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RSVP to ltokyo@lapl.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
Description:
Why did Godzilla emerge to attack Japan in 1954? How and why did the monster later become a savior that defends its homeland from other monsters—and then, even later, resume its reign of destruction? Steve Ryfle, coauthor of Godzilla: The First 70 Years – The Official Illustrated History of the Japanese Productions (Abrams Books, 2025), will discuss the King of the Monsters’ evolution from a symbol of disaster to a beloved kaiju hero, and back again, over the iconic creature’s seven-decades-long history.
This large format, heavily illustrated volume is a tribute to Godzilla’s creators and costars—the filmmakers, special-effects wizards, cast members, even the stuntmen inside the monster suit—and an appreciation of the behind-the-scenes artistry involved in bringing Godzilla to cinematic life.
Steve Ryfle is a former Los Angeles Times reporter. His journalism, criticism, and writing have been published in Cineaste, the Virginia Quarterly Review, Criterion Current, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, and many other publications. He is coauthor, with Ed Godziszewski, of Godzilla: The First 70 Years – The Official Illustrated History of the Japanese Productions (Abrams Books) and Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, From Godzilla to Kurosawa (Wesleyan University Press). He has written, produced, and narrated many audio commentaries and other materials for home video releases.
For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.
Para ajustes razonables según la ley de ADA, llama al (213) 228-7430 al menos 72 horas antes del evento.