Flash Gordon (1980)

Director:

Mike Hodges

Writers:

Lorenzo Semple Jr. (screenplay)
Michael Allin (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

5 December 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

He'll save every one of us!

Plot:

A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Emperor | Flash Gordon | Prince | Scientist

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Sam J. Jones	...	Flash Gordon
Melody Anderson	...	Dale Arden
Max von Sydow	...	The Emperor Ming / Ming's Floating Servant (as Max Von Sydow)
Topol	...	Dr. Hans Zarkov
Ornella Muti	...	Princess Aura
Timothy Dalton	...	Prince Barin
Brian Blessed	...	Prince Vultan
Peter Wyngarde	...	Klytus
Mariangela Melato	...	Kala
John Osborne	...	Arborian Priest
Richard O'Brien	...	Fico
John Hallam	...	Luro
Philip Stone	...	Zogi, the High Priest
Suzanne Danielle	...	Serving Girl
William Hootkins	...	Munson
Bobbie Brown	...	Hedonia
Ted Carroll	...	Biro
Adrienne Kronenberg	...	Vultan's Daughter
Stanley Lebor	...	Mongon Doctor
John Morton	...	Airline Pilot
Burnell Tucker	...	Airline Co-Pilot
Robbie Coltrane	...	Man at Airfield
Peter Duncan	...	Young Treeman
Ken Sicklen	...	A Treeman
Tessa Hewitt	...	Hawk Woman (as Tessa)
Venetia Spicer	...	Hawk Woman
Francis Mughan	...	Wounded Hawkman
Oliver MacGreevy	...	Klytus Observer No. 1
John Hollis	...	Klytus Observer No. 2
Paul Bentall	...	Klytus' Pilot
Leon Greene	...	Colonel of Battle Control Room
Graeme Crowther	...	Battle Room Controller
Tony Scannell	...	Ming's Officer
David Neal	...	Captain of Ming's Air Force
Bogdan Kominowski	...	Lieutenant of Ming's Air Force
George Harris	...	Prince Thun of Ardentia
Colin Taylor	...	King of Frigia
Doretta Dunkley	...	Queen of Frigia
Sally Nicholson	...	Queen of Azuria
Deep Roy	...	Princess Aura's Pet
Michelle Mildwater	...	Special Movement
Marie Green	...	Special Movement
Imogen Claire	...	Special Movement
Kay Zimmerman	...	Special Movement
Frederick Warder	...	Special Movement (as Fred Warder)
Stephen Brigden	...	Special Movement
Lionel Guyett	...	Special Movement
Ken Robertson	...	Special Movement
Andy Bradford	...	Hawkman (as Andrew Bradford)
Bertram Adams	...	Hawkman
Terry Forrestal	...	Hawkman
Mike Potter	...	Hawkman
John Sullivan	...	Hawkman
Eddie Stacey	...	Hawkman
John Lees	...	Hawkman
Roy Scammell	...	Hawkman
