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Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film
The official story behind the cult sci-fi hit Flash Gordon.
In 1980, the film Flash Gordon was released, becoming an instant cult favourite. One of the most quotable and beloved sci-fi films ever, it is legendary for its unique look, tone and iconic soundtrack. This beautiful, first-of-its-kind coffee table book will delve into the making of the movie and celebrate its legacy.
Featuring brand new interviews with cast and creative, including stars Sam Jones and Brian Blessed and director Mike Hodges, this stunning book features never-been-seen-before concept artwork and behind-the-scenes photography that makes it a must-have for any classic sci-fi fan.
In 1980, the film Flash Gordon was released, becoming an instant cult favourite. One of the most quotable and beloved sci-fi films ever, it is legendary for its unique look, tone and iconic soundtrack. This beautiful, first-of-its-kind coffee table book will delve into the making of the movie and celebrate its legacy.
Featuring brand new interviews with cast and creative, including stars Sam Jones and Brian Blessed and director Mike Hodges, this stunning book features never-been-seen-before concept artwork and behind-the-scenes photography that makes it a must-have for any classic sci-fi fan.
- GenresNonfictionFilm
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 27, 2020
1 person is currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
John Walsh
9 books46 followersJohn Walsh is a double BAFTA and double Grierson-nominated filmmaker, best-selling author and founder of Walsh Bros Ltd, one of the UK’s top 100 production companies.
John met Ray Harryhausen as a film student to make a documentary about his life and work. Today, John is a Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation and, in 2021, founded the Harryhausen Awards.
His books include Harryhausen The Lost Movies and his acclaimed non-fiction Official Story of the Film series with titles on Flash Gordon, Escape From New York and Dr Who & The Daleks. All four Rondo Award Nominees for “Book of the Year”. 2023 saw the release of Conan The Barbarian, and The Wicker Man. 2024 saw the publication of The Third Man: The Official Story of the Film, celebrating the 75th anniversary of “The best British film of all time.” New book in 2025, Gladiator II: The Art and Making of the Ridley Scott Film.
John's notable film and television work includes the historical feature film Monarch, restored and remastered after John tracked down the original 35mm camera negative in a film vault and was the subject of a BBC News story about lost films and is now available on Prime Video.
ToryBoy The Movie was nominated for the Grierson Award for “Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme.” The film unlocked politics to a broad audience and is Britain’s most successful political documentary feature film. It is now available on Prime Video.
John’s landmark Grierson-nominated homeless series Headhunting The Homeless for BBC2 lifted the lid on the corporate world and today’s most vulnerable adults. Sofa Surfers for the BBC was television’s first homeless series for children and was Rose d'Or nominated. The BAFTA-nominated Don’t Make Me Angry brought clinical psychology into the home environment for the first time. All programmes can be viewed in full on the Walsh Bros YouTube Channel.
John met Ray Harryhausen as a film student to make a documentary about his life and work. Today, John is a Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation and, in 2021, founded the Harryhausen Awards.
His books include Harryhausen The Lost Movies and his acclaimed non-fiction Official Story of the Film series with titles on Flash Gordon, Escape From New York and Dr Who & The Daleks. All four Rondo Award Nominees for “Book of the Year”. 2023 saw the release of Conan The Barbarian, and The Wicker Man. 2024 saw the publication of The Third Man: The Official Story of the Film, celebrating the 75th anniversary of “The best British film of all time.” New book in 2025, Gladiator II: The Art and Making of the Ridley Scott Film.
John's notable film and television work includes the historical feature film Monarch, restored and remastered after John tracked down the original 35mm camera negative in a film vault and was the subject of a BBC News story about lost films and is now available on Prime Video.
ToryBoy The Movie was nominated for the Grierson Award for “Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme.” The film unlocked politics to a broad audience and is Britain’s most successful political documentary feature film. It is now available on Prime Video.
