Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars

Plot synopsis:
When a mysterious beam of light starts disrupting and destroying the Earth's atmosphere, Flash Gordon (Larry "Buster" Crabbe), Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon), and Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) - accidentally accompanied by wisecracking reporter Happy Hapgood (Donald Kerr) - swing into action in Zarkov's rocketship, believing that it could be coming from the planet Mongo. Once in space, however, they discover that the ray is originating from Mars.
Journeying to the fourth planet, they discover that their old enemy from Mongo, Ming the Merciless (Charles B. Middleton), whom they had believed dead, is still alive, and has formed an alliance with Azura (Beatrice Roberts), the Witch Queen of Mars. From Azura's planet, and under her protection, he is operating a gigantic Nitron ray that is destroying Earth's atmosphere. Azura's powers include the ability to transmute people into figures of living clay, condemned to live in darkened caves, and she is hated and feared by most of the population. Conversely, the Clay People, led by their King (C. Montague Shaw), know the secret of how to eliminate Azura's power, but lack the means of escaping the caves to which their ruined bodies restrict them, in order to battle her.
Gordon and his party would seem to hold the answer to their problem, except that the Clay People don't trust them at first, and end up holding Dale Arden hostage. Ultimately the Earth visitors and the Clay People become allies in the tandem quest to defeat Azura and stop Ming from destroying the Earth. Flash, Dale, Zarkov, and Hapgood do battle against Azura's magic and her Martian space-force, Ming's super-scientific weaponry, the treacherous Forest People, and other dangers on the Red Planet. Finally, they win by the classic strategy of divide-and-conquer, showing Azura that Ming has been plotting behind her back to take power from her.
Azura's alliance with Ming is broken, at the cost of the Queen's own life, but the Clay People are freed from their curse. And the evil emperor of Mongo, his Nitron ray destroyed and his escape cut off on all sides by the now hostile Martian forces, is finally destroyed by the accidental result of his own machinations and treachery.

Tags: good versus evil

Review:
Flash, Mars, and the Zeitgeist.
From certain standpoints, this serial is superior to the 1st Flash Gordon chapter-play.
The available prints are and photography are generally of better quality, some of the special effects are superior, there are certain exotic space novelties, like the Clay People's subway to the queen's palace and the light bridge, and there are some interesting and creepy visuals in the Forest Kingdom.
Dale Arden and Prince Barrin are played by the same fine actors as in the 1st serial.
And one of the best highlights is the surprisingly effective special effect of showing the Clay People kind of 'ooze' out of the cave walls.From other standpoints, however, this one is not quite as good as the 1st.
This is one of the longer movie serials, and it could probably have been shortened by about 3 chapters, if some of the back-and-forth removed.
Also, there are not as many fight scenes as in the 1st serial, and no sword fights.
And apparently, the Hays Office must have finally gotten a look at Dale and Princess Aura's outfits from the 1st serial, because, to my dismay, Dale is fully dressed throughout every chapter.
Just as sad, there is no Princess Aura, who was a wonderful character and helped amp up the sex in the 1st Flash serial.Nonetheless, if you are one of those quirky or nostalgic types who enjoy movie serials, you will enjoy this.
There certainly was no greater movie serial hero than Flash Gordon as played by Buster Crabbe, and there certainly was no greater villain than Charles Middleton's portrayal of Ming the Merciless.
Although the term super-hero had been coined around 1918, probably in reference to Tarzen of the Apes, the 1930's saw an explosion of super-heroes in pulp magazines, radio shows, newspaper funnies, film and serials, and finally comic magazines.
The Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet, the Shadow, Flash Gordon, Doc Savage, and of course Superman, all premiered in the 1930's and all were huge commodities at the time.The opening chapter of this serial features a newspaper headline shot referring to Flash, Zarkhov and Dale as 'Super-Men of the Century.' The term 'superman' could still be used without fear of a lawsuit by DC comics; this serial was released in March 1938, about a month before the 1st issue of Action Comics, featuring the copyrighted Superman, hit the newsstands.Also noteworthy: the Martians and our heroes sometimes utilize Martian 'flying capes,' which look a lot like a bat's wings.
The comic book character Batman premiered a year after this serial, in 1939, looking very much like our hero wearing a flying cape and helmet.
