New York-based RialtoPictures will re-release Ishiro Honda's original 1954 Japanese version of Godzilla in the US in spring 2004 in all its uncut glory tocoincide with the 50th anniversary of the film and character.

The release will feature 40minutes of unseen footage - a far cry from the pared-down 1956 US release thatwas retitled Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and featured inserts of the American actor RaymondBurr in crucial scenes. Burr does not appear in the uncut version.

Honda's film casts Godzillaas a destructive beast that wreaks havoc in Tokyo after nuclear testing and wasintended as a commentary on the escalating Cold War. Takashi Shimura and AkiraTakarada star.

Rialto licensed the rights fromToho Towa and will strike new 35mm prints. This is the distributor's firstJapanese and sci-fi release.