Flash Gordon: From Buck Rogers Rip-Off to Space Opera Legend

Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed shownotes (without character limits) you can choose the episode on the watch page here.
If you would like to watch the Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers film serials they are available on YouTube. (Warning: the serials are repetitive and there are three Flash Gordon serials and one Buck Rogers!) The 1980 Mike Hodges Flash Gordon film is available to rent or buy at an array of outlets including Apple TV.

Although it was Buck Rogers that triggered an array of copies after the comic strip was published in 1929, it is Flash Gordon (one of those copies) that went on to have a film serial made with a lavish budget by Universal Pictures in 1936. Buck Rogers has had a significant impact in popular culture but the trajectory of Flash Gordon has eclipsed it in many ways.
This week’s experts bring you all their knowledge about how this came to be.
The Experts
Jay Telotte is Professor Emeritus of film and media studies at Georgia Tech. He has written/edited numerous books and articles about science fiction film.
Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has also written/edited many books on science fiction cinema.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to show and guests
01:39 Why a Flash Gordon film serial?
09:58 The full bill cinema experience in 1936
11:55 The origins of the misaligned Space Opera
14:29 Star Wars, George Lucas and his 1930s influences
16:08 Post Star Wars Space Opera
19:55 Pushing beyond a space adventure to social commentary
21:48 Flash Gordon: The damsel, the hero and the good scientist
27:34 Ming the Merciless: Asian stereotypes, representation and racism
32:42 Aliens, post code reshoots and the sexual current
37:25 The 1980 Flash Gordon: Mark gushes while Jay waits
42:45 Jay’s reaction
45:06 The legacy
49:45 Recommendations

NEXT EPISODE!
The next episode will be covering an array of films about ‘Mad Scientists’ from the 1930s and early 40s.
I will share some of the titles here but it will be a topical discussion. Boris Karloff who came to fame for playing the monster in Frankenstein (1931) plays the role of the mad scientist in multiple films during this period, many that stray away from the science fiction genre or have a strong crossover with horror film. Some of these are: The Man Who Changed his Mind (1936), The Invisible Ray (1936), Black Friday (1940) and The Man with Nine Lives (1940).
Aside from those we also have the film Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), The Island of Lost Souls(1932) and both Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde films (1931 and 1941). Metropolis (1927) has the scientist Rotwang who is an excellent earlier example of this trope.
You can check JustWatch to find where these films are available to buy, rent or stream in your region. I have found many on Apple TV and some are available on YouTube.

Chapters

1. Introduction to show and guests (00:00:00)

2. Why a Flash Gordon film serial? (00:01:39)

3. The full bill cinema experience in 1936 (00:09:58)

4. The origins of the misaligned Space Opera (00:11:55)

5. Star Wars, George Lucas and his 1930s influences (00:14:29)

6. Post Star Wars Space Opera (00:16:08)

7. Pushing beyond a space adventure to social commentary (00:19:55)

8. Flash Gordon: the damsel, the hero and the good scientist (00:21:48)

9. Ming the Merciless: East Asian stereotypes, representation and racism (00:27:34)

10. Aliens, post code reshoots and the sexual current (00:32:42)

11. The 1980 Flash Gordon: Mark gushes while Jake waits (00:37:25)

12. Jake’s reaction (00:42:45)

13. The legacy (00:45:06)

14. Recommendations (00:49:45)