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1-15 of 15
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Akira Ifukube was born on May 31, 1914 in Hokkaido, Japan. He was the third son of a chief constable (his grandfather was a priest of Shin-to) and spent a majority of his childhood in areas with a mixed Japanese and Ainu population. Therefore, Ifukube was strongly influenced by their musical traditions and styles. As a result, he studied the violin. Later, he attended secondary school in Sapporo, and decided to become a composer at the age of 14 after hearing a radio performance of Igor Stravinsky's the Rite of Spring.
Ifukube studied forestry at Hokkaido University and composed music in his spare time. His first piece was the piano solo "Piano Suite" and his big break came in 1935, when his first orchestral piece, "Japanese Rhapsody," won first prize in an international contest for young composers promoted by Alexander Tcherepnin. In 1936, Ifukube studied modern Western composition while Tcherepnin was visiting Japan, and in 1938, Ifukube's piano suite obtained an honorable mention at the I.C.S.M. Festival in Venice, Italy. In the late 1930s his music, including "Japanese Rhapsody," was performed in areas throughout Europe.
After completing his studies, Ifukube worked as a forestry officer and lumber processor. Towards the end of World War II, he was appointed by the Japanese Imperial Army to study the elasticity and vibratory strength of wood. He suffered radiation exposure after carrying out x-rays without protection. As a result, Ifukube left forestry work and ultimately became a full-time professional music composer and teacher. From 1946 to 1953, he taught at the Nihon University College of Art. In 1947, after encouragement from a friend, Ifukube came to the Big Screen, and composed the music score for Toho Studio's Snow Trail (1947). Ifukube continued to compose music scores for many drama and comedy movies, many of them produced by Toho. However, classical music remained Ifukube's greatest passion. But yet, the world would probably remember him mostly as the man who brought music and soul to the King of the Monsters: Godzilla.
When producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, director Ishirô Honda and special effects man Eiji Tsuburaya of Toho Studios decided to make a movie about a gigantic monster brought to life by nuclear bomb testing, Godzilla was born. Having placed together all the elements for the intriguing and haunting monster film, Godzilla (1954), only one element was left: the music score. Thus, Akira Ifukube came into the picture. He created a somber and masterful score to match the on-screen drama. He went on to score eight Godzilla films in Toho's "Showa" Godzilla series. In addition to Godzilla, Ifukube also scored a number of other sci-fi films produced by Toho including "Rodan," "The Mysterians," "Atragon" and "Frankenstein Conquers the World."
A number of the Godzilla films contains the "Godzilla Theme," which will forever etch in fans' minds that this is Godzilla's musical cue, and the "Monster Battle Theme," which occur in several Godzilla films whenever monster attacks and battles erupt. Probably Ifukube's most memorable work in these sci-fi films is his "monster marches," which are militaristic and rousing. The film Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) (Godzilla vs. Monster Zero) was once screened in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo, and the audience was stomping to its feet and clapping their hands to the rhythm - most of these were children who have not seen a Godzilla film in their lives.
Ifukube returned to teaching at the Tokyo College of Music in 1974, becoming president in 1976. In 1978, Ifukube retired from film work and in 1985, he became president of the college's ethnomusicology department. He trained younger generation composers such as Toshiro Mayuzumi, Yasushi Akutagawa and Kaoru Wada. He also published "Orchestration," a 1,000-page book on theory. The Japanese government awarded him the Order of Culture and the Order of the Sacred Treasures.
In 1984, after a nine-year hiatus, Toho revived the Godzilla series, and released Godzilla 1985 (1985), thus marked the beginning of the Godzilla "Heisei" series. Five years later, Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) was released. The composer of the film, Kôichi Sugiyama asked Ifukube if he could use some of his Godzilla themes. He said yes, as long as he doesn't change it into "pop music," which Ifukube dislikes. So, his themes were used, but unfortunately, to the contrary of what Ifukube wished. His daughter told him that no matter how much he stays away from scoring another Godzilla film, his themes will always be heard. So, she suggested that he score the next Godzilla film. Taking his daughter's suggestion into consideration, and after Toho came knocking on his door again, Ifukube came out of retirement; he scored the next three Godzilla films. He brought his classic Godzilla themes with him, utilizing the recognizable "Godzilla Theme" and "Monster Battle Theme" where appropriate, and backed with larger orchestras and enhanced with modern-day digital recording techniques.
Ifukube was usually only given a short amount of time to score a movie. He was given only three days to score Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993). After that film was completed, Ifukube said that he couldn't possibly score any more Godzilla films, especially at his advanced age. Therefore, fellow composer Takayuki Hattori scored the next film, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994). He was going to take over the reins, but producer Tanaka decided to make one last Godzilla movie. And, what would be more appropriate than to have Akira Ifukube provide Godzilla's final musical bow? Ifukube agreed, and scored Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995). The score for this film is a blending of haunting music, rousing marches and a heartbreaking requiem. Ifukube stated that he regarded this film score as his best work. The rushed job that Ifukube experienced while writing these monster film scores became his magnum opus. Godzilla was a huge part of his life, and Ifukube stated that writing music for the monster was like writing music for his own. Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) was not only the last Godzilla film of the "Heisei" series and the last Godzilla film Tanaka produced, but was Ifukube's last musical work in films. After the film was completed, Ifukube resumed retirement, this time for good.
Ifukube was known as the "John Williams" of Japan, and became one of cinema's finest composers. He passed away in Tokyo on February 8, 2006 at age 91.- Kuljeet Randhawa was born on January 1, 1976 in Ranigangh in West Bengal. Her father served for the Indian police and this gave Kuljeet opportunities to travel across India including Patiala, Punjab where her father was serving at the time of her suicide. She began modeling as a student, and her work included several ads and runway shoes for major designers. She earned her Honours in Psychology from Delhi University.
On February 8, 2006, Randhawa hanged herself at her apartment in Juhu, a suburb of Mumbai. In a suicide note, Kuljeet stated that she was ending her life as she was unable to cope with life's pressures. Her close friend, Nafisa Joseph, committed suicide by the same way 1,4 year prior her. - Gigi Parrish was born on 30 August 1912 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She was an actress, known for Kiss and Make-Up (1934), August Weekend (1936) and A Girl of the Limberlost (1934). She was married to John Weld and Parrish, Dillwyn. She died on 8 February 2006 in Dana Point, California, USA.
- Thierry Fortineau was born on 9 February 1953 in Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France. He was an actor, known for Comédie d'été (1989), La grande collection (1990) and Condorcet (1989). He was married to Maruschka Detmers. He died on 8 February 2006 in Paris, France.
- Michael Gilbert was born on 17 July 1912 in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (1973), Guilty? (1956) and The Man in Room 17 (1965). He was married to Roberta Marsden and Roberta Mary Marsden. He died on 8 February 2006 in London, England, UK.
- Writer
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Péter Zimre was born on 29 June 1938 in Budapest, Hungary. He was a writer and actor, known for Ártatlan gyilkosok (1973), Szikrázó lányok (1974) and Forró vizet a kopaszra! (1972). He died on 8 February 2006.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Miroslav Vorkapic was born in 1941 in Beograd, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Kozara (1962), Obraz uz obraz (1972) and Mirina TV stupica (1970). He died on 8 February 2006 in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.- Stunts
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Viktor Romanov was born in 1948. He was an actor, known for The Barber of Siberia (1998), The Arena (2001) and Onegin (1999). He died on 8 February 2006.- Actor
Gilbert J. Bouley was born on 15 November 1921 in Plainfield, Connecticut, USA. He was an actor. He died on 8 February 2006 in Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA.- Director
- Producer
Stu Phelps was born on 8 May 1921 in Wisconsin, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Password (1961), The Bill Gwinn Show (1951) and The Jerry Colonna Show (1951). He was married to Lenore Roberts. He died on 8 February 2006 in Palm Desert, California, USA.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
H. Laxminarayan was a cinematographer, known for Takkar (1995), Jahan Jaaeyega Hamen Paaeyega (2007) and Nagin (1976). H. died on 8 February 2006 in Mangalore, India.- Jean Ipousteguy was born on 6 January 1920 in Dun-sur-Meuse, Meuse, France. He was an actor, known for Mon coeur est rouge (1976). He died on 8 February 2006 in Dun-sur-Meuse, Meuse, France.
- Zdenek Erben was born on 2 May 1926 in Praha, Czechoslovakia. He was an actor, known for 105 % alibi (1959) and Kde reky mají slunce (1961). He was married to Jana Erben. He died on 8 February 2006 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Rafael Zarraga was born on 24 June 1929 in Agua Blanca, La Trinidad, Yaracuy, Venezuela. Rafael was a writer, known for Juan Topocho (1979) and La última oportunidad de Magallanes (1986). Rafael died on 8 February 2006 in Cocorote, Yaracuy, Venezuela.
- Ernst Grabbe was born on 26 February 1926 in Hamburg, Germany. He was an actor, known for Großer Mann was nun? (1967), Dreizehn Briefe (1967) and Otto und die nackte Welle (1968). He was married to Irene. He died on 8 February 2006 in Hamburg, Germany.