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Spaceship To The Unknown
''Flash Gordon'' is a 1936 superhero serial film. Presented in 13 chapters, it is the first screen adventure for Flash Gordon, the comic-strip character created by Alex Raymond in 1934. It presents the story of Gordon's visit to the planet Mongo and his encounters with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Priscilla Lawson and Frank Shannon portray the film's central characters. In 1996, ''Flash Gordon'' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Cast * Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon * Charles B. Middleton as Ming the Merciless * Jean Rogers as Dale Arden * Priscilla Lawson as Princess Aura * Frank Shannon as Dr. Alexis Zarkov * Richard Alexander as Prince Barin * Jack Lipson as King Vultan * Theodore Lorch as Second High Priest * James Pierce as Prince Thun * Duke York as King Kala * Earl Askam as Offic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frederick Stephani
Frederick Stephani (June 13, 1903 – October 31, 1962) was a screenwriter and film director. He is best known for co-writing and directing the 13-chapter science fiction serial ''Flash Gordon'' in 1936. The serial became Universal's second highest-grossing productions that year. Despite its success, this was the first and only serial Stephani directed over the course of his career, possibly due to its shortcomings in special effects and overall production values, even by contemporary standards. Stephani continued to write, produce and direct feature films and television episodes into the 1960s. Selected filmography *''Flash Gordon'' (1936) - writer and director *''Fast Company'' (1938) - producer *''Tarzan's New York Adventure'' (1942) - producer *''Steve Randall'' (1952, TV series) - writer and director *'' Passport to Danger'' (1954, TV series) - writer and director *'' Bombs on Monte Carlo'' (1960) - writer *''The Deputy ''The Deputy, a Christian tragedy'' (German language ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mongo (planet)
Mongo is a fictional planet where the comic strip (and later Flash Gordon (serial), movie serials) of ''Flash Gordon'' takes place. Mongo was created by the comics artist Alex Raymond in 1934, with the assistance of Raymond's ghostwriter Don Moore.Ron Goulart. ''The Funnies : 100 years of American comic strips''. Holbrook, Mass. : Adams Pub., 1995. (p. 110) Mongo is depicted as being ruled by a usurper named Ming the Merciless, who is shown as a harsh and oppressive dictator.Marguerite Cotto, "Flash Gordon", in Ray B Browne; Pat Browne, ''The Guide to United States Popular Culture'' Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 2001. (p. 283)"Flash Gordon", in Guy Haley, Sci-Fi Chronicles: A Visual History of the Galaxy's Greatest Science Fiction.Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2014. (pp. 69–70) The planet is depicted as being Inhabited localities, inhabited by different cultures, and having a varied ecosystem. The technology of these cultures vari ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Duke York
Duke York ( Charles Everest Sinsabaugh; October 17, 1908January 24, 1952), was an American film actor and stuntman who appeared in nearly 160 films between 1932 and 1952. He was also known as Duke Owl. Early years The son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Sinsabaugh, York was born in Danby, New York. Career Modern viewers will remember York for his portrayals of grotesque monsters, ape men, or other scary goon-like characters in Three Stooges short films such as '' Three Little Twirps'', '' Idle Roomers'', '' Three Pests in a Mess'', '' Shivering Sherlocks'', and '' Who Done It?'' His most prominent non-monster role was as Kelly in ''Higher Than a Kite''. York also played the role of King Kala in the serial ''Flash Gordon''. In the 1930s, York worked as a combination lifeguard and bodyguard for actress Ida Lupino. Personal life and death In the 1930s, York married movie stuntwoman Frances Miles, but the union ended in divorce in 1941. Several years later, York was dating Beverly Hills ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prince Thun
