The
End of Ming the Merciless 1941 But
first a tribute to Charles Middleton, who recreated Ming in the movies.
Left
-- Charles Middleton as "Prosecutor" in Duck Soup (1933) with
Chico and Groucho Marx. Right -- Portrait photo of actor Charles B. Middleton
(1874 - 1949) Redigitized from Tony LoBue's Flash Gordon Site
Author's
Note: Readers are highly encouraged to read about Charles Middleton at Tony
LoBue's Flash Gordon Site, and to peruse this fine actor's extensive
IMDB list.
Better
Living Through Chemistry Dr. Zarkov manages to save Flash and
Dale, and Planet Mongo too -- with DRUGS!
(Left)
Ming's fall begins when his doomed captives Dale Arden and Flash Gordon both take
a drug that simulates death. The writers stole this riff out of Romeo and Juliet.
(Right) Zarkov enlists help from the Powermen of Mongo and their secret
tunnels for one more rescue.
The
comic strip and serials depend on dumb guards!
Don't you guys ever think of knocking?
Zarkov
has another potion on hand.
Ming
succumbs to Zarkov's hypno-drug.
Why
Do You Think They Call It DOPE? While everybody's celebrating,
Zarkov's potion wears off and Ming awakens!
Right
-- Flash and Dale celebrate victory too soon. Left -- Ming awakes early from
Zarkov's hypno-drug and calls a henchman from a pay phone!
Ming
And Flash Settle All Matters According to tradition -- with gross violence!
Ming draws
a ray gun to put a finish to Flash.
Flash
uses his head -- as a battering ram.
Flash Gordon's
fists prevail at last against all weapons.
Ming
lies in an unconcious heap for his final appearence.
Dino
Di Laurentis' Flash Gordon of 1980 featured Max Von Sydow as Emperor Ming,
and Orella Muti as Princess Aura. This feature film had first-rate international
actors like Von Sydow, Richard O'Brien, Timothy Dalton, and Brian Blessed. It
also honored Alex Raymond's original designs, but there were legitimate criticisms
of the movie as a whole.
Flash
Gordon is the property of it's copyright holders. All images are used for
scholastic purposes ONLY in the context of this article. Text and graphic design
copyright by Michael R. Evans 2010. Any comments or questions? E-MAIL
ME
