Flash Gordon (serial)

Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Shown ininstallments, it was the first screen adventure for the comicstrip character Flash Gordon that was invented by Alex Raymond. It tells the story of Flash Gordons first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Priscilla Lawson and Frank Shannon played the central roles. In 1996, Flash Gordon was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

A lot of props and other elements were recycled from earlier Universal productions. The watchtower sets from Frankenstein 1931 appeared as several interiors within Mings palace. The Egyptian statue from The Mummy 1932 became the idol of the Great God Tao. The laboratory set and a shot of the Moon rushing past Zarkovs returning rocket ship from space came from The Invisible Ray 1936. Zarkovs rocket ship and scenes of dancers swarming over a gigantic idol were reused from Just Imagine 1930. Mings attack on Earth used footage from old silent newsreels. An entire dance segment from The Midnight Sun 1927 was used. and much laboratory equipment came from Bride of Frankenstein 1935. The music was recycled from several other films, notably Bride of Frankenstein, Bombay Mail, The Black Cat both 1934, and The Invisible Man 1933.Crash Corrigan, who would later be the lead in other serials, wore a modified gorilla suit as the Orangapoid. ........

Source: Wikipedia