History Film / FlashGordon1980

** The Memory Eraser set is a direct send-up of the laser scene from {{Film/Goldfinger}}.

** Three from ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (1939).

* LoveDodecahedron: As in [[ComicStrip/FlashGordon the comics]], Barin loves Aura, who lusts after Flash, who loves Dale.

** Especially when, after being tortured, she is thrown into ''Ming's harem room" with Dale and the other concubines.

-->'''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]''

--->''ALL CREATURES WILL MAKE MERRY...''\\
''...[[HappinessIsMandatory UNDER PAIN OF DEATH]]''

* FuturisticJetInjector: The title character is treated to one of these following the encounter with the Wood Beast. While recovering from its sting, Flash has a gun-like injector that has a green ball in place of a needle pressed to the outside of his arm (rather than the inside, close to the vein). It makes a sharp 'hiss' implying that it works like a hypospray.

-->'''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.

* ImpairmentShot: Flash's vision ''clears'' from blurred as Zarkov tosses him a football, which allows him to mop the floor with Klytus' soldiers.

* WeCanRuleTogether: Ming offers Flash rulership of the Earth in Ming's name at one point. Justified as it's as one of his vassel-kings, not a co-ruler. As mentioned above, he encourages such troublemakers to fight among themselves so they won't cooperate to overthrow him.
* WeddingSmashers: Ming and Dale's wedding ceremony is interrupted by Flash crashing the Ajax ship into Mongo City's wedding hall [[spoiler: and ''impaling'' Ming with its bow]].

* WeCanRuleTogether: Ming offers Flash rulership of the Earth in Ming's name at one point.

However, merely ''reading'' the above cannot do it justice. Watch the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmrHTdXgK4 music video]] and stand in awe. There was even a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzglbb2Py98 videogame adaptation]] for the UsefulNotes/Atari2600, which was a proto-{{Metroidvania}} game crossed with ''VideoGame/{{Defender}}''.

* AgonyBeam

* 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, Tevye from the Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof himself. Interestingly, he is also HerrDoktor.

'''Queen soundtrack:''' ''(STAND FOR EVERY ONE OF US!)''

* BlindIdiotTranslation: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr. The co-creator of the camp 1960s Series/Batman1966, he claimed in interviews that his campy script was (badly) translated into Italian for the benefit of Dino [=DeLaurentiis=], who thought it was a sci-fi action extravaganza to rival ''Star Wars'', and then translated ''back'' into English, resulting in some of the film's more baffling oddities.

* 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.

* {{Camp}}: The film's scriptwriter was Lorenzo Semple, Jr., who wrote scripts for and was Executive Script Director of the 1960s ''Series/Batman1966'' TV series. That explains a ''lot!''

* {{Egopolis}}: Mingo City

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Played with. Ming even admits in the personal encounter with Flash that he's "never before met your like: A hero." Even then Ming thinks either bribery - [[WeCanRuleTogether rule over Earth]] - or threat of death - [[JoinOrDie blowing up the Hawkmen's fortress with Flash still on it]] - will win Flash to his side.

-->'''Zarkov:''' "You can't beat the human spirit!"

* InertialDampening: Zarkov needs a co-pilot to keep their foot on a pedal in his rocket or else the g-forces will kill them.
* InsignificantLittleBluePlanet:

** Ming tests planets every thousand years. If they don't realize that an alien is interfering with them then he leaves them alone.

* MadeOfEvil: Kala dissolves into a puddle of black liquid when she dies.

* 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.

* NoEndorHolocaust: Barin apparently shut down Ming's machines mere minutes before his attack on the Earth reached the point of no return, but there's no mention of how much damage having the moon even temporarily deorbited, not to mention all the other things Ming did, caused the planet.

* NonMammalianHair: In the ComicBookAdaptation when Flash and Aura are passing Frigia, we see an animal that looks like a triceratops covered in shaggy hair.

* NoSuchThingAsAlienPopCulture: Mongo is implied to have [=TV=] as Kala says all the channels will show Barin and Zarkov being executed before Ming's wedding starts.

* 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.

* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Both the Hawkmen - a race of WingedHumanoid Vikings -- and the Arborians -- basically a race of Myth/RobinHood people. Strongly hinted that Ardentia is one, too.

---->'''Klytus:''' You have until the sands...run up.\\

** 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.

** When Hedonia brings Dale an alcoholic drink, she says "Many brave men died to bring it here from the the [[PleasurePlanet galaxy of pleasure]]".

* StealthParody / StylisticSuck: The movie came out in 1980. It looks like it came out about twenty years earlier. And it's [[{{Camp}} glorious.]]

* TechnicolorScience
* TheCakeIsALie: Ming promised Dale that if she married him, he would spare Barin and 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 and Zarkov.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Dale gives one to Aura after refusing to poison Ming on their wedding night.
-->'''Dale:''' Keeping our word is one of the things that make us better than you.
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: A weird second-person type in that "Vultan's Theme" is one for the player ship in ''VideoGame/{{Vanguard}}''.

-->'''Flash:''' Are you crazy?
-->'''Zarkov:''' Unfortunately not.

* TooDumbToLive: ''Seriously'', Klytus? You drop in uninvited into Prince Vultan's kingdom (the same guy whose young daughter you threatened like 24 hours ago), [[BullyingADragon attempt to arrest an already hot-headed and hostile Prince Barin]], and to top it off, you ''brag to his face'' about torturing his fiancée, joking about how she [[TooKinkyToTorture ''probably enjoyed it'']]. Should you really be all that shocked Barin and Flash bodyslammed you onto the Serta Posturepedic of Pointy Death?

* VileVillainSaccharineShow: The film is rather [[WorldOfHam hammy]] and [[{{Camp}} campy]], and Ming is a brutal tyrant who ruins entire planets [[ForTheEvulz just for fun.]]

* WorldOfHam: Mongo again. [[Creator/BrianBlessed BRIAN BLESSED]] is just ''one'' of its many hammy kings.

[[TheStinger Queen.]] '''''FLASH!'''''

* TheCameo: Creator/RichardOBrien shows up as one of the Arboreans. This is, presumably, how he knows about Flash Gordon being there in silver underwear.

%%zce* BatheHerAndBringHerToMe: Both male and female examples.

%%zce* BeardOfEvil: Ming.

%%zce* CoDragons: Klytus and General Kala.

%%zce* TheDragon: Klytus to Ming, General Kala to Klytus.
%%zce* DuelToTheDeath: Between Flash and Prince Barin.

%%zce* EarnYourHappyEnding

%%zce* TheEmperor: Ming the Merciless.
%%zce* TheEmpire: Mongo

%%zce* EvilGloating: ''Every'' villain at one time or another.

%%zce* ForGreatJustice: Vultan

%%'''Klytus:''' No. Truly. [[ParentalIncest She even rivals your daughter.]]

* SleevesAreForWimps: Flash. Vultan.

%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample * SlowLaser

-->-- '''Music/{{Queen}}'''

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

* TheEighties: A rather impressive example. The film came out in 1980 and already had it all. Queen, synth, garish colour scheme and EightiesHair.
* EightiesHair: All over the place, except for [[BaldOfEvil Ming]] and [[CoolMask Klytus]].

* 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.
** According to his actor, the hand belonged to Klytus, who had gained a new body and was to ascend to BigBad in the [never-produced] sequel.

* 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!''". [[SarcasmMode Suuuuuuurrrrrrreeeee.....]]

* 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.

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. There was even a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzglbb2Py98 videogame adaptation]] for the UsefulNotes/Atari2600, which was a proto-{{Metroidvania}} game crossed with ''VideoGame/{{Defender}}''.

%%zce* DarkChick: General Kala.

* WhipItGood:
** Flash and Barin duel with whips in one scene. Luckily, DefeatMeansFriendship.
*** The first time Flash tries to use the whip, he actually ends up hitting ''himself''.
** Aura being tortured.

* CoversAlwaysLie: Most printed marketing for the movie, including DVD covers and posters, shows Flash wielding a golden sword as though it’s his signature weapon. In truth he picks it up from a guard right at the end and never actually uses it in a fight.

* 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.)

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* 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!'' ". [[SarcasmMode Suuuuuuurrrrrrreeeee.....]]

* BigDamnHeroes: At one point or anthor, pretty much every main character except Ming, Klytus, and Kala, being the Bad Guys. Of course, Flash is the biggest of the heroes as he is the "Savior of the Universe."

''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|Band}}.

* BatheHerAndBringHerToMe: Both male and female examples.

* BeardOfEvil: Ming.

* CoDragons: Klytus and General Kala.

* DarkChick: General Kala.

* TheDragon: Klytus to Ming, General Kala to Klytus.
* DuelToTheDeath: Between Flash and Prince Barin.
* EarnYourHappyEnding

* TheEmperor: Ming the Merciless.
* TheEmpire: Mongo

* EvilGloating: ''Every'' villain at one time or another.

* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Flash
** TheLancer: Barin
** TheBigGuy: Vultan
** TheSmartGuy: Zarkov
** TheChick: Dale
** SixthRanger: Princess Aura

* ForGreatJustice: Vultan