in the park. Folky accordion (THE BIG BOSS: Cue M15B). |
| 7 | 0:53 | Godzilla Tower at Midnight | The tape is retrieved from a
locker. An elevator rises to the top
of the Children's Land Godzilla Tower. Suspenseful string clusters/tremoli/low piano/cymbal, high winds/cymbals (ATRAGON: The Submarine Returns to Port). |
| 8 | 0:53 | Angillas Sent Forth | On Monster Island, Godzilla
sends Anguiras out to investigate the tape signal. Heavy Monster Land theme intercut with low rhythmic wind/brass/string accents (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: Monster Land, edit). |
| 9 | 1:34 | Older Brother's Whereabouts | Gengo searches the Children's
Land offices for the girl's missing brother. Suspenseful alto flute over metallic textures, isolated episodes of piano, gong, bass clarinet, synth/vibraphone, flute/tremolo strings (LATITUDE ZERO: Mariku and Dr. Okada). |
| 10 | 0:55 | Identity Investigation | Gengo, the girl and her hippy
friend go around the city looking for clues to the Chairman. Anguiras swims in the ocean. March on winds/strings/snare (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: Search March, edit). |
| 11 | 0:32 | To Yamano City | The investigation takes Gengo to
the Chairman's hometown. March on winds/strings/snare (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: Search March, edit). |
| 12 | 1:07 | Disaster One Year Ago | Gengo and his friends look at photographs at
Fumio's parents' home. They learn that he and
his teacher died a year ago in an accident.
At Children's Land, Fumio gets a transmission from Nebula M Spacehunter. Suspenseful figures in alto flute/piano, then muted brass, synth/strings, winds, etc. (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: Encounter in the Rain). |
| 13 | 1:32 | Defence Force Deployment I | The army is deployed to repel
Anguiras. Anguiras swims to the docks
and makes landfall. Destroy All Monsters March (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: SY-3 Sortie). |
| 14 | 2:12 | Angillas Repulsion | The army puts spotlights on
Anguiras and opens fire. Anguiras is
repelled. Xilien theme on synth/strings/low winds/gong, Planet X motif alternating with brass fanfares, ending in brass Escape theme (2x) (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: Escape From Monster Land). |
| 15 | 0:20 | Take-Off (Cigarrette with Transmitter) | Gengo reports to his friends
that he's found the missing brother at Children's Land. The aliens follow him. Same as T4: Tremolo strings, piano/bass/vibraphone accents (ATRAGON: The Film That Was Sent). |
| 16 | 0:49 | Assassination Squad Attack | The aliens hold Gengo and his
friends at gunpoint but Gengo's girlfriend arrives and uses her karate to
scare them off. Tremolo strings with organ chords, alternating with vibraphone/winds/muted brass/piano (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: The Whereabouts of the Wrist). |
| 17 | 2:02 | Signal to Space | Godzilla and Anguiras leave
Monster Island. The aliens work their
electronic controls. Chairman Fumio
sends signals into space (pan away from Earth). Alarmed string figures/brass, eerie strings/piano/vibraphone rhythm joined by flute theme, oboe, string tremoli phrases with piano into foreboding brass fanfares with timpani rolls and flute trills, ending with brass and piano cluster (BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE: Opening, edit). |
| 18 | 1:25 | Godzilla, Anguiras Depart | Godzilla and Anguiras swim
towards Japan. Gengo prepares to
infiltrate Children's Land to rescue the girl's brother. Brass/drum accents with cymbals, snare and brass march slightly similiar to G. vs King Kong battle theme (BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE: Main Title). |
| 19 | 0:43 | Godzilla Tower Infiltration | Gengo's rescue attempt fails and he is
caught. Same as T16: Tremolo strings with organ chords, alternating with vibraphone/winds/muted brass/piano (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: The Whereabouts of the Wrist). |
| 20 | 2:54 | M Space Species | The aliens reveal that they use
dead humans as "uniforms".
They describe the polluted fate of their home planet, and their plan
to invade Earth. Cymbal/high sul ponticello string clusters, dialogue with Monster Control theme in bass clarinet, muted brass/cor anglais/piano, strings, timpani/organ accents, noisy strings, accents, flute/piano (FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD: Search in the Fog). |
| 21 | 0:27 | Invaders' True Shape | The aliens' shadows reveal them
to be giant cockroaches. King Ghidorah
and Gigan approach Earth. Urgent brass accents/wobbling tones/string tremoli (GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER: Discovery of the Meteor, 2x) |
| 22 | 0:53 | Defence Force Deployment II | The army is deployed with
advanced weapons to engage the approaching space monsters. Destroy All Monsters March (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: SY3 Sortie, edit) |
| 23 | 8:24 | Space Monsters Attack Tokyo | King Ghidorah and Gigan attack
Tokyo. The army eventually
counter-attacks but are ineffective.
