Flash Gordon **** (1980, Sam J Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed, Peter Wyngarde, Topol, Ornella Muti) – Classic Movie Review 6,583

Mike Hodges’s 1980 British Sci-Fi action adventure film Flash Gordon is a lovely and lavish movie version of the Thirties Alex Raymond comic strip. Sam J Jones stars as Flash, with Ornella Muti as Princess Aura, Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan, and Topol as Dr Zarkov.

Director Mike Hodges’s 1980 British Sci-Fi action adventure film Flash Gordon is a lovely and lavish, outrageously campy and simply splendiferous movie version of the Thirties Alex Raymond comic strip. It is a remake of the 1936 Universal serial Flash Gordon with Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers and Charles Middleton as Flash, Dale and Ming.

Sam J Jones stars as American football star quarterback Flash Gordon and Melody Anderson also stars as travel agent Dale Arden, both of them dashing through the amusing special effects universe to the planet Mongo to do battle for the world with the Emperor Ming the Merciless – a magnificent Max von Sydow.

Other enjoyable over-the-top performances come from Ornella Muti as the deliciously evil Princess Aura, Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan, Topol as Dr Zarkov, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, Peter Wyngarde as General Klytus and Mariangela Melato as Kala.

It comes complete with a stunning production design/ art direction and costume design by Danilo Donati and a great fun soundtrack by Queen (‘Flash Fla-ash!!’) comprising an astonishing 17 songs. Queen of course are John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Howard Blake. Flash’s Theme is written by Brian May.

Director Hodges and screenplay writer Lorenzo Semple Jr get it just right – mood, tone, sense of humour, the lot.

Also in the cast are John Osborne, Richard O’Brien, Philip Stone, Suzanne Danielle, John Hallam, William Hootkins, Peter Duncan, Robbie Coltrane, Jim Carter, Kenny Baker, Bobbie Brown, Ted Carroll, Leon Greene, Viva and Andy Bradford.

It is shot in Technicolor and 70 mm by Gil [Gilbert] Taylor, produced by Dino De Laurentiis and scored by Howard Blake.

Jones was nominated for a Razzie as Worst Actor and Jones and Anderson won the Stinker Award for Worst On-Screen Couple.

It cost a hefty $20 million and earned back just $27 million in the US, though it was popular in the UK and has attracted an enduring cult following.

Peter Wyngarde co-stars as Klytus.

It is a rare film role for Peter Wyngarde, after his Jason King (1971-1972) TV series. RIP Peter Wyngarde, who died on 15 January 2018, aged 90.

RIP Chaim Topol (September 9, 1935 – March 9, 2023).

Director Matthew Vaughn’s planned Flash Gordon remake is currently on hold.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,583

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