[VadeRetro]

Actually, that one had exquisite production values compared to the original, which apparently did get a lot of its props out of Cracker Jack boxes. One of many silly moments in the original supposedly shows a titanic struggle between two giant sea monsters. It's a shark really shaking the bejabbers out of an octopus, the 8-legger being an instant TKO and dinner.

The 80s movie also had Ornella Mutti as Ming's daughter. (But I coudn't tell you who played Dale Arden, or Flash Gordon for that matter. They clearly blew the budget in casting the baddies.)

[PatrickHenry]

a titanic struggle between two giant sea monsters

I've heard that in one of the original movies, with Buster Crabbe, they did a fight with an octopus by filming it backwards. Buster, in real time, wrapped the flacid pseudopods around himself, ending up in a horrible pickle. Then it was viewed in reverse, and it looked as if his great strength had conquered the beast.

[general_re]

But I coudn't tell you who played Dale Arden, or Flash Gordon for that matter.

IMDB sez that Dale was played by Melody Anderson, a fairly nice bit of eye candy back then, IMO, but it lists her last gig as being in 1993. Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon), on the other hand, has apparently continued to work steadily, if not spectacularly, up to the present day, in what looks like (judging from the titles) a series of low-budget action films.