(Superman himself would not actually 'fly' until about 1942 or so; in 1938 he could only take prodigious leaps.) In this serial, Flash (along with many other characters), wears a shirt with a stylized lightning bolt across the chest.
This lightning bolt looked very much like the symbol adorning the chest of the comic book character Captain Marvel, whose magazines outsold those of Superman, and who would premiere in 1940.
A lesser character named 'The Flash' also premiered in 1940, and he also wore a shirt with a lightning bolt insignia (this 'Flash' character would not reach his real fame until the late 1950's, however).A few months after this serial premiered, on Halloween 1938, Orson Welles broadcast his legendary 'War of the Worlds' radio play, which panicked half the country with a realistic tale of a Martian invasion.
The infamy of this play helped draw audiences to see a re-released version of this serial, albeit cut and edited into a feature length movie, that was shown in late 1938.The fact that this serial takes place on Mars is an anomaly: the original Alex Raymond Flash Gordon story upon which it is based took place entirely on the fictional planet Mongo, which is also the setting for the other 2 Flash serials.
Indeed, as of 1938, the comic strip Flash had never been to Mars.
Nothing survives to inform the modern film historian as to the reason for changing the setting to Mars.However, it is known that virtuoso animators the Fleischer Bros.
were, prior to this serial, working on a full color animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs enormously popular space opera "John Carter of Mars." Some test footage for this project survives, and if the film had been completed, the final product would have indeed been immensely spectacular.
I speculate that it is possible that Universal changed the setting of the Flash Gordon story to Mars so as to place themselves in advance into a position that might favor them should they start copyright infringement litigation against the Fleischers.
Indeed, in the absence of good information, this potential threat might even be the reason the Fleischers abandoned the John Carter project.Regardless of my speculation, Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars remains a fun, interesting, well-crafted in its own way, and a fine trip into the popular consciousness of the late 1930's..
Great escapism; not quite as good as the 1st "Flash" serial.
Some of my reactions to Flash Gordon serials (such as this one) are similar to my feelings about the original Star Trek series.
I marvel at the ingenious and original sci-fi elements, while chuckling at some of the increasingly dated technology and special effects.
I question the plausibility of some of the plot elements, and wince at some of the social commentary that hasn't aged particularly well.In Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, many of the actors from the first serial return in their memorable roles.
In particular, Buster Crabbe (Flash) and Charles Middleton (Ming) portray their characters with a great deal of flair.
Jean Rogers (Dale Arden) seems more subdued and less memorable than in her previous outing.
(This may reflect my disapproval of her transformation from a blonde to a short-haired brunette and her censor-demanded, conservative garb!)  The new comic-relief journalist character (not present in the original comic strip), "Happy" Hapgood, seems to be a bit of a miscalculation, but his role falls far short of "Jar-Jar" level distraction.The storyline is interesting, although things do drag a bit during the second half of the serial.
The plot is primarily action-driven; the romantic story angles that percolated through the first series are virtually absent here.
Although the world of Mars is not as diverse as Mongo's (Lionmen, Sharkmen, Hawkmen), the Clay People are a sad and interesting race.
The acting and special effects both seem somewhat more polished than in the first serial.
Overall, this is an enjoyable and memorable serial that fans of old sci-fi will want to seek out..
This is perhaps the best of the three Flash Gordon serials due to the fact that it not only was action packed, but that it also included some humorous moments provided by the character of "Happy" Hapgood.
The third serial was good, but they had different characters playing the characters of Dale, Barin and Aura (give me Jean Rogers as Dale anytime).
Also, this is the first one in which Dale takes part in the action, especially in the scene where she bombs the Forest People's temple.
If you want thrills, just look at this serial..
This sequel to the first serial is overlong; it's got a twelve chapter story stretched to fifteen, and Mars lacks the cultural diversity of Mongo, so you don't have Lionmen in one chapter, Sharkmen in the next, etc.
However, I think Buster Crabbe's hairdo is more appropriate and he also avoids the knickers for a costume more faithful to Alex Raymond's comic strip art.
Those clay people are memorable; so is the lightray bridge and the Martian wings used for parachuting from rockets.
One wishes that Universal had spent more money and brought in the kind of monsters they had created in the first Flash Gordon.
One can go on wishing for other changes as well, but if you liked the first one and like serials, you'll like this one..
The Clay People!
Still a good serial to watch, even in these days.
Good photography, OK acting, polished script but somehow the original 1936 serial was superior.
And kudos again to that great tracked musical score..
This direct sequel to the now classic "Flash Gordon" is quite good.
The tracked musical score is great.
Charles Middleton made a great Ming the Merciless.
All in all, fun film but not as good as the first serial.
First saw this serial as a child.....remembered it when I saw it as an adult......even remembered the music......how about that!.
A Very Good Sequel.
This is the sequel to the 1936 Flash Gordon serial.
Flash and company go from the planet Mongo to the planet Mars.
The same cast return with the addition of Frank Shannon as comic relief.
Beatrice Roberts plays Queen Azura, "Queen Of Magic".
Charles Middleton is and always will be "Ming The Merciless" This serial is also Jean Rogers last portrayal of Dale Arden.
This is a fun serial to watch.
15 thrilling episodes with clay people, forest people, Flash, Dale, Dr. Zarkof and, i do so love her, Beatrice Roberts.
The degree to which these episodes require of the viewer a super-human suspension of belief makes them, I believe, beyond all criticism and places them in a category that defies definition--"kitsch" and "camp" do not begin to do this cinematic production justice.
They should have left in the original breaks in the story line which corresponded to the actual viewing experience of the original audiences in the movie houses of the 30s & 40s and TV of the 60s & 70s: namely those dramatic moments at the end of a chapter when Flash & company appeared to be finished for certain.
Flash's 2nd Interplanetery Trip Has UnNecessary Change of Setting.
The overwhelming success of the 1936 Flash Gordon Serial demanded that a sequel be made.
With out any change in the main cast of characters, the New Universal plunged head first int the second film, retaining Buster Crabbe,Jean Rogers,Charles Middleton and Richard Alexander from the cast of the original.What they came up with was FLASH GORDON's TRIP TO MARS (1938).
We open up with "the Stratosphere Party" returning to Planet Earth, and landing in some farmer's vegetable patch.
Ironically in the conversation leading up to re-entry, Flash states that the'll be okay as long as wherever they land, it should be "anywhere but the ocean!", which is directly opposite to what NASA projects have always desired.Well, they no sooner get back and Dr.
'Alexis' Zarkov* addresses the scientific community, then a mysterious beam of a light ray coming to earth from space sends them off to Mongo again.
A now brunette** Dale quips, "I'm getting to feel like a regular commuter!" Obsevation from space leads Zarkov to discover that the culprit planet is Mars, not Mongo.
After course correction, and being shot down by martian ray, they are off to a great number of encounters with several different races of Martians.
The Clay People, the Forest People and those reg'lar Martians at the Court of the Great Azura (Beatrice Roberts),Queen of Magic all seem to have it in for the 4 of them.Yes, 4 (four) people were now in the party, as they were joined by one 'Happy' Hapgood, star reporter of The Dispatch,who had stowed away.
Hapgood (played by Donald Kerr) is there to provide a comic relief,the one element that the first serial lacked.Well needless to say after all is said and done, Flash and company are victorious in winning the any for Earth and destroying the Nitron Lamp that was causing the problem.This film had a much brighter look to it, overall.
There was plenty of peril and the action was superbly maintained through out.Great special effects,with the Clay Peoples' transformation scenes being at the top of the list!
It may seem trivial to say, but once again, alas, Hollywood took some really unnecessary liberties with the story.
Basing their screenplay on the continuity in the Sunday Newspaper Comic Strip by Mr. Alex Raymond, it was truly a subject matter that was already familiar to most of the movie going audience.
This adventure in the original comic strip form, was entitled THE WITCH QUEEN of MONGO.
That's right the whole adventure was set on the fictional Mongo, not Mars.One can only speculate as to the why of this change, so I will.Mars has long been hot copy in the sci-fi world.
People like Edgar Rice Burroughs, H.P.Lovecraft and H.G. Wells have used its mysterious, cloudy reddish appearance as a springboard to exciting, fantastic adventures in the still unknown space.
Mars was still a good venue to have such a story to take place-even in the late 1930's.But perhaps it was Welles, Orson not H.G. who caused the moving decision.
Remember this was the year of the famous and infamous War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast.
One could reason that this was an attempt by Universal to cash in on the Mars Craze.
However, there was a Feature version of this F.G. adventure, entitled MARS ATTACKS, that was definitely marketed in this manner.One should mention a few other elements, lest we sound too critical.
FLASH GORDON's TRIP to MARS had an opening to each chapter showing a uniformed Martian viewing a telescreen, which capsulized the previous chapters' action, leading up to this weeks 'cliff hanger'.
The images on the screen are like the illustrations from the comic strip, with summarizing written text.
This same gimmick was used in at least 2 other of Universal's comic strip adaptations, JUNGLE JIM (also by Alex Raymond) and for RADIO PATROL.
It was a very effective and interesting way of story telling.The film was loaded with a lot of pseudo scientific gadgetry.
The great Nitron Lamp, the Martian aircraft (dubbed 'Strato-sleds'), a Jet Rail Car (through a tunnel of poison gas, no less) and a Paralyzer Ray Gun (another gadget cooked up by Zarkov).
I know, we did.The music in any Flash Gordon always should get a mention.
The sound track features incidental music culled from previous Universal features such as THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE WEREWOLF OF London and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, all expertly woven into what we all knew as 'Flash Gordon Music.' NOTE * Zarkov's given name was Hans.
It was 1938, World War II was on the horizon and the 1st World War hardly forgotten.NOTE** Dale was always a Brunette in the Newspaper Strip.There has been some speculation that she was made Blonde in the earlier adventure because of Jean Harlow's popularity on the screen..
It posited a Manichean world  at least originally, where good and evil had some sort of tides in the cosmic ether.
Then it devolved into a self-parody of 50's era family damage, with deliberate hooks for frustrated kids.These old Flash Gordon things have none of the cinematic values that even the poorest modern flick does.
And rooted in the womb instead of a muppet.The effects seem clunky but you have earth forces (clay men who form out of and return to the earth) and science.
All four of these in various combinations form the plot structures for this and other Flash Gordons.
There's even a clever folding mechanism: the players us a TeeVee like device to communicate.
Flash Saves the World Yet Again!.
As "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars" begins, Flash (Buster Crabbe) Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon) and Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) are returning from the planet Mongo where they have defeated Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton) in his efforts to destroy the earth.
Somehow on the way, the comely Miss Arden has managed to get a makeover including a new hair color and style.On returning to earth, Flash learns that there is a mysterious ray emanating from the planet Mars which is drawing nitrogen from the earth's atmosphere.
Flash, Dale and Professor Zarkoff takeoff for Mars immediately.
Stowing away on board is bumbling reporter Happy (Donald Kerr) who is along to provide the comedy relief this time around.Arriving on Mars, Flash and his team discover that Mars is a land of matte paintings and miniatures ruled over by Queen Azura (Beatrice Roberts) who can appear and disappear at will.
Much to Flash's surprise he discovers that his old nemesis Ming has turned up on Mars and has allied himself with Queen Azura.Over the course of 15 chapters, Flash has encounters with the Clay People and the Tree People as well as Azura and Ming's many followers in life threatening death defying situations.
Prince Barin (Richard Alexander) drops in from Mongo to lend Flash a hand.Buster Crabbe complete with blonde hair makes a believable serial hero.
He even gets to swing on a vine in the land of the Tree People as he had as Tarzan a few years earlier.
Jean Rogers has little to do but look beautiful in her floor length gown while being concerned for Flash's safety.
Charles Middleton makes an evil sinister double-crossing no good villain.Others in the cast are Montague Shaw as the Leader of the Clay People, Wheeler Oakman as Ming's assistant and Kane Richmond, Kenne Duncan, Warner Richmond and Jack Mulhall in other roles.Will Flash save the world yet again?
Tune in again to see Flash's continuing battle with the forces of evil.....
Not once, but twice in FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS he ends up being paralyzed pretty much BY HIMSELF: once, when the villains are literally knocking down the doors to get at him (when he urges Zarkov to test the "freeze-ray" on him) and, not long thereafter, when he turns the weapon on AND RUNS DIRECTLY INTO ITS BEAM.
The sets are as spectacular as in the first serial, and the creepy Clay People are my favorite creatures in any of the FLASH GORDON serials, but his trip to the Angry Red Planet just doesn't measure up to his initial outing.
Crabbe seemed to grow more relaxed on camera with each successive serial, but the writing was against him this time around.