John’s landmark Grierson-nominated homeless series Headhunting The Homeless for BBC2 lifted the lid on the corporate world and today’s most vulnerable adults. Sofa Surfers for the BBC was television’s first homeless series for children and was Rose d'Or nominated. The BAFTA-nominated Don’t Make Me Angry brought clinical psychology into the home environment for the first time. All programmes can be viewed in full on the Walsh Bros YouTube Channel.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 2, 2021
Did you know at one point Blondie singer Debbie Harry was considered for the role of Princess Aura? That's the great behind-the-scenes stuff you get in this lush love letter to "Flash Gordon." I loved and watched this sci-fi movie so many times as a kid that I can still recite the dialogue. This book collects a universe full of stories from the sets, production photos, artwork, costumes, props, deleted scenes, and even the secret origin of the legendary soundtrack by Queen. A must-have for every Flash fan. Bore worms not included.
January 6, 2021
Forty years was a mighty long wait, but it was worth it. In the time Flash Gordon came to cinemas, so many books and article have been written about it that only scratch the surface of what really happened. This book tells more and shows more than and other before and including other films from the era. This is a sumptuous and extravagant book. I am sure Ming himself would approve. John Walsh is fast building a reputation as one of the top writers in this field of recent film history / making of books. I bought his Harryhausen The Lost Movies too. Great work can highly recommend it.
January 6, 2021
The detail, quality and depth of this book cannot be appreciated online only. I ordered this book fully excepting a great read. I am a lifelong Flash Gordon movie fan. I was seeing new images on almost every page. Those I had seen before were here again in sparkling HD quality. Author John Walsh is also a filmmaker and gets right to the heart of the matter with this story. Rather than a dry read about an old film, this is like a unputdownable thriller in places. This book would make a good film in itself. A full five starts from me and well-done John Walsh sir.
January 1, 2021
Go Flash Go! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This has the to the gold-standard for making-of books out there for classic sci-fi cinema. John Walsh beings his filmmakers’ eye and documentary award-winning detail this epic 200-page luxurious book looking behind the scenes. With new interviews and packed full of never before images, I would give this more than five stars if I could!
This has the to the gold-standard for making-of books out there for classic sci-fi cinema. John Walsh beings his filmmakers’ eye and documentary award-winning detail this epic 200-page luxurious book looking behind the scenes. With new interviews and packed full of never before images, I would give this more than five stars if I could!
December 10, 2020
An enjoyable read, but there are a few typos and minor errors towards the end of the book that indicate it wasn't thoroughly proofread before release.
January 1, 2021
I bought this film as a long-time fan of this 1980 movie classic. Not loved at the time the film has a cult following amongst fans new and old. I was anxious that this book might not live up to the hype. WOW! It was better than I could have imagined and knocks the socks off other behind the scenes books. Author John Walsh is also a well-known filmmaker in the UK. It sows here. His grasp of the movie business shines through. He got great access to people and images. This book is a steal at this price. I have read it twice since I bought it. Can’t wait for his next one. Just ordered his 2019 book Harryhausen The Lost Movies.
January 4, 2022
Never before seen photos and information about the making of one of my favorite films of all time. For God’s sake, strap yourselves down!
June 17, 2023
This tribute to the 1980 FLASH GORDON film is a glorious, glossy 10” x 13” coffee table book bristling with large, colorful images. There’s text, too, of course, but the images dominate and ultimately sell books like these. If you never read the book, you can still flip through the pages again and again, gazing at those lovely oversized photos and illustrations.
There’s text, too, of course, and I’ll get to it, but I have more to say about those images. They include stills from the film, stills from unused scenes, candid behind the scenes photographs of cast and crew (some showing filming on sets and with models), photos of weapons props from a fan’s personal collection, artist conceptual drawings and storyboards, film posters - including European posters seldom seen in North America - and a couple commemorative illustrations by noted artist and FLASH GORDON superfan Alex Ross. I’d bet that even some die hard FLASH GORDON fans - and I’m a fairly serious fan myself - haven’t seen many of these images, and they’re generally pretty eye-catching.
Now, I can turn to the text. Following a foreword by director Mike Hodges and introduction by author John Walsh, we find a section entitled “Origin Story.” This includes spotlights on original FLASH GORDON comic strip creator Alex Raymond, film producer Dino DeLaurentiis and his wife Martha, and screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. Next, we have “Casting Flash,” which includes chapters on each main cast member…plus, one on three lesser known players (actors who played a guard, a pilot, and a Hawkman, respectively). Subsequent sections include “The Director’s Chair,” “Costumes and Weapons,” “Designing Future Worlds,” “FX Flyboys,” “Lost Flash” (about deleted scenes, storyboards, an unused alternate ending and plans for never-made sequels), “The Art” and “Leaving Mongo” (about the film’s release and contemporary reactions to it). I might have enjoyed another chapter on the film’s legacy and current status as a cult film, but otherwise, I can’t think of further aspects deserving attention. Walsh essentially covers what one would expect him to cover.
