Flash gordon 1936, flash gordon s trip to mars 1938, and flash gordon conquers the universe 1940. Alexis zarkov visit the planet mongo to thwart the evil schemes of emperor ming the merciless, who has set his planet on a. Presented in chapters, it is the first screen adventure for flash gordon, the comicstrip character created by alex raymond in 1934. In 1965, he was inducted into the international swimming hall of fame. Buster crabbes chief claim to fame, aside from his olympic gold medal for the 400meter freestyle event in 1932, rests in the trio of movie serials in which he played the popular sciencefiction hero flash gordon. Zarkov frank shannon zoom out in zarkovs rocket ship and make a straightspace beeline for mongo, where the ruthless ruler, ming the merciless charles middleton is spreading death dust in earths atmosphere as part of his plan to conquer the universe. Buster crabbe s flash gordon serials are terrific, and while the same cant honestly be said for elstree hills dvd set, asin. The flash gordon serials of the 1930s changed the face of. The flash gordon serials of the 1930s changed the face of sci. Flash gordons trip to mars 15 chapters in 1938 and flash gordon conquers the universe 12 chapters in 1940. Told in installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comicstrip character flash gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to.
Televisioncrabbe starred in the television series, captain gallant of the foreign legion 1955 to 1957 as captain michael gallant. Crabbe made regular television appearances, including one on an episode of the 1979 series buck rogers in the 25th century, in which he played a retired fighter pilot named brigadier gordon in. Buster crabbe charles middleton flash gordon trip to mars. Flash gordon buster crabbe, dale arden carol hughes and dr. Complete universal movie serial cliffhanger collections starring buster crabbe. The flash gordon films followed the plot of the early comics, centering around the titular yaleeducated polo player played by olympic gold medalist swimmer larry buster crabbe, who, along. Crabbe first appeared as the poloplayerturnedinterplanetaryproblemsolver in the 1936 serial simply titled flash gordon. Crabbe is the only actor who played tarzan, flash gordon, and buck rogers the top three comic strip heroes of the 1930s. Flash gordon and the 1930s and 40s science fiction serial.
Feb 07, 20 on larry buster crabbe and the glories of flash gordon today is the birthday of the great star of the serials larry buster crabbe 19081983. Zarkov shannon, and sweetheart dale arden rogers blast off for the planet mongo, trying to stop it from a collision course with earth. The flash gordon serials of the 1930s changed the face of scifi. This is a multiregion region 0all dvd, and should play on most dvd players in the world. While the production may look cheap and the story seems juvenile by. Flash gordon complete movie serial cliffhanger collection. Actor buster crabbe starred as tarzan before moving on to such roles as flash gordon and buck rogers, plus numerous westerns, from the 1930s to the 1960s. Alexis zarkov visit the planet mongo to thwart the evil. Is flash gordon the character in the public domain. This is the only serial that has been selected for preservation in the. As a fan of all golden age super heroes, i recently purchased this costume that i believe to have been worn by buster crabbe during the flash gordon 1940 series, flash gordon conquers the world. King features syndicate owns the rights to the character and pretty much everything else related to the character.
First episode of universals 1936 flash gordon serial, starring buster crabbe as flash and charles middleton as ming the merciless, with jean rogers as dale arden, priscilla lawson as sexy princess aura and frank shannon as dr. Buster crabbe and charles middleton are flash gordon and ming the merciless, the perfect double image of selfless heroism and selfish villainy. Buster crabbes flash gordon serials are terrific, and while the same cant honestly be said for elstree hills dvd set, asin. Whenever possible use a photo of the actor from their chest up, similar to a promotional headshot. Jan 05, 20 flash gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial.
Flash gordon is the title character in the flash gordon series, who is thrust by circumstance into a science fiction adventure. I dont think there are very many people who havent heard of flash gordon. An exceptional athlete and courageous man, flash was dubbed king of the impossible due to many fantastic adventures and accomplishments including. Flash gordon conquers the universe is a 1940 american blackandwhite science fiction movie serial from universal pictures, produced by henry macrae and codirected by ford beebe and ray taylor. A medalwinning olympic swimmer, he first got into films like fellow olympic swimmer johnny weismuller by playing tarzan the apeman in serials in 1933. Ctva us scifi flash gordon 193640 buster crabbe 1954. Crabbe made regular television appearances, including an episode of the 1979 series buck rogers in the 25th century, in which he played a retired fighter pilot named brigadier gordon, in honor of flash gordon. This is a two dvd set containing all 15 episodes of this classic serial this is the original 1938 serial film based on the comic strip flash gordon series starring buster crabbe. Fu manchu, a fictional supervillain popularized in earlier hollywood films and in a series of novels first published in england in 19.
We dont need to know about their inner demons or what makes them tick. Buster crabbe facts, bio, family, life, info sticky facts. As in the previous serial the leading role was played again by larry buster crabbe. This collection of flash gordon serials finds buster crabbe teamed up with a different dale arden, but facing the usual array of strange creatures and spellbinding thrills. A medalwinning olympic swimmer, he first got into films like fellow olympic swimmer johnny weismuller by. Flash gordon 1936 serial, fan edit 2 hour movie youtube. Flash gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial.
Universal studios made a good profit with flash gordon, so when the series ended they wanted to follow immediately with another science fiction serial. Alexis zarkov visit the planet mongo to thwart the evil schemes of emperor ming the merciless, who has set his planet on a collision course with earth. Flash gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by alex raymond and first published january 7, 1934. In the same year had a new comic hero become established in the style of flash gorden the new hero was called buck rogers with a total of 12 episodes. On larry buster crabbe and the glories of flash gordon today is the birthday of the great star of the serials larry buster crabbe 19081983. During his senior swimming career, crabbe set 16 world and 35 national records. In 1931, while working on thats my boy 1932 for columbia pictures, he was tested by mgm for tarzan and rejected. Buster crabbe celebrity profile check out the latest buster crabbe photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes.
Rocket ship flash gordon legendyra science fiction serial larry. Apr 15, 2016 the flash gordon films followed the plot of the early comics, centering around the titular yaleeducated polo player played by olympic gold medalist swimmer larry buster crabbe, who, along. Featuring buster crabbe, jean rogers and charles middleton as ming. Flash gordon buster crabbe 1936 cliffhanger serial dvd. Buster crabbe full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Tnts series goes off the rails without the brilliant bong joon ho as. Two sequels to flash gordon, also in serial form and starring buster crabbe, followed the. Alex zarkov frank shannon as they save the earth from evil emperor ming the merciless charles b.
Buster crabbe american athlete and actor britannica. To avoid confusion with the imported flash gordon tv series airing around. Buster crabbe flash gordon costume discovered vintage. Flash gordon 1936, flash gordons trip to mars 1938, and flash gordon conquers the universe 1940.
Crabbe was the only actor to play the roles of tarzan in one movie, flash gordon, and buck rogers, the top three pulp action. See more ideas about flash gordon, vintage movies and american athletes. These are the classic flash gordon serials from universal, starring buster crabbe in the title role, with charles middleton as emperor ming the merciless and frank shannon as dr. Clarence linden buster crabbe ii february 7, 1908 april 23, 1983 was an american olympic swimmer, and a movie and television actor. Space soldiers, introduced flash crabbe, his winsome platinum blonde girlfriend dale arden jean rogers and visionary scientist dr. Buster crabbe flash gordon costume discovered vintage non. B000iyv1ss, it contains some interesting editions of the classics especially for those who remember when they were run on television, starting in the 1950s. Buster crabbe flash gordon 1936 hollywood actore halloween.
As buster crabbe, the star of the serial, and for many the archetypal, iconic flash gordon, remembered years later. Flash gordon was featured in three serial films starring buster crabbe. With buster crabbe, jean rogers, charles middleton, priscilla lawson. Sep 06, 2016 is flash gordon the character in the public domain. Clarence linden buster crabbe, flash gordon 1936 clarence linden buster crabbe pronounced kr. First episode of universals 1936 flash gordon serial, starring buster crabbe as flash and charles middleton as ming the merciless, with. This film helped make a star of buster crabbe and, more importantly, helped to inspire films like star wars and the indiana jones series. Apr 19, 2020 buster crabbe played the blond spaceman in flash gordon film serials from 1936 and in the subsequent serials, flash gordons trip to mars 1938 and flash gordon conquers the universe 1940.
Its worth noting that mongo looks a lot like sherwood forest, with its natives toting bows and arrows and wearing robin hood outfits. Buster crabbe as flash gordon jean rogers as dale arden charles middleton as emperor ming frank shannon as dr. Middleton with the help of mings daughter princess aura. The character appeared on television in both liveaction 195455. Serials syndicated flash gordon 1979 1980 flash gordon movie. February 7, 1908 april 23, 1983 was an american athlete and actor, who starred in a number of popular serials in the 1930s and 1940s. For animated series, this should be a picture of their characters. Fan edit of the first flash gordon sci fi serial from 1936. Space soldiers was originally released as a serial in 1936 and was the most expensive serial ever produced. For those that know me i have spent 10 years evaluating game worn sports jerseys. Flash gordon is first seen in the 1980 movie sitting in his rental car at the green mountain airways executive airport. Buster crabbe list of movies and tv shows tv guide. Paramount pictures put him in king of the jungle 1933 as kaspa, the lion man after a book of that title but clearly a copy of the tarzan stories.
Two sequels to flash gordon, also in serial form and starring buster crabbe, followed the popular 1936 production. I know this isnt vintage nonsport, but thought the readers might enjoy this post anyways. Buster crabbe charles middleton flash gordon trip to. The serials, starring larry buster crabbe as flash a character who. The expensive new version of flash gordon is a lot more gaudy, and just as dumb, as the original series starring buster crabbe. Aug 21, 2019 crabbe first appeared as the poloplayerturnedinterplanetaryproblemsolver in the 1936 serial simply titled flash gordon. He won a gold medal in the 400meter freestyle at the 1932 summer olympics and for playing science fiction hero flash gordon in three movie serials. Buster crabbe simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Despite the addition of the studio audience and crabbes personality, busters buddies. Buster crabbe played the blond spaceman in flash gordon film serials from 1936 and in the subsequent serials, flash gordons trip to mars 1938 and flash gordon conquers the universe 1940. Eastern color published 12 issues of buster crabbe comics from 1951 to 1953, followed by lev gleason s four issues of the amazing adventures of buster crabbe in 1954. Flash gordon classic movie cliffhanger serial dvd buster. The serial stars buster crabbe, carol hughes, charles b. The complete flash gordon series starring buster crabbe, this collection features space soldiers, flash gordons trip to mars and flash gordon conquers the universe.
The obvious solution was to make a serial based on buck rogers, and the obvious actor to play him was the same actor who had been so popular as flash gordon, larry buster crabbe. Jones in the title role has even less thespic range than crabb. On larry buster crabbe and the glories of flash gordon. The tv series does not have the same nonstop action and adventure that made the classic flash gordon serials with buster crabbe so great.
Flash gordon buster crabbe 1936 cliffhanger serial. Brians drivein theater offers biography and filmography information, photos, dvd sources, and more for actor buster crabbe. It presents the story of gordon s visit to the planet mongo and his encounters with the evil emperor ming the merciless. He is the only actor to have played the three most popular pulp fiction heroes of the 1930s flash gordon. In 1940 followed the last serial with flash gordon conquers the universe with a total of 12 episodes.