Flash Gordon (film)

Flash Gordon
Theatrical release poster by Richard Amsel
Directed by	Mike Hodges
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis Bernard Williams
Screenplay by	Michael Allin (Adaptation) Lorenzo Semple, Jr.
Based on	Characters by Alex Raymond
Starring	Sam J. Jones Melody Anderson Topol Timothy Dalton Max von Sydow Ornella Muti Brian Blessed
Music by	Queen Howard Blake
Cinematography	Gilbert Taylor
Editing by	Malcolm Cooke
Studio	Dino De Laurentiis Company Starling Films
Distributed by	Universal Studios
Release date(s)	December 5, 1980 (1980-12-05)
Running time	111 minutes
Country	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$35 million
Box office	$27,107,960

Flash Gordon is a 1980 British-American science fiction film, based on the comic strip of the same name created by Alex Raymond. The film was directed by Mike Hodges and produced and presented by Dino De Laurentiis. It stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed and Ornella Muti. The screenplay was written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr., and adapted by Michael Allin. 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. However, it performed poorly outside the United Kingdom. The film is notable for its soundtrack composed, performed and produced by the rock band Queen (although orchestral sections were by Howard Blake).

Plot

The story opens with Emperor Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) declaring that he will first play with, and then destroy, the Earth, using seemingly natural disasters. Sometime later on Earth, New York Jets football star "Flash" Gordon (Sam J. Jones) boards a small plane. Onboard, he meets travel journalist Dale Arden (Melody Anderson). Mid-flight, the cockpit is hit by a meteorite sent by Ming and the pilots are sucked out. Flash takes control, and manages to crash land the craft in a greenhouse owned by Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol). Zarkov, who believes the disasters are being caused by an unknown source in space which is sending the moon toward the Earth, has secretly constructed a rocket ship with which he intends to investigate. Zarkov's assistant refuses to help him, so he lures Flash and Dale inside the rocket. After a struggle, the rocket launches into orbit, taking the trio to the planet Mongo. There, they are taken prisoner.

Flash, Dale and Zarkov are brought before Ming. Ming orders Dale to be prepared for his pleasure. Flash attempts to resist but is overpowered by Ming's men. Ming orders Zarkov to be reconditioned and Flash executed by gas. Ming's daughter, Princess Aura (Ornella Muti), manipulates Ming’s Chief Surgeon into helping her save Flash, to whom she is attracted. Zarkov is seemingly brainwashed by Klytus, the head of the Emperor's secret police. Meanwhile, Aura and Flash flee to Arboria, kingdom of Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton), Aura's lover. En route to Arboria, Aura reluctantly teaches Flash to use a telepathic communicator to contact Dale. He uses it let her know he is still alive. Dale informs Flash that she is locked in Ming's bedchamber. Encouraged by Flash, Dale escapes. Klytus dispatches Zarkov to intercept Dale, who informs Zarkov and a listening Klytus that Flash is alive. The two then escape, as Zarkov reveals he was able to resist the brainwashing process. They are captured by Prince Vultan's (Brian Blessed) Hawkmen and taken to his kingdom, Sky City.

Aura and Flash arrive at the forest moon Arboria. Aura asks Prince Barin to keep Flash safe. A distrustful Barin, who is in love with Aura, agrees not to kill Flash, but then contrives to force him to take part in a deadly ritual. Barin and Flash take turns sticking their hands into a hollow stump with a poisonous creature inside. When Barin compels Flash to take an extra turn, he pretends to be stung by the creature and begs for a quick death, using this as an opportunity to escape. Barin follows, but they are both captured by Prince Vultan’s Hawkmen.

Klytus (Peter Wyngarde) informs Ming that Flash is alive and gains Ming's authority to discover the person responsible. Aura returns alone to Mingo City only to be taken prisoner and tortured by Klytus and General Kala (Mariangela Melato). They force Aura to confess, and Ming orders her to be banished to the ice moon Frigia after his wedding. Meanwhile, Flash and Barin are captured by the Hawkmen and taken to Sky City, where Flash and Dale are briefly reunited. Flash is forced to fight Barin to the death, but Barin joins forces with Flash when he saves his life. Klytus arrives, and Flash and Barin double-team Klytus and kill him. Knowing that this will bring retribution on the Hawkmen, Vultan orders them to evacuate, leaving Barin, Flash, Dale and Zarkov behind. Ming’s ship arrives shortly afterwards and he orders Barin, Zarkov and Dale to be taken aboard. Ming finds himself impressed with Flash, and offers him lordship over a subjugated Earth in exchange for fealty, as an alternative to death, which Flash refuses. Ming returns to his ship and gives the order to destroy Vultan’s kingdom with Flash still on it. Flash cheats death by finding a rocket cycle in the city and escaping before Sky City is destroyed.

Flash contacts Vultan, whose people have found refuge on Arboria, and they plot an attack on Mingo City. Flash pretends to attack Mingo City alone on his rocket cycle. General Kala dispatches the war rocket Ajax to bring back Flash's body, but the Hawkmen army intercepts and Flash and the Hawkmen seize control of the rocket. In Mingo City, Princess Aura overpowers her guard and frees Barin and Zarkov from the execution chamber. Flash and the Hawkmen attack Mingo City in Ajax and Kala activates the city's defenses, as Ming and Dale’s wedding starts. Mingo City's lightning field can only be penetrated in time to save Earth by flying Ajax in to it in a suicide run. Flash volunteers to stay at the helm to ensure it is successful and allow the Hawkmen to invade the city. Just before the rocket hits, Barin manages to sabotage the lightning field generators and Ajax plummets into the city's great hall where the wedding is taking place; the ship's bow impales Ming. Ming falls off the rocket nose, seriously wounded, and Flash offers to spare his life if he will stop the attack on Earth, but Ming refuses to submit. Ming attempts to use his power ring on Flash but his power falters and nothing happens. He then aims the ring at himself and is seemingly vaporized by its remaining power seconds before the counter to the destruction of the Earth reaches zero. A huge victory celebration ensues.

The last scene focuses on Ming’s empty power ring, as an unidentified individual picks it up. The words “The End?” fade onto the screen, followed by an echo of Ming’s evil laughter.

Cast

• Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon
• Melody Anderson as Dale Arden
• Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov
• Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin
• Max von Sydow as Emperor Ming the Merciless
• Ornella Muti as Princess Aura
• Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan
• Peter Wyngarde as General Klytus
• Mariangela Melato as General Kala
• Richard O'Brien as Fico
• John Hallam as General Luro
• John Morton as Airline pilot
• Robbie Coltrane as Man at airfield
• William Hootkins as Munson, Dr. Zarkov's assistant
• Leon Greene as Colonel of Battle Control Room
• Tony Scannell as Ming's officer
• Bogdan Kominowski as Lieutenant of Ming's Air Force
• George Harris as Prince Thun
• John Osborne as Arborian priest
• Deep Roy as Princess Aura's pet, Fellini

Production

According to Empire magazine, Sam J. Jones had disagreements of some sort with director Hodges and producer De Laurentiis and departed prior to post-production, which resulted in almost all of his dialogue being dubbed by a professional voice actor (impersonating Jones' voice) whose identity is still a mystery.^{[citation needed]} A sequel was proposed, but the departure of Jones effectively ended any such prospects. According to Mike Hodges on his DVD commentary, the air field scene at the beginning of the film (though set in the U.S.) was shot in Scotland.

Reception

Flash Gordon had a poor box office performance, grossing only $27,107,960 worldwide. The notable exception is the United Kingdom, where the film was a huge success, grossing about £13,864,652. The film did find appreciation with a few critics, notably The New Yorker's Pauline Kael. Max von Sydow (Ming) received a good deal of praise for his performance, despite Jones (Gordon) being nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for worst lead actor.

The film has received overall positive reviews, holding a 82% approval rating at the movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 33 reviews. The film 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

Main article: Flash Gordon (album)

The film's soundtrack was composed and performed by the rock band Queen. Flash Gordon was one of the earliest high-budget feature films to use a score primarily composed and performed by a rock band. An orchestral score was also composed by Howard Blake.

Media

The film was originally released in North America via Universal Studios. 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.

A comic book adaptation, written by Bruce Jones and illustrated by classic Flash Gordon artist Al Williamson (himself not a fan of the movie due to its overall campy nature, numerous script changes and resulting alterations to his artwork ), was released by Western Publishing to coincide with the film's release. It was serialized in three issues of the Flash Gordon comic book (#31-33) and released in a single large format softcover edition.

It was released in 1981 on VHS and MCA DiscoVision, and re-released in 1998 on both Laserdisc and Region 1 DVD 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 The Sci Fi Channel'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.

Flash Gordon was released on Blu-ray on June 15, 2010.

Awards

• Saturn Award

Nominated: Best Costumes

Nominated: Best Science Fiction Film

Nominated: Best Supporting Actor

• BAFTA

Nominated: Best Costumes Design

Nominated: Best Original Film Music

Nominated: Best Art Design

• 1st Golden Raspberry Award

Nominated: Worst Actor (Sam J. Jones)

See also

• Flash Gordon
• Flash Gordon (album)
• Flesh Gordon (erotic parody)

External links

• Flash Gordon - Saviour of the Universe Edition
• Flash Gordon at the Internet Movie Database
• Flash Gordon at the TCM Movie Database
• Flash Gordon at AllRovi
• Flash Gordon at Box Office Mojo
• Flash Gordon at Rotten Tomatoes