Flesh Gordon
Encyclopedia
Flesh 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 cast includes Jason Williams, Suzanne Fields, and William Dennis Hunt.
The film had an MPAA rating of X, but was also re-edited for a reduced rating of R. It has a runtime of 78 minutes, and the collector's edition released later runs for 90 minutes. The picture was filmed in color, the sound is mono
, and the dialogue is in English.
sexual flavor to it. The character names are weak sexual innuendos, based on character names of the original serial, including the hero Flesh Gordon (Jason Williams); his love interest Dale Ardor [Dale Arden] (Fields); the evil Emperor Wang the Perverted [Ming the Merciless] (William Dennis Hunt
); Dr. Flexi Jerkoff [Dr. Alexis Zarkov] (Joseph Hudgins); Amora, Queen of Magic [Princess Aura] (Brandy); and a gay Robin Hood
-like character called Prince Precious [Prince Barin] (Lance Larsen).
The plot has the Emperor Wang aiming a "Sex Ray" at the Earth from his home world of Porno [Mongo]. The entire planet becomes hopelessly sexually obsessed, and it is up to Gordon to stop the rays. The film uses nudity whenever possible, and the scenes are shot in a style nearly identical to the original Flash Gordon serials. As an example of the dialogue, the rocket ship has just landed on the planet Porno. A long necked, sauropod dinosaur with a glans
-like head is seen out the window in the landscape. Flesh asks Dr. "J", "What's that"? "Must be some kind of penisaurus", Dr. "J" replies matter-of-factly.
A towering, demonic-looking creature, the Great God Porno (voiced by an uncredited Craig T. Nelson
), brought out of hibernation by Emperor Wang steals the show with his brief appearance, muttering all manner of obscenities in a very un-monster-like velvety voice. Example: Flipping the bird at the title character and grumbling, "Up yours, Gordon!" The monster's fate is a major plot point.
, Greg Jein
, and Rick Baker. Established effects artists Jim Danforth
(credited as Mij Htrofnad) and Dave Allen
also took part.
The film's low-budget effects were achieved through using old-fashioned techniques. The model of Wang's palace was created using everyday objects such as drinking glasses, and was designed to resemble Griffith Observatory
so that footage shot at the base of the observatory could be used.
The only authentic props in the film are the wicker seats used in the airliner interior set. They are seen while the passengers are boarding and again when Wang's "Sex Ray" strikes the plane. These were real Ford Tri-Motor Western Airlines' passenger seats, found in storage at Burbank's airport and rented for the production.
Star Trek
fan and writer Bjo Trimble
was a makeup artist on Flesh Gordon, and described it in On the Good Ship Enterprise: My 15 Years with Star Trek.
Longtime fan and science fiction and fantasy writer Tom Reamy
served in the film's Art Department as the production's Property Master. He tracked down the authentic Ford Tri-Motor passenger seats mentioned above, among other props he acquired and then adapted for use in the film.
Some Los Angeles area science fiction fans worked behind the camera in various capacities, while others served as background extras in the production, most notably in the orgy scenes in Emperor Wang's palace.
The film's climactic monster was not intended to speak, but it proved so expressive that dialogue was dubbed in to match its mouth movements. Addressed as the Great God Porno in dialogue, the effects crew named him "Nesuahyrrah," a tribute to stop-motion master Ray Harryhausen
by spelling his name backwards.
According to the DVD's audio commentary
by Ziehm, the film was originally done with scenes of straight and gay hardcore pornography. These were cut out after Ziehm found himself in legal trouble. (Producing pornography was legally viewed as pandering
at that time.) The x-rated footage was surrendered to Los Angeles vice police. The "collector's edition" video was labelled "the original, uncensored version", but it is no more explicit than any of the earlier releases.
commented that this film is "a skin flick hilariously molded around the Flash Gordon serials, and fully and lovingly aware of genre conventions from special effects to dialogue". Rotten Tomatoes
currently has the film with a 67% 'fresh' rating.
, Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders
, eventually followed in 1989, and a four-issue comic book
miniseries by Aircel Comics
was published in 1992
.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
adventure
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
. It is an erotic spoof of the 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...
serial films from the 1930s. The screenplay was written by Michael Benveniste, who also co-directed the film with Howard Ziehm. The cast includes Jason Williams, Suzanne Fields, and William Dennis Hunt.
