'Flash Gordon' (1936) Chapter 1 Serial Clip

Emperor Ming lusts after the blond Dale Arden. Ming to Dale: "..your eyes, your hair, your skin...I've never seen one like you before...you're beautiful.." Featuring Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers and Charles Middleton as Ming. This is the only serial that has been selected for preservation in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

[@suz208]

This is the version of Flash Gordon that I grew up with. They used to play them on Saturday mornings in the 1950's. Buster Crabbe was gorgeous. Shame he didn't have a bigger movie career. For all you young whippersnappers, this is what kept your parents and grandparents entertained at the movies, the weekly serial. Kept them coming back week after week. Great fun!!!

[@laurelledubois]

This is the series I grew up with in the late 70s.. always played on Sat eve together with Bonanza 😄

[@philiphatfield5666]

I am 65 years old and I grew up with the "Flash Gordon" movie serials when they ran (endlessly) on television in the 1960's, and Ming The Merciless scared me as a child. I recently watched all three of the serials, and Ming still scares me! Charles Middleton was a fine character actor and Ming was his masterpiece. As a little boy, I found Dale and Princess Aura to be quite alluring.

[@uzzle65]

Considering this was made 70 years ago it has held up remarkably well. Still great to watch!

[@westlock]

I love the way Dale and Aura check each other out.

[@mimibarn]

God this makes me so sentimental and i watching this in the 70's as did my mum in the 30's - she was amazed that it was shown on bbc and i didn't have to sit in the theatre to see it!!! If i had kids they'd be watching it...........and their kids too - thankyou for this magninificent posting /site X

[@amymiller5957]

WOW-One of my favorites on Sat. morning Chicago TV back in the 50"s! Remember the "Clay People" that came alive out of cave walls?! Their sponser was "Buster Brown Shoes". Had a dog named "Tige" he lived in there too!

[@EnglishAddict]

These were played during the school holidays...way back in the early 1980's on the BBC. They were appealing then...and still are! I saw Charles Middleton recently in a Laurel and Hardy short 'Flying Deuces'.

[@testshietchannel]

I love the Overall mixed message of knights and Roman legionaires in space before a chinese Background. Brilliant :D

[@LITEE43]

Buster Crabbe was the king of serials or otherwise known as chapter plays. He starred in: Tarzan The Fearless 1933, Flash Gordon 1936, Red Barry 1938, Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars 1938, Buck Rogers 1939, Flash Gordon Conquers The Universe 1940, The Sea Hound 1947, Pirates Of The High Seas 1950 and King Of The Congo 1952.

[@sarahsbooks]

we're watching this in film class. it's so funny - dale and flash are so formulaic, and i love how the aliens are human and speak english. hilarious. such a classic.

[@johnquinn4151]

In late 1970’s I watched this on BBC, early Saturday mornings before multi coloured swap shop with Noel Edmonds

[@RRaquello]

Dr. Zarkoff-a Russian scientist with an Irish brogue, as played by Frank Shannon.

[@maladro1]

Loved these series, I used to watch it, in Cuba, when I was little. I wish they will play it again on TCM....

[@TheGambitMan]

Charles Middleton was such a fantastic actor!

[@KenHoranUniversal]

Yes, I agree, and very under rated.

[@zeppage4]

I took a sci fi class and this was the Flash Gordon I saw. Loved it! So many good memories. =] This will always be my favorite version.

[@silvar68]

I like that "give him all that he requires except his freedom"

[@imjustpassinthru]

@suz208 ... That's amazing, kid! I was just about two write the same thing, word for word. Growing up in San Diego in the early 1950s, I remember Flash Gordon on Saturday mornings. I'm 65 now.

[@roychefets6961]

This serial was released in movie theaters in 1936 to be shown with feature movies on Saturday mornings. I saw it later when it was shown on tv while I was a high school student. Extremely creative not to mention camp. Charles Middleton was a low level actor and the part of Ming was the best part he ever got. He sure chews up the scenery. Very entertaining.

[@Lupucillo]

Dozens followed, but Flash Gordon came first and he is the best.

[@nevrens]

Takes me back over 50 years ago when I used to go to the local flicks (cinema) on a Saturday afternoon , it only used to cost sixpence in old money (the equivelent of two and a half pence in today's money) to get in.Brilliant.

[@teddybears4life240]

This is NEAT❗️

[@faramarzshoaei9680]

I love Flash Gordon serial movie ( 1936 ) !!

[@robcat-hq4cd]

Looks like Ming's Secret Service protection is as lousy as ours.

[@Moronvideos1940]

Nice...perfect for rocket sound and scene ....

[@Lordfarquad1213]

Ming truly is a merciless one, isn't he?

[@Assadul-Naml]

Space Firaun, merciless is still a compliment, he makes Caesar or Yazeed look like lambs

[@donwardell6368]

Ming the Merciless still as spooky as ever/

[@speedsurfer123]

DAMN, Flash Really Knows how To Guard Whats his...

