FILMFACTS
TRIVIA
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Pathetic Earthlings... Who Can Save You Now?
Max Von Sydow stars as 'Ming the Merciless'
Totally Trivia
Film facts for the 1980 Sci-Fi movie starring Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max Von Sydow, Topol
Ornella Muti, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed, Peter Wyngarde, Mariangela Melato, John Osborne, Richard O'Brien, John Hallam, Philip Stone, Suzanne Danielle, William Hootkins, Bobbie Brown, Ted Carroll ., Adrienne Kronenberg Update Cast
We believe the following trivia is all legit. If it's bogus or you have additional info, please update us.
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In the comics, Flash was a polo player, but that was a less polular sport by 1980.Rewind Archive
There is a rumor that the monitor behind Hans Zarkov (Topol), as he is having his memory dumped, shows scenes from Topol's previous movies.Rewind Archive
George Lucas originally hoped to remake Flash Gordon, but when he learned that Dino De Laurentiis had already bought the rights, he wrote "Star Wars" (1977) instead.Thanks to Dan Cotnoir
Klytus informs Ming of the name of the planet "plaything" as Earth. One would assume that this is a frequent pleasure of his Majesty's' due to him having a console labeled and programmed to wreak havoc at will. The buttons are labeled with items such as 'Hot Hail'-'Volcano'-'Hurricane', but oddly for an apparently universal panel it has a button labeled for 'Earthquake'.Thanks to John Thomas / Stephen Lovell
Sam Jones appeared nude in a pictorial layout for Playgirl man of the month for June, 1975.The false name he used as the magazine centerfold was Andrew Cooper, III. In an interview right after Flash Gordon was released, fearing negative publicity, he denied being Andrew Cooper, III, when press releases began linking him the the magazine layout. Years later he finally admitted that it WAS he who had appeared nude in Playgirl.
In later issues of Playgirl where the pictures were re-run, they listed his correct name, Sam J. Jones.
Thanks to Simon Field And Chris Cain
Prince Barin was played by Timothy Dalton who would go on to play 007 in two Bond movies. The young initiate who died at Barin's sword was played by Peter Duncan who used to present British TV's children's show Blue Peter and Barin's musician friend was played by none other than Mr Rocky Horror himself, Richard O'Brien.Thanks to Josh Ellis
William Hootkin, who plays Munson In Flash Gordon, also plays Porkins (Red 6) in Star Wars.Thanks to David
During the opening scene at the airport, just after the hailstorm begins, keep your eyes open for the airport assistant. None other than Robbie Coltraine, who later went on to play Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" films.Thanks to Bitteractr And Vanessa Woodford
Richard O'Brian of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" fame is Prince Barin's (Timothy Dalton) right hand man on Arboria. He helps Flash escape the swamp cage and into Barin's trap.Thanks to Chris
The "Young Treeman" (as he is identified in the closing credits) who fails the intiation is played by Peter Duncan. Peter is famous in the UK for hosting a children's show called "Blue Peter" during the 70's. He also appeared in the cult science fiction show "The Tomorrow People", in the story entitled 'A Rift In Time' (which, like the rest of the series, is now available on DVD).Thanks to Phatpants
Former Smallville star Eric Johnson (Whitney Fordman) has been cast as Flash for the new Flash Gordon TV series.Rewind Archive
At one point Ming the Merciless says when he destroys a planet, he calls upon "the great god Daizan". Daizan is Japanese for "great cruelty".Thanks to J. Gootee
One of Princess Aurora's "pets" is actor Deep Roy, who played the Oompa Loompa in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".Thanks to Steven Carter
Dino DeLaurentis became a "ghost" producer on FILMATION's animated Flash Gordon series. FILMATION needed funding to finish the highly technical (at the time) animation, and DeLaurentis wanted the live action film rights for Flash Gordon that FILMATION also had and the two stuck a deal. The result: DeLaurentis got the live action film rights in exchange for funding the remaining animation on FILMATION's Flash Gordon, which many say is the finest series that FILMATION has ever done.Rewind Archive
One of the feast items in the Hawkmen's Kingdom was Twinkies colored with food dye.Thanks to Dan Paolini
There is one more clear similarity between Flash Gordon and Star Wars that was most likely intentional on George Lucas's part (seeing as he originally wanted to make it instead of Star Wars). In Flash Gordon, Ming the Merciless' guards are completely clad in Red Scarlet (they're the ones that squeal when they die). In Star Wars: Return of the Jedi' the Emperor's personal body guard wear the exact same outfit with the exception of the face piece.Bogus Trivia
There's often fake stuff floating round, y'know? -Like the 'ghost boy' that can allegedly be seen in "Three Men And A Baby".
But, nothing bogus that we know yet for "Flash Gordon".
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1980 Universal Pictures
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