10 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

Add Robbie Coltrane to the list of Bond alums in the fun 1980 Timothy Dalton starrer FLASH GORDON.

In addition to Coltrane and Dalton the movie also features Topol (from For Your Eyes Only) and star Max Von Sydow (from Never Say Never Again) and writer Lorenzo Semple Jr. (who performed similar duties on Never Say Never Again).

I never realized Coltrane was in the movie until listening to the Brian Blessed commentary on the recently released Region 2 DVD special edition. By the way Blessed has so much infectious enthusiasm for the movie its hard not to be won over by his love of the film.

Coltrane plays the member of the ground crew at the beginning of the movie closing the door to the aircraft after Gordon and Dale board. Blink and you'll miss him, but according to Brian Blessed that's Robbie Coltrane.

[Lounge Lizard]

I bought Flash Gordon on DVD recently and I noticed him- it's not really a part, he's more of a glorified extra.

Such a fun movie. Never mind the cardboard heroes, the film is carried by the surroundings, the supporting cast, and simply the boldness of the visual ideas. Great slapstick, brilliant design, some genuinely scary bits (the scene where Topol's mind is erased is so daring in its conception), a wonderfully ripe performance by Max Von Sydow, sexy Ornella Muti, and of course, our beloved Tim Dalton sporting a moustache as hotheaded Prince Barin. So much more fun than Star Wars, in my opinion: witty, slick and sexy. Mike Hodges rules!

[bebopfoot]

I love Flash Gordon as well, along with the classic serials starring Buster Crabbe from which it sprang. I would definitely not knock Star Wars, however-it's pretty much unbeatable as far as movies go.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

So much more fun than Star Wars, in my opinion: witty, slick and sexy. Mike Hodges rules!

 

Blasphemy!

Then again...Star Wars didn't have Tim...hhhmmmm

No no...Star Wars is definitely better, better characters, better story, better effects...just no Tim.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Nicolas Roeg did alot of the direction too until he was fired.

[DLibrasnow]

I bought Flash Gordon on DVD recently and I noticed him- it's not really a part, he's more of a glorified extra.

Such a fun movie. Never mind the cardboard heroes, the film is carried by the surroundings, the supporting cast, and simply the boldness of the visual ideas. Great slapstick, brilliant design, some genuinely scary bits (the scene where Topol's mind is erased is so daring in its conception), a wonderfully ripe performance by Max Von Sydow, sexy Ornella Muti, and of course, our beloved Tim Dalton sporting a moustache as hotheaded Prince Barin. So much more fun than Star Wars, in my opinion: witty, slick and sexy. Mike Hodges rules!

 

I agree...Really, I thought I was the biggest fan of this movie, but listen to Brian Blessed's commentary - he is simply gushing with praise for everything. I laughed when he broke into a sentence to mention how beautiful a shot of landscape was and then went straight back to dicussing how honored he felt working alongside Max Von Sydow...
Did you get the special edition DVD Lounge Lizard? What did you think of the extra's? I'm headed upstairs to finish listening to the Blessed commentary and then I'll start listening to the Mike Hodges commentary. I also liked the flashy color booklet that came with the DVD and noticed that there is also an interview with Hodges as well as a photo gallery and trailer etc....What a great package! I have the movie-only DVD, but this does the movie justice.

[Lounge Lizard]

I agree...Really, I thought I was the biggest fan of this movie, but listen to Brian Blessed's commentary - he is simply gushing with praise for everything. I laughed when he broke into a sentence to mention how beautiful a shot of landscape was and then went straight back to dicussing how honored he felt working alongside Max Von Sydow...
Did you get the special edition DVD Lounge Lizard? What did you think of the extra's? I'm headed upstairs to finish listening to the Blessed commentary and then I'll start listening to the Mike Hodges commentary. I also liked the flashy color booklet that came with the DVD and noticed that there is also an interview with Hodges as well as a photo gallery and trailer etc....What a great package! I have the movie-only DVD, but this does the movie justice.

 

Nah, I've just got a regular version, unfortunately, nothing too fancy... Only a trailer and a photo gallery, and that's the sort of extra item of which I never really understood the added value... I never take time sit down in front of my television to flip through some (often badly rendered) studio stills that you already know from endless reproduction in your weekly television guide. But anyway, it's quite a nice widescreen print, I enjoy watching it with people who've never seen it and then I study their responses. It's that kind of movie, the kind of movie which makes you wonder how people are going to take it- will they laugh, will they shrug it off, will they be appalled? Or will they just watch it with a broad grin on their face, like I always do?


Didn't know about Roeg, Tarl. Interesting: he was also responsible for the best parts of the 1967 Casino Royale. And he has had a pretty interesting career.
What I did know was that De Laurentiis set up the production for comic lover Fellini to direct.


Oh, and ComplimentsofSharky... a little blasphemy every now and again keeps the spirit awake.
(I meant it though, The Empire Strikes Back was the only Star Wars movie I really enjoyed. Can't help it. I love the John Williams music during the opening 'crawl', always brings a small tear to my eye - the road to adulthood is bumpy I guess - but after that I usually get bored.)

[DLibrasnow]

What's interesting is that in the interview with Mike Hodges the director talks about how he directed CROUPIER with Clive Owen and has just finished making another movie with Owen.

Of course in Hodges audio commentary when Timothy Dalton arrives at Ming's Imperial Palace Hodges exclaims "Here's James Bond."

Also anyone ever notice how Princess Aura refers to her little companion as "Fellini" - how cheeky was that. lol.

[Flash1087]

I absolutely love Flash Gordon, and you know why?

There was a period in my life where Queen was the only band I listened to and thusly had to own every album they ever did. They did the score to the Flash Gordon movie, which, quite frankly, was really really good.

Haven't seen it in forever, though. Last time I watched it I had no idea who Timothy Dalton even was. Shame.

[Blofeld's Cat]

How many times have you seen it DVD now, Darren?

[Lady Rose]

I am so frustrated. I have been bought this for Christmas and I am going to have to wait till then to see the thing