Disaster seems imminent when scientists discover that the planet Mongo is about to crash into Earth. Luckily, heroic young Flash Gordon is on hand to lead an investigative mission into outer space and onto the speedily approaching planet. There, he and his best girl, Dale, who is along for the ride, learn that Ming, the devious ruler of Mongo, has purposely put the planet on a collision course with Earth, and only Flash can stop him.
Practical Effects
Rocket ships on visible wires, papier-mâché monsters, zero shame.
Production
Depression-era budget, maximalist imagination, Mongo looks like a furniture store.
Costume
Flash's leather shorts and Ming's spiked collar—fashion icons.
Director
Frederick Stephani
Buster Crabbe
Flash Gordon
Jean Rogers
Dale Arden
Frank Shannon
Dr. Hans Zarkov
Charles Middleton
Ming the Merciless
Priscilla Lawson
Princess Aura
Richard Alexander
Prince Barin
Jack 'Tiny' Lipson
King Vultan
James Pierce
Prince Thun
Theodore Lorch
High Priest
Richard Tucker
Professor Gordon
George Cleveland
Professor Hensley
Glenn Strange
Gocko/Robot/Soldier
Lon Poff
First High Priest
Constantine Romanoff
Monkey Man (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Universal rushed this into production to beat Buck Rogers to screens, spending $350,000—their most expensive serial ever. It saved the studio from bankruptcy.
Buster Crabbe won Olympic gold in swimming before becoming Flash; he filmed this between training sessions. The 'Mongo' sets were recycled from 1925's 'The Phantom of the Opera.'
US
