Flash Gordon is in the air. First Universal re-releases the movie on DVD, then the Sci-Fi Channel launched a new series. Sadly the new series is not very good in my opinion. For a full uncensored review of that train wreck click (Be warned adult language) here. Now, on to what is considered by many as the best version of Flash Gordon made.
I was eight years old when Flash Gordon was released on December 5th, 1980, the 80’s where a great decade for Science Fiction movies; Star Wars, Flash Gordon, Tron, The Black Hole, Blade Runner, Aliens, The Terminator, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn come to mind to name just a few.
My Father is /was the kind of Dad that took us to the movies all the time. We saw every major and a lot of minor Sci-Fi and Action-Adventure films on the big screen weekend after weekend, but I had never seen my Dad truly “geek out” until the trailer played for Flash Gordon in our local theater.
The Queen music surged and thumped as neon cutouts of Alex Raymond’s illustrations zoomed by between scenes from the movie. Names like Prince Barin, Prince Vultan, Doctor Zarkov, Ming The Merciless, Dale Arden and of course Flash Gordon zoomed by. My Dad was bouncing in his seat with excitement and so was I! It looked exciting and colorful, and if my Dad was excited I figured I should be too.
It turns out my Dad grew up “geeking out” over the Buster Crabbe Saturday matinées of Flash Gordon when he was around my age. It was his Star Wars. For those that do not know here is a quick breakdown of the history of Flash Gordon.
From Wikipedia:
"Flash Gordon is a fictional character, the hero of a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1934. The strip was created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure
Since its first appearance, Flash Gordon has been translated into a wide variety of media, including motion pictures, television and animated series.”
In May of 1980 my world was rocked by the revelation that Darth Vader was Luke’s father and in December I was introduced to Flash Gordon. Perhaps introduced is not the right word, it was more like an initiation into secret esoteric mysteries that leave you profoundly changed forever. Melodramatic I know but it really means that much to me.
It was just enough over the top that it was impossible not to fall into the film and get caught up in Flash’s adventure to save the Earth. It was pure good against pure evil and it was bright, colorful and bold; and it was a lot of fun. That is the key thing to understand when approaching this film is that it was inspired by/is homage to the 1930’s comic strip, thus the colorful, bold comic strip/book look of the film.
When the film was over it left my already active imagination in overdrive, the characters, the design, the color, the music all got into your head and you couldn’t let it go. My Father and I went to go see it in the theaters about 6 times, something we had only ever done with the best of films like Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Thus Flash Gordon inexorably fused with my DNA and is still a huge part of me deep down inside to this day. It is one of those “bonding” experiences with my dad I still cherish to this day.
So is it just nostalgia on my part due to the bond with my Dad or does this film really holds up after 27 years? In this man’s opinion, I think it does. In preparing this article I have seen the film no less than 30 times in the past month and it just doesn’t get old and still manages to put a smile on my face every time. Granted the optical effects are dated; you can see wires occasionally, matte lines are easily seen at points and models really do look like models but despite those limitations it still manages to succeed in transporting me to another world for the adventure of a lifetime.
The Director Mike Hodges says in interviews that he was constantly referencing the original Alex Raymond strips when composing his shots and making color/design and story choices. It was that comic strips sense of purity and innocence that helped him set the tone for the film, keeping in mind that the original was created before man had walked on the moon.
Flash is a noble hero and Ming a cruel villain. Flash is very much a fish out of water with his sense of honor and good moral character in the world of Mongo’s cruel tyranny. It is his “humanity” and goodness and always doing the “right thing” that ultimately unites the warring factions of Mongo to overthrow Ming for a better world. It is a very simple and straightforward formula really but it takes you on such a big, bold adventure in such a vividly imagined universe it’s hard not to be taken in by its pure sense of fun and adventure.
THE MERCHANDISE
And here is where the heartbreak hits for the 8-year-old kid in me. There where never any toys from the line. In hindsight I understand why, the film was a commercial flop when it came out in the States (though still considered one of the top-grossing films of all time in the UK). But it still sucked as a kid and as a fan that there were no little plastic incarnations of my new favorite heroes. What was available is as follows (special thanks to Jason Lenzi from BifBangPow! for being an invaluable resource for this section of the article):
Skip ahead 26 years later, Josh and I run across BifBangPow! at Toyfair 2007 and their prototypes for a series of 7 inch tall Flash Gordon figures sculpted by Alex Ross, Ming Plush Doll and Bobbleheads. Now personally I am not a bobblehead kind of guy but I know there are a lot of collectors who are, but you can count me in on those 7 inch Alex Ross designed figures and that plush doll. C’mon who doesn’t need a cute, cuddly Ming? Bobbleheads are out now and the 7 inch figures and plush Ming are due in October. You can order any and all Flash Gordon toys here.
If you have ever remotely enjoyed the film I ask (actually I’m begging, seriously I am on my knees as I type this) that you go buy those Flash and Ming figures because the guys making them are pretty darn cool and I have it on very good authority that if they sell well there will be more characters added to the lineup and I want a Hawkman Rocket Cycle. The 8-year-old kid in me NEEDS a Hawkman Rocket Cycle so please help a brother out… pre-order.
Time is short as the figures are a limited run so when they are gone they are gone. As Klytus would say, "You have until the sands..."
"...run up."
I thank you for taking this stroll down memory lane with me. If you have never seen the film and you’re the type that can enjoy a good yarn whether it was made yesterday or 27 years ago check it out and if you are a fan of the film know that it is back out on DVD (though the UK release actually has better special features).
Now to prove I am not the only one with Flash Gordon ingrained in his DNA I leave you with this..."No one but the pure of heart could find the Holy Grail Ah Flash"
My Father is /was the kind of Dad that took us to the movies all the time. We saw every major and a lot of minor Sci-Fi and Action-Adventure films on the big screen weekend after weekend, but I had never seen my Dad truly “geek out” until the trailer played for Flash Gordon in our local theater.
The Queen music surged and thumped as neon cutouts of Alex Raymond’s illustrations zoomed by between scenes from the movie. Names like Prince Barin, Prince Vultan, Doctor Zarkov, Ming The Merciless, Dale Arden and of course Flash Gordon zoomed by. My Dad was bouncing in his seat with excitement and so was I! It looked exciting and colorful, and if my Dad was excited I figured I should be too.
It turns out my Dad grew up “geeking out” over the Buster Crabbe Saturday matinées of Flash Gordon when he was around my age. It was his Star Wars. For those that do not know here is a quick breakdown of the history of Flash Gordon.
From Wikipedia:
"Flash Gordon is a fictional character, the hero of a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1934. The strip was created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure
Since its first appearance, Flash Gordon has been translated into a wide variety of media, including motion pictures, television and animated series.”
In May of 1980 my world was rocked by the revelation that Darth Vader was Luke’s father and in December I was introduced to Flash Gordon. Perhaps introduced is not the right word, it was more like an initiation into secret esoteric mysteries that leave you profoundly changed forever. Melodramatic I know but it really means that much to me.
It was just enough over the top that it was impossible not to fall into the film and get caught up in Flash’s adventure to save the Earth. It was pure good against pure evil and it was bright, colorful and bold; and it was a lot of fun. That is the key thing to understand when approaching this film is that it was inspired by/is homage to the 1930’s comic strip, thus the colorful, bold comic strip/book look of the film.
When the film was over it left my already active imagination in overdrive, the characters, the design, the color, the music all got into your head and you couldn’t let it go. My Father and I went to go see it in the theaters about 6 times, something we had only ever done with the best of films like Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Thus Flash Gordon inexorably fused with my DNA and is still a huge part of me deep down inside to this day. It is one of those “bonding” experiences with my dad I still cherish to this day.
