Is Flash Gordon a good movie?
Flash Gordon (film) Although a box office success in the United Kingdom, it performed poorly in other markets. The film is notable for its soundtrack composed, performed and produced by the rock band Queen, with the orchestral sections by Howard Blake. The film has since gained a significant cult following.
How many volumes of Flash Gordon are there?
Flash Gordon (3 Volumes). Alpha Home Entertainment (only 13 of the episodes have been released thus far). On May 6, 1998, Image Entertainment released the 1980 film on DVD in North America for DVD Region 1 territories through a contract with Universal, but it quickly went out of print.
What made Flash Gordon such a classic strip?
Comic book artist Jerry Robinson has said "What made Flash Gordon a classic strip was Raymond's artistry and the rich imagination he brought to his conceptions of the future" and described the final years of Raymond's tenure on the strip as being characterized by "sleek, brilliantly polished brush work." [25]
What is the second Flash Gordon arc?
Ardden's second Flash Gordon arc is titled Invasion of the Red Sword (2010). Two other arcs were completed. A reprint of all of Al Williamson's Flash Gordon comic books in black and white was printed by Flesk in 2009. [68] In 2010, Dark Horse Comics began an archive reprint series in hardback, starting with the original comics published by Dell.
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Was Flash Gordon a successful movie?
Although a box office success in both the United Kingdom and Italy, Flash Gordon performed poorly in other markets. Critical reception during and since the film's initial release has been generally favorable, and it has since gained a significant cult following.
Who owns Flash Gordon?
It took about eight months to get Universal Pictures and King Features, who were the rights holders for the Flash Gordon character, and Studio Canal, who now own the physical asset of that 1980 film, to come together and put a deal together.
What was the number 1 movie of 1980?
Domestic Box Office For 1980RankReleaseTotal Gross1Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back$209,398,02529 to 5$103,290,5003Stir Crazy$101,300,0004Kramer vs. Kramer$106,260,00038 more rows
Did George Lucas want to make Flash Gordon?
George Lucas originally hoped to remake the 1930s Flash Gordon movie serials, based on the Alex Raymond comic strip. But Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis had held the rights to Flash since the 1960s and refused to relinquish them, leading Lucas to instead create the massively successful Star Wars.
What was Flash Gordon's job?
polo playerThe 1980 movie — directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Dino De Laurentiis — replicates these story beats slavishly but changes Flash Gordon's day job from polo player to New York Jets Quarterback.
Did they ever make a Flash Gordon 2?
Yet, for some reason, there's never been a sequel. We persuaded Sam to shed some light on the reasons why, and to talk about the animated Flash Gordon currently in the works, with Taika Waititi at the helm.
What 80s movie made the most money?
Highest-grossing filmsRankTitleWorldwide gross1E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial$792,942,0692Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade$474,171,8063Batman$411,348,9244Rain Man$354,825,43546 more rows
What was the highest grossing movie of 1985?
Back to the FutureDomestic Box Office For 1985RankReleaseGross1Back to the Future$190,581,4072Beverly Hills Cop$157,304,9803Rambo: First Blood Part II$150,415,4324Rocky IV$89,102,64838 more rows
What are the top 10 highest grossing films of the 1980s?
Top 10 Highest Grossing Movies Of The 80sTop Gun – $176.8 million. ... Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – $197.2 million. ... Back to the Future – $210.6 million. ... Beverly Hills Cop – $234.8 million. ... Ghostbusters – $238.6 million. ... Raiders of the Lost Ark – $242.4 million. ... Batman – $251.2 million.More items...
Was Flash Gordon fast?
Flash Gordon Does Not Have Super-Speed.
How long did Flash Gordon have to save the world?
But We Only Have Fourteen Hours Left to Save the Earth!”
Who said Gordon's alive?
"Gordon's alive" is one of the 1980 film's most famous quotes spoken by Blessed's character, Prince Vultan.
Is Flash Gordon in public domain?
Film serials The first Flash Gordon serial remains copyrighted, but the compilation made of the second serial, and the third serial itself are in the public domain.
Is Flash Gordon part of DC?
Flash Gordon (Volume 1) was a limited series, published by DC Comics. It ran from 1988 until 1988. It starred Flash Gordon.
Is Flash Gordon a Marvel character?
Flash had comic adaptations as well, including DC Comics' Flash Gordon (1988) miniseries, and a 2011 comic book adaptation called Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist.
