Flash Gordon

Director: Mike Hodges

Overview

Heroic earthling Flash Gordon saves the world from the nefarious Ming the Merciless in this lavish, intentionally campy adaptation of the famous sci-fi comic strip. The story is as basic as space operas get: Ming (Max von Sydow) has developed a plan to destroy the Earth, and Flash (Sam J. Jones) and his attractive companion, Dale Arden (Melody Anderson), are called upon to stop him. Along the way, Flash must battle Ming's goons and the temptations of a luscious space princess. Previously the basis for a more straight-faced 1930s adventure serial, Flash's story is mined here for exaggerated, cartoon humor by screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr., a central figure in the similarly campy '60s Batman television series. The simplistic plot mainly serves as an excuse for spectacular sets and cartoonish action sequences, all set to an appropriately over-the-top rock score by Queen. Certainly not a film to turn to for serious excitement, fine performances, or character development, Flash Gordon has nevertheless developed an appreciative cult of fans who admire the film's humorous approach and the detailed, colorful production design.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/04/2010
UPC:	0025192064654
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	PG
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound]
Time:	1:52:00
Sales rank:	5,863

Special Features

Alex Ross, renowned comic artist, on Flash Gordon; Writing a classic: screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr.; Flash Gordon 1936 serial episode

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sam Jones	Flash Gordon
Melody Anderson	Dale Arden
Topol	Dr. Hans Zarkov
Max von Sydow	Emperor Ming
Ornella Muti	Princess Aura
Brian Blessed	Prince Vultan
Timothy Dalton	Prince Barin
Peter Wyngarde	Klytus
Mariangela Melato	Kala
John Osborne	Priest
Richard O'Brien	Fico
John Hallam	Luro
Philip Stone	High Priest Zogi
Kenny Baker	Actor
Peter Brace	Actor
Andrew Bradford	Actor
Jim Carter	Azurdian Man
Celeste	Actor
Irene Champlin	Actor
Imogen Claire	Actor
Graeme Crowther	Battle Room Controller
Malcolm Dixon	Actor
Peter Duncan	Young Treeman
Michael Edmonds	Actor
Terry Forrestal	Actor
Leon Greene	Colonel in Battle Control Room
George Harris	Prince of Ardentia
John Hollis	Klytus' Observer
Richard Jones	Dwarf
Stanley Lebor	Mongon Doctor
John Lees	Actor
Oliver Macgreevy	Actor
John Morton	Actor
Anthony Olivier	Azurian Man
Michael Potter	Actor
Eddie Powell	Actor
Racquel	Actor
Terry Richards	Ming's Brute
Ken Roberson	Actor
Tiny Ross	Actor
Deep Roy	Princess Aura's Pet
Roy Scammell	Hawkman
Eddie Stacey	Actor
John Sullivan	Hawkman
Burnell Tucker	Airline Pilot
Trevor Ward	Actor
Frederick Warder	Actor
Chris Webb	Actor
David Neal	Captain of Ming's Air Force
Leslie Crawford	Actor
Mike Cottrell	Actor
Marie Green	Actor
Robbie Coltrane	Man at Airport
Suzanne Danielle	Serving Girl
William Hootkins	Munson
Karen Johnson	Ming's Serving Girl
Sophie	Sandmoon Girl
Viva	Cytherian Girl
Bobbie Brown	Hedonia

