Possible controversy with a 1979 Godzilla episode

[SF4Ever]

I don't think we've ever had this discussion before, but for anyone who remembers that 1979 episode of Godzilla, titled "Island of Doom", you might know what I'm talking about. This is about the battle scene, when Godzilla battles the nuclear terrorist group, Cobra(Not the Cobra of G.I. Joe fame). The battle begins when Godzooky breaks free from Cobra's tower prison to summon Godzilla as the crew of the Calico is being held captive. The controversy starts with fire weapon play by the villains-they're firing explosive charges, rockets, missiles and tank shells at Godzilla. He even goes through a mine field and tangles with tanks and attack jets as well as shore batteries before he destroys the terrorists' airport and headquarters, on the way to rescuing the crew of the Calico and saving the Earth from nuclear fallout by throwing the overheating nuclear reactor core into the Pacific ocean and neutralizing its radiation with his lazer eye beams. The rescue and stopping the impending nuclear fallout was all right, but as far as the battle scene is concerned, my guess is Hanna-Barbera had to get clearance from NBC's Standards and Practices Department before animating that battle scene. Back in 1979, the networks were very careful about the issue of violence in animated action and adventure programs, especially after the protests they got for the same circumstances in the late 1960's. Obviously, to prepare an animated episode like that in 1979 was going to be risky, especially with the networks' restrictions on cartoon violence, so my guess is if Hanna-Barbera hadn't gotten clearance from NBC's Standards and Practices Dept., it probably wouldn't have been made. Now, if you remember the Godzilla episode "Island of Doom", do you think there could've been some controversy with the initial making of this episode? Chime in with your thoughts.

[DarkLantern]

I'm not sure I understand your question. If the show aired as you described, then BS&P didn't have an issue with it (and actually, BS&P were usually lenient to violence enacted upon monsters and inanimate objects/robots).

Or do you suspect the original draft was something far worse than what was eventually cleared by the BS&P?

DL

[SF4Ever]

I'm not sure I understand your question. If the show aired as you described, then BS&P didn't have an issue with it (and actually, BS&P were usually lenient to violence enacted upon monsters and inanimate objects/robots).

Or do you suspect the original draft was something far worse than what was eventually cleared by the BS&P?

DL

Let me elaborate-the only real possible controversy would've been with the battle scene. Back in 1979, animating a battle scene would've been risky, especially if it involved shore batteries, tanks, jet fighters and mine fields. I was just explaining if Hanna-Barbera was going to animate a battle scene in which Godzilla takes on nuclear terrorists, who fire on him with explosive weapons, they would've had to get some sort of clearance from NBC's Standards & Practices Dept. to do that scene, considering the restrictions on cartoon violence in 1979. Nothing suspicious, but somewhat risky at the time. If you need a link for the Godzilla episode, "Island of Doom", just ask.

[magicdog]

I think it was cleared because it dealt with a popular issue at the time - nuclear weapons.

Anything that had to do with anything nuclear (ie. nuclear power) was considered "bad" and had to be neutralized. Around the same time you had the S.A.L.T. II talks, disarmarment, Three Mile Island, and movies in theatres like "China Syndrome" which made "nuclear" a dirty word. If Godzilla had lost a limb during the fight - it probably still would have been cleared.