Flash Gordon (1936/I)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Frederick Stephani

Writers:

Alex Raymond (based on the comic strip by) &
Ella O'Neill (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 April 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

THRILLING STRANGE WORLD ADVENTURES!!! (original Chapter 1 one-sheet poster)

Plot:

Three earthlings visit the planet Mongo to thwart the evil schemes of Emperor Ming the Merciless.

Plot Keywords:

Flash Gordon | Rocket | Choke | Sword Fight | Arena

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Buster Crabbe	...	Flash Gordon
Jean Rogers	...	Dale Arden
Charles Middleton	...	Ming the Merciless
Priscilla Lawson	...	Princess Aura
Frank Shannon	...	Dr. Alexis Zarkov
Richard Alexander	...	Prince Barin [Chs. 5-13]
Jack 'Tiny' Lipson	...	King Vultan [Chs. 5-13]
Theodore Lorch	...	High Priest #2 [Chs. 8-11, 13]
Richard Tucker	...	Prof. Gordon [Chs. 1, 4, 9-13]
George Cleveland	...	Prof. Hensley [Chs. 1, 4, 9-13]
James Pierce	...	Prince Thun [Chs. 2-9, 12-13]
Duke York	...	King Kala [Chs. 2-5] (as Duke York Jr.)
Muriel Goodspeed	...	Zona [Ch. 4]
Earl Askam	...	Officer Torch
House Peters Jr.	...	Shark Man [Chs. 3-4]

Also Known As:

Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers (USA) (video title)
Space Soldiers (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

245 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

King Features Production

Trivia:

Despite its large budget, this serial utilized many sets from other Universal films, such as the laboratory and crypt set from Bride of Frankenstein (1935), the castle interiors from Dracula's Daughter (1936), the idol from The Mummy (1932) and the opera house interiors from The Phantom of the Opera (1925). In addition, the outer walls of Ming's castle were actually the cathedral walls from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923/I).

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When some of the characters speak, the voice on the soundtrack doesn't match the person speaking.

Quotes:

Ming the Merciless: [observing Flash wrestling with the Orangupoid] He fights well, the Earth man.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Flicks (1987)

A Serial Classic

After 66 years "Flash Gordon" still has an appealing scifi/adventure/epic feel that many of today's science fiction adventures strive for and fail to deliver. The only way to fully enjoy this serial is just to sit back and not pick at anything (hokey effects, dialogue, why Flash doesn't go for Princess Aura etc.). And as for you older people who saw "Flash Gordon" back on the serial screen or on T.V. "back in the day", if you want this fine serial to remain appealing to future generations, get your kids/grandkids to watch this when they're young. It worked for me (Male aged 18 or under). 9 out of 10