Flash Gordon Movie Serials

Universal bought the rights to Raymond's strip and armed with a $350,000 budget aimed to make a serial to top all others. The cinema serial Flash Gordon (1936) starring Buster Crabbe as Flash and Charles Middleton as Ming the Merciless was so popular that two sequel serials were made.

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Flash Gordon (1936)
Director: Frederick Stephani
Starring: Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon), Jean Rogers (Dale Arden), Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless), Priscilla Lawson (Princess Aura), Frank Shannon (Dr Alexis Sarkov)
13 Episode Serial
Ming the Merciless wants to become Emperor of the Universe, and his wandering planet - Mongo is on course for Earth. Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr Zarkov set off in Zarkov's spaceship to explore Mongo, knowing nothing of Ming or his plans. Despite capture, they are eventually able to unite Mongo's warring species and defeat Ming.

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938)
Director: Ford Beebe, Robert F. Hill
Starring: Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon), Jean Rogers (Dale Arden), Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless)
15 Episode Serial
Now on Mars, Ming is raiding Earth's Oxygen; his queen can turn people into clay. Flash of course stops all this.

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Director: Ford Beebe, Ray Taylor
Starring: Buster Crabbe (Flash Gordon), Jean Rogers (Dale Arden), Charles Middleton (Ming the Merciless)
12 Episode Serial
Again Flash contends against Emperor Ming, who is finally killed in this weak sequel to Flash Gordon.

These serials are I think classic examples of the movie serial of the time. A relatively simple plotline is strung out over many episodes with each episode ending in a huge (and sometimes literal) cliff-hanger. While the costuming and special effects now look very dated, you can see why this was the perfect medium for a character like Flash Gordon.

The serial format allows for a much longer story than can be told in a single 2 hour movie, but at the same time the limitiations of a serial where you must recap everything the audience needs to know every episode also keeps the structure of the story very linear and simple. This of course also makes these serials perfect for children.

1) Flash Gordon, A History
2) Flash Gordon - The Comic Strip
3) Flash Gordon Movie Serials
4) Flash Gordon The Movie
5) Flash Gordon - The Future