The Comic Strip
With the 40th anniversary re-release of Flash Gordon imminent, Matthew Sweet is joined by guitarist Brian May of Queen for a programme celebrating film and the comic strip.
With the 40th anniversary re-release of Mike Hodges’s Flash Gordon into cinemas at the end of the month, Matthew Sweet is joined by guitarist Brian May for a look back on the film's groundbreaking score composed by Howard Blake and Queen. Matthew also takes a timely look back across the decades at music for films that have taken their inspiration from comic strips and comic books. Featured films include 'Modesty Blaise', 'Dennis the Menace', 'Popeye', 'Addams Family Values', 'The Peanuts Movie', and 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'; 'The Belles of St Trinians', 'Barbarella', 'The Perils of Gwendoline' and 'Tamara Drewe'; 'The Adventures of Tintin', 'Dick Tracy' and of course 'Flash Gordon'. The Classic Score of the week is Franz Waxman's music for the 1954 Arthurian inspired adventure epic, 'Prince Valiant'.
And the programme also includes music from the newly released video-on-demand feature, 'The Old Guard' - based on a 2017 comic book by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez and featuring a new score by Dustin O'Halloran and Volker Bertelmann.
Last on
More episodes
Next
Music Played
- 
    ![]()  John DankworthModesty Blaise Theme Ensemble: David & Jonathan. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Dankworth.- Modesty Blaise (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album).
- 20th Century Fox Records.
 
- 
    ![]()  Jerry GoldsmithDennis the Menace: Our Town Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Jerry Goldsmith.- Dennis The Menace (Original Soundtrack).
- La-La Land Records.
- 1.
 
- 
    ![]()  Harry NilssonPopeye: I yam what I yam Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Singer: Robin Williams.- Popeye - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album.
- Epic.
 
- 
    ![]()  Christophe BeckThe Peanuts Movie: Skating Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Tim Davies.- The Peanuts Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
- 20th Century Fox.
 
- 
    ![]()  Vic MizzyThe Addams Family TV series: Main Theme Orchestra: Vic Mizzy Orchestra.- Original Music From The Addams Family.
- RCA Victor.
 
- 
    ![]()  Marc ShaimanAddams Family Values: The Tango Composer: Vic Mizzy. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Artie Kane.- Addams Family Values (The Original Orchestral Score).
- Varèse Sarabande.
 
- 
    ![]()  Allan GrayThe Life and Death of Colonel Blimp: Prelude Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.- The Red Shoes: Music From The Films Of Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger (The.
- CD41 PUBLISHING.
- 8.
 
- 
    ![]()  Malcolm ArnoldThe Belles of St Trinians: Prelude Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Muir Mathieson.- Hurrah For Malcolm Arnold.
- El.
- 18.
 
- 
    ![]()  Bob CreweBarbarella: Entrance into Sogo Composer: Charles Fox. Ensemble: Bob Crewe Generation Orchestra.- Barbarella (Original Soundtrack Recording).
- Harkit Records.
- 1.
 
- 
    ![]()  Pierre BacheletGwendoline: La Legende de Pikao Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Guy Mattéoni.- Gwendoline (Bande Originale Du Film).
- RCA Records.
 
- 
    ![]()  Alexandre DesplatTamara Drewe: Opening Title Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Alexandre Desplat.- Tamara Drewe (Original Soundtrack Recording).
- Silva Screen.
 
- 
    ![]()  John WilliamsThe Adventures Of Tintin - The Secret Of The Unicorn Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: John Williams. Conductor: John Williams. Conductor: John Williams.- The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (Soundtrack).
- Sony Classical.
- 1.
 
- 
    ![]()  Danny ElfmanDick Tracy: Main Titles Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Shirley Walker.- Dick Tracy (Original Score).
- Warner Bros. Records.
 
- 
    ![]()  Franz WaxmanPrince Valiant: Suite Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Gerhardt.- Sunset Boulevard - The Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman.
- RCA Red Seal.
- 1.
 
- 
    ![]()  Howard BlakeFlash Gordon: Bell & Coffin - Zarkov - Rocket Ship Flight Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Howard Blake.- Flash Gordon / Amityville 3D (Original Orchestral Score From The Motion Picture).
- Super Tracks Music Group.
 
- 
    ![]()  Brian MayFlash Gordon: Crash Dive on Mongo City Ensemble: Queen.- Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack Music).
- EMI.
 
- 
    ![]()  Brian MayFlash Gordon: Wedding March Composer: Richard Wagner. Ensemble: Queen. Ensemble: Queen.- Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack Music).
- EMI.
 
- 
    ![]()  Brian MayFlash Gordon: Battle Theme Ensemble: Queen.- Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack Music).
- EMI.
 
- 
    ![]()  Freddie MercuryFlash Gordon: The Kiss 'Aura Resurrects Flash' Ensemble: Queen.- Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack Music).
- EMI.
 
- 
    ![]()  Freddie MercuryFlash Gordon: Vultan's Theme Ensemble: Queen.- Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack Music).
- EMI.
 
- 
    ![]()  Volker BertelmannThe Old Guard: The old guard Composer: Dustin O’Halloran. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.- The Old Guard—Music From The Netflix and Skydance Film.
- Lakeshore Records.
 
Broadcast
- Sat 25 Jul 2020 15:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
Moon River: The story of the 1962 Oscars Best Song winner
Podcast
- 
                                        ![]()  Sound of CinemaMatthew Sweet's weekly look at music for the screen 
 
                     
            
