History Film / FlashGordon

[[redirect:Film/FlashGordon1980]]

[[quoteright:216:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/FlashGordon.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:216:''[[PunyEarthlings Pathetic earthlings]]... [[YouHaveNoChanceToSurvive who can save you now?]]'']]

->''FLASH! Ah-AAH! HE'LL SAVE EVERY ONE OF US!''

''Flash Gordon'' is a 1980 film produced by Dino De Laurentiis, based on the ''ComicStrip/FlashGordon'' comics and [[Film/FlashGordonSerial film serials]] from the 1930s, with a soundtrack by Music/{{Queen}}.

Unlike most science fiction or fantasy films of the time, it takes a high {{camp}} approach with tongue firmly in cheek, getting high quality theatre actors to deliver [[HamAndCheese large helpings]] [[LargeHam of ham]]. It is also one of the earliest science fiction or fantasy films to have a rock soundtrack, in this case by [[RunningGag Queen]].

Its actual financial success was pants. The only country where it really made it big was the UK, the same country that invented {{pantomime}}, wry humour and the band [[RuleOfThree Queen]], who did the soundtrack. But it was VindicatedByCable in TheEighties, and became a CultClassic (to the point that it figures into the plot of Creator/SethMacFarlane's ''Film/{{Ted}}'', along with the soundtrack by [[OverlyLongGag Queen]]).

Herewith a rundown of the plot, courtesy of the dialogue sampled for the title track of the soundtrack album (by [[OverlyLongGag Queen]]):

-->''"Seemingly there is no reason for these extraordinary intergalactic upsets. Only Dr Hans Zarkov, formerly at NASA, has provided any explanation... This morning's unprecedented solar eclipse is no cause for alarm."''\\
''"What's happening, Flash?"''\\
''"Strange object imaged in the Imperial Vortex."''\\
''"General Kala -- Flash Gordon approaching."''\\
''"What do you mean, 'Flash Gordon approaching'?! ...Open fire! All weapons! ...Dispatch War Rocket Ajax to bring back his body!"''\\
'''''"[[Creator/BrianBlessed GORDON'S ALIVE?!!]]"''' ... ive...ive''\\
''"Flash! Flash, I love you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth!"''

However, merely ''reading'' the above cannot do it justice. Watch the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS4_Z84-rRE music video]] and stand in awe.

Interesting side note: Creator/GeorgeLucas tried to purchase the film rights to ''Flash Gordon'', but Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis was sitting on them. Lucas instead went on to [[StartMyOwn create his own]] [[Franchise/StarWars space adventure flick]], whose success [[FollowTheLeader spurred this one into production]], complete with a soundtrack by [[OverlyLongGag Queen]].

[[OverlyLongGag Queen]]!

----
!!The 1980 movie provides examples of:

