Flash Gordon

An Olympic swimmer conquers the universe.

Alex Q. Arbuckle

1936-1940

Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon tries to prevent the abduction of Dale Arden, played by Carol Hughes in episode three of "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Based on a newspaper comic strip started in 1934 (which was in turn heavily inspired by sci-fi comic Buck Rogers), the Flash Gordon movie serials of 1936-1940 captivated audiences with their interplanetary spectacle.Each serial film was released in 10-20-minute episodes which ran before a feature film at a cinema, and invariably ended on cliffhangers. Viewers would have to return to the theater the following week for the next episode to learn the fate of the characters. The Flash Gordon films followed the plot of the early comics, centering around the titular Yale-educated polo player (played by Olympic gold medalist swimmer Larry “Buster” Crabbe), who, along with his love interest Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) is brought on a rocket ship by the mad Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon) to the planet Mongo. There the companions encounter numerous alien races and conflicts, along with villains such as Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton).The three serials were eventually released as full feature films, which would inspire later generations, including a young George Lucas. Lucas attempted to pitch his own Flash Gordon feature in the 1970s, but was unable to acquire the rights. Instead, he took some thematic and aesthetic cues from the series (including its opening title crawl), and synthesized them into his own sci-fi project, a film he tentatively called The Star Wars.

Credit: Universal Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images

Buster Crabbe as Flash in "Flash Gordon." Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Buster Crabbe listens to a man before turning corner in a scene from "Flash Gordon." Credit: Universal/Getty Images

Jean Rogers holds onto Buster Crabbe in a scene from "Flash Gordon." Credit: Universal/Getty Images

Buster Crabbe as Flash in "Flash Gordon." Credit: Universal/Getty Images

A meeting between King Vultan and Ming the Merciless, played by Jack 'Tiny' Lipson and Charles Middleton in episode seven of "Flash Gordon." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Charles Middleton as Ming the Merciless in "Flash Gordon." Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) struggles in the grip of two servants of Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton) and his daughter Princess Aura (Priscilla Lawson) in a scene from episode one of "Flash Gordon." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Flash (Buster Crabbe) allies himself with Princess Aura (Priscilla Lawson) in a scene from episode one of "Flash Gordon." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Frank Shannon and Jean Rogers in a scene from "Flash Gordon." Credit: Universal/Getty Images

Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers and Donald Kerr as Flash, Dale Arden and Happy Hapgood in episode ten of "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Frank Shannon and Donald Kerr as Flash, Dale Arden, Doctor Zarkov and Happy Hapgood are captured by the Clay King (C. Montague Shaw) in episode three of "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Frank Shannon and Buster Crabbe sit in a ship together in a scene from "Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars." Credit: Universal/Getty Images

Buster Crabbe, Frank Shannon and Donald Kerr as Flash, Doctor Zarkov and Happy Hapgood fend off aliens in episode eleven of "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars." Credit: John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Carol Hughes is embraced by Buster Crabbe in a publicity portrait for "Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe." Credit: Universal/Getty Images

Credit: Movie Poster Image Art/Getty Images

Visit Premier Exhibitions at 417 5th Avenue to see the past become present again at "Retronaut's New York." This pop-up exhibition of extraordinary, digitally restored photographs captures New York City at the turn of the 20th century. It's only open until May 15, so be sure to get down there before it’s gone.