VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 6 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 23:54:35 02/28/09 Sat
Author: Tim
Subject: Impressions of Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars

Initially I thought I wouldn't like the Happy Hapgood character, a 1930s newspaper reporter brought on board for comic relief. But Happy quickly grew on me as the chapters elapsed, and soon he seemed an integral part of the Flash Gordon team. Early on he was a little hapless and not much help, but he gradually rose to the various challenges and proved loyal and heroic on a number of occasions.

A Spoiler Warning is issued for the next paragraph for any who have not yet seen the serial.

The biggest surprise of the entire serial was the death of Queen Azura in chapter 13. In the end Azura proved her true nobility by giving Flash both sapphires to destroy, thus lifting the curse of the Clay People.

The second biggest surprise was Dale Arden piloting a stratosled and using its weaponry to save Flash and the gang in chapter 8. I can't picture the generally helpless Dale of the earlier Flash Gordon '36 showing such initiative.

The use of music from the Bride of Frankenstein soundtrack was very evident and effective. I noticed the familiar strains of Universal music in Trip to Mars far more than I did in Flash Gordon '36. One reason may be because between the time I watched Flash Gordon '36 and Trip to Mars, I watched both Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein for the first time in quite awhile. Of course Frankenstein has no music score, but Bride of Frankenstein has a remarkable soundtrack, which was skillfully employed throughout Trip to Mars.

Some favorite features introduced in Trip to Mars include the Light Bridge, the Martian Batwings, The Clay People and their Clay King, Azura Queen of Magic, and The Forest Kingdom with King Turan and the Forest People. Ming seems even more evil than he did in FG '36, if that is possible. It was great to see Prince Barin's return, but Officer Torch was missing in action. All and all a very imaginative and enjoyable journey to the planet Mars.

Sergeant Tim

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Re: Impressions of Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars -- Prince Barin, 12:16:46 03/01/09 Sun [1]

"Mars" has always been my favorite because I view it has having a more cohesive plot than the '36 FG which, while certainly enjoyable, I've always thought of as pasted together, i.e., a little of this and a little of that. However, once the story hits Vultan's palace the plot seems to hit its stride and settles into a good storyline.

On a more visceral level I may prefer "Mars" because I remember playing more than fifty years ago with my young friends on a light bridge of two by fours at a construction site and electing the girl across the street as our Dale Arden. In truth, though, I love them all. What great stuff to have fired the imagination of kids and simultaneously instill worthwhile core values.


[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: Impressions of Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars -- Tim, 13:44:02 03/01/09 Sun [1]

From my initial viewing of the two I would rate Flash Gordon '36 slightly higher than Trip to Mars, but not by much. FG '36 is faster paced and includes more exotic locales, kingdoms, etc. King Vultan is an especially entertaining character.

I thought the acting by Buster Crabbe and Jean Rogers in Trip to Mars was a bit improved over Flash Gordon '36, while Frank Shannon as Zarkov gave pretty much the same level performance in both serials.

Flash Gordon '36 had an evil Princess in Ming's daughter Aura, while Trip to Mars had an evil Queen in Azura. And while typing this post I noticed for the first time that the letter z is the only difference in their two names!

Sergeant Tim


[ Edit | View ]


Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.