The jacket copy boasts “brand new interviews with cast and creative, including stars Sam Jones and Brian Blessed and director Mike Hodges.” Some interview quotes may well be new, although it’s also clear that others - particularly those from long-deceased individuals - originate from older sources. I don’t know what percentage falls in that latter category, but virtually all of this material was new to me, regardless. I found the quoted commentary generally well-chosen and often entertaining or enlightening. Highlights for me include star Sam Jones’ perspective on his (by now) well-noted difficulties with producer Dino DeLaurentiis, director Mike Hodges’ accounts of the film’s development, and Timothy Dalton’s assertion that his being in FLASH GORDON impressed his HOT FUZZ cast mates more than the fact that he played James Bond. I also especially enjoyed the look at what original director Nicholas Roeg intended before Hodges replaced him, and in this section, colorful concept art nicely supports the text.
I enjoyed Walsh’s coverage of the technical aspects as well, and this surprised me. I love watching special effects scenes in movies but don’t especially care how they were done. Generally speaking, though, the ‘how” of it is pretty well explained here, and Walsh doesn’t get bogged down in excessive detail. Once again, the accompanying visual matter helps immensely. How can you not be a little “wowwed” when you see seeming giants walking on a set of lifelike miniature spaceships and fantasy cities?
I don’t expect detailed critical analysis from a coffee table book, and of course, I didn’t get it. That wasn’t what I wanted, however. As a fan of FLASH GORDON, I wanted a big, splashy celebration of the film - with interviews and glorious colorful visual material - and I absolutely got that. I read the heck out of this book and enjoyed every minute of it. If you have a FLASH GORDON fan in your own life, then I can attest that this book makes a great gift. I know, because my wife gave it to me for Christmas.
There’s text, too, of course, and I’ll get to it, but I have more to say about those images. They include stills from the film, stills from unused scenes, candid behind the scenes photographs of cast and crew (some showing filming on sets and with models), photos of weapons props from a fan’s personal collection, artist conceptual drawings and storyboards, film posters - including European posters seldom seen in North America - and a couple commemorative illustrations by noted artist and FLASH GORDON superfan Alex Ross. I’d bet that even some die hard FLASH GORDON fans - and I’m a fairly serious fan myself - haven’t seen many of these images, and they’re generally pretty eye-catching.
Now, I can turn to the text. Following a foreword by director Mike Hodges and introduction by author John Walsh, we find a section entitled “Origin Story.” This includes spotlights on original FLASH GORDON comic strip creator Alex Raymond, film producer Dino DeLaurentiis and his wife Martha, and screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. Next, we have “Casting Flash,” which includes chapters on each main cast member…plus, one on three lesser known players (actors who played a guard, a pilot, and a Hawkman, respectively). Subsequent sections include “The Director’s Chair,” “Costumes and Weapons,” “Designing Future Worlds,” “FX Flyboys,” “Lost Flash” (about deleted scenes, storyboards, an unused alternate ending and plans for never-made sequels), “The Art” and “Leaving Mongo” (about the film’s release and contemporary reactions to it). I might have enjoyed another chapter on the film’s legacy and current status as a cult film, but otherwise, I can’t think of further aspects deserving attention. Walsh essentially covers what one would expect him to cover.
The jacket copy boasts “brand new interviews with cast and creative, including stars Sam Jones and Brian Blessed and director Mike Hodges.” Some interview quotes may well be new, although it’s also clear that others - particularly those from long-deceased individuals - originate from older sources. I don’t know what percentage falls in that latter category, but virtually all of this material was new to me, regardless. I found the quoted commentary generally well-chosen and often entertaining or enlightening. Highlights for me include star Sam Jones’ perspective on his (by now) well-noted difficulties with producer Dino DeLaurentiis, director Mike Hodges’ accounts of the film’s development, and Timothy Dalton’s assertion that his being in FLASH GORDON impressed his HOT FUZZ cast mates more than the fact that he played James Bond. I also especially enjoyed the look at what original director Nicholas Roeg intended before Hodges replaced him, and in this section, colorful concept art nicely supports the text.
