Dale Arden

Dale Arden

Dale Arden as portrayed by Melody Anderson in the 1980 film
Publication information
Publisher King Features Syndicate
Created by Alex Raymond
In-story information
Supporting character of Flash Gordon

Dale Arden is a fictional character, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia Organa and Padme Amidala in Star Wars.[1][2] Flash, Dale and Dr. Hans Zarkov fight together against Ming the Merciless.

Contents

Profile

Dale is Flash Gordon's constant companion in his adventures, as well as his one true love. The emperor Ming the Merciless is immediately attracted to her and the early strips were basically based on Flash’s heroic efforts to rescue Dale from Ming's many attempts to marry her.

Filmation’s Flash Gordon’s Bible portrayed Dale Arden as follows:

All errant knights have their true love, and in Flash's case it's Dale - beautiful, independent and capable. In most circumstances, Dale is well able to take care of herself and is an ideal companion for the adventuring Flash. Which is not to say that: she is unfeminine. Ming was only the first of Mongo's heroic -- though, in his case, absolutely evil -- rulers who have sought Dale Arden as their Queen. Dale is sensitive, warm and compassionate -- traits which occasionally lead her to trust the wrong person. Where Flash would gladly lay down his life to save her, Dale would do likewise. And the two of them, united, can face any peril that Mongo has to offer.

Dale Arden in other media

Parodies

Notes

  1. ^ Ostwalt, Conrad Eugene; Martin, Joel W. (1995). Screening the sacred: religion, myth, and ideology in popular American film. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press. pp. 76. ISBN 0-8133-8830-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=Fxgo6vlKMw4C&pg=PA76&dq=%22Dale+Arden%22+%22Princess+Leia%22. 
  2. ^ Tasker, Yvonne (1998). Working girls: gender and sexuality in popular cinema. New York: Routledge. pp. 82. ISBN 0-415-14005-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=6nlNB-h0RlQC&pg=PA82&dq=%22Dale+Arden%22+%22Princess+Leia%22. 
  3. ^ Dunning, pp. 255—56
  4. ^ Cline, William R. (1997). In the nick of time: motion picture sound serials. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland. pp. 94. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X. http://books.google.com/books?id=rE6_olMS_2oC&pg=PA94&dq=%22Dale+Arden%22. 
  5. ^ Medved, Harry (2004). The Hollywood Guide to the Great Outdoors: Southern California : Walks, Hikes, and Adventures that Put You into the Locations of Your Favorite Films. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 129. ISBN 0-312-30856-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=uj-kOGg81MEC&pg=PA129&dq=%22Dale+Arden%22+%22carol+hughes. 
  6. ^ Gil Kane; Michael Eury; Murphy Anderson (2002). Captain Action: The Original Super-Hero Action Figure. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 73. ISBN 1-893905-17-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=eC5mPdEtOdoC&pg=PA73&dq=%22Dale+Arden%22+%22Irene+Champlin%22. 
  7. ^ Terrace, p. 46
  8. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2002). Crime fighting heroes of television: over 10, 000 facts from 151 shows, 1949-2001. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. pp. 68. ISBN 0-7864-1395-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=IRog-mvSMR8C&pg=PA68&dq=%22Dale+Arden%22+%22Diane+Pershing%22. 
  9. ^ Julius, Marshall (1996). Action!: the action movie A-Z. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 81. ISBN 0-253-21091-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=pO17mTyuA0IC&pg=PA81&dq=%22Melody+Anderson%22+%22dale+arden%22. 
  10. ^ "Flash Gordon - TV - review - New York Times". The New York Times. 2007-08-10. Archived from the original on 2008-08-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5aJog7Ysh. Retrieved 2008-08-24. 
  11. ^ "Series/Festivals - Movies - Riverfront Timespage 1 - Riverfront Times". 2002-09-04. Archived from the original on 2008-08-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5aJp0vtlk. Retrieved 2008-08-24. 

References

TV Series
Film
Movie serials
Characters/Actors
Gale Gordon (1935) • Buster Crabbe (1936 - 1940) • Steve Holland (1954) • Robert Ridgely (1979, 1982) • Sam J. Jones (1980) • Lou Richards (1986) • Toby Proctor (1996) • Eric Johnson (2007)
Dale Arden
Jean Rogers (1936 - 1938) • Carol Hughes (1940) • Irene Champlin (1954) • Diane Pershing (1979, 1982) • Melody Anderson (1980) • Lexa Doig (1996) • Gina Holden (2007)
Bruno Wick (1935) • Charles Middleton (1936 - 1940) • Alan Oppenheimer (1979) • Max von Sydow (1980) • Vic Perrin (1982) • William Callaway (1986) • John Ralston (2007)
Maurice Franklin (1935) • Frank Shannon (1936 - 1940) • Joseph Nash (1954) • Alan Oppenheimer (1979) • Topol (1980) • Bob Holt (1982) • Paul Shaffer (1996) • Jody Racicot (2007)
Priscilla Lawson (1936 - 1938) • Shirley Deane (1940) • Melendy Britt (1979, 1982) • Ornella Muti (1980) • Anna Van Hooft (2007)
Richard Alexander (1936 - 1938) • Roland Drew (1940) • Robert Ridgely (1979) • Timothy Dalton (1980) • Robert Douglas (1982) • Steve Bacic (2007)
John Lipson (1936 - 1938) • Allan Melvin (1979) • Brian Blessed (1980) • Ted Cassidy (1982) • Ty Olsson (2007)
James Pierce (1936) • Ted Cassidy (1979) • George Harris (1980) • David Opatoshu (1982)
Other media
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