FORGOTTEN FILM: DESTROY ALL PLANETS (1968)

Forgotten Films: Destroy All Planets (1968)

This is the 43rd in my series of Forgotten Obscure or Neglected Films

Okay, so following Thanksgiving it was time for a new turkey and what could be better than a flying flame spewing turtle. Gamera has been beaten up by everyone including Mystery Science Theater 3000 who did several of the turtle’s films during their time. Though apparently this one was not one they did because it was so bad.

The storyline, such as it is, features an alien spaceship that is intent on conquering Earth because of the nitrogen in the atmosphere. This one ship with five or so crew members is ready to do the deed when they run afoul of the flaming turtle that destroys them. So the aliens dispatch another ship which is intent on destroying Gamera and then taking over the Earth.

Cut to scenes of international boy scouts and two in particular, Masao and Jim (Toru Takatsuka and Carl Crain, respectively) who are fond of getting into trouble with little pranks, like reversing the controls on a two man mini- to the befuddlement of the scientists who cannot work something in reverse. To degrade the scientists; Masao and Jim take the sub out to show them that even children can handle it better than they did. During their cruise, they encounter Gamera who is sleeping in the bay. Of course, no one believes the boys until the aliens show up and try to capture Gamera. Failing that, the aliens read Gamera’s mind and get something other than “Eat, sleep, evacuate bowels”. They find that Gamera has a soft spot for children. So, needing children the aliens kidnap Masao and Jim. They then force Gamera to do their bidding to prevent them from harming the two boys.

Now the damage that Gamera is doing, like destroying a dam and razing Tokyo, is going to hurt a lot more than two boys, but reptilian minds must work slowly. The boys eventually escape and reverse the controls on Gamera’s mind control thingy and he escapes. Facing a second failure, the aliens ritually commit suicide and are absorbed into the body of a giant space squid, Viras (also known as Bairus). No the super space squid has to fight Gamera to the death and does some pretty serious damage, but you don’t shoot flames out of your butt like Gamera without being tough and the turtle prevails.

So this film runs 90 minutes in the US TV version. According to IMDB, the original release running time was 75 minutes in the US and 81 in Japan. The difference is probably in the extended flashback scene where the aliens try to see how Gamera thinks and for 15 or so minutes we get scenes from two previous Gamera movies, as if this one was not enough.

This one is also known as Gamera tai uchû kaijû Bairasu in Japan, Gamela vs. Bairus, Gamera vs. Outer Space Monster Viras, and Gamera vs. Viras at various spots around the globe. I am not sure where the DESTROY ALL PLANETS comes from since the only planet seen or described is Earth. All would seem to indicate more were involved. But such thoughts are best left for films worthy of contemplation. A large number of people seem to like these films. I am not sure why but they can have my share of them.

Series organizer Todd Mason hosts more Tuesday Forgotten Film reviews at his own blog and posts a complete list of participating blogs.