I enjoyed Walsh’s coverage of the technical aspects as well, and this surprised me. I love watching special effects scenes in movies but don’t especially care how they were done. Generally speaking, though, the ‘how” of it is pretty well explained here, and Walsh doesn’t get bogged down in excessive detail. Once again, the accompanying visual matter helps immensely. How can you not be a little “wowwed” when you see seeming giants walking on a set of lifelike miniature spaceships and fantasy cities?
I don’t expect detailed critical analysis from a coffee table book, and of course, I didn’t get it. That wasn’t what I wanted, however. As a fan of FLASH GORDON, I wanted a big, splashy celebration of the film - with interviews and glorious colorful visual material - and I absolutely got that. I read the heck out of this book and enjoyed every minute of it. If you have a FLASH GORDON fan in your own life, then I can attest that this book makes a great gift. I know, because my wife gave it to me for Christmas.
December 2, 2021
Flash Gordon is a cult classic with a backstory as ambitious, flamboyant, rebellious and wonderfully chaotic as the film you see on screen. This book is a long awaited tribute to that and a great souvenir for any fan.
However, the unfortunate result of such a book coming out four decades after a film (considered in financial terms as a flop), is that so much of the props, models, artwork, sets and matte paintings have since been lost or destroyed, leaving very little for the author to pull together. So as interesting as it is to get an insight into the production, I was disappointed not to get a more in depth account.
My biggest gripe is the proofreader (if there was one). There are loads of errors in the text, from spelling mistakes, missing characters and words, to completely misnaming 'Star Wars - A New Hope' with 'Star Wars - The Last Hope'? - It's a shame when the quality of the book is otherwise very high.
However, the unfortunate result of such a book coming out four decades after a film (considered in financial terms as a flop), is that so much of the props, models, artwork, sets and matte paintings have since been lost or destroyed, leaving very little for the author to pull together. So as interesting as it is to get an insight into the production, I was disappointed not to get a more in depth account.
My biggest gripe is the proofreader (if there was one). There are loads of errors in the text, from spelling mistakes, missing characters and words, to completely misnaming 'Star Wars - A New Hope' with 'Star Wars - The Last Hope'? - It's a shame when the quality of the book is otherwise very high.
September 23, 2021
I’m a huge fan of learning behind the scenes information whether it be my favourite movies, music, tv, theme parks or sports & my collection is ever growing as there seems to be a trend towards more books being released on 70’s & 80’s pop culture hits.
In terms of movies, My collection is pretty much full with Star Wars, Indy & Spielberg stuff so I was delighted to see a great looking coffee table book all about one of my favourite science fiction movies & it generally doesn’t disappoint. It’s not perfect, there’s a few errors & several terribly poor photo enlargements but on the whole John Walsh has done a great job in threading a narrative about a movie that perhaps doesn’t have the same archival material as some of its bigger budget blockbuster cousins but this is part of the appeal.
If you’re a fan of the movie I’d recommend it
In terms of movies, My collection is pretty much full with Star Wars, Indy & Spielberg stuff so I was delighted to see a great looking coffee table book all about one of my favourite science fiction movies & it generally doesn’t disappoint. It’s not perfect, there’s a few errors & several terribly poor photo enlargements but on the whole John Walsh has done a great job in threading a narrative about a movie that perhaps doesn’t have the same archival material as some of its bigger budget blockbuster cousins but this is part of the appeal.
If you’re a fan of the movie I’d recommend it
February 5, 2021
Really good coffee-table sized book about the film, if a tad overpriced. If you're looking for some in depth stories on the film's making, you're going to be somewhat disappointed - a good portion is paraphrased from earlier interviews, but since a lot of people have now passed on, that's understandable. What makes up for it - somewhat - is the amount of photos/art that's included. There's a bit more info on the effects side and a good section on the project when Nicolas Roeg was attached. It's worth a read, but unless you're a hardcore fan willing to spend $50 on it, hold off for the paperback version.
June 19, 2022
Great insight & amazing pictures - shame it's absolutely littered with typos.
October 29, 2023
Nice coffee table book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews