"The Flash" Pilot (1990)

Director:

Robert Iscove

Writers:

Danny Bilson (writer)
Paul De Meo (writer)

TV Series:

"The Flash" (1990)

Original Air Date:

20 September 1990 (Season 1, Episode 0)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Fantasy

Tagline:

His justice is fast. And furious.

Plot:

A laboratory accident endows a police scientist with the ability to move at superhuman speed which he uses to battle a menacing gang as a superhero.

Plot Keywords:

Flash | Superhuman Speed | Superhero | DC Comics | Origin Of Hero

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

John Wesley Shipp	...	Barry Allen / The Flash
Amanda Pays	...	Christina 'Tina' McGee
Alex Désert	...	Julio Mendez
Paula Marshall	...	Iris West
Michael Nader	...	Nicholas Pike
Tim Thomerson	...	Jay Allen
Priscilla Pointer	...	Nora Allen
Lycia Naff	...	Lila
Richard Belzer	...	Joe Kline
Robert Hooks	...	Chief Arthur Cooper
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Henry Allen
Patrie Allen	...	Eve Allen
Biff Manard	...	Officer Michael Murphy
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Officer Tony Bellows
Wayne Pére	...	Rick

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-14 (cut version) | UK:PG | Finland:K-16 (uncut)

Company:

Pet Fly Productions

Trivia:

Barry Allen's older brother's name is Jay. Jay Garrick was the original Flash in the comic books.

Quotes:

Nicolas Pike: What are you? And where did you come from?
Flash: I came from you, Pike! You made me when you killed my brother.
Nicolas Pike: I killed a lot of men's brothers.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "The Flash" (1990)

Great Comic Book Adaptation

This movie premiered in September of 1990 shortly after the 1989 Batman film. There are definite similarities between the two in mood, art direction, style and music. When I first heard about this show I was really excited because I had been a fan of The Flash and DC Comics for years prior to this show. I felt the creators of the show did a wonderful job in setting the mood for a comic book atmosphere. I thought the stories were entertaining and as I watch them years later they still appeal to me. The special effects for the time were pretty good. John Wesley Shipp made a great Barry Allen, and The Flash costume he wore was one of the better costume efforts I've seen for a superhero. I also felt the show created some real likeable characters. In addition, I felt the Barry Allen and Christina McGee characters had good on-screen chemistry.

Unfortunately, the TV show only lasted one season because CBS never knew where they wanted to put this show from week to week. I watched every episode of the TV show until it was cancelled. I can only ponder what could have been, where the show could have gone if it had been given a real chance to grow and develope into a premiere super hero show. Whenever any of the actors show up in anything else, I always think of The Flash immediately, especially John Wesley Shipp. It was only one season, but his performance as The Flash and his alter ego, Barry Allen, left a lasting impression.