[@logancody05]

Me too. Think iof it, not even a tenth of the special effects available today and we were still thrilled by it. From more innocent days and oh how i long for them.

[@cronauer1985]

i used to watch this in the 70/80 on a rerun great then and great now. great clip.

[@tuxguys]

(2 years ago) Funny, and fun, and as good as it could be, at the time. Addendum: Look at all the heaving bosoms...

[@ursa41]

LOVE the spaceships!! They're better looking and more detailed than the one's in Buck Rogers.

[@vinylblitzkreig]

Swords in the future. What a concept.

[@KenHoranUniversal]

The story takes place in the 1930's and is set in an alternate universe.

[@dvdx87]

Wow i had no idea that they made a 1930's version of Flash Gordon. Only that 80's one. I thought his character was invented in the 50's!

[@AnitaLife27]

One of my alll time favorite clips from Flash Gordon! Buster Crabbe is so cute. I love the evil Princess. Remakes pale in comparison. they never get it right. "Why destroy the earth? Why not conquor it? " Ming: Why not? Bwah ha! It's the best Thanks for posting !!!!

[@cyberfennek]

way better than the rubbish they show on tv today most of that has no soul at all

[@MamaStylus]

There is a charm to the old Flash Gordon serials that's lacking in many new shows. I would like to see the old serials re-edited, new computer special effects added, new stories and colorized. These new movies would sell I believe. Charles Middleton is always great as a bad guy--so creepy he makes Hitler look like choir director.

[@midwestmonster9886]

It's interesting that Flash Gordon and Ming the Merciless never properly meet each other. In the comic, the film serial, and the movie, Ming provokes Flash's anger before the two ever speak to one another.

[@salfordguy69]

takes me back to long hot summer holidays in the 70s!!

[@yorkshirepudding6980]

Yes I used to watch this during the school holidays in the UK on a morning

[@michaeldoster4847]

Need more than just 6 minutes of Flash! ; )

[@scottbenowitz7921]

Before there was Q, there was Dr. Ming...

[@galinneall]

I love the spaceship floating around with its arse on fire.

[@westlock]

@Professor6871 He had a cameo as General Gordon in the first episode of the 1980 Buck Rogers.

[@Long23]

"Why destroy the earth? Why not conquer if?" DOH!

[@kangadillo]

The guy who entered the room at :34 looks like the Tin Man on his way to ask the Wizard for a heart.

[@trulyheaven777]

Love this old Sci-Fi.

[@simonh6371]

The pronouncements of Emperor Mong.

[@CRC722]

this is what inspired George Lucas?

[@buffalopatriot]

Yes, but primarily 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' and 'The Seahawk' with Errol Flynn. Including their musical scores by Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

[@herbrampe]

Boy, this was high-tech stuff when I was a kid. Thanks for posting.

[@SmedleyWarIsaRacket]

These films were how mankind has been convinced space travel is real and that flying to the moon is possible.

[@mmaldon84]

Pretty awesome scene!

[@guruchef69]

Jeez the sound of the rocket ship is why i looked this up WEIRD huh.

[@leafyutube]

You could see a good cat fight is brewing @2:21. haha

[@carbootstudios2459]

Funny to think that this among many things was a major influence on Star Wars

[@ledalima2010]

I like very much where serial, because the wonderfull Jean Rogers,who me remember very much one girl Taninha,love impossible of my infance in interior of Minas Gerais( Brazil).

[@Mr_Lupine]

Are thre any clips of the mudmen on here, i was fascinated by them as a kid :)

[@johnseanglavey]

I can still remember the music

[@jpeek914]

wow great stuff thanks

[@leafyutube]

@Professor6871 That's interesting I never thought of it that way. Of the 3 Flash serials, the first is my favorite. The second one was good too on Mars. I liked the 3rd one the least, but even that was better than the movie they made many years later.

[@KenHoranUniversal]

Charles Middleton played No. 39013 aka Harry Crowel in the 1939 Republic serial 'Daredevils of the Red Circle'.

[@frank55944]

I like this one of flash

[@davidtheclose]

The spaceships are scary.

[@lkijju]

I was gripped by this series back in the 50's, and it was 20 years old then. Never realised when I was 7 how fit Princess Aura was in this.

[@rahazel]

So Flash is surrounded by 30 of Ming's minions many of whom have ray guns, swords, whatever, but still he manhandles Ming, throws him on his throne, then takes on those 30 guys with just a giant vase and a sword. Who needs Big John or Clint when you have Buster?

[@jcb74]

Not at all, I have vivid memories of those buzzing, smoking things! ;-)

[@HocusFocusProductions]

Is it just me or does the "Blonde Giant" thing seem a little strange, since Ming's guards are about as tall as Flash? Love these old serials though. I like the movie from the 80's too. And the cartoon...toys. Pretty much everything Flash Gordon with the exception of the dismal Sci-Fi series.

