One of the UK’s top ten films of 1981 and a constant crowd-pleaser ever since for the last forty years, Dino De Laurentiis’ epic adaptation of the classic Alex Raymond comic-strip was criticised in some quarters at the time for lacking some of the original source materials essence, reminding in some people’s eyes of another of his productions, BARBARELLA (1968).
Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones), Quarter Back for the New York Jets, is on a charter plane with Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) when evil Ming (Max Von Sydow) causes all manner of natural disasters using his Mongo-based power. The plane crashes in the vicinity of the house and lab belonging to Dr. Hans Zarkov (Topol) who is launching a tactical response to the heavens and try and thwart the actions of Ming.
Flash, Dale and Zarkov land on Mongo and are taken to Ming’s palace, where his daughter Aura (Ornella Muti) takes a shine to Flash, despite the advances of her current boyfriend, Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton). Resisting, Flash is sentenced to death. Can and will he save the Earth…?
A sing-along score by pop legends Queen adds to the charm of this film, coupled with Brian Blessed as Vultan, head of the Hawkmen (and has without a doubt the most quoted line of recent British Cinema history – c’mon guys, you know which one that is, even if you have heard it indirectly!).
A truly colourful and fun yarn – and one to escape with from the crisis.