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Universal Pictures
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Pathetic earthlings...who can save you now?
A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.
CinemaSerf
Mar 27, 2022 · via TMDB
Now then, anyone who thinks that Max von Sydov's best film was "the Seventh Seal" (1957) really does need to get their priorities right: forget Ingmar Bergman - it has to be this marvellously camp effort from Mike Hodges and Dino de Laurentiis that allows him to act the megalomanic whilst dressing up like the best panto villain you're ever likely to encounter. Sam J. Jones is the eponymous hero who, alongside the rather hapless Melody Anderson ("Dale") and Topol's slightly demented scientist ("Zarkov"), falls prey to the mischievous games of "Ming the Merciless" as he toys with the Earth. Once the intrepid trio arrive on "Mongo" they must fight for their very survival. In the case of "Flash", the poor fellow - who spends much of the film like a startled rabbit in the headlights - has to defend his virtue from the positively predatory "Princess Aura" (Ornella Muti) who's supposed to be betrothed to "Barin" (Timothy Dalton) who is, himself, constantly sparring with Brian Blessed's "Vultan" - king of the hawk-men. Add in the wonderfully creepy Peter Wyngarde as "Klytus" and Margiangela Melato as his villainous deputy "Kala" and we have the perfect ingredients for almost two hours of classic comic book action in the best tradition of "thwack" and "pow". The thing is 40 years old now - hence it's re-release on the big screen - and it doesn't look like any efforts have been made to improve on the original. The effects are therefore pretty ropey, the CGI as obvious as the delightfully cheap and cheerful costumes of the lizard-men and the munchkins who are dressed much like the playing cards from "Alice in Wonderland". Freddie Mercury and Queen provide a bit of added "glamour" to the proceedings with their title song and the eagle-eyed amongst us might just spot a 30 year old Robbie Coltrane in there too. Escapist nonsense? Sure - but it is still all good, uncomplicated, fun with it's tongue in it's cheek and just about everything else in leather, lycra and/or tights!
JPV852
Sep 21, 2020 · via TMDB
Campy and fun science fiction fantasy-adventure flick has some cheesy but colorful and good production designs and the performances for the most part were fine, with Max Von Sydow lending prestige to a goofy character and Sam J. Jones was okay in the lead, but he's really not asked to do a whole lot (both in acting and fighting) while Melody Anderson was alright though the "romance" between her and Flash Gordon was a bit forced. And for its time, I thought the special/visual effects were adequate, superior to the likes of Superman 3 & 4 released years later (1983/1987). Enjoyable time waster and would probably revisit again. **4.0/5**
tmdb27219454
Aug 2, 2019 · via TMDB
One of the least appreciated movies made in my lifetime. Done right after the glory that was The Empire Strikes Back and released to a public that had forgotten who Flash Gordon was or what the 1930's serials with Larry "Buster" Crabbe represented. Although the public was drooling desire for more high tech special effects and serious Space Opera, Flash went in the opposite direction and brought Campy back with a style all his own. This movie PERFECTLY recreated everything that those early B&W serials threw at those screaming kids sitting up in the movie theater balcony. Not to mention that the actor recreations were done as if the drawn characters came to life and leaped out of the funny papers to star on the silver screen. Max von Sydow IS Emperor Ming. Brian Blessed IS Prince Vultan. Sam Jones and Melody Anderson came in as the unknowns they needed to be and stole the show. The ONLY downfall to this movie was the fact that it did so poorly at the box office and never received the sequel it hinted at in its ending.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Sam J. Jones
Flash Gordon
Melody Anderson
Dale Arden
Max von Sydow
The Emperor Ming
Chaim 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
Stanley Lebor
Mongon Doctor
John Morton
Airline Pilot
Burnell Tucker
Airline Co-Pilot
Robbie Coltrane
Man at Airfield
Peter Duncan
Young Treeman
Oliver MacGreevy
Klytus Observer No. 1
John Hollis
Klytus Observer No. 2
Paul Bentall
Klytus' Pilot
Leon Greene
Colonel of Battle Control
Tony Scannell
Ming's Officer
David Neal
Captain of Ming's Air Force
Bogdan Kominowski
Lieutenant of Ming's Air Force
George Harris
Prince of Ardentia
Deep Roy
Princess Aura's Pet
Imogen Claire
Special Movement
Frederick Warder
Special Movement
Ken Robertson
Special Movement
Andy Bradford
Hawkman
John Sullivan
Hawkman
Roy Scammell
Hawkman
Glenna Forster-Jones
Sandmoon Girl
Viva
Cytherian Girl
Eddie Powell
Ming's Brute
Jill Goldston
Flashback Friend of Dr. Hans Zarkov (uncredited)
Danilo Donati
Art Direction
Danilo Donati
Set Designer
Gilbert Taylor
Director of Photography
Danilo Donati
Costume Design
Barbara Markham
Dialogue Coach
Vic Armstrong
Stunts
Mike Hodges
Director
Dino De Laurentiis
Producer
Brian May
Music
Freddie Mercury
Music
John Deacon
Music
Roger Taylor
Music
Michael Allin
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Lorenzo Semple Jr.
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Black Sunfight
1969
Inconsciente
2008
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
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Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
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