Kathy Marquis	...	Sandmoon Girl
Sophie	...	Sandmoon Girl
Kathy September	...	Sandmoon Girl
Glenna Forster-Jones	...	Sandmoon Girl (as Glenna Forster Jones)
Roseanne Romine	...	Cytherian Girl (as Rosanne Romine)
Sneh	...	Cytherian Girl
Magda	...	Cytherian Girl
Shaka	...	Cytherian Girl
Lindy	...	Cytherian Girl
Viva	...	Cytherian Girl
Beverly Andrews	...	Cytherian Girl
Frances Ward	...	Cytherian Girl
Kerry-Lou Baylis	...	Cytherian Girl
Camella	...	Cytherian Girl
Miranda Riley	...	Frigian Girl
Lorraine Paul	...	Aquarian Girl
Carolyn Evans	...	Aquarian Girl
Celeste	...	Aquarian Girl
Tina Thomas	...	Aquarian Girl
Ruthie Barnett	...	Aquarian Girl
Joe Iles	...	Ardentian Man
Trevor Ward	...	Ardentian Man
Alva Shelley	...	Ardentian Man
Nik Abraham	...	Ardentian Man
Leonard Hay	...	Ardentian Man
Glen Whitter	...	Ardentian Man
Jamalia	...	Serving Girl in Ming's Chamber
Jill Lamb	...	Serving Girl in Ming's Chamber
Sunanka	...	Serving Girl in Ming's Chamber
Karen Johnson	...	Serving Girl in Ming's Chamber
Gina	...	Exotic Girl in Ming's Bedchamber
Raquel	...	Exotic Girl in Ming's Bedchamber
Fai	...	Exotic Girl in Ming's Bedchamber
Malcolm Dixon	...	Dwarf
Tiny Ross	...	Dwarf
Mike Edmonds	...	Dwarf
John Ghavan	...	Dwarf
Rusty Goffe	...	Dwarf
Richard Jones	...	Dwarf
Mike Cottrell	...	Dwarf
Peter Burroughs	...	Dwarf (as Peter Burrows)
John Lummiss	...	Dwarf (as John Lummis)
Kenny Baker	...	Dwarf
Bob Goody	...	Azurian Man (as Robert Goody)
Daniel Venn	...	Azurian Man
Peter St. James	...	Azurian Man
Steve Payne	...	Azurian Man (as Steven Payne)
Max Alford	...	Azurian Man
Stephen Calcutt	...	Azurian Man
Anthony Olivier	...	Azurian Man
Jim Carter	...	Azurian Man
Stuart Blake	...	Azurian Man
Nigel Jeffcoat	...	Azurian Man
Chris Webb	...	Ming's Brute
Leslie Crawford	...	Ming's Brute (as Les Crawford)
Peter Brace	...	Ming's Brute
Terry Richards	...	Ming's Brute
John Gallant	...	Ming's Brute
Eddie Powell	...	Ming's Brute
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David de Keyser	...	Colonel of Battle Control Room (voice)
Sean Barry-Weske	...	Rabbi in Montage (uncredited)
Richard Bonehill	...	Extra (uncredited)
Kevin Hudson	...	Hawk Man (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	Arborian Priest Assistant (uncredited)
Ralph Morse	...	Arborian (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Hodges

