I have a strong fondness for classic movie serials, and this one proved to be among the stronger examples I've encountered. I’d previously appreciated Buster Crabbe’s appearances following Johnny Weissmuller in the Tarzan role, and I own Hodges’ 1980 adaptation of 'Flash Gordon' on DVD for quite some time now, but I wanted to explore the origins of its appeal by watching the serial versions. Luckily, when I bought a …