Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers
A lost 1956 Japanese tokusatsu film about alien invasion.
Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers (Japanese: 空飛ぶ円盤恐怖の襲撃, Hepburn: Soratobu Enban Kyōfu no Shūgeki) is a 1956 Japanese tokusatsu science fiction film directed and written by Shinichi Sekizawa, with special effects and cinematography by Sadao Uemura. Produced by Shintoho, it is Sekizawa's sole directorial credit. The film follows a group of Japanese scientists who, facing an alien invasion, invent a rocket to save the planet.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Shinichi Sekizawa
- Starring
- Tadao Takashima / Junko Ebata / Taiji Tonoyama / Hiroshi Sugi / Shigeru Amachi / Junji Masuda
- Music
- Satoshi Kusagawa
- Cinematography
- Sadao Uemura
- Studio
- Kokumotsu Films
- Distributor
- Shintoho
- Released
- 7 November 1956 · Japan
- Runtime
- 79 minutes
- Country
- Japan
- Language
- Japanese
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers was released nationwide in Japan by Shintoho on November 7, 1956. After its release, it was considered lost until a 16mm cut was found in 2010 and sold for auction online for ¥2.1 million. Plans were made for a DVD release following the auction, though they have yet to materialize.
The film was Shinichi Sekizawa's first and only role as a director after working as an assistant director for Hiroshi Shimizu. Its special effects were created by Sadao Uemura and Shigeji Nishitani. The cast includes Tadao Takashima, Junko Ebata, Taiji Tonoyama, Hiroshi Sugi, Shigeru Amachi, and Junji Masuda.
Reader's Guide
Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers is notable as the sole directorial credit of Shinichi Sekizawa, who later became a prominent screenwriter for other tokusatsu films. The film represents an early independent Japanese entry in the science fiction genre, produced by Kokumotsu Films and distributed by Shintoho. Its plot, involving scientists building a rocket to counter an alien invasion, reflects Cold War anxieties about nuclear testing and extraterrestrial threats. The film's significance is heightened by its status as a lost film for decades; the discovery of a 16mm print in 2010 and its subsequent auction for ¥2.1 million generated interest among collectors and historians. However, the planned DVD release has not materialized, leaving the film largely inaccessible to modern audiences. Its legacy lies in its rarity and its place in the early history of Japanese tokusatsu cinema.
Did You Know?
- The film is Shinichi Sekizawa's sole directorial credit.
- Plans for a DVD release after the auction have yet to materialize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers?
It is a 1956 Japanese tokusatsu science-fiction film produced by Shintoho, in which a team of Japanese scientists builds a rocket to repel an alien invasion. It stands as the only film Shinichi Sekizawa ever directed.
Who directed Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers?
Shinichi Sekizawa handled both the direction and the screenplay, making it his sole directorial credit. Sadao Uemura was responsible for the special effects and cinematography.
What is the plot of Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers?
The story follows a group of Japanese scientists who, confronted with an alien invasion, must invent a rocket as their means of saving the planet.
Who did the special effects for Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers?
Sadao Uemura oversaw both the special-effects work and the cinematography for the production.
Is Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers still available to watch?
The film is considered lost, with no known surviving prints in circulation. It remains a point of curiosity and discussion among fans of early Japanese tokusatsu cinema.
More in Japanese science fiction films 1-24
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