Writing credits
Lorenzo Semple Jr.		(screenplay)
Michael Allin		(adaptation)
Alex Raymond		(characters created by)

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer
Bernard Williams	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Howard Blake		(orchestral score)
Queen

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor		(director of photography) (as Gil Taylor)

Film Editing by
Malcolm Cooke

Production Design by
Danilo Donati

Art Direction by
John Graysmark		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Danilo Donati

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati		(costumes designed by)

Makeup Department
Giusy Bovino	....	hairdresser
Massimo De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Mario Di Salvio	....	makeup artist
Betty Glasow	....	hairdresser
Richard Mills	....	makeup artist
Jane Royle	....	makeup artist (as Jayne Royle)

Production Management
David C. Anderson	....	production manager (as David Anderson)
Alexander De Grunwald	....	production manager
Clifton Brandon	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brian W. Cook	....	first assistant director (as Brian Cook)
William Kronick	....	second unit director
Terry Needham	....	second assistant director
Michael Stevenson	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tom Adams	....	artist: skies & clouds
Emanuela Alteri	....	illustrator
Andy Andrews	....	property master
Ted Clements	....	assistant art director
Ken Court	....	assistant art director
Count Ul De Rico	....	artist: skies & clouds
Danilo Donati	....	set designer
Galliano Donati	....	sculptor
John Fenner	....	assistant art director
Len Furey	....	construction manager
Tony Graysmark	....	construction manager
Dennis Griffin	....	production buyer (as Denis Griffin)
Arthur Healey	....	sculptor
Mentor Huebner	....	illustrator
Giovanna Lombardo	....	illustrator
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist
Giorgio Postiglione	....	assistant art director
Aldo Puccini	....	construction manager
Tony Reading	....	assistant art director
Vic Simpson	....	construction supervisor
Steve Spence	....	assistant art director
Giulio Tamassy	....	sculptor (as Giulio Tomassy)
Jack Towns	....	stand-by propman
Peter Voysey	....	sculptor
Andy Aitken	....	scenic plasterer (uncredited)
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Mick Chubbock	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Michael Finlay	....	painter (uncredited)
David Ned Kelly	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Dennis Murray	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Peter Russell	....	art set assistant (uncredited)
Keith Short	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Bill Stallion	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jonathan Bates	....	sound editor
Michael Crouch	....	footsteps editor (as Mike Crouch)
Ian Fuller	....	dialogue editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
John Iles	....	stereo consultant: Dolby
Robin O'Donoghue	....	dubbing mixer
Ivan Sharrock	....	sound mixer
Ken Weston	....	boom operator
Don Banks	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Derek Botell	....	special effects flying
George Gibbs	....	special effects supervisor
Chris Kelly	....	special effects editor
Glen Robinson	....	special effects consultant
Pierre Tilley	....	special effects assistant
David Watson	....	special effects assistant (as Dave Watson)
Michael White	....	special effects assistant
Garth Inns	....	senior special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Martin Bower	....	model maker
Richard Conway	....	special effects: models and skies
Norman Dorme	....	art director: models
Lyn Gerry	....	optical technician
Ralph Gordon	....	optical technician
Louis Lichtenfield	....	matte paintings (as Lou Lichtenfield)
Bill Lindemann	....	laboratory coordinator
David Litchfield	....	camera operator: skies & clouds
Ray Monahan	....	optical cameraman
Barry Nolan	....	special photographic effects assistant
Harry Oakes	....	lighting cameraman: skies & clouds
Christine Overs	....	model maker
Terry Pearce	....	focus: skies & clouds
Bill Pearson	....	model maker
Dick Ramirez	....	optical technician
Rick Rothbart	....	optical technician
Don Sargent	....	model maker
Robert Scifo	....	matte paintings (as Bob Scifo)
Frank Van der Veer	....	supervisor: special photographic effects
Greg Van der Veer	....	blue screen composites (as Greg Van Der Veer)
Hugh Wade	....	optical cameraman
Jon Sorensen	....	visual effects miniatures (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kevin Hudson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Deep Roy	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Budd	....	focus
Roy Ford	....	camera operator
Maurice Gillett	....	supervising electrician
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
Bob Penn	....	stills cameraman
Peter Taylor	....	focus
Harry Waxman	....	additional photography
Micky Wilson	....	gaffer electrician (as Mick Wilson)
Carlos Melville	....	electrician (uncredited)
Geoff Mulligan	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
Jimmy Worley	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michael McLean	....	casting: USA
Mary Selway	....	casting: U.K.

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Franco Antonelli	....	costumier
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor
Julian Gilbert	....	costume maker
Giampiero Grassi	....	costume maker
Renee Heimer	....	wardrobe assistant (as Rene Heimer)
Michael Jones	....	costume maker
Bruno Lenzi	....	costume maker
Keith Morton	....	wardrobe assistant
David Perry	....	costume design assistant
Riccarda Pierconti	....	costume maker
Janet Tebrooke	....	wardrobe mistress
David Terry	....	costume maker
Patrick Wheatley	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Rita Burgess	....	assistant editor
Michael Greenleaf	....	assistant editor
David Hitchcock	....	assistant editor
Jeremy Hume	....	assistant editor
Derek Trigg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Howard Blake	....	arranger: orchestral score
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Alan Douglas	....	music recordist
Brian May	....	musician (as Queen)
Queen	....	music performer
Queen	....	music producer
John Richards	....	music recordist
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Gerald Makein	....	transport captain

Other crew
Gordon Arnell	....	publicist
Len Barnard	....	production accountant
Mary Breen-Farrelly	....	assistant accountant
June Broom	....	publicist
Diana Bull	....	administrative assistant
John Burgess	....	drama & dialogue coach
Jerry Cormier	....	administrative assistant
Dino De Laurentiis	....	presenter
Richard Greenberg	....	titles produced and designed by: main & end titles
William Hobbs	....	coordinator: action and movement (as Bill Hobbs)
Josephine Knowles	....	production assistant
Charles Lippincott	....	marketing director (as Charley Lippincott)
Barbara Markham	....	drama & dialogue coach
Sandy Molloy	....	director's personal assistant
Golda Offenheim	....	production assistant
Denis Postle	....	director: Zarkov Brain Drain sequence
June Randall	....	script supervisor
Philip Sharpe	....	effects technician (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Starling Films (as Starling Productions Ltd.)
• Dino De Laurentiis Company (uncredited)

Distributors

• EMI Distribution (1980) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• AMLF (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
• BMG Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Cinema Classics (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Laser Paradise (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• StudioCanal (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Classics (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• King Features Syndicate  licensed by
• Elektra Records  music available on (as Elektra Records and Tapes)
• Music Centre, The  music recorded at
• Anvil Studios  music recorded at (as Anvil Recording Studios)
• The Town House  music recorded at (as The Town House Studios)
• Advision Studios  music recorded at
• Theatre 3 Productions  electronic sound effects
• R/Greenberg Associates  main and end titles produced and designed by
• Twickenham Studios  recorded at (as Twickenham Film Studios)
• Lee Lighting  lighting equipment supplied by (as Lee Electric Lighting Equipment Ltd.)
• Fiat  cars supplied by (as Fiat Motors)
• Van der Veer Photo Effects  optical effects
• R/Greenberg Associates  additional optical effects
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Universal Hartland  additional opticals (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) (as Dolby Stereo)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) (1997) (2000) (2002) | USA:PG (Certificate #26032) | West Germany:12 (f) | UK:A (original rating: theatrical rating) | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | New Zealand:PG

Filming Locations:

Airstrip, Breakish, Skye, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company:

Starling Films

Trivia:

Klytus and Kala, Ming's two chief henchmen, were competitors for their ruler's favor. Ming played them off against each other to keep them from teaming up against him. This was downplayed in the film to keep the storyline fluid.

Goofs:

Continuity: Again in the same fight, some of the spikes on the fighting platform can be seen folding under both Prince Barin and Flash's body as they fall on them (watch closely as the scene changes quickly), clearly showing that the spikes are made of rubber.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Emperor Ming:Klytus, I'm bored. What play thing can you offer me today?
Klytus:An obscure body in the S-K System, Your Majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet Earth.
The Emperor Ming:How peaceful it looks.
[He activates a console, and watches as earthquakes, floods, etc. start to occur. They both get a good laugh out of it]
Klytus:Most effective, Your Majesty. Will you destroy this Earth?
The Emperor Ming:Later. I like to play with thing a while before annihilation.
[laughs evilly]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strongbad_email.exe: Disc Five (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Flash

If you think its bad you're missing the point

I loved this movie when i was about seven, and I enjoy it even more on the same childish level today. This is a movie that doesnt ask you to suspend belief or insult your intelligence, because it is so blatantly make believe right up front. I truly believe that the makers of this movie set out to make an over the top hammy piece of cinema. I dont think anyone can argue that, in that respect, they succeeded. I admit that Sam J. Jones is a terrible actor (even dubbed) but it lends it self nicely to the fact that flash just isnt that bright. And whether intentional or not, the bad acting in this film just helps it pull off the cheesiness to perfection. No movie with lines such as "I love you! But we only have fourteen hours left to save the earth!" could be considered a serious dramatic entity. Frankly I find the approach that this movie takes to be refreshing, especialy when compared with some ridiculously plotted movies, that while good in their own right, insult our inteligence by taking themselves seriously (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, etc). My advise to anyone watching this movie is to not expect Gone With the Wind or Casablanca. Just have fun! And dont hold the absurdity and cheesiness of this movie against it, because its intentional, and done beautifuly!