I never saw that cartoon. I didn't realize it was such a faithful adaptation. I'll try to track it down on YouTube. Well, it wasn't hardcore, and neither is the DVD. Was the X-Rated version hardcore?
I really don't know. Never seen it. I only know that the original X-rated version was trimmed down into an R-rated version. What was cut, I haven't a clue. Wiki sez: I don't know anything about this collector's edition. I don't even know what the 78 minutes running time is, X or R version. It could conceivably be both.
I have both, the packaged series and a homemade DVD of the VCR recording that's on YouTube. Someone, maybe it was Christopher, stated the original prints for the movie cut are "lost", so a proper DVD or Blu-Ray release is not probable. I hope such is not the case. There's a funny scene in the movie when Prince Thun, voiced by Ted Cassidy, wistfully thinks about his home. With longing in his distinctive, gravely voice, he describes his mate as having "fur so soft and warm." Who knew Lurch was a "furry"? I kid; I kid! Sincerely, Bill
I just this second remembered that Leighton Meester is the most captivating woman in the universe, and everything else just fell into place.... Flash Gordon: Chace Crawford Dr. Hans Zarkov: Matthew Settle Dale Arden: Leighton Meester Ming the Merciless: William Baldwin Princess Aura: Blake Lively Prince Vultan: Ed Westwick Prince Barin: Penn Badgley Klytus: Zuzanna Szadkowski Kala: Michelle Trachtenberg
They should find a place for Happy Hapgood in a new movie. It could be both. Back in the 60s and 70s, some pretty tame stuff was rated X. In any case, it's worth catching. It's pretty funny and it has some pretty cool stop-motion effects.
From Wikipedia (inserts in brackets mine): "According to (cinematographer Howard) Ziehm's DVD audio commentary, the film was originally shot using scenes of straight and gay hardcore pornography. These were cut after Ziehm found himself in legal trouble: Producing pornography in Los Angeles was legally viewed as pandering at that time (1974). The X-rated footage was surrendered to L. A. vice police. (And presumably destroyed after a few, heh heh, 'evidence reviews.') Although some explicit shots can be briefly seen during the throne room orgy scenes, the 'collector's edition' video (90 minutes, the R-rated version is 78 minutes), labelled 'the original, uncensored version', is no more explicit than any of the earlier releases."
Ah, so it's saying that the version that was rated X by the MPAA is the 90 minute "collector's edition" labeled "the original, uncensored version". And also there is, besides that, actual hardcore footage that also would have been rated X, but which was presumably destroyed.
It was a TV-movie shown in prime-time like The Hobbit and Return of the King. It was a pretty big deal for a kid at the time to be treated to an animated prime-time TV-movie. It's by far the best thing Filmation ever did. Chock full of rotoscoping so the animation (especially the ships) was silky smooth.
I hope you guys will forgive a topic related thread bomb. Ming based upon DAZ's Michael 2 figure and Aura morphed from Aiko 3. Ming's outfit is a freebie Dr. Strange outfit recolored and Aura's are selected pieces from a generic sorceress ensemble. Sincerely, Bill
I'm sick...but not that sick. No, His daughter Aura is just trying to butter up Daddy Ming for her latest cravings, maybe a "pride" of lion men to keep her, ahem, "cozy" at night. Sincerely, Bill
Ming (in the 80s movie) is immortal and millions of years old. It would be a miracle is if he's not in some way related a little bit to every woman on every planet in the galaxy. Was Ming in Defenders of the earth? Yes, and he was Green! But that would put Ming in contention with the Phantom and Mandrake on a weekly basis. (Is Lothar real or did they make him up for the toon?) Created by Lee Falk in 1934. Mandrake's buddy. I think Billy Zane would make a more impressive Phantom today than... (I'm having a giggling fit.) Gus from Psych "Sean! Will you stop saying "Billyzanian"!? It's not a real word, and if it was a real word, no one except you or Billy Zane would ever use it!"
I'd love to see Phantom and Mandrake together in a movie. A few years ago there was talk of a Shadow and Doc Savage movie; it's a shame that never came to pass.
This is an interesting revelation. When I was a kid, when I watched a Sinbad movie or one of the 6 times I watched Smokey and the Bandit at our little local theater in Kings Beach, California, I remember seeing the poster for Flesh Gordon, so, I've known since childhood there was this Flash Gordon Porno movie out there. Now, 30+ years later, I find out it really wasn't a Porno afterall, because all the "X-rated" (by today's standard) stuff was cut out. LOL