Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 American twelve chapter black-and-white science fiction serial film from Universal Pictures, produced by Henry MacRae, directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor, that stars Buster Crabbe, Carol Hughes, Charles B. Middleton, Frank Shannon, and Roland Drew. The serial was written by George H. Plympton, Basil Dickey, and Barry Shipman and was adapted from Alex Raymond's syndicated newspaper comic strip of the same name. It was the last of the three Universal Flash Gordon serials made between 1936 and 1940.
A deadly plague is ravaging the Earth, known as the Purple Death because of a purple spot left on victims' foreheads. Ming the Merciless is suspected to be behind the plague, and it is discovered that his spaceships have been spreading "Death Dust" in the Earth's atmosphere.
Flash Gordon, along with Dr. Alexis Zarkov and Dale Arden, return to the planet Mongo to find a possible cure. The trio continue to battle Ming and his allies, led by henchman Captain Torch, who is charged with stopping the Earthlings by any means.
