Flash Gordon

**Flash Gordon** is a pre-cert UK VHS release by Thorn EMI Video. It was first released in November 1981.

## Description

Shiver in your shoes, Earthlings!  From the planet of Mongo far out in space Emperor Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) is bombarding this world with storms, floods and earthquakes as a way of keeping himself amused while waiting for the big bang when the Moon, which he has sent out of orbit, collides with Earth.

Luckily, brawny football hero Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones), his alluring girlfriend Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) and brainy Dr Zarkov (Topol) are already en route for Mongo, hurtling through a convenient Black Hole.  Captured by Ming and hopelessly outnumbered by his slave minions, Flash must make allied of the flying Hawkmen led by Vultan (Brian Blessed) and the fierce Treemen of Arboria ruled by dashing Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton) before he can save Earth.  But with Zarkov about to have his brain drained, Dale picked for Ming’s harem of voluptuous lovelies, and Flash himself sentenced to be executed without delay, our hero is plainly in a very tight spot.  However, Flash Gordon has been getting in and out of spots ever since he was created as a strip cartoon character by Alex Raymond back in 1934; and waiting for ‘next week’s thrilling instalment’ became a way of life for cinema audiences hooked on the low-budget cliffhanger serials starring Buster Crabbe.  Flash always lived on to fight again – as he does again and again in Dino De Laurentis’ action-packed Flash Gordon (1980).

What makes Flash Gordon so special is that he isn’t.  He’s an ordinary All-American good guy who just happens to be bigger and braver and more resourceful than other mortals.  He doesn’t have any magic powers of his own to call on, although there’s usually a charmer like Ming’s sensuous daughter, Princess Aura (Ornella Muti), around to work a few wonders or help him deal with fiendish fiends like the wily Klytus (Peter Wyngdale).  Work on this richly colourful fun and thrills movie sprawled over eleven huge stages at Shepperton and EMI Elstree Studios and spilled over into a vast hangar comparable in size to five more.  Rejoice Earthlings, that so splendiferous a spectacle can be contained in this small package!

## Cast

* Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon
* Ornella Muti as Princess Aura
* Melody Anderson as Dale Arden
* Max von Sydow as Ming the Merciless
* Topol as Hans Zarkov
* Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin
* Peter Wyngarde as General Klytus
* Mariangela Melato as General Karla
* Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan
* Richard O'Brien as Fico
* William Hootkins as Munson
* John Hallam as General Luro
* John Osborne as Arborian Priest
* Philip Stone as Zogi the High Priest
* George Harris as Prince Thun
* Peter Duncan as Young Treeman
* Suzanne Danielle as Serving Girl
* Deep Roy as Fellini
* John Morton as Airline pilot
* John Hollis as Klytus Observer No. 2
* Leon Greene as Colonel of Battle Control Room
* Tony Scannell as Ming's officer
* Bogdan Kominowski as a lieutenant of Ming's Air Force
* Bob Goody as Azurian Man
* Kenny Baker as Dwarf
* Malcolm Dixon as Dwarf
* Robbie Coltrane as Man at Airfield

## Credits

* Directed by Mike Hodges
* Screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jr.
* Adaptation by Michael Allin
* Based on the Characters created by Alex Raymond
* Music by Queen and Howard Blake
* Cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
* Edited by Malcolm Cooke
* Produced by Dino De Laurentis