Flash Gordon, 1980. Mike Hodges.

I have just realised that it must be over twenty years since I watched Flash Gordon, 1980. The film was Directed by Mike Hodges, Produced by legendary figure, Dino De Laurentiis and Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. The movie was primarily filmed at Elstree and Shepperton Studios in England. The airfield scene at the beginning of the film was meant to be set in America, but was actually filmed in Skye, Scotland. Robbie Coltrane, Rest in Peace. 

First, I would like to look at some of the cast of the film who stood out to me in the film. Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon was a great addition to the movie. However, many of his scenes had to be dubbed, due to his personal issues on set. Sam left the production before the film was finished, after personal disagreements with De Laurentiis. Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin is another actor that caught my attention. I don’t think you can get any more English than him in this film. I can understand how he got the part of James Bond, as I believe this was one of the strongest performances in the movie. Brian Blessed, Prince Vultan needs no introduction. His unique and brave approach to Flash Gordan is refreshing, bringing light-hearted fun and heroic bravado to his character. Max von Sydow‘s portrayal of Ming The Merciless feels as old as time. I mean those words in a positive way, as he helped create a character who feels like lives and breathes in popular culture today. Gordon’s alive, is surely the most famous quote on celluloid by now? Blue Peter’s Peter Duncan makes a wonderful addition to the cast, and this role feels far safer than hanging off the side of Big Ben with nothing but a rope and bucket.

 I have never read any of the comics, written by Alex Raymond. However, the screenplay for Flash Gordon was written well. It would be safe to say this film is camp, but there is enough story structure to make Flash Gordon a perfectly well-crafted superhero movie. The film also benefited from the advancements of the visual effects industry. The sets are beautiful, the costumes are beautiful, and the planet Mongo is vast in scale. Danilo Donati was nominated for a Bafta award for costume design, and you can understand why. I was always amused by Ming’s guards. How can this be suitable for battle? It feels like a pointless outfit, which also makes it feel special. I always imagined it could get a bit sweaty in there. Also, for some reason it reminds me of a massive sock. I said sock . . . . I know what you were thinking.

Flash Gordon is spectacular as superhero movies come, and it has aged very well. There are two scenes sets that hold very vivid memories for me. The first one is the hollow stump, which contains the wood beast that can kill you instantly. My first memory of this was far more terrifying than it actually plays out today. Next is the ultimate in science-fiction entertainment, the Plate of Death, I really wanted to fight to the death on this plate as a child, and I still fancy my chances now. I love the spikes, and the heckling from the crowd is perfect. If you look into the crowd, there are some cracking mug shots in there, it is hilariously funny. It’s a beautiful looking film, and the colours are amazing in technicolor. I adore the models that are used for filming, and later blown up to great effect. The use of the matt-paintings, will always have a special place in my heart. The blue screen technology used in the final battle is a little shaky, but this is the birth of the special effects industry. However, it also adds some of the fifties television serial vibe to the proceedings. Flash Gordon is a great movie,  a sign of the times, and a reminder to always try and push your boundaries on step further.  

 Last but not least is the soundtrack by Queen. I have always loved the single Flash, it’s so iconic and a great song. I will admit that I had never listened to the full album since yesterday. I never owned any Queen albums either, but when I was younger, you had to choose your music wisely because it was so expensive. Now, it is available in an instant. I was quite surprised that Queen had performed the full album, and the production on this soundtrack is out of this world. Some of the drums used on “Escape to the Swamp” reminded me of Pink Floyd Live in Pompeii. So, great story, cast, and production design make Flash Gordon a film of the ages. I am glad I revisited the film, and had a lot of fun. Sometimes in life, that is enough. 

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