Alex Raymond's iconic comic strip, Flash Gordon, had successfully conquered movie screens in serials in the 30's. However, the first attempt to mount a live-action TV series based on the strip was produced overseas in 1954, and lasted just 1 season, failing to find enough viewers to warrant a second season. Then again, after Buster Crabbe had played the definitive Flash on the big screen, Steve Holland, cast for television, wasn't even close to matching.
From what I'd seen in a DVD sample a while back, the scripting was weak, and Holland and his co-stars had to make do. Small wonder, then, that Holland didn't headline another series after this. Scope out the open:
SyFy brought Gordon into primetime a few years back, but that didn't last too much longer. Seems the strip translated better in animated form (NBC, 1979, '81).
Rating: D.
My dad had seen the Flash Gordon serials in the 40s - the orignals were playing in a second run theatre in Brooklyn. My dad loved Flash & his adventures ever since!
ReplyDeleteI noticed the intro is very reminiscent of those serial openings.
I loved the version Filmation produced back in '79. They were very true to the comics in many ways and it was animated a bit better than most Filmation fare at the time.
Many of us still remember the feature film version of the character - although the leading man playing flash wasn't that great, most of the other characters were a hoot (Brian Blessed who played Prince Vultan seemed to have the most fun!) and despite its flaws it was a fun campy outing.
The less said about the SyFy series the better! Ming didn't look at all like Ming - thank you PC jerks!
I would love it if a new (preferably animated) Flash Gordon series or film would be developed. If the creators stick with a strong cast and keep close to its art deco designs and otherworldly fantastic surroundings, they could have a real winner!
I think right now, they're sticking with comic books. Dynamite has the license and just launched a new Flash Gordon monthly.
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