"There is so much writing in English on Japanese cinema that can't be accepted at face value — not because the writers are careless, but because the differences in culture and language are just too intricate. When I see August Ragone's name on a piece of writing, it gives me permission to place my faith in it completely. Among Japanese fantasy film historians, he's the best working in English." —Tim Lucas, Video Watchdog

Friday, August 1, 2014

THE REAL "GODZILLA" IS COMING TO YOUR TOWN
US Theatrical Screenings for the Big G's 60th!

初代『ゴジラ』は、アメリカの映画館に来ている!


Original Japanese theatrical release poster (1954). ©Toho Co., Ltd.

UPDATED (08/01/14): Rialto Pictures is once again rolling out the uncut Japanese version of the 1954 classic, boasting a brand-new 60th Anniversary DCP (Digital Cinema Package) Restoration (the transfer made for the Criterion Collection release) and it is now being booked in theaters around the US of A — contact your local cinema to screen it! Now, below is a quick look at the current dates and cities (those in red are newly-announced):

:: March 11: AUSTIN, TX • Alamo Ritz 1 (SXSW Film Festival)

:: April 12: HOLLYWOOD, CA • TCM Classic Film Festival

:: April 18–24: NEW YORK, NY • Film Forum

:: April 25–May 13: NEW YORK,  NY • IFC Center • HELD OVER (May 22)

:: May 1: SAVANNAH, GA • Savannah Film Festival 


:: May 2: HOLLYWOOD, CA • American Cinematheque Egyptian Theatre


:: May 2–4 & 6: SILVER SPRING, MD • AFI Silver


:: May 2–5: PORTLAND, OR • Hollywood Theatre*


:: May 2–8: SEATTLE, WA • SIFF Cinema Uptown

:: May 2–8: SOMERVILLE,  MA • Somerville Theatre • HELD OVER (May 15)

:: May 2–8: SANTA ANA, CA • The Frida Cinema

:: May 3: HOLLYWOOD,  CA • Egyptian Theatre

:: May 4: ASHBURN, VA • Alamo Drafthouse One Loudoun

:: May 4: LOS ANGELES,  CA • Landmark Regent Theatre

:: May 5–8: EDGEWOOD, PA • Pittsburgh Filmmakers (Regent Square)

:: May 5 & 8: KALAMAZOO, MI • Alamo Drafthouse Kalamazoo

:: May 8: AMBLER, PA • The Ambler Theater

:: May 8: KANSAS CITY, MO • Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet

:: May 9–10: FAIRFAX, VA • Angelika Mosaic

:: May 9–11: NASHVILLE, TN • The Belcourt • HELD OVER (May 16-17 & 20-22)

:: May 9–11: NEWBERG, OR • 99W Drive-In

:: May 9–11 & 13: LUBBOCK, TX • Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock


:: May 9-15: DALLAS, TX • Angelika Dallas (

:: May 9–15: CHICAGO, IL • Music Box Theatre • HELD OVER (May 22)


:: May 9–15: DENVER, CO • Denver Film Society • HELD OVER (May 22)

:: May 9-15: SANTA FE, NM • Jean Cocteau Cinema • HELD OVER (May 22)

:: May 9–15: FORT COLLINS, CO • Lyric Cinema Cafe

:: May 9–15: ALBANY, NY • The Madison Theater

:: May 9–15: SAN FRANCISCO, CA • Sundance Cinemas Kabuki

:: May 9–15: MENTOR, OH • Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium 16

:: May 9–15: MINNEAPOLIS, MN • Film Society of Minneapolis/St. Paul

:: May 9–15: PORTLAND, OR • The Bagdad Theatre and Pub

:: May 10–11: YONKERS, NY • Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers


:: May 11–12: MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OH • Atlas Cinemas Eastgate 10

:: May 11 & 13: ATLANTA, GA • Landmark Theatres Midtown Art Cinema

:: May 12–13: WICHITA, KS • Warren Theatres Old Town


:: May 12 –14: HOLLYWOOD, CA • ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood

:: May 12–13 & 15: EL SEGUNDO, CA • ArcLight Cinemas Beach Cities

:: May 12–13 & 15: PASADENA, CA • ArcLight Cinemas Pasadena

:: May 12–13 & 15: SAN DIEGO, CA • ArcLight Cinemas La Jolla

:: May 12–14: SHERMAN OAKS, CA • ArcLight Cinemas Sherman Oaks

:: May 13: AUSTIN, TX • Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline

:: May 13–14: ALAMEDA, CA • Alameda Theater & Cineplex*

:: May 14: DOYLESTOWN,  PA • The County Theater

:: May 14: BETHLEHEM, PA • Arts Quest

:: May 15: BOISE, ID • The Flicks

:: May 15: NEW BRAUNFELS, TX • Alamo Drafthouse Marketplace

:: May 15: SAN ANTONIO, TX • Alamo Drafthouse Park North

:: May 15: JENKINTOWN,  PA • The Hiway Theater
(Missing from Rialto's current update)

:: May 16–17: BROOKLYN, NY • Nitehawk Cinema

:: May 16–18: CORAL GABLES, FL • Coral Gables Art Cinema

:: May 23–26 HOUSTON, TX • The Museum of Fine Arts

:: May 28: LEXINGTON, KY • Kentucky Theatre

:: May 30–31: ST. LOUIS, MO • Landmark Theatres Tivoli Theatre

:: May 31–June 1: PORT TOWNSEND, WA • The Rose Theatre

:: May 31, June 2 & 5: BALTIMORE, MD • The Charles

:: June 6 – 12: IOWA CITY, IA • FilmScene

:: June 8: SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The Castro Theatre

:: June 14: QUEENS, NY • Museum of the Moving Image

:: June 14: LOUISVILLE, KY • Baxter Avenue Filmworks

:: June 14 – 15: ATHENS, GA • Ciné Theatre

:: June 17: SAN ANTONIO, TX • Texas Public Radio

:: June 18: BRYN MAWR, PA • Bryn Mawr Film Institute

:: June 18: TUCSON, AZ • The Loft Cinema

:: July 1 – 7: ATLANTA, GA • Plaza Theatre

:: July 4: MADISON, WI • UW Cinematheque

:: July 17: COLUMBUS, OH • Wexner Center for the Arts

:: July 18: BERKELEY, CA • Pacific Film Archive

:: August 1: MILFORD, MI • Kensington Metropark

:: August 1, 3 & 6: OMAHA, NE • Film Streams

:: August 8: SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI • Stony Creek Metropark

:: August 10 & 12: ANN ARBOR, MI • Michigan Theater

:: August 12: SALT LAKE CITY, UT • Utah Film Center

:: August 15: NEW BOSTON, MI • Willow Metropark

:: August 22 & 24: SHELBYVILLE, IN • Skyline Drive-In

:: August 23: VICTORIA, TX • Welder Center for the Performing Arts

:: August 26 & 28: ITHACA, NY • Cornell Cinema

:: September 12: HOLLYWOOD, CA • LA EigaFest

:: October 12 & 18: BLOOMINGTON, IN • Indiana University Cinema

:: October 18: MAITLAND, FL • Enzian Theater

Stay tuned for more dates... And if you don't see your city or town, contact your local theaters and ask them to book the film. Also, the new, paperback edition of my book, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS on sale May 6th from Chronicle Books — and I'm available to introduce the screenings (with a visual presentation on the making of the film).

Currently, my confirmed appearance dates (as of Monday, May 5th) include May 2nd - 4th (The Hollywood Theater, Portland, OR) and May 13th & 14th (Alameda Theater, Alameda, CA). More dates to be announced — for booking contact us at august [dot] ragone [at] gmail [dot] com!

Composer and lifelong Godzilla fan, John "Dutch" DeSentis will be introducing the screening at the Arts Quest Center in Bethlehem, PA on May 14th, and will take questions after the film. For more information, click here.

More importantly, Gareth Edwards, director of Legendary Pictures' upcoming GODZILLA, hosted the screenings at SXSW in Austin and the TCM Film Festival in Hollywood!

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Lexington, KY. Woot Woot!!!
I will be there.
Always wanted to see the original on the big screen.

August Ragone said...

Dean,
I'm sure you'll enjoy it — and help to spread the word!

Cheers,
August

Unknown said...

ahh sweet please come to Denver Colorado! I already had the pleasure of seeing it on the big screen 3 times back in 2004 but definitely wouldn't mind seeing it once more in the cinema

August Ragone said...

William,
Contact your local theaters — especially if you have an Alamo Drafthouse — and ask them to screen the film!

Cheers,
August

Cybergecko said...

Let me know if you're doing any appearances on the East Coast!

ShuTang said...

Looking forward to seeing it when it comes to Chicago!