* AcidTripDimension: Mongo and the space around it are filled with multi-colored clouds.
* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: The scene in which Ming gives Flash a WeCanRuleTogether offer in Vultan's palace is quiet and understated, and practically the only time someone isn't ChewingTheScenery.
* AgonyBeam
* AlienBlood:
** Ming bleeds green, although his daughter Princess Aura doesn't.
** General Kala has black blood.
** After Ming stabs Prince Thun, bright blue blood can be seen on the sword.
* AlienNonInterferenceClause: Ming has a sinister version. Every thousand years he tests all the planets of the universe with natural disasters. If the inhabitants realize that an alien has caused it, he wipes them out.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Apparently Mongo is an English-speaking world group. The novelization explains that the Mongian language was beamed into our heroes' heads during their trip through the vortex.
* AllPartOfTheShow: General Kala explains over the loudspeakers that all of the guns of Mongo City are being fired are just a part of the wedding celebration.
* AllThereInTheScript:
** The backstory of Flash's T-shirt was that it was a gift from an anonymous female fan. Flash wore it a lot in the hopes that he would eventually meet the woman.
** Dr. Zarkov's backstory was that he was a NASA scientist who was fired for his paranoid fantasies that Earth was going to be attacked from outer space. ''Series/SixtyMinutes'' derided him as "A Poor Man's Billy Mitchell".
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Dr. Hans Zarkov is never stated outright to be Jewish, although his memories, seen when Ming's secret police attempts to erase them, and his reference to his study of the Talmud as the reason why that attempt failed, make it pretty clear. Plus, he's played by Chaim Topol, the Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof himself. Interestingly, he is also HerrDoktor.
* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: Emperor Ming to Dale Arden.
* AnythingButThat: "No! Not the ''bore worms!''"
* BabyPlanet: Mongo's moons. The ones we see aren't round, Arboria is bowl-shaped with everything on "top" of it and the Hawk Men live in a flying fortress.
* BackFromTheDead: Flash himself, after being executed by poison gas. He's saved by a doctor's injection he received beforehand, though Princess Aura pretends that she revived him with a kiss.
* BadassBeard: Prince Vultan.
* BadassBoast: Fico (Richard O'Brien) gets in a good one.
-->'''Flash Gordon:''' Where are the weapons?
-->'''Fico:''' ''(knife in Flash's back)'' Feel one.
** "Your power is fading, Ming."
* BadassMustache: Barin.
* BaldOfEvil: Emperor Ming.
* BatheHerAndBringHerToMe: Both male and female examples.
* BatmanCanBreatheInSpace: All Mongo's moons seem to be within its atmosphere.
* BeardOfEvil: Ming.
* BigBad: Ming the Merciless, the EvilOverlord destroying the Earth
* BigDamnHeroes
* BigRedButton: Hans Zarkov's spaceship has a Big Red Launch Button.
* BigYes:
-->'''Monitor:''' Hail Flash Gordon. You saved your Earth. Have a nice day.
-->'''Flash:''' ''(tossing away his {{BFS}})'' '''YEAH!!!!!!!!'''
-->'''Queen soundtrack:''' ''(STAND FOR EVERY ONE OF US!)''
* BlatantLies: During Princess Aura's torture/interrogation, General Kala...who's basically a {{Dominatrix}}...is whipping Aura's back while the Dr. Doom-ish StalkerWithACrush, Klytus, is grabbing Aura's hair and yelling at her. Quoth Kala, "Tell us! And we won't hurt you any more! ''We don't like doing this at all!'' ". Suuuuuuurrrrrrreeeee.....
* BlackDudeDiesFirst: Prince Thun. The only black speaking character, whose only brief scene, early on, consists of getting skewered with his sword by Ming.
* BloodSport: Vultan's wobbly arena equipped with SpikesOfDoom.
* BMovie: Nothing more need be said than "Flash, I love you! But we only have fourteen hours to ''save the Earth!''". Still you've got to admire Dale's priorities.
* BoisterousBruiser: Vultan. Not surprising, since he's played by Creator/BrianBlessed.
* BondVillainStupidity: Ming personally meets with Flash after he kills [[spoiler:Klytus]] and, instead of dragging him off, makes him a WeCanRuleTogether offer if he will serve Ming or else -- death. Flash refuses and Ming proceeds to leave him on the [[OminousFloatingCastle floating castle]] and return to his ship to bomb the castle, giving Flash time to find one of the Hawkmen's flying vehicles.
