CLOSED: Flash Gordon

The latter can be rented from Amazon streaming services for seven days for two U.S. dollars, but the former isn't so apparently available through the services.

Gromit82

It looks like Beebe DID work on FLASH GORDON II, the feature version, which was renamed in 1938, as "ROCKETSHIP". (Info. courtesy of AFI search)

Could Beebe and Hill "Directed" the cutting and piecing of the serial chapters into feature form?

The Feature versions of the first two serials were both listed with as being 1938. So was the Chapter version of FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS. Maybe Universal just tossed them a little extra work.?












I do hope he won't upset Henry...

I'm not so sure I'd go with what AFI says.

Despite the apparent existence of paper publicity materials for Flash Gordon (1936/II) from 1936 (a feature version of the serial Flash Gordon (1936/I)), searches thru trade publications as well as several online newspaper archives have failed to turn up any evidence of Flash Gordon (1936/II), ever being released in the US in 1936.

The feature version of the 1936 Flash Gordon serial was released with the title Rocketship in late 1949 (not 1950) as part of a double feature with Mars Attacks the World. Mars Attacks was the feature version of the serial Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. That double feature was definitely a re-release for Mars Attacks the World, which had originally been released in 1938 shortly after the famous War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

Funny thing is the original intended title for Mars Attacks the World was "Rocketship"! They were going to release it under the title Rocketship, then decided not to, only to quickly release it with the new title to cash in on the publicity surrounding the War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Universal then did release a different longer cut of Mars Attacks the World with the title "Rocketship" in the UK March 19, 1945. Yes that is confusing.

More info, newspaper display ads, trade listings and more documenting all this is found here:

http://s13.zetaboards.com/In_The_Balcony/topic/375169/4/

So "Rocketship" as released in 1945 in the UK was a feature version of the serial "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars". And "Rocketship" as released in 1949 in the US was a feature version of the other serial "Flash Gordon".

If someone could fix up the IMDb entries release dates and add the appropriate trivia to everything where appropriate, that would be fantastic.


Thanks!

Dave,

Thank you very much...I'd just put together a reply (using your notes and mine )that took a few hours ,regarding what, where and when, especially regarding the fabricated BS 1936 listing.

I'll do the dates and deletions but I vaguely recall we did this a long time ago. Will do again and ask for some blocks and protection.

Miss seeing you on this board. You are needed.

Take care,

Les

This thread was marked ANSWERED, although the corrections that Les said that he made have not gone through yet.

gromit,

I didn't say I Had, I said I would. I said, in reply to David, I had put together a reply to the original question, but his was more detailed than mine, and I didn't submit mine. He covered it all.

But, I did say I would make the corrections...and haven't done so yet. I'll work on it tomorrow night...after I've digested Thanksgiving dinner. Well, better make that Friday.

Les

Les: No problem, you can get around to this whenever that works for you. But I am going to try to leave this thread open until the problem is actually resolved.

Hi all,

Do you mind if I set this one to ANSWERED? Les did you end up making the changes?

Regards,
Will