Is Flash Gordon and flash the same?
The Flash and Flash Gordon are two heroes that appeared around the same era and are now extremely easily confused with each other. Flash Gordon is far less known because it ended when The Flash was picking up steam. So please don't blend their stories. Steve Gordon is not the same person as Jay Garrick or Barry Allen.
How much did Flash Gordon gross?
Flash Gordon opened on 825 screens in the United States and Canada and grossed $3,934,030 in its opening weekend, finishing top of the US box office. The following weekend, the film did less well, with a drop of 50% in grosses.
What year was Flash Gordon?
For the 1936 film serial, see Flash Gordon (serial). Flash Gordon is a 1980 space opera film directed by Mike Hodges, based on the King Features comic strip of the same name created by Alex Raymond.
What is the plot of Flash and Vultan?
Flash contacts Vultan, who is hiding on Arboria, and they plot an attack on Mingo City. Flash pretends to attack Mingo City alone on his rocket cycle. General Kala dispatches the war rocket Ajax to kill Flash, but the hawkmen ambush and seize the rocket. Meanwhile, Princess Aura overpowers her guard and frees Barin and Zarkov from the execution chamber. Flash and the hawkmen attack Mingo City in Ajax and Kala activates the defenses as Ming's and Dale's wedding begins. Mingo City's lightning field can only be penetrated by flying Ajax into it at a suicidal speed. Flash volunteers to stay at the helm to ensure success and enable the hawkmen to invade the city.
Why did De Laurentiis refuse to direct Flash Gordon?
De Laurentiis also considered hiring Sergio Leone to direct the Flash Gordon film; Leone refused, because he believed the script was not faithful to the original Raymond comic strips.
Where are Flash and Barin?
Meanwhile, Flash and Barin are taken to Sky City , where Flash and Dale are briefly reunited. Flash is forced to fight Barin in a death match, but Flash instead saves Barin's life, causing Barin to join him. Klytus arrives, and Flash and Barin kill him.
Where does Aura and Flash flee?
As they escape, Flash sees Zarkov being brainwashed by Klytus, the metal-faced head of the secret police. Aura and Flash flee to Arboria, kingdom of Prince Barin. En route, Aura teaches Flash to use a telepathic communicator to contact Dale. He lets her know he is alive, meanwhile Aura starts kissing him.
Who is the girl that saves Flash from Ming?
Flash tries to resist, but is overpowered. Ming orders Zarkov be reprogrammed and Flash executed. Ming's beautiful daughter, Princess Aura, seduces Ming's surgeon into saving Flash, with whom she is in love at first sight. As they escape, Flash sees Zarkov being brainwashed by Klytus, the metal-faced head of the secret police. Aura and Flash flee to Arboria, kingdom of Prince Barin. En route, Aura teaches Flash to use a telepathic communicator to contact Dale. He lets her know he is alive, while Aura starts kissing him. Dale is locked in Ming's bedchamber but, encouraged by Flash, she escapes. Klytus sends Zarkov to intercept Dale, who tells him and Klytus that Flash is alive. Zarkov then reveals he resisted the brainwashing, and escapes Mingo City with Dale. They are quickly captured by Prince Vultan's hawkmen and taken to Sky City.
What magazine was Flash Gordon in?
In the 1930s and 1940s, several newspapers in Britain carried Flash Gordon, including the Scottish Sunday Mail. In France, his adventures were published in the magazine Robinson, under the name "Guy l'Éclair". Dale Arden was named Camille in the French translation.
When did Flash Gordon run?
The Flash Gordon comic strip ran as a daily from 1934 to 1992, with the Sunday strip continuing until 2003. Reprints are still being syndicated by King Features Syndicate .
What were the first Flash Gordon movies?
Flash Gordon was featured in three serial films starring Buster Crabbe: Flash Gordon (1936), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938), and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). The 1936 Flash Gordon serial was condensed into a feature-length film titled Flash Gordon or Rocket Ship or Space Soldiers or Flash Gordon: Spaceship to the Unknown; the 1938 serial into a feature-length film entitled Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray from Mars; and the 1940 serial into a feature-length film entitled The Purple Death from Outer Space .
Why did Flash Gordon cease to be published?
In 1938, the Spanish magazine Aventurero, the only publication in the country to carry Flash Gordon, ceased publication because of the Spanish Civil War. The outbreak of World War II resulted in Flash Gordon being discontinued in many countries.
