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1980 Flash Gordon Film

Apologies to Ted the bear and his pal Thug Wahlberg, but this movie is awful.
 
I enjoyed the film as a kid. I haven't seen it in years so I do not know if I would like it as much now.
 
I felt it was sort of a family-friendly sequel to Barbarella insofar as there's a common sense of gaudy overdone style via Dino De Laurentiis.

At the time, so soon after Star Wars, I wanted pop culture to sort of take sci-fi seriously in the suspension of disbelief department. So I was not taken by the deliberately campy treatment. In retrospect I'm more forgiving of it, but definitely the Filmation Flash Gordon TV-movie was the better of the two treatments of the character at the time, probably the best thing Filmation ever did, and not nearly as well remembered unfortunately.

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And here, Queen thrills Flash Gordon fans with the Official Music Video:

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Overdubbed by who? It sounded like the entire film was ADRed out the wazoo, but everyone's voice sounds like the right voice.

Not sure who's voice was used but the story goes that by end of filming Jones wasn't on talking terms with the director and didn't come back (or was fired) for the ADR so they completely dubbed his lines.
 
Sam Jones has said that the story was complete fiction and he never understood how it came about, but says that, like the movie's stunts, he did all his own ADR.
 
I had to look it up, to confirm. I believe I was incorrectly recalling statements Sam Jones made about the rumour that he'd "fallen out with the director" ...

https://www.maxim.com/entertainment/flash-gordon-speaks

Is it true you had a falling out with the director that led to a lot of your lines being dubbed over in the finished film?

[Sam Jones:]
No, I didn’t have a falling out with the director, but producer Dino De Laurentis and I bumped heads a few times - there were a few misunderstandings. In my naivety at the age of 25 I just let the attorneys handle everything - I just let my representation handle it and they did not do a very good job at all. The bottom line, though, is they worked for me and I take responsibility for what happened. I didn’t go back for looping and dubbing so they ended up using another actor to loop - I think about half the film was actually not my voice.
 
This movie is IMHO freaking awesome, and I watch it regularly. And Sam J Jones wasn't the only one ADRed - Prince Thun is quite a recognised actor in the UK, and I knew that his voice was definitely off when I watched it originally, but you can hear his real voice on the Queen album.

It was a shame that the planned sequel never came to pass - IIRC Sam J Jones had originally signed on for a three-movie deal.

The movie was actually nominated for a BAFTA for best costume design, but lost to Kagemusha. The same year both Flash Gordon and The Empire Strikes Back lost the BAFTA for best Production Design/Art Design to The Elephant Man.
 
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flashgordon3.jpg

Flash Gordon 1980
Lizardmen costumes were not good. They should have just copied TOS Gorn. Flash Gordon 1980 did not even attempt the Lionmen, too bad. They should have just copied Wizard Of Oz Cowardly Lion.;)
 
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just having a read of the wiki entry and this year saw the release of a film/documentary looking back at the film. It was called "life After Flash".
 
This movie is a blast. I wish there had been a sequel, especially after that bit at the very end.

On the other hand, I can't help but wonder what kind of movie might have gotten if George Lucas had been able to license the Flash Gordon IP like he wanted.

Kor
 
TinB5.png

flashgordon3.jpg

Flash Gordon 1980
Lizardmen costumes were not good. They should have just copied TOS Gorn. Flash Gordon 1980 did not even attempt the Lionmen, too bad. They should have just copied Wizard Of Oz Cowardly Lion.;)
Those costumes really did suck. I'm not even sure if he's meant to be part actual lizard, or if he's just a red guy who's wearing lizard skins? Either way, it looks like they just ran out of money and threw this in as an afterthought, last minute. The tail on the damn thing is just waiting for him to trip over it ...
 
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