The 1936 film Flash Gordon is a 13-episode film serial, based on the famous comics di Alex Raymond. It was one of the first science fiction film to be produced and had a significant impact on popular culture.
The plot follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a polo player who is catapulted into space together with his girlfriend Dale Arden and his friend Dr. Hans Zarkov. There they meet Emperor Ming the Terrible, a tyrant who wants to conquer the Earth. Flash, Dale and Zarkov try to stop Ming and save Earth.
The film is known for its distinctive production style, with flamboyant costumes, rudimentary special effects, and a pulp feel. The soundtrack, composed of original music by Clifford Vaughan and classical music arrangements by composers such as Wagner and Tchaikovsky, was highly praised.
The film influenced numerous other works of science fiction, including Star Wars, and led to the creation of numerous sequels, remakes, and adaptations in other media. Despite the passing of the years, the film remains a classic of the genre and a milestone in the history of science fiction cinema.
Plot
The 1936 film Flash Gordon follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a polo player who, along with his girlfriend Dale Arden and his friend Dr. Hans Zarkov, is catapulted into space aboard a rocket. Zarkov has discovered that the Earth is about to be destroyed by a meteor shower controlled by Emperor Ming the Terrible, a tyrant who wants to conquer the planet.
After landing on Mongo, Ming’s planet, Flash, Dale and Zarkov are captured by Ming’s guards and forced to participate in a deadly combat arena against a giant monster. Flash manages to defeat the monster and attracts the attention of Ming, who decides to spare their lives.
Flash and his friends then try to escape from Ming’s clutches and join the rebellion against him. They defeat Ming’s troops in numerous battles and try to stop his plans to destroy the Earth. Meanwhile, the Flash falls in love with a princess of Mongo, the beautiful Aura, but remains faithful to Dale.
Finally, after many vicissitudes, Flash and his allies manage to defeat Ming and save the Earth from destruction. Flash and Dale return to Earth, while Zarkov decides to stay on Mongo to help rebuild the planet.
The plot of the film is rich in action, adventure, intrigue and romance, and has inspired many subsequent science fiction works.
Characters
Here are the main characters from the 1936 film Flash Gordon:
Flash Gordon: the protagonist of the film, a young polo player who is suddenly catapulted into space and forced to fight against Emperor Ming the Terrible to save the Earth.
Dale Arden: Flash’s girlfriend, who accompanies him into space and is involved in his adventures.
Doctor Hans Zarkov: A genius scientist who built the rocket that took Flash and Dale into space. Zarkov is convinced that Earth is in danger and joins the Flash in trying to stop Ming.
Emperor Ming the Terrible: The evil tyrant who rules the planet Mongo and wants to conquer the Earth. Ming is an extremely charismatic and powerful character, but also cruel and ruthless.
Princess Aura: Ming’s beautiful daughter, who falls in love with the Flash and tries to get him to join her against her father. Aura is a complex and ambiguous character who plays an important role in the plot of the film.
Barin: The rebel prince of Mongo, who joins the Flash in his fight against Ming. Barin is a strong and courageous character, but also a little impulsive.
Prince Vultan: The leader of the Flyers, a tribe of warriors who fight against the Ming. Vultan is a very energetic and funny character, which adds a touch of humor to the film.
These are just some of the characters featured in the 1936 film Flash Gordon. The story is full of adventure and intrigue, and there are many other interesting and memorable characters.
Film Production
The 1936 film Flash Gordon was produced by Universal Pictures, one of the major American film companies of the time. The production of the film was very ambitious for its time, with a budget of around $350,000 and numerous special effects and action scenes.
The director of the film was Frederick Stephani, who had already directed some science fiction and adventure films. The cast of the film included such actors as Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon), Jean Rogers (Dale Arden), Frank Shannon (Doctor Zarkov), Charles Middleton (Emperor Ming) and Priscilla Lawson (Princess Aura).
The film was shot primarily in the famous Universal Studios, Los Angeles, and in various locations in the California area. For the scenes set on Mongo, the fictional planet created by cartoonist Alex Raymond, flamboyant costumes, elaborate sets and numerous special effects were used, including miniatures, explosions and background projections.
The film was released in 13 episodes, in order to be broadcast as a television series. This format was very popular at the time, allowing producers to make more profit from the film. The success of the film was enormous, leading to numerous sequels and adaptations in other media.
In summary, the production of the 1936 film Flash Gordon was very ambitious and innovative for its time, using state-of-the-art techniques and special effects. The film has become a classic of the science fiction genre and has inspired numerous other subsequent works.
Distribution and Reception
The 1936 film Flash Gordon was initially released as a series of 13 episodes, which were shown in theaters on a weekly basis. Later, the film was also released as a single feature, to allow audiences to see the entire story in one sitting.
Reception of the film upon its release was very positive. Flash Gordon has been acclaimed for its state-of-the-art special effects, spectacular action scenes and enthralling storyline. Audiences fell in love with the film’s characters, especially the protagonist Flash Gordon and the villain Emperor Ming, who have become truly iconic characters in popular culture.
The film’s success led to the production of two sequels, Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, both of which were released as television series. The Flash Gordon character has become an iconic figure in the science fiction genre, inspiring numerous other subsequent works, including comics, cartoons and video games.
Today, Flash Gordon is considered a classic of the science fiction genre and a seminal film in the history of science fiction cinema. Its impact on popular culture was enormous, and the film is still loved by many fans of the genre today.
Movie Style
The 1936 film Flash Gordon has a very distinctive style, making it unique in the science fiction cinema landscape of the time. One of the most striking elements is the film’s aesthetic, characterized by flamboyant costumes, elaborate sets and a futuristic set design that influenced many other subsequent works.
Furthermore, the film uses a number of techniques that were innovative for the time, including the use of special effects, miniatures, background projections and explosions, resulting in spectacular and enthralling action scenes. The film’s soundtrack is also very impressive, with original music that creates a mysterious and adventurous atmosphere.
The film is also characterized by a very fast pace, with numerous cliffhangers and moments of tension that keep the viewer glued to his seat. The dialogues are essential and sometimes a little simple, but this helps to make the film even more usable and compelling.
In summary, the style of the 1936 film Flash Gordon is very distinctive and innovative for its time, with a futuristic and spectacular aesthetic and the use of innovative techniques. The fast pace and adventurous atmosphere help make the film engaging and fun to watch.
Director
The director of the 1936 film Flash Gordon was Frederick Stephani. Stephani, born in Germany in 1903, was a director and screenwriter active mainly in the 1930s and 1940s, both in Germany and in the United States.
Before working on Flash Gordon, Stephani had already directed a few films in Germany, but his career in American cinema was still in its infancy. His work on Flash Gordon, however, contributed significantly to his fame and allowed him to direct other major films in the following years.
Stephani’s contribution to the film Flash Gordon was very important, both technically and artistically. In particular, Stephani was able to exploit the innovative technologies and techniques of the time to create a unique and engaging visual style. Furthermore, he was able to direct the actors and manage the rapid pace of the film, creating a complete and compelling work.
In summary, Frederick Stephani was the director of the 1936 film Flash Gordon, a work that significantly contributed to his fame and success in American cinema of the 1930s and 1940s. His contribution to the making of the film was very important, especially from a technical and artistic point of view.
