Mike Hodges (1) (1932–2022)

One of the innumerable re-issues from the epic cycle of Flash Gordon serials. This is the third story, often titled SPACE SOLDIERS CONQUER THE UNIVERSE, though I have chosen to catalogue it according to the actual marking on the tape and its package. While there are many wonderful bits here, there's no question in my mind that the series was running-out, well, not of gas, but whatever propelled Zarkov's rocket ship. While there have been numerus commentaries on FLASH, both academic/highfalutin' and street-level, I wonder whether I am the only one to savour the late-Thirties politics: the Americans making common cause with unlikely Allies in a far-Northern country, against the totalitarian with an East-Asian name? Hmm. Some also really dig the Clay People sub-plot, but I would trade that all for the few seconds of astonishing footage -- possibly recycled from another, unralted film? -- of skiers with torches. A bad day with Flash, Zarkov, and the gang beats a good day with almost anybody else… (mais)