The film had an MPAA rating of X, but was also re-edited for a reduced rating of R. It has a runtime of 78 minutes, and the collector's edition released later runs for 90 minutes. The picture was filmed in color, the sound is mono
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
, and the dialogue is in English.
Plot
The storyline is reminiscent of the original Flash Gordon films, but with a generally campyCamp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
sexual flavor to it. The character names are weak sexual innuendos, based on character names of the original serial, including the hero Flesh Gordon (Jason Williams); his love interest Dale Ardor [Dale Arden] (Fields); the evil Emperor Wang the Perverted [Ming the Merciless] (William Dennis Hunt
William Dennis Hunt
William Dennis Hunt is an American actor well known for his role as Emperor Wang the Perverted in Flesh Gordon and Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders. He is also the only actor to appear in both Flesh Gordon films....
); Dr. Flexi Jerkoff [Dr. Alexis Zarkov] (Joseph Hudgins); Amora, Queen of Magic [Princess Aura] (Brandy); and a gay Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
-like character called Prince Precious [Prince Barin] (Lance Larsen).
The plot has the Emperor Wang aiming a "Sex Ray" at the Earth from his home world of Porno [Mongo]. The entire planet becomes hopelessly sexually obsessed, and it is up to Gordon to stop the rays. The film uses nudity whenever possible, and the scenes are shot in a style nearly identical to the original Flash Gordon serials. As an example of the dialogue, the rocket ship has just landed on the planet Porno. A long necked, sauropod dinosaur with a glans
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
-like head is seen out the window in the landscape. Flesh asks Dr. "J", "What's that"? "Must be some kind of penisaurus", Dr. "J" replies matter-of-factly.
A towering, demonic-looking creature, the Great God Porno (voiced by an uncredited Craig T. Nelson
Craig T. Nelson
Craig Theodore Nelson is an American actor. He is probably best known for his Emmy-winning roles as Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, and as Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist. He also starred in The Incredibles in 2004 as Mr...
), brought out of hibernation by Emperor Wang steals the show with his brief appearance, muttering all manner of obscenities in a very un-monster-like velvety voice. Example: Flipping the bird at the title character and grumbling, "Up yours, Gordon!" The monster's fate is a major plot point.
Cast
- Jason Williams as Flesh Gordon
- Suzanne Fields as Dale Ardor
- Joseph Hudgins as Dr. Flexi Jerkoff
- William Dennis HuntWilliam Dennis HuntWilliam Dennis Hunt is an American actor well known for his role as Emperor Wang the Perverted in Flesh Gordon and Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders. He is also the only actor to appear in both Flesh Gordon films....
as Emperor Wang the Perverted - Candy SamplesCandy SamplesCandy Samples is an American pornographic actress and exotic dancer.-Career:According to her website, Samples was approached while in Marina Del Rey, California to do pin-up modeling...
as Chief Nellie - Lance Larsen as Guard for Emperor Wang
- John HoytJohn HoytJohn Hoyt was an American film, stage, and television actor.-Early life:Hoyt was born John McArthur Hoysradt. Before becoming an actor with Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre, the Yale University graduate worked as a history instructor, acting teacher and even a nightclub comedian...
as Professor Gordon - Robert V. Greene (voice) as Narrator
- Craig T. NelsonCraig T. NelsonCraig Theodore Nelson is an American actor. He is probably best known for his Emmy-winning roles as Hayden Fox on the TV series Coach, and as Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist. He also starred in The Incredibles in 2004 as Mr...
(voice; uncredited) as Great God Porno
Production
The film employed special effects artists who would later gain fame, including Mike MinorMichael Minor
Michael Minor was an illustrator and art director on Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan....
, Greg Jein
Greg Jein
Greg Jein is a model designer who creates miniatures for use in the special effects portions of many films and TV shows. He has been doing so since the 1970s.-References:...
, and Rick Baker. Established effects artists Jim Danforth
Jim Danforth
Jim Danforth is a stop-motion animator, known for model-animation and matte painting. Danforth is known for his work on When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth , a sequel of sorts to Ray Harryhausen's One Million Years B.C....
(credited as Mij Htrofnad) and Dave Allen
David W. Allen
David W. Allen was a film and television stop-motion model animator.Considered among the finest stop-motion model animators, Dave Allen has contributed some of the best stop-motion sequences to many feature films, rivaling the work of other premier model animators Ray Harryhausen and Jim...
also took part.
The film's low-budget effects were achieved through using old-fashioned techniques. The model of Wang's palace was created using everyday objects such as drinking glasses, and was designed to resemble Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest...
so that footage shot at the base of the observatory could be used.
The only authentic props in the film are the wicker seats used in the airliner interior set. They are seen while the passengers are boarding and again when Wang's "Sex Ray" strikes the plane. These were real Ford Tri-Motor Western Airlines' passenger seats, found in storage at Burbank's airport and rented for the production.
Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fan and writer Bjo Trimble
Bjo Trimble
Betty Jo Trimble , universally known as Bjo ,is a significant figure in the history of science fiction fandom...
was a makeup artist on Flesh Gordon, and described it in On the Good Ship Enterprise: My 15 Years with Star Trek.
Longtime fan and science fiction and fantasy writer Tom Reamy
Tom Reamy
Tom Reamy was an American science fiction and fantasy author and a key figure in 1960s and 1970s science fiction fandom. He died prior to the publication of his first novel; his work is primarily dark fantasy....
served in the film's Art Department as the production's Property Master. He tracked down the authentic Ford Tri-Motor passenger seats mentioned above, among other props he acquired and then adapted for use in the film.
Some Los Angeles area science fiction fans worked behind the camera in various capacities, while others served as background extras in the production, most notably in the orgy scenes in Emperor Wang's palace.
The film's climactic monster was not intended to speak, but it proved so expressive that dialogue was dubbed in to match its mouth movements. Addressed as the Great God Porno in dialogue, the effects crew named him "Nesuahyrrah," a tribute to stop-motion master Ray Harryhausen
Ray Harryhausen
Ray Harryhausen is an American film producer and special effects creator...
by spelling his name backwards.
According to the DVD's audio commentary
Audio commentary
On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
by Ziehm, the film was originally done with scenes of straight and gay hardcore pornography. These were cut out after Ziehm found himself in legal trouble. (Producing pornography was legally viewed as pandering
Procuring (prostitution)
Procuring or pandering is the facilitation or provision of a prostitute in the arrangement of a sex act with a customer. Examples of procuring include:*trafficking a prostitute into a country for the purpose of soliciting sex...
at that time.) The x-rated footage was surrendered to Los Angeles vice police. The "collector's edition" video was labelled "the original, uncensored version", but it is no more explicit than any of the earlier releases.
Reviews
Vivian SobchackVivian Sobchack
Vivian Sobchack is an American cinema and media theorist and cultural critic.Sobchack's work on science fiction films and phenomenology of film is perhaps her most recognized. She is a prolific writer however, and has authored numerous books and articles across a diverse range of subjects; from...
commented that this film is "a skin flick hilariously molded around the Flash Gordon serials, and fully and lovingly aware of genre conventions from special effects to dialogue". Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
currently has the film with a 67% 'fresh' rating.
Sequels
A sequelSequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders
Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders
Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders is the sequel to the sex comedy Flesh Gordon...
, eventually followed in 1989, and a four-issue comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
miniseries by Aircel Comics
Aircel Comics
Aircel Comics was a Canadian comic book publisher founded by Barry Blair, based in Ottawa and active between 1985 and 1994. In 1988, it merged with American publisher Eternity Comics, itself an imprint of Malibu Comics, and in the late 1980s was taken over by Malibu before ceasing publication...
was published in 1992
1992 in comics
-Year overall:* Image Comics explodes onto the scene, releasing eight ongoing and limited series, starting with Youngblood in April; followed by Spawn in May; Savage Dragon in July; and Brigade, Shadowhawk, and WildC.A.T.S. in August....
.
External links
- Flesh Gordon on The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television (EOFFTV)
- The Second SupperThe Second SupperThe Second Supper is a web site and newspaper published in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The newspaper is published weekly from its headquarters in Downtown La Crosse....
Bizarro Masterpiece Theatre review