Secret of the Telegian
Encyclopedia
The Secret of the Telegian, released in Japan as , is a 1960 tokusatsu
sci-fi
/horror
/mystery
film. Produced by Toho Company, Ltd.
, the film was directed by Jun Fukuda
(this was his first tokusatsu
work), and written by Shinichi Sekizawa
, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya
and some scenes by Teruyoshi Nakano
. When this color TohoScope film was originally brought to the US
by Herts-Lion International Corp., it was released directly to television in black and white
, approximately ten minutes shorter. This is apparently the first Toho film to be released in the United States as an international version
.
soldier
who had been wounded, robbed and left for dead by his fellow soldiers years before. Under the alias "Goro Nakamoto," he is armed with the bayonet
that had been used to wound him, and uses the Clariotron, a device that can give its user the ability to teleport anywhere. The inventor of the machine, Professor Niki, was unaware that it was being used.
As an act of vengeance, Sudo uses the Clariotron to hunt down the soldiers, killing them one by one and leaving an ID tag on each of the bodies. Kirioka (Koji Tsuruta
) and detectives Onosaki (Yoshio Tsuchiya
) and Kobayashi (Akihiko Hirata
) are assigned to investigate the murders.
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
sci-fi
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
/mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
film. Produced by Toho Company, Ltd.
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
, the film was directed by Jun Fukuda
Jun Fukuda
, was a Japanese director. He was born in Manchuria. He has directed dozens of films, perhaps best known for his contributions to the Godzilla film series in the 1970s...
(this was his first tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
work), and written by Shinichi Sekizawa
Shinichi Sekizawa
was a Japanese screenwriter. His very first screenplay was for the Shintoho Studios film Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers, which is now considered to be lost. He went on to script several films by Ishirō Honda, including several classic Godzilla films...
, with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya
Eiji Tsuburaya
was the Japanese special effects director responsible for many Japanese science-fiction movies, including the Godzilla series...
and some scenes by Teruyoshi Nakano
Teruyoshi Nakano
, is a Japanese special effects director, most notable for his contributions to the Godzilla film series and other tokusatsu movies. Nakano was a special guest at G-Fest XI, where he was the recipient of the Mangled Skyscraper Award....
. When this color TohoScope film was originally brought to the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Herts-Lion International Corp., it was released directly to television in black and white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
, approximately ten minutes shorter. This is apparently the first Toho film to be released in the United States as an international version
International version
In video games, an international version is a relocalized version of a previously released title in its native territory that has gained additional features and contents in foreign releases...
.
Synopsis
Sudo (Tadao Nakamaru) is a disfigured World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
who had been wounded, robbed and left for dead by his fellow soldiers years before. Under the alias "Goro Nakamoto," he is armed with the bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
that had been used to wound him, and uses the Clariotron, a device that can give its user the ability to teleport anywhere. The inventor of the machine, Professor Niki, was unaware that it was being used.
As an act of vengeance, Sudo uses the Clariotron to hunt down the soldiers, killing them one by one and leaving an ID tag on each of the bodies. Kirioka (Koji Tsuruta
Koji Tsuruta
was a Japanese actor who appeared in almost 260 feature films.-Career:Born in Shizuoka Prefecture as Eiichi Ono, Tsuruta was studying at Kansai University when he was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Navy. After the war he joined Kōkichi Takada's theater troupe and made his film debut at Shochiku...
) and detectives Onosaki (Yoshio Tsuchiya
Yoshio Tsuchiya
is a Japanese actor who has appeared in such films as Toshio Matsumoto's surreal masterpiece "Bara No Soretsu" and Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Red Beard, and Kihachi Okamoto's Kill!. He has a long-standing interest in UFOs and had written several books on the subject...
) and Kobayashi (Akihiko Hirata
Akihiko Hirata
was a Japanese film actor. While Hirata starred in many movies , he is most well known for his work in the kaiju genre, including such films as King Kong vs. Godzilla, The Mysterians, and his most famous role of Dr...
) are assigned to investigate the murders.
Cast
- Masaru Kirioka (Journalist) - Koji TsurutaKoji Tsurutawas a Japanese actor who appeared in almost 260 feature films.-Career:Born in Shizuoka Prefecture as Eiichi Ono, Tsuruta was studying at Kansai University when he was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Navy. After the war he joined Kōkichi Takada's theater troupe and made his film debut at Shochiku...
- Kobayashi (Inspector) - Akihiko HirataAkihiko Hiratawas a Japanese film actor. While Hirata starred in many movies , he is most well known for his work in the kaiju genre, including such films as King Kong vs. Godzilla, The Mysterians, and his most famous role of Dr...
- Akiko Nakajou - Yumi ShirakawaYumi Shirakawais a former Japanese actress.-Filmography:Filmography of Yumi Shirakawa include:* The Badger Palace aka The Princess of Badger Palace *Kiganjo no Boken*Gorath*Wall-Eyed Nippon...
- Corporal Sudo/“Densou-Ningen”/Goro Nakamoto - Tadao Nakamaru
- Oonishi (President of Kainan) - Seizaburou Kawazu
- Ryuu-Syougen (Owner of cabaret Dai-hon-ei) - Yoshihumi Tajima
- Taki (President of building company) - Sachio Sakai
- Okazaki (Detective chief investigation) - Yoshio TsuchiyaYoshio Tsuchiyais a Japanese actor who has appeared in such films as Toshio Matsumoto's surreal masterpiece "Bara No Soretsu" and Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Red Beard, and Kihachi Okamoto's Kill!. He has a long-standing interest in UFOs and had written several books on the subject...
- Dr. Miura - Fuyuki Murakami
- Dr. Niki - Takamaru Sasaki
- Director at Metropolitan Police Department - Jun'ichirou Mukai
- Tsukamoto - Shin Ootomo
- Director of Tamagawa-En - Shirou Tsuchiya
- Attraction man of Chiller House - Ikio Sawamura
- Man Visitor of Chiller House - kiyoshi kodama
- Man Visitor of Chiller House - Sachiyuki Uemura
- Man visitor of Chiller House - Jirou Kumagai
- Woman visitor of Chiller House - Yoshie Kidaira
- Genzou (Villager) - Akira Sera
- Otokichi (Villager) - Senkichi Oomura
- Oono (Employee of Dai-hon-ei) - Yutaka Nakayama
- Waiter of Dai-hon-ei - Toshio Miura
- Waiter of Dai-hon-ei - Yasuhiko Saijou
- Driver of Jeep - Kenzou Echigo
- Yumiko (Hostess of Dai-hon-ei) - Toshiko Higuchi
- Tomiko (Hostess of Dai-hon-ei) - Rumi Konishi
- Hostess of Dai-hon-ei - Akemi Ueno
- Aunt of an apartment manager - Kiyomi Mizunoya
- Old woman of fisherman - Tsuruko Umano
- Salesclerk of flower shop - Yasuo Tsuchiya
- Employee of trading company Kainan - Eisei Amamoto
- Employee of trading company Kainan - Syouichi Hirose
- Employee of trading company Kainan - Nadao Kirino
- Driver of truck - Kouji Uno
- Ida - Tatsuo Matsumura
- Journalist - Yasuhisa Tsutsumi
- Journalist - Yutaka Oka
- Shimura - Fumindo Matsuo
- Detective - Mitsuo Matsumoto
- Policeman - Yasuhiro Shigenobu
- Discernment person in charge - Masaaki Tachibana
- Policeman of police car - Hideo Shibuya
- Policeman of inspection - Tadashi Okabe
- Police station head - Hiroo Sakurai
- Man of the part of ghost of chiller house - Akira Kitano
- Policeman who is murdered in Densou-Ningen - Shigemi Sagawa
- Policeman - Kouji Iwamoto