Editing Godzilla vs. Megalon (section)

==English versions==
[[Image:Godzilla-megalon-us.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Cinema Shares theatrical poster for the 1976 U.S. release of ''Godzilla vs. Megalon''. The poster (which spoofs the theatrical poster for ''[[King Kong (1976 film)|King Kong]]'') incorrectly places the monsters atop the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]]; no such scene - nor any scenes set in the United States at all, for that matter - occurs in the film itself.]]

In 1976, Cinema Shares gave ''Godzilla vs. Megalon'' a wide theatrical release in the United States and launched a massive marketing campaign for the film, along with the poster, buttons with one of the four monsters' faces on them were released. Given away at theatrical showings was a comic that told a simplified version of the film, which incorrectly named Jet Jaguar as "Robotman" and Gigan as "Borodan". These incorrect names were also featured in the U.S. trailer.<ref name="commentary"/>{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=183}}

Cinema Shares originally planned to use the uncut Toho international English version, but to ensure a G rating, several minor cuts were made, which resulted in the film running three minutes shorter than the original version. These cuts included a majority of the opening titles, several mild obscenities and some shots of barely-visible pornographic magazine clips when the main characters are kidnapped in a truck.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=183}}

''Godzilla vs. Megalon'' is the first Godzilla film to receive an American prime time network television premiere, where it was broadcast nationwide at 9:00 PM on NBC on March 15, 1977. However, to accommodate commercials, the film was only shown in a one-hour time slot, which resulted in the film being cut down to 48 minutes. [[John Belushi]] hosted the broadcast where he did some skits, all in a Godzilla suit.<ref name="commentary"/>

Mel Maron (who was president of Cinema Shares at the time) chose to release ''Godzilla vs. Megalon'' because he saw Godzilla as a heroic figure by that point and felt the timing was right to show children a hero who was a friendly monster and not [[Superman]].<ref name="commentary"/>

The U.S. rights for the film eventually fell into the public domain in the late 80s, which resulted in companies releasing poorly-cropped, fullscreen VHS tapes mastered from [[pan and scan]] sources.{{sfn|Ryfle|1998|p=184}} This also led to the film being featured in ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]''. In 1988, New World Video intended to release the original uncut version of the English dub but declined the project because it lacked the budget that was required for a full release. However, despite this, the film was released uncut and in widescreen in 1992 by UK company Polygram Ltd as a double feature with ''Godzilla vs. Gigan''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.videocollector.co.uk/godzilla-vs-gigan-1972godzilla-vs-megalon-1973/43702|title=Godzilla vs Gigan (1972)/Godzilla vs Megalon (1973) on PolyGram Video (United Kingdom VHS videotape)|website=www.videocollector.co.uk|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> In 1998 the film was again released by UK company, 4 Front Video. As of now it appears those are the only two VHS tapes on the film that are unedited and in high quality. It was also released on DVD by Power Multimedia in 1999 in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalmonsterisland.com/g_vs_megalon_tailent.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031113100013/http://www.digitalmonsterisland.com/g_vs_megalon_tailent.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 13, 2003|title=Digital Monster Island - Godzilla vs. Megalon (Power Multimedia / Tailent Video & Multimedia) DVD Review|website=www.digitalmonsterisland.com|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> Originally the [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] (now SyFy) showed the cut version, until finally in 2002 as Toho regained ownership of that title alongside ''Godzilla vs. Gigan'' and ''Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla'' (both of which also were released by Cinema Shares) and broadcast the film fully uncut for the first time in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://innermind.com/sfc/lists/sfc0203.htm|title=Sci-Fi Channel schedule for March 2002|website=innermind.com|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>