Golden Bat: The Phantom of the Skyscraper (lost tokusatsu film adaptation based on Kamishibai character; 1950)
Golden Bat: The Phantom of The Skyscraper (黄金バット 摩天楼の怪人, Ōgon Batto: Matenrô no Kaijin) is a 1950 Tokusatsu film produced by Tokyo Eiga Haigyo (now known as Toei) and Shineigasha. Released sometime in December of that year, the film is the first live-action adaptation and film adaptation of the Japanese Kamishibai hero, "Golden Bat" - often claimed to be not only the first ever Japanese superhero, but potentially the first ever modern superhero.
Plot
According to a Japanese Golden Bat fansite and a newspaper advertisement for the film, the film's plot was as follows:
"Evil mad scientist Dr. Nazo alongside his QX gang target the discoverer of the Ultron superatom under the name of Dr. Ogata, producing a power far greater than that of a hydrogen bomb and is made in an attempt for peace. Soon shows up the protector of humanity under the name of Golden Bat to stop Nazo's evil plans."[1]
Cast
- Ryuji Ueda (Ryuji Ueda) as the Golden Bat
- Hiroshi Sugi as Seiichiro Ogata
- Yukio Mosaki as Masaru
- Reiko Suzuoka as Kazuko
- Ryuko Kawaji as Ranko
- Takehiko Kobe as Puku-chan
- Ryuji Ueda as Yuji Oki
- Taizo Fukami as Teruyuki Maki
- ??? as Doctor Nazo
- Arata Sejima Dobsky
- Masao Shimizu as Inspector Horie
- Hibari Misora as ???
Availability
Due to the age of the film and the overall obscure status of the Golden Bat as a character, the chances of this film surviving are incredibly low unless Toei themselves or a collector reveals they have a copy of it. As of now, the only surviving elements of the film are its poster, some newspaper snippets, and some on-set photos that were auctioned off, though even most of these are unseen to the public.[2]