Questions about execution

1. Because it looks cool. The bigger question is why the 'lizard' creatures in the dungeon have their eyes inside their mouths.

2. Why does Ming's daugther wear a skin tight body suit? Same reason.

3. Because he needs to be killed by the gasa nd not a ray gun so he can be revived later.

4. A hood is kind of an execution tradition. This one is black.

5. Don't remember that.

6. He doesn't try to escape. He is stuggling from the effects of the gas.


You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

From what I can see that black cylinder you mention is lowered onto flash's head to hold it still while the execution is taking place, to contain his struggles?
I suspect he walks into the gas chamber anyway as it's a nobler more heroic way of going than simply being shot while resisting? He may have been informed also by aura or the doctor that he would be revived later, which would explain why he doesn't put up much resistance or seem particularly bothered by the fact that he is about to die
His clothes are removed to show how defenceless he is and to make him feel worthless and inferior for his final walk to his death. Plus the gas works more effectively on bare skin...
Yes he is not trying to escape when the gas is filling the chamber, the time for escape is long past at this point, his body is reacting violently to the effects of the gas, which appears to be absorbed through the skin, as flash begins his struggling before the gas even reaches his face...nasty...

While I love this movie, I think you are looking way to deeply into this scene.

Pretty much all your questions can be answered by this being for dramatic/artistic effect.


You can't palm off a second-rater on me. You gotta remember I was in the pink!

Having watched the (very detailed) execution sequence again it seems to be there to affirm that flash is a human being. Yes he is a hero but he is no superhero and he is ultimately just one of us. He can be overpowered, imprisoned, stripped of almost everything, humiliated and even executed. This is what the execution scenes are there for, to remind us of flash's humanity and weaknesses so that we can relate to him as one of us. Plus we get to see him almost naked in leather shorts and handcuffs walking to his death. How cool and unusual is that for the hero in a movie?

1) Prior to the scene where he was in the dungeon, a public announcement was made indicating Flash Gordon would be executed at 29:15 Mingo Mean Time. Likely, the spiked helmet was used as a means of keeping him disoriented; preventing him from knowing what direction to go in case he manages to escape.

2) Some time ago, when execution by lethal gas was used in the US, it was "considered" having the condemned enter the gas chamber naked or with just enough clothing to cover their privates. The reason for this was because the gas left a residue in the clothing that couldn't be washed out. It made the clothing toxic to wear again, and clothing was often recycled due to budgets. Long before that, it was also considered common to place prisoners in dungeons completely naked.

3) Dramatic effect.

4) Traditional execution practices. Upto the use of lethal injection, head and facial coverage of the condemned was common, both as a restraint and to avoid looking at the condemned's face during execution, as certain reactions, such as vomiting, or blood hemorrhaging from the nose or eyes could occur.

5) Traditional execution practice of restraining the head during electrocution or lethal gas. In the case of lethal gas, the condemned could have violent convulsions or seizures as a reaction to the gas.

6) He doesn't. He is struggling because the gas is starting to affect him. As I previously mentioned in point 2, the gas may be or have acidic properties. The gas typically used in executions Inhibits the hemoglobin in the blood, preventing it from delivering oxygen to vital organs in the body. While the skin doesn't absorb oxygen from the air, it requires it and it will be the first organ affected by the gas.

7) Further note. If you're familiar with the horror novel "The Reanimater" it's likely that the doctor gave Flash a special type of preservative that would allow him to be revived with another drug.

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1 The helmet keeps him literally in the dark and helpless, the spikes probably indicate a special prisoner, maybe one condemned to execution
2 Several reasons his clothes are removed for the execution:
Humiliation, being forced to walk to his death nearly naked
To make sure he is helpless and has no means of defence
So that the lethal gas works faster, being absorbed through the skin
Any clothes he is wearing would become contaminated with gas so makes sense for him to be as near naked as possible
3 He walks into the gas chamber anyway because he knows there is no escape and he is accepting his fate and that he needs to be a hero even if it means he has to die
4 Black hood to cover Flash's face and emotions as he waits for the end to come and provide some comfort and cushioning from the head restraint
5 The black cylinder is a head restraint to control and contain Flash's head movements and keep it as still as possible while the gas is killing him
6 Not trying to escape but flash's muscle spasms and dying struggles as the incredibly toxic gas does its deadly work in a matter of seconds
Horrific...