is it possible that there's a colorized version of Godzilla (1954)?

Thirty seconds on Google revealed that yes, there is a colorized version called 'Cozzilla', and it looks absolutely horrible.

I hope not, it would ruin the whole feel of the movie.

@GODZILLA7007 well i myself, would prefer it to stay in B&W

Yep, there is.  in the 1960's (I believe), an Italian dude named Luigi Cozzi imported the film to Itally and gave it a "King of the Monsters" style edit, but colorized the footage, removed much of the human drama, and replaced it with war stock footage to pad out the runtime.  This rare version has been nicknamed "Cozzilla", and, or so I have heard, it is hideous.  I don;t remember where I read all of this, but it was years ago and I remember being very shocked!

No I mean it should be in black and white. Not talking about the other guys response. Lol I really don't want to see a colorized version.

And if anyone wants to see Godzilla 1954 and it is the original B & W version. It's on Amazon Prime that's if you have Amazon Prime, I'm just saying if anyone was curious.

And if anyone wants to see Godzilla 1954 and it is the original B & W version. It's on Amazon Prime that's if you have Amazon Prime, I'm just saying if anyone was curious.

sorry posted same comment 2-3X

Saying Cozzilla was "colorized" is being very generous. More like it was tinted certain colors in specific scenes. Nothing like the King Kong colorization years back.

Agree with the masses though. I never want to see a colorized Godzilla '54.

There is an Ai colorized version of the original 1954 by Kodd1980 on the internet archive. The American cut would make a fit for colorization personally. If anyone has a Godzilla King Of The Monsters '56 colorized version please drop a link. 

whether its in color or Black & White, its the same movie how would it be ruined? I bet older color movies are now ruined by their HD remaster editions huh?

Xenotaris

theyre talking about the italian version of Gojira.

Its not good. 

Yes I know but I also think they don't want an new color version that is better than Cozzilla

Yeah, Cozzilla looks like a rainbow barfed on it.

Also, here's some links to a fan made colorized version of Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYfKdGdISc 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMrwwPQE4bA

(Note: Not The Full Movie)

They also made colorized versions of Godzilla: Raids Again, Varan the Unbelievable, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, and Gamera.

(Again, only clips, not the full movies)

oh cool

Xenotaris,
Some older movies are arguably ruined by complete HD remasters, since it reveals more than the filmmakers intended to be seen for the time.

In the case of Godzilla '54, however, it's a film that was shot and lit with black and white film stock in mind. You can't light a black & white film the same way as a color film. Much of the movie's shots are composed with that kind of mindset.

Colorizing it is like dubbing: Whereas English audio-dubs take away from the original performance of actors, a colorization takes away from the original work of directors of photography. I for one have no interest in altering that.

The original movie is a beautifully shot film Masao Tamai who also worked closely with the prolific director Mikio Naruse. And Sadamasa Airikawa's effects photography blended so beautifully with his work and gave Tsuburaya's effects an almost documentary look. B&W can be gorgeous, as the '54 film is, and colorizing would destroy that visual artistry.

"In the case of Godzilla '54, however, it's a film that was shot and lit with black and white film stock in mind. You can't light a black & white film the same way as a color film. Much of the movie's shots are composed with that kind of mindset."

Well duh, there was no color films prior to the 60s... well maybe Wizard of Oz but that was the exception. I bet if the 1950's could, they probably would have used color instead of black and white. Also I don't see the big gripe, oh it will ruin the film because we put it color, sounds like artist elitism too me. 

Xenotaris,
"Well duh, there was no color films prior to the 60s..."

This is categorically and incredibly false. Color film stock has existed since 1935. So yes, The Wizard of Oz is an exception amongst hundreds and hundreds of other films made between 1935-1960. During this time, many film studios still chose to use black and white film stock. Black & white films have also been used in modern times such as Schindler's List, The Artist, Sin City, Good Night and Good Luck and Christopher Nolan will be making next year's Oppenheimer in black & white. So it's equally an artistic decision.

Knowing that color stock existed in the 1950s, cinematographers had to light Godzilla '54 as a black and white film, not a color film, understanding that the process would look better with that in mind.

You may not like artists, but like it or not, the men and women involved in all these movies you watch consider themselves artists for the craft they entered. Therefore you don't care for anyone who made the Godzilla movies, Alien films and Jurassic Park franchise.

Hey when did I say I disliked artists? I am an armature writer so i would have to dislike myself?

Xenotaris,
You said it before you edited your post.

I say things to get you mad, sorry I won't do it again. I just disagree with the sentiment that it should stay Black & White. I mean the Black & White version exists for those who want to see that one, so they could have a color version for people who want to see that one as well. Like give people options.

Fortunately, I think Toho knows well enough to not.

Xenotaris, it’s okay to have opinions. But what Gman was saying didn’t seem to be quite as much about personal preference as it was about general fact. So you said movies weren’t shot in color until 1960s first of all, which is not true. There are movie from 1950s (Radon, Earth Defense Force, just to name familiar examples) which were shot and screened in color, never ‘colorized’ (even the posters say in color). Plenty movies in 1940s shot in color but not quite widespread until early 50s. Just saying, check your facts if you want to have a debate.

