The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army (ウルトラ6兄弟VS怪獣軍団, Urutora Roku Kyōdai tai Kaijū Gundan), known in Thailand as Hanuman Meets 7 Supermen (หนุมาน พบ 7 ยอดมนุษย์ - Hanuman pob Jed Yodmanud), is a Thai-Japanese tokusatsusuperherokaiju film produced in 1974 by Tsuburaya Productions of Japan and Chaiyo Productions of Thailand.[2] It was released theatrically in Thailand on November 26, 1974, and in Japan on March 17, 1979.
Plot
The sun is gradually moving towards the Earth, causing massive heat waves, birds to fall from the sky, and a lack of rain. A group of children perform a rain dance, believing that the gods will solve the problem, while Dr. Wisut, a scientist at a nearby missile site, plans to launch rockets that will conduct a weather modification experiment, although his assistant Marissa believes that they should also ask the gods for rain.
Three robbers break into the temple where the children are dancing and take priceless artifacts. The robbers beat up a boy named Piko when he tries to step in, but when he gets up and climbs into their jeep, he is shot in the face, killing him. Fortunately, the Mother of Ultra, witnessing the incident from Nebula M78, revives the child, believing his death to be unfair, granting him the ability to transform into the legendary deity Hanuman.
Hanuman flies away to persuade the Sun to enact revenge on the robbers who killed Piko, but Piko's friend Anan attempts to follow him, collapsing due to the intense heat, and dreaming about the Phra Lak Phra Ram story featuring Hanuman. Hanuman then successfully persuades the Sun to move back to its original location, and revives Anan.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wisut's experiment begins, launching the first rocket, which is successful, however he ignores a problem that Marissa tells him headquarters have found, which causes the second rocket to explode on its launchpad, causing a chain reaction that destroys the others at the test site in a massive detonation. The explosion creates an earthquake which in turn causes a fissure to form in the ground, from which emerge five evil monsters. They are Gomora (from Ultraman), Dustpan (originally from Mirrorman, being the only monster out of the set to not originate in a main Ultra Series entry), Astromons, Tyrant and Dorobon (all from Ultraman Taro).
Marissa finds her younger brother Anan, who forces her to search for Piko/Hanuman, who transforms to fight the monsters. Gomora chases Marissa and Anan, causing Marissa to injure her leg. Meanwhile, Hanuman is overpowered by the other monsters, but the Ultra Brothers arrive on Earth to help him. Eventually, the seven heroes triumph over the monsters, and all return home.
Production
Sompote Sands had studied the filming of King Kong vs. Godzilla in 1962,[3] and had founded his own studio, Chaiyo Productions, in 1973 to make similar films. Eiji Tsuburaya, King Kong vs. Godzilla’s special effects director, died on January 25, 1970, leaving his company Tsuburaya Productions in a debt of $500,000. To pay it off, his son Noboru Tsuburaya asked Sands to coproduce a film with him, leading to both The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army and Jumborg Ace and Giant, the latter released earlier in 1974.[1]
Release and reception
The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army was released in Thailand on November 26, 1974, at the end of school holidays. It was only available at the Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre for the first two days of release, with a statue of Hanuman placed outside, grossing $8,672 during the period. Within seven days that number had increased to $28,907, and eventually ended its run at $202,354.[1]
The film won an award honouring Asian culture at the Asia Film Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia, however it was criticised by Rangsarit Chaosiri, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, saying that it was inappropriate to cross Hindu deity Hanuman with the Japanese superhero Ultraman.[4]
International versions
Following the film's success in Thailand, Run Run Shaw, founder of Shaw Brothers, personally visited Sompote Sands to negotiate a deal to release it in East Asia.[1] A Mandarin dub was commissioned and the film was edited on its original negative, with the cut scenes added back at a later date, as proven by tape splices on the full length version that correspond to the export version's cuts. The film was released in Hong Kong on February 26, 1975, and in Taiwan on June 27. An English dub based on this version was released in Lebanon. Taiwanese posters note that the film was also released in 70mm.
Although the film's Japanese release was initially not decided, in 1979 the Ultra Series received a boost in popularity, leading to the film being dubbed into Japanese and released together with Akio Jissoji’s Ultraman.[5] A new opening theme, Bokura no Ultraman was recorded by Isao Sasaki.
Hanuman Meets 11 Supermen and Space Warriors 2000
In 1984, The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army was rereleased in Thailand as Hanuman vs. 11 Ultraman, a re-edit that added footage from the compilation film Ultraman Zoffy: Ultra Warriors vs. the Giant Monster Army, released that same year. The film most notably adds voices to many fight scenes. The following year the film was broadcast as a TV movie in the United States as Space Warriors 2000, although it was entirely filmed in Belgravia, London[6] with an all-British cast, including Bob Sessions. The story revolved around a boy named Nicholas who is given an Ultraman doll that comes to life. He takes Nick to aid in the Space Warriors’ (the Ultramen's) quest against evil. The film is particularly infamous for renaming several characters, such as Mr. Bad (Red King). On December 14, 2012, Sompote Sands gifted the copyright to Hanuman vs. 11 Ultraman to the Ministry of Culture.[7]
Home video releases
In 1986, the film was released on VHS and LaserDisc in Japan by Nippon Columbia. In 2001, the film was released on DVD and VCD in Thailand, albeit via a new redub. It was rereleased in 2008 by Tiga Entertainment. In 2016, Zeno Pictures released the original 1974 Thai cut on DVD in Belgium and France.
Bob Sessions as Nick's Father, Meanest Monster in Monster Land, Mr. Bad, Gomora, Lobster Men, Geronimon, Dorobon
Nicholas Curror as Nick
Sarah Taunton as Nick's Mother
Wendy Danvers as Edmund's Wife, voice of Nick, Ultra Mother
Marc Smith as Ultraman, Andar, Danlar, Rayow, Batcar, Ragon, Flabber Gabber, Gango, Booncho, Hanuman[a]
Notes
^Some characters are unnamed, and so are referred to by their Japanese names. Some of the Ultras’ name’s inconsistently change bearers. Some voices are pitch-shifted.