So is it just nostalgia on my part due to the bond with my Dad or does this film really holds up after 27 years? In this man’s opinion, I think it does. In preparing this article I have seen the film no less than 30 times in the past month and it just doesn’t get old and still manages to put a smile on my face every time. Granted the optical effects are dated; you can see wires occasionally, matte lines are easily seen at points and models really do look like models but despite those limitations it still manages to succeed in transporting me to another world for the adventure of a lifetime.
The Director Mike Hodges says in interviews that he was constantly referencing the original Alex Raymond strips when composing his shots and making color/design and story choices. It was that comic strips sense of purity and innocence that helped him set the tone for the film, keeping in mind that the original was created before man had walked on the moon.
Flash is a noble hero and Ming a cruel villain. Flash is very much a fish out of water with his sense of honor and good moral character in the world of Mongo’s cruel tyranny. It is his “humanity” and goodness and always doing the “right thing” that ultimately unites the warring factions of Mongo to overthrow Ming for a better world. It is a very simple and straightforward formula really but it takes you on such a big, bold adventure in such a vividly imagined universe it’s hard not to be taken in by its pure sense of fun and adventure.
THE MERCHANDISE
And here is where the heartbreak hits for the 8-year-old kid in me. There where never any toys from the line. In hindsight I understand why, the film was a commercial flop when it came out in the States (though still considered one of the top-grossing films of all time in the UK). But it still sucked as a kid and as a fan that there were no little plastic incarnations of my new favorite heroes. What was available is as follows (special thanks to Jason Lenzi from BifBangPow! for being an invaluable resource for this section of the article):
- Photo Storybook
- Movie Program
- Whitman comics adaptation, 3 single issues and a hardback compilation
- Some buttons and puffy stickers
- Lonestar in the UK made a die-cast cap gun, in a box, which was a re-use of an old mold they had, but it's white with blue and red highlights and the Flash Gordon logo sticker on it. The box has images of Ming and Flash from the European poster.
- Weetabix cereal in the UK did sets of photo cards, and then you had to send away for the mini album to paste them in. Thanks to Jason Lenzi for the pics below.
- The paperback novelization.
- And of course, the Queen soundtrack, which was preceded by the 7" single 'Flash', in a blue sleeve with the Flash Gordon logo on it.
Skip ahead 26 years later, Josh and I run across BifBangPow! at Toyfair 2007 and their prototypes for a series of 7 inch tall Flash Gordon figures sculpted by Alex Ross, Ming Plush Doll and Bobbleheads. Now personally I am not a bobblehead kind of guy but I know there are a lot of collectors who are, but you can count me in on those 7 inch Alex Ross designed figures and that plush doll. C’mon who doesn’t need a cute, cuddly Ming? Bobbleheads are out now and the 7 inch figures and plush Ming are due in October. You can order any and all Flash Gordon toys here.
If you have ever remotely enjoyed the film I ask (actually I’m begging, seriously I am on my knees as I type this) that you go buy those Flash and Ming figures because the guys making them are pretty darn cool and I have it on very good authority that if they sell well there will be more characters added to the lineup and I want a Hawkman Rocket Cycle. The 8-year-old kid in me NEEDS a Hawkman Rocket Cycle so please help a brother out… pre-order.
Time is short as the figures are a limited run so when they are gone they are gone. As Klytus would say, "You have until the sands..."
"...run up."
I thank you for taking this stroll down memory lane with me. If you have never seen the film and you’re the type that can enjoy a good yarn whether it was made yesterday or 27 years ago check it out and if you are a fan of the film know that it is back out on DVD (though the UK release actually has better special features).
Now to prove I am not the only one with Flash Gordon ingrained in his DNA I leave you with this..."No one but the pure of heart could find the Holy Grail Ah Flash"
Seen the film? Love or hate it let us know what you think in the comments section.