And then next, you did say that you don’t like artists, and find them pretentious, things like that. Since you said it, I think you should take a little more responsibility, because it is almost as insulting as your avoidance and denial, as it contradicts to your views on virtually entire world culture to make such claim. Then when you put down artists, then you view them as beneath you, and who is pretentious then? I understand you get defensive, and sometimes we can all get irrational, but that isn’t any way to win a debate, I don’t think Gman was out of line or out to get you for your opinion.

But on to my analysis of why I think Godzilla 1954 works best in Black & White. While true enough, 1954 was pretty rough time for Japanese economy so color film was more expensive, I still don’t think they would have shot it in color even if they had the resources, because the monochrome shades really create atmosphere of melancholy and darkness that go with the first Godzilla really well. The imagery mixed with aftermath footage from the war creates stunningly heartbreaking imagery, which would not translate the same in color, because the bright and vivid spectrum takes away from the sorrow of the scene.

King Kong in color is sort of guilty pleasure of mine, because I find the strange added colors very fun and soothing, while I still think that it takes away from the experience of the film. However, it works better for King Kong in my opinion because it is not formed around an actual tragedy which America was facing at the time, unlike Godzilla in Japan. Maybe my Japanese roots are taking over when I say, but I also think that what my people faced, what my great grandfather personally faced was a terror which cannot even be understood to fullest extent by my generation or the current generation. When you take into account that Godzilla comes from a real world tragedy, made as Japan’s way to accept their karma and come to terms with what happened, then it makes only too much sense why it was shot in such a style that it brings out all of the sad and unsettling feelings.

Gman made very excellent points about the photography crew, and how their previous work with cinematic genius Mikio Naruse really shows in the film. I agree that it would obscure original film makers’ vision in less than satisfying way. I have seen ‘colorized’ old movies and shows, the techniques give too much saturation because the coloring is unnaturally added, and every time you see teeth, they look like they been coated with whiteout and then painted gray, and then clothes look too solid colored, skin looks orange. Colorization of motion pictures rarely come out looking good, but single photograph could get better coloring detail.

While the Japanese and film technique lover in me would feel somewhat offended if colorized edition Godzilla is released, I won’t really make a big deal about it, because art is art, and art is a creative vision for anybody who has it, but I definitely don’t think it is necessary thing either.

So having options is bad? I mean we have extended editions, special editions and directors cuts why not a color edition? maybe the technology got better? 

Yes I was being a jerk earlier, had a very rough day. I didn't really mean what I said about artists I was just trying to piss GHman off. Also I don't see artists beneath me, what am I? An artist or an evil tyrant? I just don't like their high mighty attitude sometimes, I just don't understand them hence why I lash out. Their way of thinking is very alien to me. I am aware Japan is more artsy compared to America, so maybe its a cultural difference?

I'll just stick to the Alien and Jurassic Park forums from now on. To avoid sticking my foot in mouth when it comes to Godzilla related topics.

Did you read my comment? I am not saying that having options is bad, I didn’t say that at all. Again, I was giving my own opinion to why I personally think it wouldn’t be necessary to colorize. This wasn’t meant to clash with your own views or judge you. Colorizing is not inherently bad concept, but from my own perspective of my history and culture, as well as the creative decisions of the original creators, I feel content without colorized version, and you on the contrary pursue interest to watch the film colorized, and that is completely okay.

Not trying to drive you away or force you to the same opinion as my own, but instead what I was meaning to do was just show my perspective. But if you want to stop using this forum because of my opinion, then that is your decision.

P.S. In the future, it may do you well to reflect how you could compose yourself better online. It is a general etiquette, even a rule on some forums that you don’t try to piss off others like with you to Gman over disagreeing about something, but again is only my opinion and if you want to continue being disrespectful on a community where we express our opinions about our mutual interests, then that is your business.

Sorry I am usually not disrespectful but I usually clash with Gman because are opinions are like fire and oil. But I understand what your saying about etiquette. But when it comes to not coloring Godzilla 1954, I still struggle to understand, why not but I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to art. 

Xenotaris " Sorry, I am not usually not disrespectful " I know. But what is etiquette?

Cool Godzilla, etiquette is like more formal way to say manners or good form. I was saying to that I felt Xenotaris wasn’t showing very good form.

Xenotaris, What is to understand? Some of us don’t think colorization is necessary from an objective point of view it isn’t very practical and may conflict with the film. And some of us would like to see it colorized from a subjective point of view, to see it from another perspective, and that is perfectly valid I think, and shouldn’t be reason to get upset about. At least from what I have seen, Gman seems to express opinions and/or share facts respectfully. Maybe I am missing something here, but what is it that pushes your buttons? Did you feel like Gman wasn’t regarding and respecting your opinions and feelings very well? Or is it about inability for yourself to accept others’ opinions and perspective? Is it how it was treated objectively instead of subjectively? I’m genuinely interested, because while I haven’t been on here long time, it feels almost unfounded, your irritations. Just a curiosity, you don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to.