Prince Thun is a fictional character who appeared in various forms of the Flash Gordon comic strip and film productions. He is a Lion Man of Mongo and one of Flash's most trusted friends. His Father is King Jugrid, ruler of the Lion Men, and one of the three mightiest rulers of Mongo. In comics Thun first appeared in the Alex Raymond comic strip of the 1930s and quickly becomes an ally of Flash, after meeting him during a Lion Men attack on Mingo City.Alex Raymond and Don Moore, "On the Planet Mongo" (1/7/34 to 4/8/34). Thun and the other Lion Men are depicted as human-like aliens, but with orange skin and leonine tails. The Lion Men are shown as living in tents and using "Space Gyro" aircraft, which are capable of defeating Ming's rocket ships in aerial combat. The Lion Men also have access to artillery, and are shown to own a mortar gun capable of destroying a small city. Thun helped Flash Gordon twice in stopping Ming marrying Dale. Thun and the Lion Men appeared on a semi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Pierce
James Hubert Pierce (August 8, 1900 – December 11, 1983) was an American actor and the fourth actor to portray Tarzan on film. He appeared in films from 1924 to 1951. Background Pierce was born in Freedom, Indiana. He was an All-American center on the Indiana Hoosiers football team. Following his graduation in 1921, he coached high school football in Arizona, and began acting in his spare time. After he was cast in the 1923 production of ''The Deerslayer'', he remained in California and coached football at Glendale High School (one of his players was John Wayne). Career Portrayal of Tarzan Pierce's life changed when he attended a party given by Edgar Rice Burroughs and his daughter Joan. Burroughs, the creator and author of the Tarzan books, immediately wanted Pierce to star in the next Tarzan movie. Pierce gave up a role in the film ''Wings'' to accept the Tarzan role. His part in ''Wings'' was given to a newcomer named Gary Cooper. The silent Tarzan film Burr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theodore Lorch
Theodore Lorch (September 29, 1873 – November 12, 1947) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1908 and 1947. Biography Born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1873, Lorch appeared in several Three Stooges comedies. He was the suspicious Major "Bloodhound" Filbert in ''Uncivil Warriors'', the snooty psychologist Professor Sedlitz in ''Half-Wits Holiday'', and General Muster in '' Goofs and Saddles''. He also performed tiny bit roles, such as the butler in ''If a Body Meets a Body'' and '' Micro-Phonies''. Lorch died on November 12, 1947. His final Stooge film, ''The Hot Scots'', was released posthumously in 1948. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California. Selected filmography * ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1920) - Chingachgook * ''Gasoline Gus'' (1921) - Dry Check Charlie * ''Shell Shocked Sammy'' (1923) * ''Westbound'' (1924) * '' The Sea Hawk'' (1924) - Turkish Merchant (uncredited) * ''Dangerous Pleasure'' (1924) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jack Lipson
Jack "Tiny" Lipson (January 17, 1901 – November 28, 1947) was an American film actor. He appeared in over 85 films between 1927 and 1948. Career Lipson played character parts, and was usually uncredited. Due to his rotund, towering figure, Lipson gained the nickname "Tiny" and was usually cast as the "fat guy" in films. He played the role of King Vultan the 1936 serial ''Flash Gordon''. In 1941, he appeared in ''Never Give a Sucker an Even Break'' as a Turkish passenger aboard an airplane with W. C. Fields, whose mumbled remarks about the passenger's size prompt the retort, "You a big nose have it!"Fields, W. C. (1973). ''W. C. Fields in Never give a sucker an even break and Tillie and Gus: Volume 37 of Classic film scripts''. Lorrimer. p. 42. Two years later, Lipson portrayed a German sailor in the Three Stooges' short '' Back from the Front'', in which he is knocked unconscious and collapses on top of a suffocating Larry Fine. Moe Howard comes to the rescue and quips, "Whoa, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prince Barin
Prince Barin is a character in the Flash Gordon stories. He is king of a region of Mongo called Arboria. Barin becomes one of Flash's best friends, and is deeply in love with Princess Aura. In his appearance, Barin resembles the character of Robin Hood. Barin appears regularly in the ''Flash Gordon'' comic strip, becoming the ruler of Mongo after Ming's overthrow. In other media Prince Barin was first portrayed by Richard Alexander in the 1936 ''Flash Gordon'' film serial. He reprised the same role in the 1938 sequel '' Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars''. In the 1940 sequel ''Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe'', the role was portrayed by Roland Drew. Alan Oppenheimer provided the voice of Prince Barin in the 1979 Filmation animated series. Here, Barin is depicted as a master archer, armed with arrows encasing any item they strike in ice. His fortress city in Arboria is highly advanced, and almost equal in technology to Mingo City. The city is protected by a defensive energy s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Alexander (actor)
