Post by legios on Aug 24, 2008 19:10:36 GMT
I got this old Serial on DVD as an early birthday present from my mother, and have been watching it over the course of the week (carefully timing it to ensure that I saw the twelth and final episode this evening). I have a love of the old black and white adventure serials, formed by them being a staple of summer holiday television when I was growing up - my summers when I was much younger were filled with the Lone Ranger bringing criminals to justice, Buck Rogers defending the Hidden City from Killer Kane's henchmen and, of course, Flash Gordon facing the menace of the evil Ming.
Fortunately "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" lives up to my childhood memories. It is very episodic, but in the good way that these serials could be - every weeks installment sees some terrible new peril menace our heroes who must escape from it by exercise of derring-do and courage. Larry "Buster" Crabbe makes a superb Flash Gordon - square-jawed and heroic he seems appropriately undaunted whether facing the perils of the cold of Frigia or Ming's deadly robot Anilatans (robot men who are Walking Bombs!). Charles Middleton's Merciless Ming is perhaps the prototypical super-science equiped dictator - ruling from his throne room where he spends his days entertained by an endless succession of dancing girls like some eastern potentate, then donning a costume that makes him seem like Space-Mussolini to menace the universe from his Power Room. Of course it wouldn't be Flash Gordon without the able assistance of Dale Arden (Carol Hughes, the most reminiscent of the newspaper strip (and loveliest) screen Dale) and Prince Barin of Arboria (and his loyal soldiers clad in their Lincoln Green and Robin Hood hats).
I'd forgotten how pacy and breathless it all is too. In twelve episodes we go from an Earth under seige by Ming's Purple Death, to the frozen reaches of the Kingdom of Frigia, an Arboria set ablaze by Ming's new explosive (which burns with the power of the sun!) , to a mountainous land inhabited by Rockmen - as well as several daring raids on and rescues from Ming's palace. All this whilst trying to deal with the constant threat of Ming's chief henchman, Captain Torch. It is all good, stirring stuff.
Sure some footage is clearly cribbed from other sources(I'm fairly sure the exteriors of Barin's palace are from a Robin Hood serial or two), there are only about three pieces of music to go around (including for the opening titles), and Ming's palace clearly only has two corridoors, his Power Room, Control Room and a laboratory. But what does it matter when the cast are playing it with gusto and absolutely conviction?
Three discs of absolutely vintage serial adventure. Reminds me why I loved these serials as a kid - and confirms that I still love them now. The only thing is, I think I may have to have a look and see if I can acquire the other two serials as well.
Karl
Fortunately "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" lives up to my childhood memories. It is very episodic, but in the good way that these serials could be - every weeks installment sees some terrible new peril menace our heroes who must escape from it by exercise of derring-do and courage. Larry "Buster" Crabbe makes a superb Flash Gordon - square-jawed and heroic he seems appropriately undaunted whether facing the perils of the cold of Frigia or Ming's deadly robot Anilatans (robot men who are Walking Bombs!). Charles Middleton's Merciless Ming is perhaps the prototypical super-science equiped dictator - ruling from his throne room where he spends his days entertained by an endless succession of dancing girls like some eastern potentate, then donning a costume that makes him seem like Space-Mussolini to menace the universe from his Power Room. Of course it wouldn't be Flash Gordon without the able assistance of Dale Arden (Carol Hughes, the most reminiscent of the newspaper strip (and loveliest) screen Dale) and Prince Barin of Arboria (and his loyal soldiers clad in their Lincoln Green and Robin Hood hats).
I'd forgotten how pacy and breathless it all is too. In twelve episodes we go from an Earth under seige by Ming's Purple Death, to the frozen reaches of the Kingdom of Frigia, an Arboria set ablaze by Ming's new explosive (which burns with the power of the sun!) , to a mountainous land inhabited by Rockmen - as well as several daring raids on and rescues from Ming's palace. All this whilst trying to deal with the constant threat of Ming's chief henchman, Captain Torch. It is all good, stirring stuff.
Sure some footage is clearly cribbed from other sources(I'm fairly sure the exteriors of Barin's palace are from a Robin Hood serial or two), there are only about three pieces of music to go around (including for the opening titles), and Ming's palace clearly only has two corridoors, his Power Room, Control Room and a laboratory. But what does it matter when the cast are playing it with gusto and absolutely conviction?
Three discs of absolutely vintage serial adventure. Reminds me why I loved these serials as a kid - and confirms that I still love them now. The only thing is, I think I may have to have a look and see if I can acquire the other two serials as well.
Karl
