Stellead
Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
Merolliv
I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.
AshUnow
This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
George Taylor
One of the more expensive serials, Flash Gordon did cut a few corners here and there (note the music, all from other Universal films), it has a good cast and is quite faithful to the comic strip. Still fun to watch today.
amosduncan_2000
"Space Soldiers" is the precode Flash, hilarious, sexy, innocent, Freudian classic. The follow up serials are fun but Universal had to tone down the sexual tension of of the Blonde Good girl and the steamy, sexual brunette. Jean Rodgers is unbelievable as the blonde Dale, and they should have kept her that way. As the end of the world beckons, absolute viral good is pitting against craven, impotent evil for it's own sake. Sex is good, this movie says, and even the bad Princess is good, She just SO much better when She's bad. "Space Soldiers" should be cleaned up (the print, I mean) and put on Criterion.
bsmith5552
"Flash Gordon" is another of those serials based on a popular comic strip of the time. It shows its age through the cheaply produced special effects and obvious matte paintings used as back drops. In its' defense one has to remember that this was 1936 and it WAS based on a comic strip.The basic plot has Flash Gordon (a blond Buster Crabbe), his girlfriend Dale Arden (a blonde Jean Rogers) and brilliant scientist Dr. Zarkov (an un-blond Frank Shannon) rocketing off to the planet Mongo to try to prevent it from crashing into the earth. Once there they are captured by Emperor Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton) and his sinister daughter Aura (Priscilla Lawson).Flash battles the usual array of monsters and soldiers in his on-going battle with Ming and his men while escaping many life threatening cliff hangers in the process. Ming, meanwhile has taken a liking to the lovely Dale and Aura has set her sights on Flash for herself. Dr. Zarkoff has won the favor of Ming for his brilliant scientific discoveries. I mean, is there nothing the man cannot invent to deal with the many life threatening dangers and emergencies that occur over the course of 13 chapters?Other characters in the story include John Lipson as the hilarious winged warrior King Vultan, Richard Alexander as Prince Barin, Theodore Lorch as the evil High Priest and James Pierce (the former Tarzan) as King Thun an ally of Flash.Having been filmed by Universal, the production had access to the studio's large inventory of laboratory equipment and electrical apparatus that had been used in their various horror films such as "Frankenstein" (1931). The special effects, especially the flying sequences, look cheap and unconvincing. The interiors of the space ships are small and bare boned with only one apparent seat for the pilot and he is not even strapped in.Having said all of that, "Flash Gordon" is nonetheless a fast moving entertaining serial that spawned two sequels: Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars" (1938) and "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" (1940).
aimless-46
In the 60's Cleveland television audiences could watch a episode of "Flash Gordon" as part of the Ghoulardi Show (11:30PM Friday). This was the best mockfest material any of us in junior high had ever seen. We would have regular "sleepovers" (although we did not call them that) just to get in on the fun of watching this stuff with a group of friends. Then the next week we would quote our favorite cornball lines from the latest episode.Watching it today provokes much the same reaction. But if you can stop laughing at the dialogue, the lame creatures, the silly costumes, and the horrible spaceships long enough, there are some good things I did not appreciate the first time through. The production designers built some excellent sets, both the rooms and the laboratory devices. Charles Middleton's "Ming the Merciless" character was the all-time best screen villain, certainly up to that time, and arguably better than anyone since. Jean Rogers is staggeringly beautiful.Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