* BreakTheHaughty: Princess Aura, courtesy of her ColdBloodedTorture. It cures her of being a RichBitch and able to talk to Dale as an equal.
* TheCameo: Richard O'Brien ([[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow Riff-Raff]]) shows up as one of the Arboreans. This is, presumably, how he knows about Flash Gordon being there in silver underwear.
* {{Camp}}: The film's scriptwriter was Lorenzo Semple, Jr., who wrote scripts for and was Executive Script Director of the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV series. That explains a ''lot!''
* CatFight: Princess Aura (after her HeelFaceTurn) and Dale Arden, much to the amusement of everybody watching. Half of it is a pillow fight, too.
* ChekhovsSkill: Flash was a quarterback before coming to Mongo. Luckily, there happened to be an awful lot of football-shaped objects at Ming's wedding.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Ming, but he also foments it among his subjects, having them squabble among each other so they don't join forces against ''him''.
* ColdBloodedTorture: "No! Not the [[NoodleImplements Bore Worms]]!"
* CovertPervert: Aura swears she won't watch Flash change out of his little silver underwear - but is staring in a ''mirror'' to watch anyway, telling him, "I like you - a lot!"
* CultSoundtrack: Pretty much the entire movie soundtrack by Music/{{Queen}}. Especially the theme song. It's Queen. What do you expect?
-->FLASH! AAAAAAAHHHHH-AAAAAAAHHHHHH! SAVIOR OF THE UNIVERSE!
* DaddysLittleVillain: Princess Aura, until redeemed by the love of a good man.
* DamselOutOfDistress: Dale temporarily rises to ActionGirl status with a spectacular display of She-fu during her escape from Ming.
* DarkChick: General Kala.
* DeadlyGas: Flash is apparently executed with poisonous gas.
* DeadpanSnarker: Klytus.
* DeathByAdaptation: Prince Thun. In the comics, he's a full-on character with a story arc and everything, but here, he's sadly reduced to a [[KickTheDog dog for Ming to kick]].
* DeathsHourglass: When Flash is in Ming's dungeon, Klytus shows him an hourglass and tells him that he has until the sands run... up.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Flash and Barin.
* DemotedToExtra: The Frigians. We don't have time for everybody from the comics.
* DigAttack: While Flash is escaping from Prince Barin he's attacked by a monster living under the ground. It grabs him with its legs and expands around him, capturing him and trying to eat him.
* DimensionLord: Ming is specified to rule the entire universe.
* DisintegratorRay: The flying robot in Ming's palace uses one to destroy an escaping lizard man and the pistol in Dr. Zarkov's pocket.
* DistressedDude: Flash in little leather shorts strapped to a chair....
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: At the start of the Arborian Male-Coming-Of-Age Ceremony (with the wood-beast), the men pound large staffs on the ground while one of them does panting noises. It goes at a faster pace into a ''climax''. [[EatingTheEyeCandy "I love initiations!"]] says Aura.
** Also, when Dale's captive in Ming's bedroom, she is served a drink that makes her "time with Ming more agreeable". It's also apparently either alcoholic, a drug, or an aphrodisiac (or some combo of all three). As part of her escape plan, she talks a handmaiden into drinking the stuff until she passes out with, "C'mon, this is ''quality stuff!''". The slave girl later seems to be either aroused or in a drug haze (or both).
** Intergalactic steroids? Sounds rather peculiar...
-->'''Ming the Merciless''': "Klytus! Are your men on the right pills? Maybe you should execute their trainer!"
* DoomAsTestPrize: Ming claims that he subjects planets to induced natural disasters to see if they are capable of recognising them as an attack and retaliating. If so they are a threat to him and get destroyed or conquered. (It's possible, though, that he's just saying this to torment Professor Zarkov: the opening scene suggests that he attacked Earth because he was bored.)
* DoubleEdgedAnswer: Emperor Ming offers to give Earth to Flash to rule.
