‘Gamera vs. Viras‘ (ガメラ対宇宙怪獣バイラス, Gamera tai Uchū Kaijū Bairasu, lit. Gamera vs. Outer Space Monster Viras) is a 1968 Japanese kaiju film directed by Noriaki Yuasa, written by Niisan Takahashi, and produced by Daiei Film. It stars Kōjirō Hongō, Tōru Takatsuka, Carl Craig, and Michiko Yaegaki, and is the fourth entry in the Gamera film series, after the previous year’s Gamera vs. Gyaos. The film also features Teruo Aragaki as the giant flying turtle monster Gamera, and introduces the extraterrestrial monster Viras.

Gamera vs. Viras was released theatrically in Japan on March 20, 1968. It did not receive a theatrical release in the United States, instead being released directly to television by American International Television in 1969, under the title ‘Destroy All Planets‘. The film was followed by Gamera vs. Guiron the following year.

Plot
A deadly alien force approaches Earth. Gamera intervenes and destroys the alien vessel; but before the ship is destroyed, the aliens broadcast a warning to their world, stating that Gamera is their enemy.

Later on Earth, a Boy Scout troop is visiting an aquarium to see the scientists working on a small two-man submarine. Masao and Jim, two of the scouts, manage to talk their way aboard the sub. While in the water they spot Gamera, who engages in a little race with the boys. However, their hijinks come to an end when the second alien vessel envelops the both of them in a super-catch ray. Gamera helps the boys to escape, but he remains trapped in the force field while the aliens scan his memories. They learn of Gamera’s one weakness, his soft spot for children. Soon after, the field weakens and Gamera is free. The aliens capture Jim and Masao, threatening to kill the boys. Powerless to help them, Gamera lands. Attaching a brainwave control device to Gamera’s head, the aliens force the turtle kaiju to do their bidding.

While aboard the spaceship, the boys continually try to escape. Gamera, however (under the influence of the aliens), is destroying dams and cities by the handful. Jim and Masao discover a squid-like creature, thinking that he is another captive of the aliens. In fact, he is the leader of the aliens. The boys help Gamera break free from the brainwave device and he begins to attack the spaceship. Grounded by Gamera, the aliens reveal that their human forms were just disguises. The aliens all merge to form the giant monster Viras. Gamera and Viras duke it out in a big beachside battle. Gamera manages to pull Viras into the upper atmosphere, freezing him to death. He then flings Viras’ body back into the ocean. The boys and a crowd of adults celebrate Gamera’s victory.

Cast
Kōjirō Hongō as Nobuhiko Shimada
Tōru Takatsuka as Masao Nakaya
Carl Craig as Jim Morgan
Michiko Yaegaki as Mariko Nakaya
Mari Atsumi as Junko Aoki
Junko Yashiro as Masako Shibata
Kōji Fujiyama as the Commander of Jietat
Genzō Wakayama as the boss’s voice
Teruo Aragaki as Gamera