Flash Gordon | |
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![]() Original poster for theatrical release of Flash Gordon | |
Directed by | Mike Hodges |
Written by | Michael Allin, Lorenzo Semple Jr. |
Produced by | Bernard Williams (executive) Dino De Laurentiis |
Starring | Sam J. Jones Melody Anderson Topol Timothy Dalton Max von Sydow Ornella Muti Brian Blessed |
Cinematography | Gilbert Taylor |
Edited by | Malcolm Cooke |
Music by | Queen |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Running time | 111 min. |
Language | English |
Budget | $35,000,000 (estimated) |
Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction film, based on the eponymous comic strip character Flash Gordon. The film was directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. It stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, and Ornella Muti. The screenplay was written by Michael Allin and Lorenzo Semple Jr. It intentionally uses a camp style similar the 1960s TV series Batman in an attempt to appeal to fans of the original comics and serial films.
Flash Gordon was one of the first ever feature films to use a score primarily composed and performed by a rock band. The film's soundtrack was composed and performed by the rock band Queen. An orchestral score was also composed by Howard Blake. Frank Herbert was a script consultant for the film.[1]
Taglines
He'll save every one of us! |
Pathetic Earthlings... Who Can Save You Now? |
Reception
With its camp style, exaggerated costumes and synthesized music, Flash Gordon had a poor box office performance (though it had surprising success in the UK, where it is still one of the top 100 films of all time when adjusted for inflation), although Max von Sydow (Ming) received a good deal of praise for his performance. The film nonetheless went on to become a cult classic; many of the film's lines are intentionally tongue-in-cheek, and this knowing sense of humor contributes to the collective affection with which the picture is remembered by its fans. Despite its shortcomings, it maintains a 80% fresh rating at RottenTomatoes.com.
The film is also notable in that, according to the biography Skywalking, George Lucas was an admirer of the original comics and serials and attempted to secure the rights to produce it, but finding the rights had been secured by Laurentiis, went on to write, produce and direct Star Wars instead. A sequel was also considered and according to Brian Blessed on the R2 DVD commentary for Flash Gordon - Silver Anniversary Edition, the sequel was going to be set on Mars, as a possible update of the Buster Crabbe serials set on the same planet.
Awards
In 1981 the film got Saturn Award nominations in the categories: Best Costumes, Best Science Fiction Film and Best Supporting Actor (Max von Sydow). In the same year it was also nominated in 3 categories for the BAFTA Film Awards: Best Costume Design (Danilo Donati), Best Original Film Music (Queen) and Best Production Design/Art Direction (Danilo Donati). Sam Jones was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for worst actor in 1981.
Media
The film is available on VHS and DVD. In the DVD version the commentary by Brian Blessed won the "Commentary Of The Year" award by Hotdog Magazine in 2005. He was highly praised by fans for his humour and enthusiasm while commenting on the making of the film.
Main cast
See also
Notes
- ^ "...David Lynch's Dune, and even Dino de Laurentiis' film Flash Gordon, on which Frank had worked in London as a script consultant." pg 18, Preface, Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson, The Road to Dune.