Flash Gordon (1980)

Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction space opera produced by Dino DeLaurentis and starring Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Topol, and Max von Syndow. It is based on the King Features comic strip of the same name, and was influenced by the 1936 Universal Pictures serial (also of the same name). The movie is noted for its soundtrack, which was written and performed by the British rock band Queen. Both the film and the soundtrack were modest but profitable successes.

Plot
A bored Ming the Merciless (von Syndow), the all-powerful Emperor of Mongo, decides to destroy Earth. Eccentric scientist Hans Zarkov (Topol) kidnaps football star Flash Gordon (Jones) and travel agent Dale Arden (Anderson) and takes off in a home-built rocket ship to Mongo in the hope of stopping the destruction. The three are captured by Ming, but Flash manages to escape with the help of Ming's daughter Aura (Ornella Muti).

With the help of Aura, Aura's love Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton), and Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed), the leader of the winged Hawkmen, Flash mounts a rebellion against Ming's rule. This culminates on an attack on Mingo City, where Ming is scheduled to make Dale his unhappy bride. Flash flies a war rocket at suicidal speed towards the city, crashing into the main hall where the wedding is taking place and impaling Ming with the rocket's nose cone. Ming dies just before the countdown to Earth's destruction hits zero, saving the planet.

Although Prince Barin invites the three humans to stay on Mongo, they decide to search for a way back to their home planet. Meanwhile, an unknown person retrieves Ming's ring as Ming's evil laugh echoes across the closing credits. The film ends with the teaser "The end?"

Scene Summary
When Flash, Dale, and Zarkov are first brought before Ming, he uses his ring to place Dale into a hypnotic trance. She then begins a sensuous, seductive dance, impressing Ming and his aides. Ming eventually becomes bored with the scene and frees Dale from his control.

In a later scene, Zarkov is taken away to be brainwashed. Flash sees him, but is unable to help. Later, Zarkov helps Dale to escape, revealing that he successfully resisted the brainwashing.