Four years after the first Flash Gordon serial and six years after the comic strip debut, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe premiered in cinemas. The returning cast included Larry "Buster" Crabbe as Flash Gordon, Charles Middleton as Ming the Merciless, and Frank Shannon as Dr. Zarkov. In this final serial, several parts were recast, including Carol Hughes as Dale Arden, Roland Drew as Prince Barin, Shirley Deane as Princess Aura, and John Hamilton as Prof. Gordon.
Once again, no sooner have Flash, Dale, and Zarkov returned to Earth then they find reason to rocket off to Mongo, this time to stop the "Purple Death," an alien plague that threatens to wipe out all of humanity. Flash and friends find themselves embroiled in one difficulty after another as they deal with the machinations of Emperor Ming, Captain Torch (played by Don Rowan), and Lady Sonja the spy (played by Anne Gwynne).
There is something less elemental about this third serial that deprives it of some of the vigor of the first two. Part of it can certainly be attributed to the recasting of Dale and Aura, neither of whom have much of a personality beyond that of the standard starlet, although it should be noted some of the blame lies with the writers of their lines. Mongo seems just a little less fantastical than it did in 1936, but then, so did the comic strip by 1940. Fans will find it worth watching, but it doesn't quite match that first cinematic appearance of Flash.
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe may not be the best of the Flash Gordon serials, but it's still better than most, and it can still provide many ideas for adventures (as well as serve as an example of cliffhanger pacing) for The Savage World of Flash Gordon and other swords & rocketry Savage Worlds.
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