Richard Alexander (November 19, 1902 – August 9, 1989) was an American film character actor. Biography Born in Dallas, Texas, Alexander appeared in numerous film serials such as ''Flash Gordon'', '' Zorro Rides Again'' and films like '' Babes in Toyland'', '' The Gladiator'', as well as a leading role in '' All Quiet on the Western Front''. Although he appeared in countless films, almost all of his appearances were uncredited (see filmography below). Alexander died at age 86 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2. McFarland & Company (2016) Filmography *'' Brown of Harvard'' (1926) as Football Fan (film debut, uncredited) *'' Old Ironsides'' (1926) as Seaman (uncredited) *'' The Fightin' Comeback'' (1927) as Red Pollock *'' The King of Kings'' (1927) as Roman Soldier (uncredited) *''Annie Laurie'' (1927) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hans Zarkov
Dr. Hans Zarkov is a fictional character appearing in the '' Flash Gordon'' comic strip and the following serials, films, television shows and comic books. Zarkov is a brilliant scientist who creates a rocket and forces Flash and Dale Arden to come with him to the planet Mongo, and fight against Ming the Merciless. In the original comic strip, he was first thought to have died when his ship crashed into the planet Mongo. It is later revealed that Ming's minions pulled him out of the wreckage. Zarkov's character in the 1980s DC comic was handled the same way. Alex Raymond's comic strip In the first ''Flash Gordon'' storyline, Zarkov discovers the Earth is endangered by an impending collision with the planet Mongo.Alex Raymond and Don Moore,''Flash Gordon'', "On the Planet Mongo" (1/7/34 to 4/8/34). Discovering Flash and Dale near his laboratory, he abducts them at gunpoint and forces them into his spacecraft, which he then launches at the planet Mongo. By the second storyline ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Princess Aura
Princess Aura is a fictional character in the ''Flash Gordon'' comic strips and serials. She is the selfish daughter of Ming the Merciless, the evil ruler of the planet Mongo and Emperor of the Universe. First appearing in the original 1934 ''Flash Gordon'' comic strip, Aura falls in love with Flash Gordon on sight, but is ultimately unable to seduce him away from the Dale Arden. In various adaptations, her character ranges from villainous to sympathetic, often defying her father. Aura has been portrayed by various actresses in the many ''Flash Gordon'' adaptations in film and television, including Priscilla Lawson in the 1936 serial film, Shirley Deane in the 1940 serial film ''Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe'', Ornella Muti in the 1980 feature film adaptation, and Anna Van Hooft in the 2007 television series. Character overview Aura is the daughter of the series' villain, Ming the Merciless, but saves Flash Gordon from execution by her father. She soon realizes th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dale Arden
Dale Arden is a fictional character, the fellow adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia and Padmé Amidala in ''Star Wars''. Flash, Dale and Dr. Hans Zarkov fight together against Ming the Merciless. Profile Dale is Flash Gordon's constant companion in his adventures, as well as his one true love. The emperor Ming the Merciless is immediately attracted to her and the early strips were essentially based on Flash's heroic efforts to rescue Dale from Ming's many attempts to marry her. Filmation's Flash Gordon's Bible portrayed Dale Arden as follows: Alex Raymond's comic strip Dale Arden is introduced in the first ''Flash Gordon'' story, July 7, 1934, as simply "a passenger" on the plane Flash is flying on. After the plane is hit by a meteor, Flash saves Dale by parachuting to the ground. The two are then abducted by Dr. Zarkov, who takes them on his rocket to the planet Mongo. In the 1930s comic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |