Flash Gordon - The Deadly Ray from Mars [DVD]

Amazon.com Call it high camp, middlebrow, or simply low rent, but this entry in the Flash Gordon series is at least reasonably entertaining. An edited version of the 1938 serial Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, it finds Flash (Buster Crabbe) and friends traveling to Mars to battle archenemy Ming the Merciless (and arch is certainly the word for Charles Middleton's performance) and the death ray he's using to suck the very life out of Earth. Sure, the action is silly, the effects for the most part laughable, the "science" absurd, and the acting consistently over-the-top; and tedium will likely set in halfway through the feature's 96 minutes. But how can you not chuckle along with (or perhaps at) such deathless dialogue as "Kneel, Earth man" and "Gee whiz, King"? And so what if there are no DVD bonus features? Flash Gordon has no need for cheap frills to keep us the edge of our seats! --Sam Graham Product Description The Earth is being ravaged by mysterious floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. After blasting off in a rocket ship, Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov discover that the source of the destruction is a mysterious ray emanating from the planet Mars. Flying to the rescue, Flash and his friends must overcome the cruel and beautiful Queen Azura and the legions of Claymen and Treemen of Mars. But lurking behind Azura's deadly schemes is the real culprit, Flash's archrival Ming the Merciless! Once again Flash must struggle against incredible odds to save the Earth from almost certain doom. But will he be in time? This is a feature-length edited version of the 1938 serial "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars."