Gene Marshall: Imperial She, Pt. 2

A few creative shots today using some vintage images from the classic Buster Crabbe “Flash Gordon” serial. More from the studio archives:

Here in the television studio, she is mistaken for an extra in a current sci-fi show and treated with the same low-level respect given most struggling actresses. A chance and fateful meeting with the beloved newscaster and the pursuit by her father’s minions to capture and return her to Venus form the comic engine that propels the res of the plot.

Monolithic bought the rights to “Distant Venus” as a vehicle for Gene Marshall. This decision was based on the financial success of other studios with current science fiction productions and the studio’s chance to get in cultural digs at their latest nemesis, television. Gene was considered the necessary sure-fire box office gold. Though arguably about TV, Mono approached “Distant Venus” with a philosophy of making it bigger, better and more expensive than anything you could ever see on television. The sci-fi elements were expanded and enhanced with state-of-the-art special effects and a cast including many of Mono’s top stars were employed to assure the movie public that this was a perfect reason to leave your TV at home and go to the movies. The combination of big-name stars, big budget special effects and witty dialogue worked seamlessly and made “Distant Venus” a surprise hit of 1954.





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Gene Marshall: Imperial She

This circa 1954 outfit from Jason Wu has special meaning for me. It is very evocative of the 1930’s Flash Gordon serial which my father introduced me to. They were a particular favorite of his when he was a young boy and I got to watch them on TV 40 years later. The special effects were not so special, but I still loved watching them! My dad and I used to laugh at the evil Emperor Ming. Anyway...instead of putting Madra in this outfit, I thought Gene should have a chance to play the evil character instead. From the studio archives:

“Distant Venus” started as a Broadway play of the same name. It premiered in 1952 and was a reflection (as much theatre is) of the current manias of the general public. Basically a comic romance, “Distant Venus” combined America’s obsessions with science fiction and the newly emerging media influence of Television. The plot was slight and fantastic. An advanced civilization on planet Venus has begun to observe us through their superior technology and analyze the television broadcasts being sent into the distant airwaves. Their understanding of Earth’s inhabitants it based entirely on American popular culture as filtered through the warped lens of the television and old telvised movies they watch. When visiting Earth they dress in the styles they see in the old movies shown on TV as well as speak like depression era movie gangsers. Venus, as the spoiled princess of this soceity is traditionally named, watches TV and becomes enamored of thehost of a popular New York City based news broadcast. Being pressured by her father, the ruler of their society, and an equally insistent stepmother to marry an air-headed prince of Venusian nobility, our princess rebels and through teleportation follows a TV signal back to its source.



Follow my Gene Marshall updates on Twitter.

See more Gene Marshall & Friends photos at my regular website.