Godzilla and Anguiras continue swimming towards Japan. Godzilla urges haste. King Ghidorah and Gigan attack the
docks. Jets fire on the space monsters
but are destroyed. The aliens monitor
the destruction. Ghidorah destroys
ground forces. Monster Fanfare, Ghidorah theme (with tail), Monster Control theme, Terror motif, Rodan theme, Resurrection theme, Rodan theme, rhythmic accents (slowing), Kong theme: low string/timpani rhythm with low brass/cymbal theme followed by Ghidorah tail fragment (4x), Ghidorah theme with tail, Monster Control theme, Terror motif, Rodan theme, Resurrection theme, Rodan theme, rhythmic accents (DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: Major Battle at Fuji I/KING KONG ESCAPES: Element X/DESTROY ALL MONSTERS: Major Battle at Fuji II) |
| 24 | 5:00 | Four Giant Monsters' Violent Fight | Godzilla and Anguiras arrive and
the four monsters fight. Terror motif, joined by rhythmic piano/strings, Resurrection theme on strings/piano rhythm, joined by brass, Monster cadence, Terror motif, Fury theme, Terror motif into Resurrection theme over pounding piano march, joined by brass, Monster cadence (GODZILLA VS. THE THING: Godzilla and Nagoya/Plan B: Electrocution). |
| 25 | 0:57 | Godzilla Tower Escape Plan | Gengo and his friends use a
balloon and zipline to escape from Godzilla Tower. Terror motif into Resurrection theme over pounding piano march, Monster cadence (GODZILLA VS. THE THING: Plan B: Electrocution, edit). |
| 26 | 2:27 | Earth Monsters vs Space Monsters | The monster battle continues. Mothra's Request theme in brass/tremolo strings, Ghidorah theme with trumpet/timpani tail, Terror motif, Rodan fanfare, Resurrection theme, Rodan fanfare, rhythmic accents (GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER: The Three Giant Monsters Enter the Fray). |
| 27 | 3:15 | Space Monsters' Fierce Attack | Godzilla is injured by Gigan's
blade. Lasers from Godzilla Tower hit
Godzilla. Gengo and his friends plan
to destroy the laser. Terror motif in low brass/low winds/synth, Resurrection theme (3-note variation) in low strings joined by brass, Rodan fanfare, Resurrection theme, Rodan fanfare, rhythmic string/harp accents, Terror motif fragment, Ghidorah theme ending with trumpet/timpani tail, followed by Ghidorah opening motif reprise (GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER: The Two Monsters Appear in Yokohama/The Fury of the Gravity Beam). |
| 28 | 2:31 | Destruction of Godzilla Tower Operation | Godzilla and Anguiras get into
trouble. Gengo and his friends use TNT
to destroy Godzilla Tower. The aliens
are all killed. Cymbals/drums swell into determined brass figures/accents, joined by tremolo strings/harp, poignant trumpet, recap intro (EXPO '70 Mitsubishi exhibit: Storm, edit). |
| 29 | 6:16 | Earth Monsters' Counterattack | Godzilla is defeated by
Gigan. Ghidorah throws Godzilla into
the wrecked Godzilla Tower. Godzilla
rallies and starts fighting again.
Anguiras fights Ghidorah.
Godzilla and Anguiras use teamwork and force the space monsters to
eventually flee. Rhythmic strings joined by layers of brass fanfares and accents with timpani, rising brass gliss, timpani rolls (4x) (EXPO '70 Mitsubishi exhibit: Volcano, looped edit). |
| 30 | 1:29 | Ending (Godzilla March) | Godzilla and Anguiras swim out
to sea. Tremolo strings/brass/timpani joined by horn melody, strings, rhythm, vocals, children's choir, brass end cadence (Vocal:Ishikawa Susumu, Lyrics: Sekizawa Shinichi, Music: Miyaguchi Danro). |
(The names of the retracked cues are from Sam Scali's notes at Godzilla Monster Music.)
Terror of Mechagodzilla
In 1975, the initial wave of Godzilla films (the Shōwa series) ended with "Terror of Mechagodzilla" (メカゴジラの逆襲, lit. "Counterattack of Mechagodzilla"). For this final 70's entry, Akira Ifukube returned to deliver an all-new original score, 21 years after his first Godzilla film. This score notable revives the Godzilla March from the first film, in place of Godzilla's more often used Terror and Resurrection themes from the last few films.
- Titanosaurus Theme A:
- 4-note zigzag, 5-note rising (usually repeated)
- 2-part fanfare (7 + 6)
- Titanosaurus Theme B:
- 1-note, 5-note rising (usually repeated)
- Rising-falling staccato phrase
- Mechagodzilla theme: 2-part fanfare (5 + 4), 5-note falling-rising figure repeated
- Godzilla March: descending 3-note figures, ending in rhythmic accents (from "Godzilla").
- Katsura Human Theme: in 2 phrases (7 + 5)
- Katsura Cyborg Theme: in 2 phrases (7 + 4), with the last 4 note phrase sometimes echoed
| Trk | Dur | Title | Film Sequence |
| 1 | 4:33 | Main Title | Logos, Titles over scenes from
Godzilla vs the Bionic Monster: A fake Godzilla changes into Mechagodzilla
. They battle at night and during the
day. Godzilla tears off Mechagodzilla
's head and it falls into the sea. The
sequences are intercut with freeze-frames. Gong/snare/synth march, Mechagodzilla theme fanfare in brass/gong, Godzilla March in strings/brass/gong/synth, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass/synth, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/synth/brass, Mechagodzilla theme in brass/winds/gong, Godzilla March, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass/synth, Titanosaurus theme B, Mechagodzilla theme in brass/gong. |
| 2 | 1:06 | Akatsuki One' in Distress | Titanosaurus' tail causes an
underwater disturbance which forces a submarine to the surface. Titanosaurus destroys the sub. Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass/flute/piccolo, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/synth/brass/winds, Titanosaurus theme A in strings. |
| 3 | 0:32 | Mugar to the Earth | A saucer ship from the Black
Hole alien empire flies to Earth. Synth/vibraphone accent joined by eerie piano/xylophone figures. |
| 4 | 0:49 | Dr. Mafune's Past | Dr. Mafune's past at the
Institute is described by a voice-over accompanied with B&W stills. Mafune theorizes about Titanosaurus and
claims that he can control it. He is
dismissed from his institute. Slow, tragic/noble organ. |
| 5 | 1:33 | The Female in the Mafune Family | Ichinose and his police friend
are greeted by Mafune's daughter, Katsura, who claims her father is
dead. They ask her about
Titanosaurus. Katsura acts strangely
and the men leave. Katsura Human theme in flute over vibraphone/hihat/piano pulses, Katsura Cyborg theme in flute, then becoming strings, synth, Human theme in bass clarinet over hihat, Cyborg theme in winds/strings, eerie suspense tremolo. |
| 6 | 0:50 | Off to Mount Amagi | Mafune, Katsura and an alien
Black Hole agent arrive at and enter Mount Amagi. They are shown a secret door to a
futuristic installation. Distant brass fanfare, Titanosaurus theme B on clarinet/cor anglais/synth/bass clarinet over piano pulses. |
| 7 | 1:48 | Mechagodzilla II | They see Mechagodzilla being
rebuilt. They meet the leader of the
Black Hole aliens, Mugal. He asks
Mafune for the device to control Titanosaurus. Mechagodzilla theme in brass/timpani, brass/piano, Katsura Cyborg theme in flute/vibraphone with piano, Mechagodzilla fanfare in brass/timpani. |
| 8 | 0:46 | Ichinose and Katsura | Ichinose meets Katsura and shows
her some of Mafune's notes that he's found.
She tries to tell him to stay out of the situation. Katsura Human theme in winds over vibraphone/hihat, Cyborg theme in flute/piano pulses, then becoming strings. |
| 9 | 1:34 | Katsura's Memories | In a flashback, Katsura is
injured in an accident. Black Hole
agents arrive and give her an artificial heart, saving her life. Slow, tragic/noble organ (T4 2x). |
| 10 | 1:13 | Escape from Titanosaurus | Ichinose's sub is pursued by
Titanosaurus under Katsura's control.
Signals from the sub disrupt the control signal, allowing Ichinose's
sub to escape. Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass/synth, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/synth pulses/bass clarinet, Titanosaurus theme A fragment in strings. (variation of Track 2) |
| 11 | 0:14 | Ichinose Gets Tailed | Ichinose is attacked by alien
Black Hole agents near their base. Katsura Human theme fragment in vibraphone over organ. |
| 12 | 0:56 | Titanosaurus Swings into Action | Titanosaurus appears
offshore. The police prepare a counter
weapon. Titanosaurus theme A in strings/low winds/gong, brass/synth, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/synth pulses/bass clarinet. |
| 13 | 1:12 | Titanosaurus Attacks | Titanosaurus comes ashore and
attacks. The army counters. The police see Katsura and pursue her. (extended reprise of prev. track) Titanosaurus theme A in strings/low winds/gong, brass/synth, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/synth pulses/cor anglais/bass clarinet, strings, Titanosaurus theme A fragment in strings/brass. |
| 14 | 1:15 | The Appearance of Godzilla | Godzilla appears out of the
shadows and attacks Titanosaurus. The
police pursue Katsura into the forest and she falls over a cliff into the
sea. Slow Godzilla March in strings with low brass accents, joined by trumpets, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/low winds/gong, brass/synth. |
| 15 | 0:43 | Cyborg Surgery | The Black Hole aliens operate on
Katsura's cyborg torso. Eerie high strings/piano/vibraphone/flute/cymbal with fragments of Cyborg theme. |
| 16 | 0:39 | Completed Robot Monster | Mechagodzilla is ready for
action. Mugal tells Mafune that they
have made Katsura the control device for Mechagodzilla . Mechagodzilla theme in foreboding brass/timpani/piano. |
| 17 | 1:16 | The Mafune Family Tragedy | Mafune asks the mesmerized
Katsura for forgiveness. Ichinose is
captured by the aliens. Katsura Human theme in strings, winds/synth, Cyborg theme in strings, cymbal/synth, Human theme in winds/piano/cymbal. |
| 18 | 0:42 | Mechagodzilla II Goes on the Offensive | Katsura activates Mechagodzilla
and it launches into the air. High synth figure into Mechagodzilla theme in brass. |
| 19 | 3:00 | Mechagodzilla Counterattacks | Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus
go on the rampage. More high synth into Mechagodzilla theme in brass, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/piano pulses/synth, theme A, theme B. |
| 20 | 1:45 | Godzilla vs. The Mega Monster Tag-Team | Godzilla appears and fights the
2 monsters, but is out-matched. Tremolo accent, Godzilla March on strings/brass, synth, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/brass, Godzilla March (slowing down). |
| 21 | 3:30 | Godzilla in Danger | Titanosaurus and Godzilla fight
hand to hand. Godzilla gets the upper
hand but is then attacked by Mechagodzilla .
Jets fire on all 3 monsters.
Godzilla is defeated.
Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus bury Godzilla. Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/synth, brass, Mechagodzilla theme in brass/winds/gong, Godzilla March in brass/gong/synth, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/winds, Mechagodzilla theme in brass/gong. |
| 22 | 3:38 | Resurrection of Godzilla | When the police disrupt the
control signal for Titanosaurus, Godzilla bursts free of the ground and
attacks Mechagodzilla . Godzilla
wades through Mechagodzilla 's barrage and attacks. In the alien base, Ichinose attacks the
aliens. Godzilla March with brass/gong/synth, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/winds/synth, brass, Mechagodzilla theme in brass/gong, Godzilla March with brass/gong/synth, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/winds/synth, brass. |
| 23 | 0:20 | Sharpshooting | Katsura is shot by a policeman. Katsura Cyborg theme in cymbal/tremolo strings, strings. |
| 24 | 1:47 | Katsura's Death | Katsura covers her exposed
cyborg parts but Ichinose still expresses his love for her. She asks Ichinose to kill her in order to
break her control over Mechagodzilla .
She shoots herself and dies. Katsura Human theme in strings/piano pulses, Cyborg theme on synth/winds, Human theme on strings, Cyborg theme on strings. |
| 25 | 1:45 | Invaders' Last Moments | Godzilla destroys the
now-inactive Mechagodzilla . Mugal tries to escape in his saucer but is
destroyed by Godzilla's radioactive breath.
Godzilla defeats Titanosaurus. Determined Godzilla March, Titanosaurus theme A in strings/gong, brass, Titanosaurus theme B in strings/winds/synth, brass, Mechagodzilla theme in brass/gong. |
| 26 | 1:18 | Ending | Titanosaurus disappears below
the waves and Ichinose mourns Katsura.
Godzilla departs into the sea. Somber horns joined by resigned strings, winds, brass ending cadence. |
Godzilla
King Kong vs Godzilla
Mothra vs Godzilla
Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster
Invasion of Astro-Monster
Destroy All Monsters
Links
Guide to Godzilla vs Gigan/On Monster Island on Godzilla Monster Music
Godzilla Perfect Box 3 at Screen Archives
Akira Ifukube Wiki
Akira Ifukube Museum
Toho Kingdom Godzilla vs. Gigan Review
Godzilla vs. Gigan Wikia Entry
Terror of Mechagodzilla Wikia Entry
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