Flash Gordon

:This article is about a character originated in a comic strip. For the major league baseball player, see Tom "Flash" Gordon.

Adaptations and other versions

It was made into three serials starring Buster Crabbe from 1936 to 1940: Flash Gordon (1936), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938), and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940).

Related Topics:
Serial - Buster Crabbe - 1936 - 1940 - Flash Gordon - Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars - 1938 - Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe

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A 1957 film adaptation starred Steve Holland, who also starred in a 1954-1955 TV series which ran for 39 episodes and is, to date, the only live-action series based upon the character. The series had the distinction of being filmed in West Berlin, less than a decade after the end of World War II.

Related Topics:
1957 - Steve Holland - 1954 - 1955 - TV series - West Berlin - World War II

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A semi-pornographic parody called Flesh Gordon was released in 1972. It became a cult classic and was followed in the 1980s by several sequels.

Related Topics:
Pornographic - Flesh Gordon - 1972 - Cult classic

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The six-part Star Wars saga is loosely based upon the Flash Gordon series.

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In 1979, Filmation produced an animated series based on the comic strip and the first season is remembered as one of the better efforts of the studio. The 1979 animated series was released first, but the made-for-tv movie, Flash Gordon, the Greatest Adventure of Them All was made first, and the tv series endlessly reused footage from the movie, while eliminating more adult material, including a subplot involving Hitler. In the 1986 cartoon Defenders of the Earth, Flash teamed up with fellow King Features heroes The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician.

Related Topics:
1979 - Filmation - Animated series - Made-for-tv movie - Hitler - 1986 - Defenders of the Earth - King Features - The Phantom - Mandrake the Magician

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The 1980 film adaptation stars Sam J. Jones in the title role and also features Melody Anderson as Dale Arden, Topol as Dr. Zarkov, Max von Sydow as Ming, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, and Ornella Muti as Aura. Although not a critical success, the film is also noted for its musical score, which was composed and performed by Queen. It also contained a quote which probably sums up the whole Flash Gordon plotline: "Flash, I love you, but we've only got fourteen hours to save the Earth."

Related Topics:
1980 - Sam J. Jones - Melody Anderson - Topol - Max von Sydow - Timothy Dalton - Ornella Muti - Queen

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Within the UK at least, the film is noted for being very camp, and as such has acquired a cult status amongst students, sci-fi fans etc. Many of the films lines are very quotable, and often tongue-in-cheek, and this knowing sense of humour contributes heavily to the collective affection with which the picture is remembered. A good example of this is the performance of the actor Brian Blessed, who 25 years later is still most often remembered by the British public as the Hawkman character 'Prince Vultan', despite being in many more serious, dramatic roles in film, theatre and television.

Related Topics:
Camp - Cult - Brian Blessed - Prince Vultan

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In 1988, DC Comics produced a modernized version of the comic strip. It featured a Flash as washed up basketball player who finds new purpose in life on Mongo, which is no threat to Earth, a Dale who is an adventurous reporter who is just as capable as Flash, and a gray-skinned Ming who is less of an Asian stereotype.

Related Topics:
1988 - DC Comics - Basketball

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In 1996, Hearst Entertainment premiered a Flash Gordon animated television series.

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In 2004, Stephen Sommers, director of Van Helsing and The Mummy, purchased the movie rights to Flash Gordon.

Related Topics:
2004 - Stephen Sommers - Van Helsing - The Mummy

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