Flash Gordon poster

1980·111 min·Released

Flash Gordon

“Pathetic earthlings...who can save you now?”

Science Fiction
Adventure
Action

A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.

6.3(1,106 votes)

Popularity2

Videos

Flash Gordon ≣ 1980 ≣ Trailer

Cast & Crew

Sam J. Jones

Sam J. Jones

Flash Gordon

Melody Anderson

Melody Anderson

Dale Arden

Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow

The Emperor Ming

Chaim Topol

Chaim Topol

Dr. Hans Zarkov

Ornella Muti

Ornella Muti

Princess Aura

Timothy Dalton

Timothy Dalton

Prince Barin

Brian Blessed

Brian Blessed

Prince Vultan

Peter Wyngarde

Peter Wyngarde

Klytus

Mariangela Melato

Mariangela Melato

Kala

John Osborne

John Osborne

Arborian Priest

Richard O'Brien

Richard O'Brien

Fico

John Hallam

John Hallam

Luro

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tmdb27219454

Written on 8/2/2019

One of the least appreciated movies made in my lifetime. Done right after the glory that was The Empire Strikes Back and released to a public that had forgotten who Flash Gordon was or what the 1930's serials with Larry "Buster" Crabbe represented. Although the public was drooling desire for more high tech special effects and serious Space Opera, Flash went in the opposite direction and brought Campy back with a style all his own. This movie PERFECTLY recreated everything that those early B&W serials threw at those screaming kids sitting up in the movie theater balcony. Not to mention that the actor recreations were done as if the drawn characters came to life and leaped out of the funny papers to star on the silver screen. Max von Sydow IS Emperor Ming. Brian Blessed IS Prince Vultan. Sam Jones and Melody Anderson came in as the unknowns they needed to be and stole the show. The ONLY downfall to this movie was the fact that it did so poorly at the box office and never received the sequel it hinted at in its ending.

JPV852

Written on 9/21/2020

Campy and fun science fiction fantasy-adventure flick has some cheesy but colorful and good production designs and the performances for the most part were fine, with Max Von Sydow lending prestige to a goofy character and Sam J. Jones was okay in the lead, but he's really not asked to do a whole lot (both in acting and fighting) while Melody Anderson was alright though the "romance" between her and Flash Gordon was a bit forced. And for its time, I thought the special/visual effects were adequate, superior to the likes of Superman 3 & 4 released years later (1983/1987). Enjoyable time waster and would probably revisit again. **4.0/5**

CinemaSerf

Written on 3/27/2022

Now then, anyone who thinks that Max von Sydov's best film was "the Seventh Seal" (1957) really does need to get their priorities right: forget Ingmar Bergman - it has to be this marvellously camp effort from Mike Hodges and Dino de Laurentiis that allows him to act the megalomanic whilst dressing up like the best panto villain you're ever likely to encounter. Sam J. Jones is the eponymous hero who, alongside the rather hapless Melody Anderson ("Dale") and Topol's slightly demented scientist ("Zarkov"), falls prey to the mischievous games of "Ming the Merciless" as he toys with the Earth. Once the intrepid trio arrive on "Mongo" they must fight for their very survival. In the case of "Flash", the poor fellow - who spends much of the film like a startled rabbit in the headlights - has to defend his virtue from the positively predatory "Princess Aura" (Ornella Muti) who's supposed to be betrothed to "Barin" (Timothy Dalton) who is, himself, constantly sparring with Brian Blessed's "Vultan" - king of the hawk-men. Add in the wonderfully creepy Peter Wyngarde as "Klytus" and Margiangela Melato as his villainous deputy "Kala" and we have the perfect ingredients for almost two hours of classic comic book action in the best tradition of "thwack" and "pow". The thing is 40 years old now - hence it's re-release on the big screen - and it doesn't look like any efforts have been made to improve on the original. The effects are therefore pretty ropey, the CGI as obvious as the delightfully cheap and cheerful costumes of the lizard-men and the munchkins who are dressed much like the playing cards from "Alice in Wonderland". Freddie Mercury and Queen provide a bit of added "glamour" to the proceedings with their title song and the eagle-eyed amongst us might just spot a 30 year old Robbie Coltrane in there too. Escapist nonsense? Sure - but it is still all good, uncomplicated, fun with it's tongue in it's cheek and just about everything else in leather, lycra and/or tights!

Media

FLASH GORDON 1980 and DUNE 1984 miniatures

FLASH GORDON 1980 and DUNE 1984 miniatures

Flash Gordon ≣ 1980 ≣ Trailer

Flash Gordon ≣ 1980 ≣ Trailer

Flash Gordon 1980 TV trailer #1

Flash Gordon 1980 TV trailer #1