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DVD Flash Gordon - The Peril from Planet Mongo
A strange purple dust is killing off the population of Earth, leaving a telltale purple smudge on the foreheads of its victims! Together, Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, and Dr. Zarkov trace the plague to the planet Mongo and archfiend Ming the Merciless! There's hope for the Earth, though, when the intrepid team discovers Polarite, the antidote to the pandemic, found only in the barren, cold reaches of Frigia. This collection of Flash Gordon serials finds Buster Crabbe teamed up with a different Dale Arden, but facing the usual array of strange creatures and spellbinding thrills. It's worth noting that Mongo looks a lot like Sherwood Forest, with its natives toting bows and arrows and wearing Robin Hood outfits. These installments of the series are unusually inventive, such as the scenes when Flash and company travel to the frozen wastelands of Frigia. The encounters with the Rock People and the "walking bombs" are also rather bizarre, even by today's standards. There's even a topical note to the story line, with a madman bent on genocide; the real-life people of Earth would face just such a threat a few short years later. It's the slam-bang pace and two-fisted action of Flash Gordon's adventures that kept audiences spellbound in the '30s, though, and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe certainly gave them their money's worth. --Jerry Renshaw
Review(s): DVD Flash Gordon - The Peril from Planet Mongo
Ming Is The King !
At the time of writing there are two versions of 'Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe' available on DVD. This review concerns Image Entertainment's version - a single sided, no frills DVD. I purchased Image Entertainment's version because I'd been very impressed by their previous two Flash Gordon serials and didn't want the hassle of this serial spread over two discs. Having bought the other two Image Entertainment DVDs, this one also nicely completes the set. Like 'Space Soldiers' and 'Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars' the sound and picture quality are superb. Whilst the storyline had taken a dip for 'Trip to Mars', Universal Pictures bounced right back to form with this serial and it certainly gives 'Space Soldiers' a run for its money for being the best of the trio. The story is full of good old-fashioned excitement and you can easily sit down to watch 4 or 5 episodes at a time. I was sorry to see Jean Rogers relinquish the part of Dale Arden, but her role is expertly filled by Carol Hughes and the rest of the cast are also on good form. Like I said, you have the choice of two DVDs for this serial. I am very happy with this version, but like they say, you pays your money and you takes your choice.
This is the best of the Flash Gordon serials
"Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" was the third and best of the serials starring Buster Grabbe. This 12-part serial finds Alex Raymond's science-fiction hero battling Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton). Flash has to save the earth from a mysterious plague known as the Purple Death. When Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon) finds one a spaceship from planet Mongo seeding the atmosphere it is clear that Ming the Merciless is back to his old tricks. Flash is aided by old friend Prince Barin of Arboria (Roland Drew) as they head to Frigia, where our heroes will find polarite, the antidote to the plague, and some really interesting locking rock people. Of course, Ming is going to go out of his way to stop Flash and his friends. My only real complaints are that the costumes look like leftovers from "Robin Hood" and that Carol Hughes replaced Jean Rogers as Dale Arden. Oh, well, life is full of disappointments. This DVD not only includes an interview with Crabbe, but footage of him winning the 1932 Olympic Gold Medal in the 400 meter swim event and three of his later TV commercials. Ideally you want to watch the three Flash Gordon serials in order, but if you start with this one you will certainly be able to follow the fun without any problems.
Save your money!!
I bought this on DVD and expected a professional package I expect of any DVD package. Here's the news...terrible packaging, no extra features, no cinemascope so you can't even read the credits, the poorest quality I have seen and overall unwatchable product. I feel as if I was robbed of my money. The people that made this product wanted to sell you something but you will never buy anything else. I say wait for someone who cares to release these great serials.
Related DVD's Flash Gordon - The Peril from Planet Mongo
It's easy to point and guffaw at the Flash Gordon serials. In fact, in this day and age it's hard to believe that audiences of any era were ever expected to accept bulbous rocket ships that flatulently trail sparks and smoke; preposterous, shambling space creatures; and spaceship interiors that look as though they were assembled from a plumbing warehouse. Despite the primitive sets and effects, Flash Gordon serials are as much a part of the roots of modern sci-fi as Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, or Ray Bradbury.
This collection from Image Entertainment finds Flash battling a fiendish plot staged by Queen Azura of Mars, stealing the Earth's nitrogen to aid in the ongoing war against the Clay People. Flash soon discovers that Azura is in line with his mortal enemy,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Robert F. Hill - Frederick Stephani - Ford Beebe DVD Release Date: Released the 28 March 2000 Usually ships within 24 hours
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This first of the Flash Gordon serials introduces the characters and quickly immerses them in the adventures and conflicts that audiences expected to see. The acting is impressive, especially Charles Middleton as Ming the Merciless. The special effects and sets are really quite good. Sure, they don't compare to what is done routinely in movies today, but this was 1936 and a children's afternoon serial.
The DVD transfer is surprisingly good, given the age of the source material. There are scenes that show scratches and dirt, but there are even more scenes that are clear and sharp without noticable blemishes. I compared the DVD image with a video tape, scene by scene, and there really was no comparison. The DVD picture was far superior. The DVD's sound is also an improvement, though... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Frederick Stephani - Ray Taylor DVD Release Date: Released the 11 January 2000 Usually ships within 24 hours
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While it lacks the baroque, fantastical quality of the previous Flash Gordon serials (which also starred Buster Crabbe), the Buck Rogers serial still exemplifies the freewheeling spirit of pulp-magazine space opera of the 1930s. Crash-landing in the Arctic in the 20th century, Buck Rogers and his sidekick Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) use a special gas to induce suspended animation, only to be awakened 500 years later when the world is ruled by the evil Killer Kane. We are told that Kane's ascendancy is a direct result of the 20th century's failure to solve the problem of crime. But luckily, Buck Rogers is here to fight Kane's evil domination of mankind, which involves making obedient robots out of folks by strapping an "amnesia helmet" on their heads. (The helmet looks like... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Ford Beebe - Saul A. Goodkind DVD Release Date: Released the 19 September 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This dvd, the Adventures of Captain Marvel, was ordered on Aug. 31, but has NOT yet been delivered to me. This is the first and only opportunity I've been afforded to contact you about this. Please cancel my order.
-Trevor Von Eeden/thv2101@columbia.edu- More Info about this DVD Director(s): John English - William Witney DVD Release Date: Released the 16 December 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Growing up in the 50's every Saturday morning I would journey to the local theater house in northern New Mexico to lose myself in fantasy land. The routine was 4 approc 20-25 minute episodes Flash Gordon, Capt Marvel and Zorro etc. These were produced in the 30's and 40's at Republic and Columbia. Flash Gordon was my favorite, starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe also starred as Tarzan, these weekly episodes are also known as cliffhangers, usually in 12 or 16 episodes insuring the same audience every saturday morning for 16 weeks. The concept is at the end of each week the Hero or Heroine would be in some sort of eminent catastrophe such as going over a cliff, In a burning building, a fiery airplane and you would return next week to see the outcome. Flash Gordon was my favorite with the... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Buster Crabbe DVD Release Date: Released the 13 May 2003 Special Order
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