In the revised version of events, Flash is chucked through the secret entrance and left more or less to his own devices while Ming struggles with the door controls.

Flash almost has an idea. A foot to the right and he’d clearly have a plan.

He actually does have a plan – he knocks out the light and a fight breaks out.

Ming escapes down another tunnel with his one remaining ally.

Flash is reunited with his friends – a group which now includes the entire population of Mars.

Meanwhile, Ming and his one remaining ally have a falling out. Ming has prepared a surprise in the power room, his comrade says that’ll be the first place anyone will look.

The leader of the city guards offers his help to Flash Gordon. He had feathers on his head. I don’t know whether this makes him a better or worse flyer than those with cardboard wings.

The bombers have set out on a mission against the Ex-Clay People. Flash is appalled. He tells the air marshal – another feather head – to stop it. He says he will. Crisis averted and one more actor getting a pay check.

But wait! Oh no! The air marshal has betrayed everyone. Well, not everyone. Just most people. He’s still loyal to Ming. He’s not going to stop the bombing raid on the Ex-Clay People.

He shoots a random extra. The fiend.

Ming is mucking about with some test tubes when he gets an urgent call.

Yet again, whoever planned these shots has totally failed to understand where the camera ought to go.

Flash and Barin are still looking for the secret tunnel Ming used to escape. Ming obviously over-estimated them when he assumed they’d look for where he’d gone to not how he’d got there.

Flash is told that Ming has restarted the Nitron lamp. He’s going to destroy the Earth if it is the last thing he does. Flash reassures Dale that he won’t let him destroy the Earth and that she better stay behind rather than come with him because she’s delicate.

In his laboratory, Ming is being evil. He doesn’t care about the Nitron – he just wants to destroy the Earth. He gurns, grimaces and grins his determination to be merciless.

He watches the devastation being done upon the Earth through a small telescope.

As enjoyable as watching human suffering is, Ming still has a breakdown to suffer. He starts babbling about it being written than things will happen.

I can’t help feel that the arrow on his head is undermining his credibility.

Ming is ranting and raving. His one remaining ally is appalled.

He makes good his escape when Ming returns to his telescoping.

Flash stalks the Martians taking his chums to some prison or other. He attacks and before a fight can break out he’s won.

Ming’s one remaining ally gives himself up to Flash and tells him what Ming is up to. Ming is mad. That’s about it.

Ming notices the treachery around him and takes steps to improve his personal and professional relationship skills.

An exciting gun battle ensures.

Flash creeps in through the back door and the two titanic antagonists meet over a small table of chemicals.

Ming, being a chump, has Flash at his mercy (which is an irony) but doesn’t shoot. When will villains ever learn? Villainy must be like GCSE Social Studies – everyone passes the course regardless of how much they’ve actually learned.

A bomber attacks the palace and chaos reigns. Ming’s former one remaining ally has control of the situation but who will he shoot – Flash or Ming?

Everyone is agog.

He tells Ming to get into the disintegrating room. Flash tells him he can’t kill Ming this way but he’s not interested. Anyone interferes and he’ll shoot them.

Arty.

In the disintegration chamber, Ming cowers from his own evil rays.

Zarkov causes a distraction and Flash attacks Ming’s former one remaining ally.

They burst into the disintegration room but "It’s too late" says Flash.

A reunion – Barin stopped the attack on the Ex-Clay People by forcing the bombers to bomb the palace instead. I guess they had to bomb somewhere or they’d risk losing their pension.

Back at the Ex-Clay Kingdom, Zarkov’s rocket ship is being loaded up for the flight back to Earth.

The King wants Flash to stay but "My work here is done" says Flash.

The Earth people hold on to something tight and blast off for home.

"Byeeee"

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the Mayor is still banging on about his building program.

Who are they trying to kid? Those are the same headlines which greeted them when they got back from Mongo.

They get a parade.

The end.