Provenance Of

The influences behind Flash Gordon

32 works across 28 centuries, back to The Odyssey and Genesis (Hebrew Bible).

Following one thread, 3 works from Flash Gordon to Just Imagine. Back to all 32 works

  1. Poster for Flash Gordon (serial)

    1936

    Flash Gordon (serial)

    Film by Frederick Stephani

    Classical Hollywood serials. United States. In English.

    Universal's 13-chapter serial starring Buster Crabbe, the first screen adaptation of Raymond's strip. Flash, Dale and Zarkov fly to the rogue planet Mongo to stop its collision with Earth.

    What it handed down

    To Flash Gordon (1980)

    Direct source, well documented.

    Both films adapt Alex Raymond's strip, and Hodges' film keeps the serial's core cast of Flash, Dale, Zarkov, Ming and Prince Barin, along with the Hawkmen and the rocket journey to Mongo. The 1980 film exaggerates the serial's cliffhanger rhythm and cardboard heroics into knowing camp.

    To Star Wars

    Direct source, well documented.

    Lucas has said that Star Wars began as an attempt to remake Flash Gordon. When he could not get the rights, he wrote his own space opera. The opening text crawl, the wipe transitions and the cliffhanger pacing come from the Universal Flash Gordon serials Lucas watched as a child.

    To Barbarella

    Thematic kinship, probable.

    Jean-Claude Forest drew on the Flash Gordon tradition when creating Barbarella, the comic Vadim adapted. The film keeps its winged men, cruel queen, labyrinthine city and episodic captures and escapes, now played for erotic comedy.

    Where it came from

    Where to watch

    In the US, as of October 21. Prices and services change.

    Find “Flash Gordon (serial)” on Amazon

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Preview card: the tree of influence behind Flash Gordon