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One of my all time favorites.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

"Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" is the third and final serial in the Flash Gordon Trilogy. In this instalment we have a new Dale Arden (Carol Hughes), Prince Barin (Roland Drew) and Princess Aura (Shirley Deane). Returning are the ever blond Flash (Buster Crabbe), brilliant scientist Dr. Zarkoff (Frank Shannon) and of course Ming the Merciless (Charles Middleton). The one-seater tin lizzy space ships also return.Ming has returned to Mongo where he once again rules and revives his efforts to destroy the earth. When a plaque called "The Purple Death" threatens the earth, Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov are pressed into service once again in order to save the earth. Once on the planet Mongo, the team manages to foil Ming's various attempts to destroy the earth. Zarkov as always, invents the perfect counter-measure to Ming's weaponry just in the nick of time. And Flash runs to Dale's rescue a number of times through the usual assortment of secret passages and tunnels.There are the usual cliff hanger chapter endings with Flash and company escaping just in the nick of time. The special effects are crude by today's standards but for the period were quite believable. The meaning of the title is explained in the final fade out.A fitting end to the Flash Gordon serials.

This needs reviving. In retrospect you see the point Republic were making. Its full of references which an audience contemporary with the 1940 production would have understood. The title music is Listz's Prelude 2. This was familiar from reports from Nazi Germany and Nuremberg rallies where it had been used repeatedly to glorify German power. Ming where's a white uniform identical to Mussolini of Fascist Italy. Largely gone is Ming's overt evil and sadistic attitudes in favour of a Messianic belief of unifying the universe under one rule will bring peace and prosperity. Despite the method required will be warfare to attain this. Buster Crabb repeatedly makes remarks about liberty and freedom. He also informs races from different planets that they must unite against the evils and dangers of a conqueror. The people of Saturn are represented by Chinese actors and Ming is fanatical in his wish to conquerer Saturn. This is a reference to the millions killed by the Japanese in Manchuria and China. Also a reference to the Axis pact between Germany and Japan demonstrating the necessity of nations to unite to defeat conquerors who are in alliance with each other.

Flash Gordon (Buster Crabbe), Dale Arden (Carol Hughes) and Dr. Zarkov go to the planet Mongo and fight the evil emperor Ming (Charles Middleton) who is shooting "death rays" at the Earth.I haven't seen the previous two serials so I have nothing to compare it to--but this was pretty good. It moves quickly and there's lots of action: Flash is thrown into a fiery pit; he's trapped in an avalanche; fights silly-looking robots that explode when hit; is zapped by the "Destroying Ray"; has aerial battles with Ming's warships; is caught in a fierce explosion (twice); falls down a huge mountain AND is almost drowned! WHEW! But he (logically) escapes being killed each time. Also he's joined by Prince Barin, the Forest Men and even some Rock Men.I also found this pretty progressive (for its time). Dale isn't just a timid female waiting for Flash to save her--she holds her own in fights and takes over the spaceship a few times when he's wounded. The acting is just OK--but it IS just a serial--they weren't trying to win Academy Awards. Hughes is actually the best out of all of them--Middleton is (easily) the worst. Crabbe looks tired a lot--but he was probably sick of playing Flash again and again. The special effects are primitive but I've always liked those silly little spaceships--they're a guilty favorite! Some of the sets are VERY elaborate (probably used from another movie) and the score is wonderful--until you realize you're hearing the same thing over and over.The best way to see this is one a day or (like I did) three a day. No way can you watch the whole 4 hours in one sitting!

This was by far the weakest of the three Flash Gordon serials. It's too long and the action slows down considerably. With that said, there are many good moments throughout. This time, we get a brunette Dale and some nice scenes in Frigia, the snow kingdom.Each episode features a title crawl, recapping events from the previous episode. The idea was so good it was "borrowed" for a later sci-fi series by some guy named Lucas.The whole Purple Death thing is pretty hokey and the villains don't quite rise to the occasion, but Queen Fria is a nice addition.Personally, I would look for the feature version of this one and skip the serial. Otherwise, get your fast-forward button ready for the slow parts.