Flash Gordon - The Purple Death from Outer Space

Amazon.com

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

Description

The people of Earth are succumbing to a mysterious and lethal disease which leaves a curious purple spot on the victims' foreheads. Acting on a hunch, Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov blast off in a rocketship in search of answers and discover a spaceship spraying purple dust into Earth's atmosphere. Commanding the spaceship is none other than Ming the Merciless, ruler of the planet Mongo! From a thrilling aerial duel, Flash and his friends are catapulted into high adventure, battling monstrous mechanical men in the frozen wastes on the planet Frigia. They must find the antidote to the deadly dust and stop the devious designs of the power-mad Ming while there is still an Earth left to save! This is a feature-length edited version of Chapters 1-6 of the 1940 serial "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe."

Customer Reviews:

Inane fun.......2007-09-03

The most obvious question posed by this serial is how the actors ever got through filming a single scene without breaking up with laughter. And yet they manage to look very, very serious.

Let's start with the rocket ships, the sine qua non of this science fiction sub-category. They look like fat Faygo bottles with exhaust pipes that have sparklers in them and send out puffs of smoke. They chug along at, oh, ten or fifteen miles per hour, it would appear, and yet they go from one planet to another in no time flat. And before they land they circle like a dog finding a place to lie. If that is not enough, they can turn at sharp angles with ease. There is no such thing as weightlessness or lack of oxygen. Moreover, it is possible to open a door, while in space, and go from one rocket to another without freezing or gasping. In short, there is nothing realistic, nothing that conforms to any of the laws of physics. Either the movie makers didn't know about the physics--or decided to ignore reality. Or perhaps viewers today know too much about the hazards of space and how long it takes to get from here to there.

Next, we have the costumes. Most of the time, the good guys wear Robin Hood caps topped with rakish feathers. They also wear tights and what appear to be leather jackets or doublets with strange stud-work and designs. The bad guys from Mongo wear steel helmets with visors; a rod sticks up about 12 inches from the top of the helmet, and there is a feather at the tip. The rest of their costumes appear to be comic opera military uniforms. Many of the characters have long capes that almost touch the floor and frequently get in the way of piloting a rocket ship. Perhaps the siliest outfit is worn by Ming the Merciless. He has high heeled boots, tights, a floor length cape and a cloche, and on occasion there are long white plumes trailing atop his head. The stone men wear silly headgears that make their heads look like chunks of weather rock.

There are many fistfights in each episode, a staple of all serials, and no one ever gets a cut lip, a black eye or a skinned knuckle. Add to this the fact that the good guys smite the bad guys right in their steel helmets with visors and don't even say ouch. Of course, Ming himself never gets into the fray, chief villains never do, but the women have a couple of fights with each other, but they don't appear to put much heart into it.

The plot is that Ming plans to conquer the universe, and Flash et al. must stop him. The latter get into all sorts of predicaments that seem to spell disaster, but they always get out of them somehow. Suffice it to say that it all turns out OK for our side.

The dialogue is wooden and frequently amusing without intended to be. The sets and filming loci and pretty good, except for the rocket ships, as noted. The women are attractive and submissive, just the way they should be, in 1940. The characters are all one-dimensional as was the fashion: Ming is evil from top to bottom, and Flash is goodness and light.

Despite all this, the serial is a great deal of fun to watch. There is the nostalgia factor, of course, but viewing this as an adult, some 67 years after it was made, generally causes more laughter than angst for the characters.

FLASH.......2007-07-23

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS, SIMPLY BECOUSE IT HAD THE CLIFFHANGERS. THE PICTURE AND SOUND WAS UP TO TO PAR ALSO. I HIGHLY RECOMEND IT.

Science and heros against threats to the Earth.......2007-03-16

This is one of the serials that inspired star wars ( with really bad special effects).
A recent News article asks:
"Could crazy technology save the planet?"
There's the man-made "volcano" that shoots gigatons of sulfur high into the air. The space "sun shade" made of trillions of little reflectors between Earth and sun, slightly lowering the planet's temperature. The forest of ugly artificial "trees" that suck carbon dioxide out of the air. And the "Geritol solution" in which iron dust is dumped into the ocean.
More genetically altered super fast growing trees that will grow with a minimum of water would be very nice for deserts everywhere.
What Flash Gordon does is give us hope that science can help;
that our actions can make a difference!
This series of adventures is the last of these Buster Crabbe is getting old and fat and
Dale Arden is played by a different although very pretty actress ( Instead of Jean Rogers Carol Hughes),
but the same spirit of saving the world is there.

"King of Serials on DVD...VCI Entertainment ~ Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)".......2005-10-07

VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" (1940) (Dolby digitally remastered), adapted from Alex Raymond's comic strip with 12 Chapters of this "Special Collector's Edition" vintage serial episodes loaded with sci-fi special effects and action sequences...story line has Flash, Dale and Dr. Zarkov traipsing off to Ming's favorite planet Mongo...can the trio stop Ming from shooting the ever popular "Death Rays" at their home planet Earth...will Flash survive the fiery pit, an avalanche and the over zealous robots, will they explode to human touch....watch for the exciting aerial battles as Ming and his warships make short work of the opposition all except Flash and his comrades...can the mysterious plague known as the "Purple Death" (aka Purple Dust) make short work of all the inhabitants of the planet Earth...what devilment is Ming the Merciless up to with spreading this dust into the atmosphere...double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense...as Flash Gordon fills the giant screen with excitement...don't miss a single spine-thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

