Classic horror films were some of the most memorable cinematic features to grace the television screens back in the 50s. One familiar film I sat down and watched the other day was the original classic monster movie, Rodan (1956). It definitely reminded me just how creative and meaningful films like these are despite the modern consensus regarding archaic special effects.

Rodan was created by the Japanese film company, Toho, a couple years succeeding the original Godzilla movie. Similarly to Godzilla, Rodan’s focus honed in on the story of a giant creature (this time the creature being a giant pteranodon/pterodactyl) being eradiated as a result of nuclear testing. Granted this movie seemed to have no relation to the Godzilla film, and purely was in its own universe.

As much as the main concept between the two movies was similar, Rodan differs from Godzilla in many varying ways. One of the main obvious reasons is that Rodan was released in color—when many movies during the time were released as standard black and white films. So this film marked the introduction of the Kaiju (Giant Monster) Franchise into the new world of color.

In order to be the astonishing success that Godzilla was, special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya knew that he had to climb toward new goals in order to flabbergast the audience. For example, a lot of the destruction demonstrated in the film is more aerial than actual physical destruction as seen in Godzilla. It gives the movie the same feeling of ‘nuclear disaster’, just in a different, more unavoidable manner.

This movie became fairly well-renowned and still is today along with other classics like previously mentioned Godzilla (1954) and Mothra (1961). In fact, the monster Rodan became such a well-revered character that he was brought back in several other movies, granted all of which were appearances in Godzilla films.

Rodan is absolutely fun to watch. It has action, horror, romance and even some comedy mixed in! I’m sure there is something in this production that everyone can enjoy, it’s just a matter of looking beyond its age and accepting the fact that it is one of the original monster-flick masterpieces.