-->'''Flash''': You'd call off the attack? ... Everyone would be saved?
-->'''Ming''': Yes, and no. After the earthquakes and tidal waves, they won't be the same human beings. They'll be more tractable. Easier for you to rule, in the name of Ming.
* TheDragon: Klytus to Ming, General Kala to Klytus.
* DuelToTheDeath: Between Flash and Prince Barin.
* EarnYourHappyEnding
* {{Egopolis}}: Mingo City
* TheEighties
* EightiesHair: Ohh boy...
* TheEmperor: Ming the Merciless.
* TheEmpire: Mongo
* TheEndOrIsIt: The film ends with a close-up of Ming's ring, lying where it fell as he died -- then a gloved hand picks it up, Ming's laughter is heard, and the words THE END? appear.
* EnemyMine: Princes Barin and Vultan ''hate'' each other at first. Only Flash is able to convince them to team up and fight Ming. After the day is won, Vultan is quick to note that Barin is the rightful heir to Mongo, ending any leadership squabbles before they can arise.
* EvilGloating
* EvilLaugh
-->'''Klytus:''' Will you destroy [[InsignificantLittleBluePlanet this... Earth?]]
-->'''Ming:''' [[ButForMeItWasTuesday Later!]] I like to play with things awhile... before annihilation. '''''HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!'''''
* EyeScream: Klytus' eyeballs bugging out of his mask when he dies. Yucko!
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Flash goes to his execution calmly.
* FallingIntoTheCockpit: Flash. (Stand for every one of us!)
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: Klytus.
* {{Fanservice}}:
** Aura, Dale, Ming's handmaidens, and every other female in the film.
** Flash's ''very'' little leather shorts in the execution scene. There's something for everyone!
* FemmeFatale: Aura, though she does a HeelFaceTurn.
* FighterLaunchingSequence: Hawkmen vs. War Rocket ''Ajax''.
* FinishHim: Voltan to Flash, during Flash's DuelToTheDeath with Prince Barin. Flash is [[TakeMyHand too heroic to let Barin fall]] out of the sky.
-->'''You've won! Let him go.'''
* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Flash
** TheLancer: Barin
** TheBigGuy: Vultan
** TheSmartGuy: Zarkov
** TheChick: Dale
** SixthRanger: Princess Aura
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Dale's brief moment of badass is foreshadowed in the tribute scene: she must've been a cheerleader in high school and college.
** The brief superimposition we see of Ming charging right at Flash and Dale from the fireball of death as they are being transported via airplane to Dr. Zarkov.
* ForGreatJustice: Vultan
* ForTheEvulz: "I like to play with things awhile... before annihilation."
* FrickinLaserBeams
* FutureSpandex: Both General Kala and Princess Aura wear lycra/spandex costumes.
* GalacticConqueror: Ming the Merciless' reveal that he threatens whole star systems with destruction definitely places him on this level. He is also referred to as the Emperor of the Universe and the Galaxy.
* GasMaskMooks: The soldiers in Ming's palace.
* GenderFlip: Kala, who in the comics was a ''male'' fishman, is here a female general who looks basically human.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: When Ming "tests" Dale with his ring (complete with ForcedPerspective), he's ''clearly'' forcing her to have an ImmodestOrgasm. If ''that'' weren't enough, you have ''this'' exchange:
-->'''Ming:''' ''(fascinated)'' Did you ever see such... ''response''?
-->'''Klytus:''' No. Truly. [[ParentalIncest She even rivals your daughter.]]
* GladiatorGames: Vultan forces Flash and Barin to fight it out in a spinning arena.
* GoGoEnslavement: Dale.
* GroinAttack: One of Ming's goon squad to Flash before the "football game" begins.
* HamToHamCombat: Every single scene with any dialogue. Period.
* HandInTheHole: In Arboria, with the woodbeast.
* HeelFaceTurn:
** Aura: Realizing that Ming allowed Klytus to torture her.
** Barin: Flash showed Barin ThePowerOfFriendship. Also, DefeatEqualsFriendship.
** Vultan: Vultan hates Ming, and Flash's open defiance of Ming shows him there's still a chance to overthrow him.
* HeroicSacrifice:
** Zarkov intends one, with his pistol. ("One life for billions? A fair trade.") Ming's security bot vaporizes it while in his pocket.
** Prince Thun intends one, with his sword. He fails.
** Flash intends one, piloting War Rocket ''Ajax'' into Ming's wedding ceremony. Even Vultan thinks Flash will be a martyr, pronouncing that today would forever be known as Flash Gordon's Day. Flash quotes Zarkov's earlier line about one life for billions.
* HerrDoktor: Hans Zarkov.
* HighHeelFaceTurn: Princess Aura
* HighlyConspicuousUniform
* HonorBeforeReason: Dale refuses Aura's offer of a poison she can give Ming on their wedding night, because [[IGaveMyWord she has promised to be a good wife]] to Ming in exchange for his sparing Prince Barin and Dr. Zarkov.
-->'''Aura''': My father has never kept a vow in his life!
-->'''Dale''': I can't help that. Keeping our word is one of the things that make us better than you.
* HumanAliens: The people of Mongo, as well as the Arboreans. This is almost true of the Hawkmen, as well.
* HumansAreSpecial: Aside from Ming viewing them as a threat due to Zarkov attempting to stop the disasters with a single rocketship, the latter also tells Dale he never got brainwashed due to focusing on human songs and thoughts. Hence he was never really under Ming's control later in the film and simply acted as if he was..
* HypnoRay: Ming's ring.
* HypnotizeThePrincess. Ming does this to Dale Arden, and apparently his own daughter!
* HypnoTrinket: Ming's ring
* IconicOutfit:
** Ming's.
** The "FLASH" T-shirt, a copy of which was [[http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/images/galleries2/20110804/1312471986_flash_freddie.jpg worn by]] [[Music/{{Queen}} Freddie Mercury]] himself in videos and concerts.
* IGaveMyWord
* IgnoredExpert: Hans Zarkov warning about an attack from space.
* IHaveYouNowMyPretty: "Prepare her for our '''pleasure!'''", also Ming's "wedding vows" on the trope page.
* IKnowMaddenKombat: Flash uses football tactics to beat up a bunch of imperial guardsmen.
* ImpairmentShot: Flash's vision ''clears'' from blurred as Zarkov tosses him a football, which allows him to mop the floor with Klytus' soldiers.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice:
** [[spoiler:Klytus]] on a bed of spikes.
** [[spoiler:Ming]] on the nosecone of a rocket.
* IncestSubtext: Ming has a rather... disquieting fixation on his daughter.
* InsignificantLittleBluePlanet:
-->'''Ming:''' Klytus, I'm ''bored''. What plaything can you offer me today?
-->'''Klytus:''' An obscure body in the SK system, Your Majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet... Earth.
-->'''Ming:''' How peaceful it looks... ''(activates button marked EARTH QUAKE)''
** Ming tests planets every thousand years. If they don't realize that an alien is interfering with them then he leaves them alone.
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Prince Vultan to Flash before Flash's suicide run.
* ItsUpToYou: "Flash! I ''love'' you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth!"
* JoinOrDie: Emperor Ming offers to let Flash join him and rule the Earth under Ming's control. If he refuses, he will be killed.
* JustInTime: To save the Earth -- down to the second! Apparently a little impalement did the trick.
* TheKingslayer: [[spoiler:Flash kills Emperor Ming by [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice driving a rocket ship's prow into his back]].]]
* LabcoatOfScienceAndMedicine: Zarkov and Munson both have one of these. Given that the science they're engaged in mainly requires looking at radar screens and printouts -- except whenever they assembled that rather nifty rocket, which would have been better done wearing overalls -- there can be no other reason for their labcoats than to visually label them "scientists."
* LampshadeHanging: When Flash declares that he needs to save his friends and stop Ming, Princess Aura snarks about him saying that to Ming's daughter.
* LargeHam: Enough ham to end hunger in a medium-sized third world nation. Special mention goes out to Creator/BrianBlessed's Prince Vultan, largest of them all.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Vultan's refusal to help Flash ends up with his city being destroyed and forcing him into exile in the realm of his hated enemy Barin.
* LastRequest: Klytus asks if Flash has "any final requests" before his execution.
* LicensedPinballTable: Produced by Creator/{{Bally}} in 1981, and treated the license with all seriousness, unlike the movie. Although it lacked a soundtrack by Queen, it ended up becoming Bally's best-selling game of the year.
* LohengrinAndMendelssohn: Played with. A ''rock cover'' of the Lohengrin chorus plays in Ming's wedding scene.
* LoveDodecahedron: As in [[ComicStrip/FlashGordon the comics]], Barin loves Aura, who lusts after Flash, who loves Dale.
* MadScientist: Zarkov, who can't understand why NASA fired him or why Flash and Dale seemed frightened of him...
* MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter: Princess Aura, though Ming is a Mad Emperor rather than a MadScientist.
* MadeOfEvil
* MagicCountdown: The timer that shows how long is left before the Earth is destroyed.
* MaskPower: Klytus.
* MentalPictureProjector: The Mind Probe/Memory Eraser also functions as a way of projecting memories on a screen.
* MindProbe: "We're going to empty your mind as we might empty your pockets... ''doctor''."
* {{Mondegreen}}: Many people think Vultan is screaming, "DIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!", not "DIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!" Both work, though. Later in the battle he actually does yell "DIEEEE!!" in the same way while fighting.
* MoodDissonance: The wedding of Ming and Dale:
** Instead of the white dress she'd been put in earlier, she's now wearing a black empress getup covered in sequins.
** "Here Comes The Bride" as an electric guitar rock riff with dirge undertones. And the war rockets flying by in the background towing signs:
--> ''ALL CREATURES WILL MAKE MERRY...''\\
''...[[HappinessIsMandatory UNDER PAIN OF DEATH]]''
* MoralEventHorizon[[invoked]]: In-universe. Aura states that she never truly understood how evil her father was til he allowed Klytus to torture her, especially considering Klytus was Aura's StalkerWithACrush who was getting some petty revenge for her sleeping with ''everyone'' but ''him''.
** The real tipping point appears to be Ming allowing Klytus to use creatures called "Bore Worms" on her. Until that point, she was more angry than frightened about the whole incident.
* MurderTheHypotenuse: Barin's reason for entrapping Flash into a deadly ritual. He realizes he underestimed Flash after he successfully passes the test twice, refuses to keep alternating with Flash - essentially forcing him to to the test over and over til he dies.
* MusicOfNote: With a soundtrack by Music/{{Queen}}.
* NeverTrustATrailer: The trailer makes it look like Ming faces off with Flash using his ring. [[spoiler: In the film he just turns it on himself and is vaporized]].
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Ming claims to only destroy planets that are advanced enough to realize his attacks aren't natural disasters. If his claim is true, and he's not just doing whatever he feels like, it's Zarkov's own attempt to contact whoever was launching the attacks that nearly dooms the Earth.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: General Kala orders Zarkov to be programmed with high-level information about Mongo's technology and security systems, thus equipping him with all the knowledge he'll need to assist the revolution. Downplayed in that he was getting information programmed into his mind ''anyway'', just not as much (the programming is literally numbered, and Kala was told to use a lower number rather than not programming Zarkov at all).
* NoIndoorVoice: Ming, Vultan, and Kala are the main offenders.
* NoodleImplements: Those gosh-darn bore worms!
* NotableOriginalMusic
* NotSoDifferent: When Klytus is probing Hans Zarkov's brain to learn more about humans, he sees images of UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. He then comments that "Now, ''he'' showed promise!" as he watches those scenes play out.
* OminousFloatingCastle
* OneWomanWail: The "Aura Revives Flash" song.
* OnlyMostlyDead: Flash. (King of the Impossible!)
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Aura crying because she was betrayed by her father, who allowed Klytus to torture her with TheDreaded NoodleImplements, is what convinces Dale she's being honest.
* ParentalIncest: Ming's fixation with his daughter - and with torturing her - edges into this territory.
** All but stated outright in the novelization when Aura pouts to Ming about 'missing their closeness.' They're into bondage too. ''Triple'' {{Squick}}
* PassThePopcorn: A very dark example. Ming is eating something while watching his daughter be tortured.
* PistolWhipping: Dale Arden takes out a couple of Ming's guards this way.
* PlanetaryRomance
* PleasurePlanet: Princess Aura had her personal pleasure moon, Cytherea.
** One of the servant girls mentions an entire ''galaxy'' of pleasure where a certain drink comes from.
* PopStarComposer: Just in case the movie ''itself'' wasn't campy enough for you, it's got a soundtrack by Music/{{Queen}}.
* PragmaticAdaptation: Some of the planets and creatures were cut out, but are at least mentioned, and ones that are featured get major focus. The main story beats are all hit.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Both the Hawkmen - a race of WingedHumanoid Vikings - and the Arborians - basically a race of RobinHood people. Strongly hinted that Ardentia is one, too.
* PstandardPsychicPstance: Dale does this during the telepathy sequence between Flash and Dale.
* PsychicStatic: Dr. Zarkov uses this tactic to resist memory draining.
-->'''Zarkov:''' As I was going under, I started to recite [[Creator/WilliamShakespeare Shakespeare]], Literature/TheTalmud, the formulas of [[UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein Einstein]], anything I could remember, even a song from Music/TheBeatles. It armored me, girl. They couldn't wipe those things away. You can't beat the human spirit.
* PublicExecution: Flash's "death" by lethal gas by order of Emperor Ming.
* PunyEarthlings: Pathetic earthlings, who will save you now?
* RaceAgainstTheClock: Flash must stop Emperor Ming before the Moon crashes into the Earth.
* RaygunGothic: The [[ComicStrip/FlashGordon source material]] is one of the {{Trope Codifier}}s, along with ''ComicStrip/BuckRogers'' and the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' series, so it's preserved here.
* ReallyGetsAround:
** Princess Aura.
** Ming is a male example.
* RedSkyTakeWarning
* RefusalOfTheCall: Zarkov's assistant, Munson, who balks at being shot into space. [[spoiler: He gets killed because he ran away.]]
* RemovableTurretGun: Prince Barin takes one away from one of Ming's {{mooks}} and uses it to {{Shoot Out the Lock}}s and go through doors.
* RetroRocket:
** Zarkov's ship
** War Rocket Ajax with its swept wings, pepper-shaker body, and nice pointy spike...
* RoyalWe: Emperor Ming uses it occasionally, but not consistently.
* SameLanguageDub: All of Sam J. Jones' lines were dubbed by an uncredited actor whose identity remains a mystery to this day.
* SceneryPorn: The swirling background colors that accompany Flash's entire voyage to Mars.
* SecretTest: Emperor Ming puts the entire human race through one of these, or so he claims. More likely, he's just bored and evil.
* SequelHook: ''Someone'' picks up Ming's ring.
* ShirtlessCaptives: After Flash is taken into custody, he is next shown in the dungeon, wrists shackled to the ceiling, shirtless.
* SheFu: Dale gives a startling display of this during her escape from the palace.
* ShootOutTheLock: Prince Barin does this several times with a RemovableTurretGun he took away from one of Ming's {{mooks}}.
* [[{{ShoutOut/Film}} Shout Out]]:
** Two from ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (1939).
*** While Flash was in Ming's dungeon.
---> '''Klytus''': You have until the sands...run up.\\
'''Dale:''' It won't turn over! It won't turn over!
*** After General Kala is killed, her body melts in much the same way as the Wicked Witch of the West did after Dorothy "liquidated" her.
** The execution, during which [[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow Flash Gordon is there in silver underwear]]. Made all the more evidently deliberate by the casting of Richard O'Brien as one of the Arboreans.
** In the scene where Princess Aura first appears she tells her dwarf servant "Come along, Fellini", a reference to the famous Italian film director Creator/FedericoFellini.
* SingleBiomePlanet: At least two of the moons of Mongo fit this trope, and the clues are in their names. Arboria is a Jungle/Swamp Planet and Frigia is described as an Ice Planet.
* SleevesAreForWimps: Flash. Vultan.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Wonderfully idealistic.
* SmallUniverseAfterAll: Ming is implied to rule the entire universe. ** When Hedonia brings Dale an alcoholic drink, she says "Many brave men died to bring it here from the the [[PleasurePlanet galaxy of pleasure]]".
* SpeakNowOrForeverHoldYourPeace: In probably the most kickass manner yet.
* TakeMyHand: Flash does this for Barin at the end of their duel.
* TallDarkAndHandsome: Barin. You have to be handsome to play Film/JamesBond, after all.
* TapOnTheHead: Vultan to Ming's goon squad and Hans Zarkov to Flash.
* TechnicolorScience
* TheCakeIsALie: Ming promised Dale that if she married him, he would spare Barin & Zarkov (Flash was presumed to be killed when Ming blew up the Hawkmen's floating city). However, during the wedding, General Kala broadcasts to the people of Mongo that "all channels" will show "for your entertainment" the execution of Barin & Zarkov.
* TheyCalledMeMad: Dr. Zarkov is a rare heroic example.
* TitleDrop: All the damn time, since it's the main character's name, but particularly notable is Flash's coffin after his execution, which bears the movie's logo.
* TitleThemeTune: By Music/{{Queen}}.
* TooKinkyToTorture: Princess Aura according to Klytus; obviously subverted in reality. Although she seemed angry and bored more than anything, until they brought in... ''the Bore Worms''.
* TrappedInAnotherWorld: Dale, Flash and Zarkov are brought to Mongo where they save the Earth. In the end, they are still in Mongo and Dale asks if they'll ever get home. "I don't know but we'll try," says Zarkov. Barin instead offers for them to stay.
* TrickedIntoEscaping: Barin has promised not to kill the imprisoned Flash but wants to find an excuse, so has an associate trick Flash into escaping from captivity into a temple, where Flash finds that, through no provable fault of Barin, he's obliged to take part in a test which may well be lethal.
* TrueLovesKiss: Played with. Princess Aura lies to Flash, telling him that she brought him back to life with a kiss after his execution. She actually had a doctor give him a drug that simulated death before the execution and another wake-up shot later.
* UniversalDriversLicence: Flash using the Hawkmen rocketcycle and piloting War Rocket Ajax.
* VillainousRescue: Barin saves Flash from being eaten by a swamp creature so ''he'' can off him.
* WatchingTheReflectionUndress: In the scene after Flash is revived, Princess Aura tells him to change into a noble's uniform and turns around. However, she uses a mirror to watch Flash while he undresses.
* WeAREStrugglingTogether: This is why Ming isn't overthrown; he has arranged matters so that the races of Mongo are busy fighting amongst themselves.
-->'''Aura''': It's a really brilliant strategy.
* WeCanRuleTogether: Ming offers Flash rulership of the Earth in Ming's name at one point.
** Aura's torture before the bore worms got in on the action.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Once Flash gets loose of the cell in Arboria, the other prisoners whom he'd promised to come back for are never seen again. Considering they were all about to drown...
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: Basic human emotions have been driven out of Mongo by Ming, where honor, justice, even ''crying'' have been forgotten and replaced by constant violent bickering and infighting, stirred up by Ming.
-->'''Aura:''' Look! Water is leaking from her eyes!
-->'''Ming:''' It's what they call "tears". It's a sign of their weakness.
* WhipItGood: Flash and Barin duel with whips in one scene. Luckily, DefeatMeansFriendship.
* WingedHumanoid: The Hawkmen.
* WorldOfBadass: Mongo.
* WorldOfHam: Mongo again. Creator/BrianBlessed is just ''one'' of its many hammy kings.
* YeahShot:
-->'''Monitor:''' Hail Flash Gordon. You saved your Earth. Have a nice day.
-->'''Flash:''' ''(tossing away his sword)'' '''YEAH!!!!!!!!'''
----
[[TheStinger Queen.]] '''''FLASH!'''''

* NoExceptYes:
-->'''Vultan''': WHAT IS THIS?\\
'''Zarkov''': [[HumanityEnsues Humanity.]]\\
'''VULTAN''': MADNESS!

** Dale's brief moment of {{Badass}} is foreshadowed in the tribute scene: she must've been a cheerleader in high school and college.

* Aura (the almost-victim of the eponymous bore-worms) mentions them several times later on; each time, the cinema audience laughs raucously.