How many episodes are there in Flash Gordon?
Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, a 26-episode weekly radio serial. The series followed the strip very closely, amounting to a week-by-week adaptation of the Sunday strip for most of its run.
What was the most popular comic strip of the 1930s?
The Flash Gordon strip was well received by newspaper readers, becoming one of the most popular American comic strips of the 1930s. As with Buck Rogers, the success of Flash Gordon resulted in numerous licensed products being sold, including pop-up books, coloring books, and toy spaceships and rayguns.
Why is Speed Gordon renamed Speed Gordon?
In Australia, the character and strip were retitled Speed Gordon to avoid a negative connotation of the word "Flash". (At the time, the predominant meaning of "flashy" was "showy", connoting dishonesty.) However, events in the 1930s affected the strip's distribution.
Storyline
A rogue planet is 'rushing madly toward the earth.' Impending doom creates worldwide pandemonium. But maverick scientist Dr. Zarkov hopes to stay disaster by travelling to the new planet in his experimental rocket. Two chance-met strangers, athletic Flash Gordon and damsel in distress Dale Arden, go with him.
Did you know
Despite its large budget, this serial utilized many sets from other Universal films, such as the laboratory and crypt set from Bride of Frankenstein (1935), the castle interiors from Dracula's Daughter (1936), the idol from The Mummy (1932) and the opera house interiors from The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
User reviews 44
Flash Gordon is, undoubtedly, the best of all American serials. In a date so early as 1936,Universal was capable of making such an entertainment story, and twenty years later when I watched it for the first time as a kid it involved me in a great adventure and emotion.
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By what name was Flash Gordon (1936) officially released in India in English?
Overview
Reception
Flash Gordon opened on 825 screens in the United States and Canada and grossed $3,934,030 in its opening weekend, finishing top of the US box office. The following weekend, the film did less well, with a drop of 50% in grosses. In its third weekend, its average grosses fell a further 20% but grossed $2,394,000 from 1,400 screens. By the fourth weekend it was being pulled from major markets and had grossed $14.3 million in its first 24 days. It went on to gross $27,107,960 in th…
Plot
To relieve his boredom, Emperor Ming the Merciless of the planet Mongo declares that he will play with and destroy Earth by remotely causing natural disasters. On Earth, New York Jets football star Gregory "Flash" Gordon boards a small plane, where he meets travel agent Dale Arden. Mid-flight, the cockpit is hit by a meteor and the pilots are lost. Flash takes control and manages to crash land into a greenhouse owned by Dr. Hans Zarkov. Zarkov believes that the disasters are being …
Cast
• Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon
• Melody Anderson as Dale Arden
• Max von Sydow as Emperor Ming the Merciless
• Topol as Hans Zarkov
Production
Since the 1960s, producer De Laurentiis, having produced Danger: Diabolik and Barbarella, became interested in making a film based on Flash Gordon. Initially, De Laurentiis wanted Italian director Federico Fellini to direct the picture; although Fellini optioned the Flash Gordon rights from De Laurentiis, he never made the film. George Lucas attempted to make a Flash Gordon film in the 1970s; unable to acquire the rights from De Laurentiis, Lucas decided to create Star Wars instead…
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack was composed and performed by the rock band Queen. Flash Gordon was one of the earliest high-budget feature films to use a score primarily composed and performed by a rock band (an earlier example is The Who's Tommy, 1975). Additional orchestral score pieces were composed by Howard Blake. Blake's pieces from the film have been released on CD, alongside his score from Amityville 3-D.
Release
The film was originally released in North America via Universal Studios. Universal has retained the domestic theatrical and home video rights, while the international rights passed on through different distributors, eventually residing with StudioCanal. However, the film's UK distributor, Thorn EMI, controlled U.S TV rights. Although StudioCanal currently holds those rights due to ownership of the EMI film library, they licensed them to MGM for U.S syndication.
Cult following
Flash Gordon has since become a cult classic with fans of science fiction and fantasy. It is a favourite of director Edgar Wright, who used the film as one of the visual influences for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Acclaimed comic book artist Alex Ross names the film as his favorite film of all time. He painted the cover of the film's 2007 "Saviour of the Universe Edition" DVD release, and starred in a featurette to talk extensively about his affection for the film. In Seth MacFarlane's 20…