# Amazing Facts about Flash Gordon: The Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399 "2003-12-02T02:35:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/1 "2003-12-02T02:35:40Z")
Yes the 1980 version with the Queen soundtrack. 1. Sam J Jones, who played Flash was a Playgirl centerfold in 1975 under an assumed name. 2. He was also one of the camera operators in Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave 3. At the time it had the largest blue screen ever attempted. 4. Topol and Max von Sydow are in it. How the hell did THAT happen? Is it just me or could either of these men out-act the entire rest of the cast? 5. Ornella Muti, who played Princess Aura has over 90(!!!) film credits. More than any other performer in the picture. 6. Peter Wyngarde, who played Klytus, once appeared as ‘Number Two’ in an episode of ‘The Prisoner’. 7. Fico, Prince Barin’s hanger-on, was played by none other than Richard O’Brien, of Rocky Horror fame. 8. Brian Blessed, who played Prince Vultan of the Hawk People, has also played King Lear, Boss Nass in Episode I, Edward I in ‘The Bruce’, King Richard IV in ‘The Blackadder’. I guess he likes playing royalty. 9. William Hootkins, who played Zarkov’s assistant Munson, has had one of the great Science Fiction bit careers of all time. He has played in Flash Gordon, he was Porkins in Star Wars, he was Major Eaton in Raiders, he was Lt Eckhardt in Batman. Just thought I’d share. God, I love that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Melandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Melandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melandry)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/2 "2003-12-02T02:43:07Z")
My dad used to make us watch this movie all the time when we were kids. At the time I had no understanding of it whatsoever, but when things like your post make me think of it again, I wish I could see it. So I could appreciate it, and the Queen soundtrack, too. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/3 "2003-12-02T02:48:52Z")
Ah, Don’t forget Timothy Dalton who played Prince Barin!! He went on to take over the role of James Bond for several films. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/4 "2003-12-02T02:54:23Z")
…well, it’s nice to know Sam Jones found something he COULD do well… Aside from wiggle it for Playgirl, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/5 "2003-12-02T02:55:56Z")
Brian Blessed was also Old Deuteronomy in the London production of “Cats.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/6 "2003-12-02T03:02:47Z")
**FLASH!** _Aah-aah!_ He’ll save every one of us! ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/7 "2003-12-02T03:04:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > **1. Sam J Jones, who played Flash was a Playgirl centerfold in 1975 under an assumed name.** Actually, if the IMDB entry for him is correct, he did it under his original birth name, Andrew Cooper III. Technically, Sam J Jones is the assumed name. [http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0429207/bio](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0429207/bio) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/8 "2003-12-02T03:04:58Z")
Brian Blessed was also Augustus in the PBS classic “I, Claudius” He has appeared with Kenneth Branagh in two Shakespeare films as well, Henry V, and Much Ado About Nothing. I love his acting. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/9 "2003-12-02T03:35:58Z")
Not to mention his appearance as ‘Lord Locksley’ in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. But I like the Boss Nass appearance best. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/10 "2003-12-02T03:45:26Z")
Princess Aura was the first woman that I ever wanted to do Nasty Things To/With. I completely owe my bisexuality to Ornella Muti. And I still want this stuff: Slave: “Drink this.” Dale: “What is it?” Slave: “It has no name. Many brave men died to bring it here from the Galaxy of Pleasure. It’ll make your nights with Ming more agreeable.” Dale: “Will it make me forget?” Slave: “No, but it will make you not mind remembering.” ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/11 "2003-12-02T04:02:14Z")
I’d settle for a one-way ticket to that galaxy. Risk be damned. Who’s with me? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/12 "2003-12-02T04:38:28Z")
Why would I want to go to Mongo? I’m this close to getting my TARDIS working. I remember seeing with my folks and all of us being thrilled when Zarkoff mentions Talmud in the list of things he repeated to himself to avoid brainwashing. Flash was very goy. But, his brilliant yet misunderstood scientist friend was a Jew. Flash! Ahaaah! King of the impossible! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/13 "2003-12-02T05:34:27Z")
[StompTokyo](http://www.stomptokyo.com/movies/f/flash-gordon.html) has my favorite review of this film. The recognize that it’s cheese (and their criticisms are valid ones), but love it nonetheless. As do I. > [@](#): > > Imagine that you have just won $100 million in a lottery, that Carmen Electra has offered to marry you, and George Lucas has asked you if you want a part in the next Star Wars film. Now imagine that as you find all of this out, someone asks you: “How’re you doing?” The level of enthusiam you would put into your answer to that question is the same level of enthusiam that [King of the Hawkmen Brian] Blessed puts into every line he delivers, including “Is this seat taken?” Blessed is probably more over the top in this movie that he’s been in any other role that he’s played, and that’s saying something. Man, can he dislocate his jaw or what? What do you mean, “Flash Gordon approaching?!” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/14 "2003-12-02T05:46:21Z")
Nice to know I’m not the only geek to absolutely love this wonderful, yet cheesy, movie!..Timmy ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/15 "2003-12-02T06:01:44Z")
Semi Hijack Filmation did an animated series that I recall as being pretty good. I remember an episode involving suitors for the princess’ hand engaging in gladiatorial combat, and one involving ape men sacrificing humans to the giant statue of their ape god. Defenders Of The Earth was an animated series that teamed Flash with the Phantom, Mandrake, and Lothar-and they all had kids. But, Ming fought back with armies of robots and men of frost. Some episodes were great. Some really stank. Most were average 30 minute toy ad fare. In the 90’s, a new Flash cartoon was attempted. Flash was a teenage surfer. Ming went from Fu Man Chu to lizard man. I refused to watch a single episode. There just aren’t enough ray guns, jet packs, or flying sleds in movies anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/16 "2003-12-02T06:02:54Z")
Second wave… DAAAAIIIIIIIYVEEEEEEE!!! When I was a kid, I wanted to be Brian Blessed when I grew up. Sometimes, dreams really do come true. ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/17 "2003-12-02T06:18:50Z")
The actor who play Lt Eckhard in _Batman_ was Porkins in _Star Wars_!! Didn’t know that. (I always felt sorry for Porkins…) ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/18 "2003-12-02T07:49:51Z")
“That must be one hell of a planet you men come from.” “Not too bad.” * * * “Dale, what a damn shame.” * * * 45 seconds after I hit the Submit Reply button Sam Jones, and the guy who actually looped in all his dialogue, will travel to Mongo again. I gotta find this sucker on DVD before I wear this tape out. No movie this bad should be this much fun. [sub]And I still cackle when Timothy Dalton grabs that big machine gun blaster, looks around, and then for no good reason kicks over the tripod it was mounted on.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/19 "2003-12-02T08:24:36Z")
I have the Flash Gordon soundtrack on **8 Track**. Envy me. “Klytus, I’m booored.” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399/20 "2003-12-02T08:45:53Z")
Brian Blessed also played a warrior king on an episode of Doctor Who. I think he ran off with the Doctor’s assistant. I think the key to the fun of the movie is that everyone knows that they’re spouting cliches. The cliches are embraced. “That’s one of the things that make us better than you, Aura.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-facts-about-flash-gordon-the-movie/216399.md?page=2)