Star of one of the greatest cult sci-fi movies of all time makes rare visit to Wales

Nation.Cymru staff

He’s the American actor who made his name in the leading role as a swashbuckling space adventurer who battles an evil adversary with a supporting cast of British favourites.

Star of the 1980 movie Flash Gordon, actor Sam J. Jones is a regular on the Comic Convention circuit and he makes a welcome return to Wales this weekend at the Film and Comic Con Cardiff.

Joining him at the comic con held at the National Indoor Sports Arena in Cardiff will be his larger-than-life Flash Gordon co-star, the inimitable Brain Blessed, who played Flash ally Prince Vultan.

After Flash Gordon, Jone appeared in a number of movies including memorable appearances in both the Ted movies, but its the eponymous space hero that he will forever be remembered.

The movie directed by Mike Hodges, is based on the King Features comic strip of the same name created by Alex Raymond and has become one of the greatest cult movies of all time.

The film stars Sam J. Jones in the title role, Melody Anderson, Ornella Muti, Max von Sydow and Topol, with Timothy Dalton, Mariangela Melato, Brian Blessed and Peter Wyngarde in supporting roles.

The film follows star football quarterback Flash Gordon (Jones) and his allies Dale Arden (Anderson) and Hans Zarkov (Topol) as they unite the warring factions of the planet Mongo against the oppression of Ming the Merciless (von Sydow), who is intent on destroying Earth.

Producer Dino De Laurentiis, who had previously overseen two other comic book adaptations, Danger: Diabolik and Barbarella (both 1968), had held an interest in making a Flash Gordon film since the 1960s.

After a directorial offer from George Lucas was declined (resulting in the creation of Star Wars) and a version that was to be directed by Federico Fellini did not enter production, De Laurentiis hired director Nicolas Roeg and Enter the Dragon writer Michael Allin to lead development on the film in 1977, but replaced them with Hodges and Lorenzo Semple Jr., who had scripted De Laurentiis’ remake of King Kong, due to his dissatisfaction with Roeg’s vision for the film.

Flash Gordon was primarily filmed in Britain, including on several soundstages at Elstree and Shepperton Studios, and uses a camp style similar to the 1960s TV series Batman (which Semple developed).

The movie is notable for the musical score by rock legends Queen, featuring orchestral sections by Howard Blake.

Although a box office success in both the United Kingdom and Italy, Flash Gordon performed poorly in other markets. Critical reception during and since the film’s initial release has been generally favourable and it has since gained a significant cult following.

Film and Comic Con Cardiff will feature an array of guests from TV and films, including Red Dwarf’s Craig Charles and Doctor Who’s Colin Baker.

Find out more HERE

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