December 5, 1980: “Flash Gordon” Premieres

"Flash!... Ah-ahhhh! He'll save every one of us!"

December 5, 1980: Flash Gordon premieres. Sam J. Jones stars as the space adventurer formerly played by Larry "Buster" Crabbe in film serials of the 1930s and '40s.

Flash started out in comic strips, premiering on January 7, 1934, drawn by Alex Raymond. King Features Syndicate wanted a strip that would compete with Buck Rogers, who would also end up portrayed onscreen by Crabbe, who, like Tarzan portrayer Johnny Weissmuller, had been a Gold Medal-winning Olympic swimmer.

Gordon was portrayed as a wealthy playboy, a graduate of Yale University, and a champion at the sport of polo. This film version updates him so that he is the quarterback for the New York Jets, a successor to the real-life Joe Namath. (In real life, the Jets were struggling at the time.)

Flash's real name had never previously mentioned, but this film lists him as Gregory Gordon. His love interest is Dale Arden, played in this film by Melody Anderson. They are assisted by Dr. Hans Zarkov, played here by Chaim Topol (who also played Tevye in the 1971 film version of Fiddler on the Roof). A brilliant scientist who is discredited for his theories about a coming alien attack on Earth, Zarkov is sadly proven right, as he, Flash and Dale have to fight the forces of the planet Mongo.

Mongo is ruled by Emperor Ming the Merciless, whose original appearance fed into the anti-Asian "yellow peril" stereotype of the pre-World War II era. In this film, he retains his Asiatic appearance, but is played with evil glee by Swedish actor Max von Sydow.

His daughter, Princess Aura, is played by Italian actress Ornella Muti, and, while she has no problem with he father's desire to conquer Earth, her own desire is for Flash, forging a love triangle with Dale that the "good girl" from Earth ultimately wins. This is another copy of the Buck Rogers story, where Buck chooses Wilma Deering over the evil Princess Ardala.

Flash, Dale and Zarkov are aired by Prince Barin of Arboria, an unsatisfied vassal of Ming's who loves Aura, and is played by future James Bond actor Timothy Dalton; and Prince Vultan of the Hawkmen, played by Brian Blessed, who, like Ming, takes a liking to Dale, but cannot win her from Flash.

To a kid about to turn 11 years old, the film was spectacular. To his 37-year-old father, who loved the Crabbe serials he saw on TV at the same age, it was ridiculous. In hindsight, Dad was right: When Freddie Mercury sings your film's theme song, and that's the least campy thing about the film, you've got a problem.

Believe it or not, Flash Gordon didn't have the most ridiculous movie adaptation of any 1930s pop culture icon that week. The very next day, the 1st live-action version of Popeye premiered, starring Robin Williams as the titular sailor man, and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. Unlike Flash Gordon, it tanked at the box office, and almost ruined Williams' career.

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December 5, 1980 was a Friday. Baseball was out of season. Football was in midweek. There were 8 games played in the NBA:

* The New Jersey Nets beat the Phoenix Suns, 90-88 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

* The Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks, 97-87 at the Boston Garden.

* The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Atlanta Hawks 104-100 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia.

* The Washington Bullets beat the Detroit Lions, 103-92 at the Capital Centre in the Washington suburb of Landover, Maryland.

* The Golden State Warriors beat the Denver Nuggets, 119-114 at the McNichols Arena in Denver.

* The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers, 102-100 at the Milwaukee Exposition & Convention Center Arena, a.k.a. The MECCA. (It is now the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.)

* The Kansas City Kings beat the Houston Rockets, 108-100 at the Kemper Arena (now the Hy-Vee Arena) in Kansas City. Otis Birdsong scored 42 points for the Kings to lead all scorers on the night.

* And the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Chicago Bulls, 116-115 at the Portland Memorial Coliseum.

Only 1 game was played in the NHL: The New York Rangers beat the Edmonton Oilers, 5-1 at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton.