It's probably due to Queen's Flash Song echoing Gen Kala's "What do you mean 'Flash Gordon' approaching? Open fire! All weapons! Dispatch War Rocket Ajax to bring back his body!"
She's just soooo perfect in this role. And the way the lines comes out. I haven't heard any villain say "OPEN FIRE, ALL WEAPONS, NOW!" with such conviction and attitude. She is even smart enough to know to ask about the approach pattern. And telling her subordinate, idiot! Irreplaceable, dammit. We won't see the likes of Mariangela in this kind of role again.
Wonderful stuff! Kala and Klytus made a great pair. I used a line of Kala when I worked the front desk of a corporation and some maniac came in, demanding to see whoever is in charge. "That would be me. I wield supreme executive power, here, my authority is ANSOLUTE; all other competing desires are repressed." He then said he demanded to see the company president. I replied, "We do not admit HOTHEADS into the Corporate Presence!" It worked! he left.
Hell of a screen villainess!! Not only is she fantastically HOT, but she also utters MY favorite line of dialogue in the movie "While you await the ceremony, all monitors will display, for your entertainment, the execution of the traitors Baron and Zarkov" and brings a sense of subtle yet sinister DARK HUMOR to the movie. And something I've always noticed and found particularly inteeresting and unique about ALL the VILLAINS in THIS flick - how they all seem to have have a SEXUALLY PERVERSE edge to their characters. With that whipping scene shown in the video here and also in certain lines of dialogue like "Sieze the Earth woman and prepare her for our pleasure" and 'You tortured her didn't you?!" .. "Yes, an interesting girl! I think she rather enjoyed it" . .. not exactly lines you'd hear Darth Vader or The Emporer utter in a bland Star Wars "epic", huh?
Ian Finlay The actress playing General Kala is Italian actress Mariangela Melato. If you thought she was hot in this film watch the movie So Fine (1981). She looks totally different from this character and totally HOTT!
I always thought General Kala was bigger than any other character in the movie except Ming. She is so over the top. The perfect villainess, with her big eyes and over enunciation. I especailly love the way she enjoys torturing the princess. For her it is a form of sexual gratification.
Previous commentators asked about her age: she was 38/39 at time of shooting, and stunningly beautiful. This performance doesn't do justice of her amazingly versatile acting capability (awesomely camp performance ever, btw!) R.I.P
you should watch the movie Swept away ( not the one with Madonna, but the original directed by Lina Wertmuller), there's a scene where she was practically in topless, i'm talking about the actess Mariangela Melato.
It was great to see a head villain, Ming, with actual competent lieutenants. Kala wasn't fooled by Ajax's radio silent approach for a second and after ordering it be shot down took ownership of the responsibility if she was wrong. Rare thing to find in middle management.
@@LandersWorkshop I think Ming and his empire was more based on organization and ruthlessness for power rather than individual strength. Kala did have that snazzy flame throwing ring though.
I like the way she didn't jump to conclusions from the radio silence alone, but queries whether the approach pattern for that day was correct before ordering ajax to be shot down immediately. Your right that ming had an competent officers class
@@canyonerokay2932 No doubt part of the reason Ming was near-undefeatable. Flash upset the apple-cart. but it was in some ways a close call as far as battles go.
She was Mariangela Melato (1941-2013) an enormously talented stage actress with a good number of movie performances as well in her career...I have seen her many times in Theater, she also was famous as the female star in the original Wertmuller-directed "Swept Away" (not the Madonna-starring train wreck)...
Fabulous is an understatement, I love her. it's funny others here quote the line, What do you mean Flash Gordon approaching. it's what I remember too. Excellent delivery! She's iconic.
Kala, Klytus and Ming are superior than any MCU villain. Think about that! You can remember their names, dialogues, outfits, everything. MCU, other than Loki and maybe Thanos, who they got?
she is the definition of scene-stealer, despite her brief time on screen. "what do you mean....flash gordon approaching?" she chews up every word of dialogue 👍👍👏👏 r.i.p. mariangela melato.
Always have to laugh at the way Mariangela delivers that line: "We don't like doing this at all." Yeah, right. And, of course, "OPEN FIRE! All weapons! Dispatch war rocket Ajax to bring back his body!" Goodbye, Mariangela.
Mariangela Melato also stars in the classic Italian film "Swept Away". That film was always one of my guilty pleasures but I never realized that it was the same woman who plays General Kala!
I have to wonder how long she prepared how to say that line, "I take personal responsibility... in the EMPEROR"S name." Lines like that need a certain delivery. Incidentally, he's using a touch screen monitor at 2:03. You Apple freaks may think that's something new, and it was - in the Apple II in 1978.
Not to mention MY favorite line of dialogue in the movie "While you await the cerimony, all monitors will display, for your entertainment, the execution of the traitors Baron and Zarkov". Not only is she smoking HOT in the movie, she also makes a hell of a screen villainess and brings a sense of sinister DARK HUMOR to the movie.
@@chawunky I know, that vibe was also present in some of the Italo Disco videos. Just look at how she is walking, utterly magnificent, it's off the charts! :D
She is part of the many aspects of this movie than can never be duplicated or outdone. Everyone in this movie absolutely nailed it, topped off with Queen’s soundtrack
Mariangela melato in un ruolo COMPLETAMENTE DIVERSO da ció per la quale é conosviuta in italia.veramente una GRANDE ATTRICE,sopratutto in teatro in questo film davvero OTTIMA PRESENZA SCENICA E BRILLSNTE INTERPRETAZIONE! Ornella muti sempre bellissima e davvero BRAVA! ricordo al cinema da bambino questo film e ricordo che ERO INVAGHITO DI MISS ORNELLA!
Actress Mariangela Melato who plays General Kala, made a mistake when she said "Responsability" instead of "Responsibility". That's due to the fact that being italian the italian word for "Responsibility" is "Responsabilità". That's fun.
When the movie came out back in 1980, I remember reading a Starlog magazine interview with screenwriter Lorenzo Semple. According to the interview, Semple imagined the "bore worms" as these little worms that every time they bit you, it gave you a tiny orgasm. When they use them on the Princess, she realizes if she doesn't confess she will die of pleasure. According to Semple, this scene was actually written in the script but was removed at the last moment as being too "risque" to be filmed.
I always wondered why she confirms that Klytus did indeed put the bore worms on her, but she had absolutely no injuries when wearing that skimpy gown. He must have put them on her in a place that was still covered. Makes perfect sense now.
Nah, that was just Semple talking with his little head instead of his larger one. Bore worms are maggot-type creatures that burrow into living flesh causing excruciating pain. In the Flash Gordon serials, they are introduced into the ear. It was where the original inspiration for Khan torturing Chekov with larvae in Star Trek came from.
I like how she's presented as someone that's intelligent. For example her knowing that something was wrong with war rocket Ajax, and ordered to open fire on it.
I seen this movie when it came out. I was in 7th grade and playing football in Baltimore in the all-star game. I loved This movie that General Kala was simply beautiful and that Princess Aura super hot. And those satin pants. All through high school that's what the girls wore. Great times and those satin pants, my goodness loved those too.
As an italian I'd like to know how Mariangela Melato and Ornella Muti were in a Hollywood colossal. P.S. if you like Mariangela Melato you can find a gigantic performance in a italian famous movie in the '70:"Swept Away" by Lina Wertmüller... one of the best italian movie ever. Try it, it's great!
There aren't many things you can ask for as a villain: raise Hell for a time, look good doing it, and have a reasonably bad-ass death. Check, check, and check.
Just watched this again last night - she was the highlight of the film for me! If she'd have been in charge instead of Ming, then Flash wouldn't have had it so easy!
Yes she is one of the most iconic Italian actresses , in the 70’s movie star she worked with the greatest directors , she is considered also the best Italian theatre actress ever . She was unique in her acting , could be funny but dramatic. Probably her most famous film in Italy is “ Travolti da un insolito destino nell’azzurro mare d’agosto “ by Lina Wertmuller ( Madonna did a terrible remake of this one , and Melato said something caustic about it lol) she truly was a superstar
Of course! What hatred could be stronger than that of a dutiful older half-sister towards her Daddy's spoiled favorite? It would have added spice if they had dropped a couple subtle hints to that effect into the dialogue...but then, this was not a subtle movie.
I believe that Kala was Ming's ex-wife or,more likely,sister.Ming is a total perve in the movie and Kala has black blood,making here royalty according to Aura.It would be awesome if she was Aura's mom! I'd like to see some parents whip their damn kids like Kala! They even have the same accent and are both totally hot.I don't think she died, either. At the end of the movie someone with a black glove picks up the ring and Ming's gloves at the end were red! She oozed into her own ring and lives!
Probably the best female villain in movie history. Calculating, cold, intelligent, can read situations, formulating plans on the moment. Ruthless to anyone save ming, this is how a strong person should be written.
I think that Kala would make a great wife for Khan. The way she forcefully says open fire, etc. and the way he says it are just so passionate. And think of all the smart, stylish babies they'd have. And no one questions their orders. Or squeals on them.
pinz2022 Don't forget Kala is a smart FEMALE General, her loyalty to the Emperor is flawless, this makes me think about Dictator Gaddafi having less corruptible female bodyguards. Is she really a Ming's daughter in the movie, BTW?
