Everything about this lavish film version of Alex Raymond's Thirties' comic strip is OTT, but especially Danilo Donati's impressive sets and a pounding rock score by Queen. Former American footballer and Playgirl magazine centrefold Sam J Jones is a rather bland Flash, but Max Von Sydow relishes every moment of his role as Ming the Merciless, plotting nothing less than world domination. Among the wealth of British talent in the supporting roles, look out for Robbie Coltrane (in his first feature film) as a man at the airport, future Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan as a youth who takes part in a sadistic tree ritual, and Carry On Emmanuelle star Suzanne Danielle as a serving girl.

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