Dale Arden
Encyclopedia
Dale Arden is a fictional character
, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon
and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia Organa
and Padme Amidala
in Star Wars
. Flash, Dale and Dr. Hans Zarkov
fight together against Ming the Merciless
.
Filmation’s Flash Gordon’s Bible portrayed Dale Arden as follows:
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip. Also inspired by these series were comics such as Dash...
and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia Organa
Princess Leia Organa
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe...
and Padme Amidala
Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in the Star Wars science fiction franchise. She first appeared on film in the 1999 feature film, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as the young queen of the planet Naboo. In subsequent prequel trilogy films, Padmé represents Naboo in the Galactic Senate...
in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
. Flash, Dale and Dr. Hans Zarkov
Hans Zarkov
Dr. Hans Zarkov is a fictional character appearing in the Flash Gordon comic strip. Zarkov is a brilliant scientist who creates a rocket and forces Flash and Dale Arden to come with him to the planet Mongo, and fight against Ming the Merciless...
fight together against Ming the Merciless
Ming the Merciless
Ming the Merciless is a fictional character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon comic strip in 1934. He has since been the main villain of the strip and its related movie serials, TV shows and film adaptation.- First appearance :...
.
Profile
Dale is Flash Gordon's constant companion in his adventures, as well as his one true love. The emperor Ming the Merciless is immediately attracted to her and the early strips were basically based on Flash’s heroic efforts to rescue Dale from Ming's many attempts to marry her.Filmation’s Flash Gordon’s Bible portrayed Dale Arden as follows:
Dale Arden in other media
- Dale's broadcast debut was in a Hearst Radio series that ran from April to October 1935. The actress who played her is unknown.
- Dale was first portrayed on film by Jean RogersJean RogersJean Rogers was an American actress. She portrayed Dale Arden in two of the three Flash Gordon serials.-Early life:...
in the film serials Flash GordonFlash Gordon (serial)Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
(1936) and Flash Gordon's Trip to MarsFlash Gordon's Trip to MarsFlash Gordon's Trip to Mars is a 1938 serial film of 15 episodes, based on the comic strip Flash Gordon. It is the second of three Flash Gordon serials made between 1936 and 1940....
(1938).
- In the 1940 serial, Flash Gordon Conquers the UniverseFlash Gordon Conquers the UniverseFlash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. It was the last of three Flash Gordon serials made from 1936 to 1940. The serial was produced and copyrighted by Universal Pictures....
, Dale was portrayed by Carol Hughes.
- Irene ChamplinIrene ChamplinIrene Champlin was an American actress. Her most prominent role was as Dale Arden in the 1954-1955 syndicated television series Flash Gordon...
took the role for the 1954 Flash Gordon television series. Champlin was praised for transforming Arden from the typical damsel in distressDamsel in distressThe subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
of the serials into a trained scientist and a "quick thinker who often saved [Flash and Zarkov] from perishing".
- Diane PershingDiane PershingDiane Pershing, born and raised in Queens, New York, is a romance novelist, television writer and voice actor.She wrote episodes for the television series The Love Boat and What's Happening Now!!...
provided the voice for the character in the 1979 FilmationFilmationFilmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
series.
- In 1980, Dale was portrayed by Melody AndersonMelody AndersonMelody Anderson is a Canadian American social worker and public speaker specializing in the impact of addiction on families. She is also known as an actress, with her most high-profile role being Dale Arden in the 1980 adaptation of Flash Gordon. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Anderson started off as...
in the film Flash GordonFlash Gordon (film)Flash Gordon is a 1980 British/American science fiction film, based on the comic strip of the same name created by Alex Raymond. The film was directed by Mike Hodges and produced and presented by Dino De Laurentiis. It stars Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, Max von Sydow, Timothy Dalton, Brian...
, produced by Dino De LaurentiisDino De LaurentiisAgostino "Dino" De Laurentiis was an Italian film producer.-Early life:He was born at Torre Annunziata in the province of Naples, and grew up selling spaghetti produced by his father...
. In this version of the story, Dale is a travel agent.
- During the course of the 1980s Marvel animated series Defenders of the EarthDefenders of the EarthDefenders of the Earth is an animated television series produced in 1986, narrated by Corey Burton and featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate—Flash Gordon, the Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician—battling the Flash Gordon villain Ming the Merciless in the...
, Dale (who has become a computer expert after Dr. Zarkov's death) is captured and killed by Ming, but her consciousness is left trapped inside a crystal Flash uses to power the Defenders base on Earth, Monitor. Dale is reborn as the heart of the base, Dynak.
- Lexa DoigLexa DoigAlexandra L. "Lexa" Doig is a Canadian actress. She portrayed the role of Rommie in the science fiction TV series Andromeda, and had a recurring character on Stargate SG-1.-Career:...
voiced Dale in the 1996 animated series Flash Gordon.
- Gina HoldenGina Holden- Early life :Holden was born in the small town of Smithers, British Columbia, Canada, and moved often while growing up. With every move, Holden would join whatever community group she could so she could follow her passion for acting. At fifteen, she was signed to a modeling contract and moved to...
portrayed Dale in the 2007 Flash GordonFlash Gordon (2007 TV series)Flash Gordon is an American science fiction television series that debuted on Sci Fi in the United States on August 10, 2007 and continued airing new episodes through February 8, 2008. It has also appeared on the United Kingdom Sci Fi Channel and SPACE in Canada...
television series.
Parodies
- In the 1974 adult film spoof Flesh GordonFlesh GordonFlesh Gordon is a 1974 American science fiction adventure comedy film. It is an erotic spoof of the Flash Gordon serial films from the 1930s. The screenplay was written by Michael Benveniste, who also co-directed the film with Howard Ziehm...
, the character is renamed Dale Ardor and is portrayed by Cindy Hopkins, aka Suzanne Fields.