Technical Credits

Michael Hodges	Director
Michael Allin	Screenwriter
Howard Blake	Score Composer
Derek Botel	Special Effects
Richard Conway	Special Effects
Brian Cook	Asst. Director
Malcolm Cooke	Editor
Dino de Laurentiis	Producer
Danilo Donati	Costumes/Costume Designer,Production Designer,Set Decoration/Design
George Gibbs	Special Effects,Special Effects Supervisor
John Graysmark	Production Designer
Gerry Humphreys	Sound/Sound Designer
Robin O'Donoghue	Sound/Sound Designer
Harry Oakes	Cinematographer
Queen	Score Composer
Ferdinando Scarfiotti	Production Designer
Lorenzo Semple	Screenwriter
Ivan Sharrock	Sound/Sound Designer
Gilbert Taylor	Cinematographer
Harry Waxman	Cinematographer
Bernard Williams	Executive Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Flash Gordon
1. A Play Thing (Main Titles) [9:58]
2. Into the Vortex [8:56]
3. Ming the Merciless [6:01]
4. Barbaric Games [6:13]
5. Public Execution [6:16]
6. Back From the Dead [6:25]
7. Learning to Fly [5:15]
8. Traitor Among Us [4:54]
9. Playing With Fire [4:33]
10. Tortured [6:08]
11. Try, the Wood Beast [3:00]
12. To the Death [2:35]
13. Klytus' Demise [6:56]
14. Word of Honor [6:32]
15. King of the Impossible [3:18]
16. The Ceremony Begins [7:34]
17. Saviour of the Universe [7:04]
18. End Titles [5:32]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Flash Gordon
   Senes
   Bonus Materials
      Alex Ross, Renowned Comic Artist, on Flash Gordon
      Writing a Classic: Screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr
      First Episode of the Flash Gordon 1936 Serial
      Flash Gordon TV Show Trailer
      Theatrical Trailer
   Languages
      Spoken Language
         English 5.1
      Subtitles
         English Sdh
         Español
         Francais
         Subtitles: Off
   Play

Editorial Reviews

A director treads a precarious artistic line when setting out to consciously make a campy film. How exactly does one take seriously a film that asks not to be taken seriously? Mike Hodges answers that question in Flash Gordon. Near the end of this film Dale Arden announces to Flash, while he's in the middle of a possibly fatal fistfight, "Flash, I love you but we only have 14 hours to save the Earth!" That line does a good job of encapsulating the movie's goofy charm. Full of bright, primary colors and sets that manage to look simultaneously ostentatious and cheap, Flash Gordon looks like a comic strip. Skyscapes look like matte paintings (because they are) and the costumes, while seemingly outrageous, fit right into this world. With this much eye candy, the story itself hardly matters. Luckily, the filmmakers take their narrative cue from the serials of the '30s and present a breathless, cliffhanger-filled tale of last second escapes, thrilling fights, and heroic adventures, all delivered with tongue firmly planted in cheek. All this and Queen too. What's not to love? Just when you think they can't possibly squeeze in another great visual joke, the hawkmen, with whom Flash has defeated Ming the Merciless, show their gratitude to our hero by flying in a formation that reads "thanks." They then disband and reform in a pattern that reads "Flash." Such sublime silliness is what brings the film's cult audience back time after time. --Perry Seibert

All Movie Guide - Seibert

A director treads a precarious artistic line when setting out to consciously make a campy film. How exactly does one take seriously a film that asks not to be taken seriously? Mike Hodges answers that question in Flash Gordon. Near the end of this film, Dale Arden announces to Flash, while he's in the middle of a possibly fatal fistfight, "Flash, I love you but we only have 14 hours to save the Earth!" That line does a good job of encapsulating the movie's goofy charm. Full of bright primary colors and sets that manage to look simultaneously ostentatious and cheap, Flash Gordon looks like a comic strip. Skyscapes look like matte paintings (because they are) and the costumes, while seemingly outrageous, fit right into this world. With this much eye candy, the story itself hardly matters. Luckily, the filmmakers take their narrative cue from the serials of the '30s and present a breathless, cliffhanger-filled tale of last-second escapes, thrilling fights, and heroic adventures, all delivered with tongue firmly planted in cheek. All this and Queen, too. What's not to love? Just when you think they can't possibly squeeze in another great visual joke, the Hawkmen, with whom Flash has defeated Ming the Merciless, show their gratitude to our hero by flying in a formation that reads "thanks." They then disband and reform in a pattern that reads "Flash." Such sublime silliness is what brings the film's cult audience back time after time.

All Movie Guide - Perry Seibert

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