Under director's Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor, producer Henry MacRae, screenplay by Alex Raymond (comic strip), George H.Plympton, Basil Dickey and Barry Shipman, music score by Franz Waxman ("Bride of Frankenstin"-1935), Franz Liszt, Charles Previn, Frank Skinner, Ralph Freed, Sam Perry, Heinz Roemheld, special effects Ed Keyes, ...the cast include Buster Crabbe ("Flash" Gordon), Carol Hughes (Dale Arden), Anne Gwynne (Sonja), Charles Middleton (Emperor Ming the Merciless), Frank Shannon (Dr. Zarkov), John Hamilton (Prof. Gordon), Herbert Rawlinson (Dr. Frohmann), Tom Chatterton (Prof. Arden), Shirley Deane (Princess Aura), Lee Powell (Capt. Roka), Roland Drew (Prince Barin), Don Rowan (Capt. Torch), Earl Dwire (Jenda), Roy Barcroft (Ming soldier/Ming adjutant/Arborian sentry ), Lane Chandler (Ming soldier/Ming adjutant), Donald Curtis (Ronal), Eddie Parker (Arborian Prison Guard-stuntman), Tom Steele (Ming Pilot)...must make mention Eddie Parker (stunt double for Buster Crabbe).......special behind the scenes note that actor Buster Crabbe graduated from the University of Southern California and won the 400 meter freestyle in which he medaled in the 1932 Olympics, went to work for Paramount in "King of the Jungle" (1933), next role was "Tarzan the Fearless (1933), Crabbe returned to Paramount Pictures was featured in Zane Grey Westerns which were well received, then came the roles that made him a household word "Flash Gordon" and "Buck Rogers" at Universal Picture Serials (1936-1940), meanwhile PRC Studios was looking for a leading hero "Billy the Kid" and "Billy Carson" in the 1940's B-Western series and ran its course for six years, later made several televison appearances and appeared in a series "Captain Gallant and the Foreign Legion" (1955-1957).....meanwhile back to the feature as Universal Pictures always at the top of their game and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.

CHAPTER TITLES: (Disc One)
1. The Purple Death
2. Freezing Torture
3. Walking Bombs
4. The Destroying Ray

SPECIAL FEATHERS: (Disc One)
SERIAL TRAILERS:
1. Republic Pictures presents "HI-YO Silver" (Lee Powell)
2. "And Then There Were None" (Louis Hayward)
3. "Gorgoyles" (Cornel Wilde)
4. "The Southern" (Zachary Scott)

BIOS: (Disc One)
1. Buster Crabbe (aka Clarence Linden Crabbe)
Birth Date: 2/07/1908 - Oakland, CA
Died: 4/23/1983 - Scottsdale, Arizona

PHOTO GALLERY (Disc One)
(stills from "Flash Gordon", autographed pictures signed for Bill Blair, picture of Ester Williams, Johnny Wessmuller and Buster)

INTERVIEWS: (Disc One)
1. Xth Olympiad (young Buster Crabbe wins the Gold Medal for the 400 meter freestyle in 1932)
2. Buster Crabbe (interview Circa from 1970).
3. Bisoldol Television Commercial
4. Buster Crabbe (interview #1 from 9/30/1970)

CHAPTER TITLES: (Disc Two)
5. The Palace of Terror
6. Flaming death
7. The Land of the Dead
8. The Fiery Abyss

SPECIAL FEATURES: (Disc Two)
INTERVIEWS:
1. Buster Crabbe (interview #2 from 9/30/1970)
2. Hormel Chile Television Commercial with Buster Crabbe.

CHAPTER TITLES (Disc Three)
9. The Pool of Peril
10.The Death Mist
11.Stark Treachery
12.Doom of the Dictator

SPECIAL FEATURES: (Disc Three)
INTERVIEWS:
1. Buster Crabbe (interview #1 from 1975).
2. Magic Mold Bodyshirt (commercial with losing weight with this magic shirt)
3. Buster Crabbe (interview #2 from 1975)

If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure then this is the place for all of the above...check out another release from VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present "Buck Rogers" (1939) (Dolby digitally remastered), adapted from Edgar Wallace novel with 12 Chapters of vintage serial as the story unfolds Buck Rogers and his young friend Buddy Wade crash land in a trans-polar dirigible flight on an Earth mountain top...what is this strange gas of suspended animations...have the years passed so quickly with Buck and Buddy now 500 years into the future...who now rules the planet Earth with such tyrannical despot, all this and much more in the following chapters...while you're at it why not pick up a copy from VCI Entertainment and Columbia Pictures present "Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere" (1951) (digitally remastered), 15 Chapters.finally for the first time on video the really great Columbia Serial that broke the mold...we have everything a serial fan would want...the tinted sequences by Cinecolor and unique inventions that were unlike any other serial out there in the '50s.....get out there as they're going fast, this is the best of "Sci-Fi Serials" you've been waiting for.

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" (1940), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 237 mins on 3 DVD's ~ VCI Entertainment 8240 ~ (5/28/2000)

Worth a few laughs.......2005-06-16

Bad acting, shallow characters, ridiculous costumes (whatever they could dig up from Robin Hood), cheap sets (the spacecraft only have one seat!), and ludicrous special effects add up to a camp classic.

I can't stand sitting thru more than 2 episodes at once (there are twelve total).

These episodes were originally intended to be viewed as serials at theaters in "Matinee" format... you would see one new 20 minute episode a week, with a cliffhanger at the end of each one - the problem is, when you can see the episodes "back to back", the cliffhanger resolutions can be seen as the true ripoffs that they were, as they never quite match up with the impossible-to-escape cliffhanger shown from the week before (the writers figure that after a week's time you'll have forgetten what they showed you the week before).

At least the "evil" Sonja is pretty hot... and Ming makes a pretty good "bad guy".

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