[@orastellathefirst]

The writing isn't too bad, and it has good visuals. Granted, I am comparing it to other tv shows of today. It's ok. I hope it gets better.

[@Tampa0123456789]

@markusmitnachname I agree respect to all the actors. They were performing on a diffrent level. Wish i knew their names so i can look them up.

[@JAIstarkillerkid]

Ha, KING KONG has nothing on that lusty ole' git Ming!

[@leafyutube]

Where exactly is Mongo?

[@Professor6871]

@leafyutube Its short for Mongola I suppose. Ming the Mercless was proably based on Genguis Kahan who killed millions of people in his conquests of the twelth century and enslaved many more in his empire that stretched thousands of miles in both Asia and Eastern Europe.

[@matthewakian2]

Nice

[@snakes3425]

I heard they were making a TV Show based on Flash Gordon

[@josephwonderless1258]

Why does Ming and the character on the Star Trek episode ( the gamesters of Triskelion look alike?)

[@KenHoranUniversal]

Because the producers of 'Star Trek' lack original ideas and copy-cat the original ideas of the more talented people of the past.

[@orastellathefirst]

It's so theatrical.

[@RobertSilvestri86]

Does Buster bare a slight resemblance to Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) ?

[@buffalopatriot]

Yeah, but just better looking.

[@manudasmd]

Still a better movie than justice league !

[@tropicvibe]

I believe Buster also played Tarzan in the 30's. I think he was pretty good, should have had a bigger film career

[@logancody05]

@Professor6871 Yes he sure did!

[@buffalopatriot]

Niburu? (who can say?) Larry Buster Crabbe was pretty good with a sword.

[@w5monkey]

lol...was there any resistance?... no your majesty....except from the blond giant....ahahahahh

[@leafyutube]

Haha! Ming's daughter has the hots for Flash.

[@Professor6871]

Did Buster Crab later star in a serial of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century?

[@pertuk]

Those guards look a bit like the Cybermen from Doctor Who

[@NicknameOnly]

It's Space Force!

[@Professor6871]

@leafyutube Well if you read the History of Genguis Kahan his Mongols warriors then the similarities to this would become quite clear. Its was just just extrapulated to outer space instead of planet earth, the Mongolan empire. Ming the Mercless may also have reffered too the Ming Dynasty, the ancestors of Genguis, who ruled China until the 1640s when the Manchu's then took over ruling it.

[@anthonymurphy1406]

Priscilla Lawson was beautifull

[@carydavidhoffson6014]

This played with a movie before it started with the movie and it was made to show chapter every Saturday afternoon to get you to come back to the movie theater to see what happened to flash Gordon next every Saturday afternoon at a time when their was know TV sets any were in the world and that the movie theater was the only place to show you everything that was going on in the world and any kind of movies this is all they had to give you something to do on a Saturday afternoon and TV came much later to see at home TV shows that is what life was like in the days before TV was invented and the movie theater was your TV set

[@Yourdeadmeat69]

If you'd like to see at least the full length Nov 1936 version of the Serial reworked and cleaned up, google SERIAL SQUADRON--they reworked a number of these for sale on DVD. On Charles (Ming) Middleton, (1874-1949) Crabbe said he was strutting around as Ming from time he hit the stage till he went home, but when they broke set, he was as sweet as can be. Strange to see him in "Jungle Man" (1941) with Crabbe as a buddy priest!

[@Enzo012]

Swords? Don't they have rayguns?

[@SuperMrMuster]

Don't you mean... O'Zarkoff?

[@Tampa0123456789]

@silvar68 I thought that was funny too. LOL How dare the poster of this clip tease us with such good acting then cut the clip short

[@DukeOfChirk]

I think the spaceship on this bears a passing resemblance to Elon musk’s SpaceX starship

[@MyLalinea]

is ter crabbe flash gordon ? .

[@gregs1053]

***** yes

[@TJ-lk6wx]

Swords? Really? No ray guns?

[@bindi06]

WHOA!! Buster Crabbe is one good looking man. That body and that face: now that's what I call a tall drink of water!!

[@bheast86]

sorry, but I do prefer Max Von Sydow ('Prepare her for our pleasure!'), or Charles Middleton going apeshit at Laurel & Hardy in BEAU HUNKS ('You forgot what you joined to forget?')

[@pasciente]

COMOI INFLUENCIO LA ROPADE LOSROMANOS HATA EN LAS PELIS

[@thecyberben]

I saw it last weekend - it stinks compared to everything "Flash Gordon" before it.

[@Frankengut]

The real Buster Crabbe died at his home in upstate New York in the early '80's. Don't be a schmuck.

[@Medraut00]

and people acuse the 80s movie of being campy. but u watch this serial and it is WAY campier. middleton is espesily campy as ming.

[@Professor6871]

@Kael7777 Thank you but its only common knowledge nothing that special.