“Flash – aha! – saviour of the universe!”

Even if you’ve never seen the 1980 version of Flash Gordon you’ve probably heard Queen’s bombastic title song.

Its a knowingly ludicrous movie, which somehow manages to be both respectful (sort of) of the original 1940s movie serials and at at the same time firmly tongue in cheek. Nicholas Roeg (Don’t Look Now, Bad Timing) was originally hired to direct (which would have resulted in a very different movie, no doubt), but the final version was helmed by Mike Hodges, who did a sterling job.

Playing Flash is unknown Sam J. Jones (who later appeared as himself in the teddy bear comedy Ted), supported by a great cast including Max Von Sydow as baddie Ming The Merciless, plus a pre-Bond Timothy Dalton, and a gloriously OTT Brian Blessed, whose fruity tones deliver the movie’s most quoted line: “Gordon’s alive?!”

The movie has since developed quite a cult following. This is the Spanish version of the poster, which has sold.