Flash Gordon (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Flash Gordon


caption = Film poster by Richard Amsel
director = Mike Hodges
writer = Characters:
Alex Raymond
Adaptation:
Michael Allin
Screenplay:
Lorenzo Semple Jr.
starring = Sam J. Jones
Melody Anderson
Topol
Timothy Dalton
Max von Sydow
Ornella Muti
Brian Blessed
producer = Bernard Williams
Dino De Laurentiis
music = Queen
Howard Blake
cinematography = Gilbert Taylor, BSC
editing = Malcolm Cooke
distributor = Universal Pictures (theatrical/DVD rights)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (TV rights, MGM HD, and all other international rights through StudioCanal)
released = United States: December 5, 1980
runtime = 111 min.
language = English
budget = $35,000,000 (est.)
amg_id = 1:17730
imdb_id = 0080745

"Flash Gordon" is a 1980 science fiction film, based on the eponymous comic strip character Flash Gordon (Gordon Ferrao). The film was directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. It stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton and Ornella Muti. The screenplay was written by Michael Allin (of "Enter the Dragon" fame) and Lorenzo Semple Jr. It intentionally uses a camp style similar to the 1960s TV series "Batman" (for which Semple had written many episodes) in an attempt to appeal to fans of the original comics and serial films.

Taglines:
*"He'll save every one of us!"
*"Pathetic Earthlings... Who Can Save You Now?"

Plot summary

The story opens with the voice of Emperor Ming the Merciless (Max Von Sydow), ruler of the alien kingdom of Mongo. Complaining of being bored, he asks his second-in-command, General Klytus (Peter Wyngarde), if he has a plaything to offer him. Klytus has an immediate answer: "an obscure body in the S-K system, known to its inhabitants as the planet Earth". Using his advanced technology, including a hand ring, Ming starts a series of Earthly disasters: tidal waves, earthquakes and even “hot hail”. Ming indicates he will destroy Earth, but likes "to play with things a while before annihilation”.

Sometime later, on Earth in a town called Dark Harbor, New York Jets football star “Flash” Gordon (Sam J. Jones) is waiting to board a small plane to head home when the “hot hail” begins, but he pays little attention to it. Moments later he meets travel journalist Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) who is also flying back to New York City. After they take off, the disasters become progressively worse, and the pilots are sucked out of the cockpit. Flash and Dale rush to the cockpit and take control of the plane, and promptly crash land in a greenhouse owned by Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol). According to Dr. Zarkov's research of previous similar occurrences in space, the disasters are being caused by an unknown physical source in space sending the moon out of orbit, as evidenced by moon fragments plummeting to the Earth, causing the hot hail. Zarkov's theories were considered outlandish by his colleagues at NASA, resulting in his resignation and public humiliation. Zarkov had been secretly working on a rocket ship for several years to test his theory, but now intends to go to the coordinates for the source of the attacks. Taking Dale prisoner, as he needs two people to operate the ship, he is attacked by Flash, causing the ship to accidentally launch with all three on board. They make a reluctant peace with each other just before the gravitational forces knock them unconscious, leaving the ship to autopilot to Mongo through a dimensional vortex. Awakening on arrival, the three are promptly taken prisoner.

Mongo comes across as an "Imperial" police state, run along the lines of autocratic regimes such as Nazi Germany but with a retro looking high tech aesthetic. Ming and Klytus, the head of the secret police, maintain their hold on power by surreptitiously encouraging conflicts between neighboring moon colonies, especially Arboria (Latin: "Arbor" translated as "tree" i.e. "Arboria:" "land (or planet) of the trees"), a swamp-like moon ruled by Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton) and his rival Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed) who rules the Hawkmen in the floating Sky City.

Flash, Dale and Zarkov are brought before Ming. Aiming his power ring at Dale, she goes into a trance and begins a slow, sensual dance. Ming orders her to be removed and prepared for his pleasure, but Flash openly defies Ming and picks a fight with his men, adopting his athletic skills from American football. Dale comes out from her brief trance and shows her support for Flash, who is on the verge of gaining the upper hand and overwhelming Mings troops, but he is accidentally knocked out by Zarkov in the ensuing meleé. Ming orders Zarkov into Klytus’ custody for reconditioning and repays Flash’s defiance in kind by ordering his execution. Following Flash's disposal, Princess Aura (Ornella Muti) and Ming’s Chief Surgeon, one of her numerous lovers, arrive at the temporary mausoleum where they open Flash’s casket and resurrect him. Aura and Flash quickly retreat to Arboria, kingdom of Prince Barin, yet another lover of Aura’s.

En route to Arboria, Flash coerces Aura to teach him to use a telepathic communicator so that he can contact Dale and let her know he is still alive. Relieved, Dale informs Flash she is locked in Ming’s bedchamber. She later escapes and tells a reconditioned Zarkov that Flash is still alive. Dale and Zarkov subsequently escape, and Zarkov tells Dale the "brain drain" he was subject to was all for naught and he was able to retain his memory completely intact, but they are quickly captured by Prince Vultan’s Hawkmen and taken to his kingdom, Sky City.

Klytus informs Ming of Flash’s resurrection and asks Ming’s authority to pursue the investigation; Ming agrees. Aura and Flash arrive at the forest moon Arboria. When Aura leaves, Prince Barin throws Flash into a cage and lowers him into a swamp.

Barin decides to lure Flash into a trap by sending one of his Tree Men into the cage with a key to get out. Flash eventually tricks Barin and escapes into the swamp, and Barin soon follows in pursuit. He catches up with Flash, but before he can kill him, the two are taken prisoner by more of Vultan’s Hawkmen. Aura returns alone to Mingo City only to be taken prisoner and violently interrogated by Klytus and General Kala. They eventually get a full confession.

Flash and Barin are taken to Prince Vultan’s (Brian Blessed) kingdom, where Flash and Dale are briefly reunited. Klytus later arrives to arrest Barin and Zarkov for treason. But Flash and Barin double-team Klytus and kill him. In a panic, Vultan orders all the Hawkmen to evacuate, leaving Barin, Flash, Dale and Zarkov behind. Ming’s ship arrives shortly afterwards. Ming orders that only Barin, Zarkov and Dale are to be taken aboard his ship. He then disembarks to parlay with Flash, offering him a kingdom of Mongo to rule. But when Ming hints the kingdom Flash is to receive is his own planet Earth under Ming’s rule, Flash refuses. Ming returns to his ship and gives the order to destroy Vultan’s kingdom with Flash still on it. But as the bolts of energy tear the place asunder, Flash finds one of the Hawkmen’s rocket cycles, and once again escapes death.

On Mongo, Dale is being prepared for her wedding to Ming in Mingo City. Just as the wedding is about to begin, Flash approaches alone on the rocket cycle. General Kala (Mariangela Melato), orders weapons to open fire at him. Kala orders "Ajax", an Imperial war rocket, to go after Flash and bring back his body. After a huge battle, the Hawkmen, heavily outnumbering "Ajax’s" crew, seize control of the rocket and, with Flash taking the helm, make their way toward Mingo City. In Mingo City, Princess Aura overpowers her guard and makes her way to the execution chamber, freeing Barin and Zarkov. To disguise her actions, Aura rushes to her father’s wedding while Barin and Zarkov head for the control center, where General Kala orders all weapons to fire upon "Ajax" as it is out of its proper flight pattern, and also orders Mingo City’s protective lightning field to be charged up.

In Mingo City, Ming and a defiant Dale’s wedding has just begun. Just as Ming places the ring on Dale’s finger, the lightning field deactivates to reveal "Ajax" plummeting toward the temple. There is a frantic dash for safety as "Ajax" smashes into the sanctuary, and its lance-like bow impales Ming right through his midsection. The impact throws Flash clear of the rocket, dazed but uninjured. He grabs a dead guard’s sword and gives Ming an ultimatum: call off his attack on Earth or die. Ming aims his power ring at Flash, but it seems to have no effect. With his power fading, he aims his ring at himself and vanishes. Ming's robot servant declares that Flash has saved the Earth. Barin and Vultan and his Hawkmen arrive, Flash is again reunited with Dale, and a huge victory celebration ensues. Vultan announces to the multitude that Barin is the rightful heir to the now-vacant throne. The newly-appointed King Barin shows his gratitude to Flash, appoints Vultan as the new Army General, and decrees that everyone live together in peace.

The last scene focuses on Ming’s empty power ring, and an unidentified hand picking it up as the words “the end” fade onto the screen, followed by a question mark- and Ming’s evil laughter.

"Full Cast List"

*Flash Gordon... Sam J. Jones
*Dale Arden... Melody Anderson
*The Emperor Ming... Max Von Sydow
*Dr Hans Zarkov... Chaim Topol
*Princess Aura... Ornella Muti
*Prince Barin... Timothy Dalton
*Prince Vultan... Brian Blessed
*Klytus... Peter Wyngarde.
*Kala... Mariangela Melato.
*Arborian Priest... John Osborne.
*Flco... Richard O'Brien.
*Luro... John Hallam.
*Zogi the high preist... Philip Stone.
*Serving Girl... Suzanne Danielle.
*Munson... William Hootkins.
*Hedonia... Bobbie Brown.
*Biro... Ted Carrol.
*Vultan's Daughter... Adrienne Kronenberg
*Mongon Doctor... Stanley Lebor
*Airline Pilot... John Morton
*Airline Co-Pilot... Burnell Tucker
*Man at air field... Robbie Coltrane
*Young Treeman... Peter Duncan
*A Treeman... Ken Sicklen
*Hawk Woman... Tessa
*Hawk Woman... Venetia Spicer
*Wounded Hawkman... Francis Mugham
*Klytus Observer No.1... Oliver MacGreevy
*Klytus Observer No.2... John Hollis
*Klytus' Pilot... Paul Bentall
*Colonel of Battle Control Room... Leon Greene
*Battle Room Controller... Graeme Crowther
*Ming's Officer... Tony Scannell
*Captain of Ming's Air Force... David Neal
*Lieutenant of Ming's Air Force... Bogdan Kominowski
*Prince of Ardentia... George Harris
*King of Frigia... Colin Taylor
*Queen of Frigia... Doretta Dunkley
*Queen of Azuria... Sally Nicholson
*Princess Aura's Pet... Deep Roy

Reception

With its camp style, exaggerated costumes and synthesized music, "Flash Gordon" had a poor box office performance, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom, where it is still one of the top 100 films of all time when adjusted for inflation. Max von Sydow (Ming) received a good deal of praise for his performance, despite Jones (Gordon) being nominated for a Golden Raspberry for worst lead actor. According to "Empire" magazine, Sam J. Jones had troubles of some sort with the director, which resulted in almost all of his dialogue being dubbed by a professional voice actor whose identity is still a mystery.

The film went on to become a cult classic; many of the film's lines are intentionally tongue-in-cheek, and this knowing sense of humor contributes to the collective affection with which the picture is remembered by its fans. Despite its shortcomings, it maintains a 80% fresh rating at RottenTomatoes.com and is ranked #88 on the Rotten Tomatoes Journey Through Sci-Fi List (100 Best-Reviewed Sci-Fi Movies).

A sequel was also considered and according to Brian Blessed on the Region 2 DVD commentary for "Flash Gordon - Silver Anniversary Edition", the sequel was going to be set on Mars, as a possible update of the Buster Crabbe serials.

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was composed and performed by the rock band Queen. Flash Gordon was one of the earlier high-budget feature films to use a score primarily composed and performed by a rock band. (Later ones included De Laurentiis's productions of "Dune," scored by Toto; and "Maximum Overdrive," scored by AC/DC.) An orchestral score was also composed by Howard Blake.

Media

The film was originally released worldwide via Universal Pictures. Universal has retained the domestic theatrical and home video rights, while the international rights passed on through different companies, eventually landing with StudioCanal, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer representing. MGM now also owns the television rights under license from StudioCanal, which explains why the MGM logo appears before television airings of this film.

It was released on VHS and no sooner than 1998 on DVD in Region 1 via Universal. It was released in Region 2 in 2001 (Japan) and again in 2005 (UK/Europe); with the 2005 release including commentary by Brian Blessed winning the "Commentary Of The Year" award from "Hotdog Magazine" for his humor and enthusiasm. On August 7, 2007, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released a "Saviour of the Universe Edition" DVD in North America to coincide with Sci Fi's new television series. This special edition does not include the cast and crew interviews of the region 2 release.

In October 2007, a high definition transfer of the film premiered on the MGM HD cable/satellite channel.

In November 2007, Sam J. Jones and Melody Anderson together created a new commentary track for the international (non-USA) DVD edition of the film. [cite web | title=Flash Gordon Commentary Featuring Sam Jones and Melody Anderson Just Released | url=http://scifistorm.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/25/1511203 | publisher=Sci-Fi Storm | date-2007-11-25 | accessdate=2008-03-24]

Awards

In 1981, the film got Saturn Award nominations in the categories: "Best Costumes", "Best Science Fiction Film" and "Best Supporting Actor" (Max von Sydow). In the same year it was also nominated in 3 categories for the BAFTA Film Awards: "Best Costume Design" (Danilo Donati), "Best Original Film Music" (Queen) and "Best Production Design/Art Direction" (Danilo Donati). Sam Jones was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for worst actor in 1981.

Notes

Frank Herbert was a script consultant for the film. [...David Lynch's "Dune", and even Dino de Laurentiis' film "Flash Gordon", on which Frank had worked in London as a script consultant." pg 18, Preface, Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson, "The Road to Dune".]

When launching his Hawkmen into battle against the spaceship "Ajax", the warlike Vultan's order to "Dive" sounds like "Die!"

The opening lines between Ming and Klytus ("Klytus, I'm bored! What plaything do you have for me today") were sampled in second track of The Orb's "Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld."

See also

* Flash Gordon
* "Flash Gordon" (album)
* Flesh Gordon (erotic parody)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.flashgordondvd.com/ "Flash Gordon - Saviour of the Universe Edition"]
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* [http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=29570 DVD Talk on "Flash Gordon - Saviour of the Universe Edition"]
* [http://www.brianorndorf.com/2008/09/review-flash-gordon-commentary-with-sam-j-jones-and-melody-anderson.html BrianOrndorf.com on the fan-produced Sam J. Jones/Melody Anderson DVD audio commentary]