rereading this, I think my comment on Lugosi was harsher than I intended. I should have phrased it more like "Lugosi's actual performances in serials were not as outstanding as Middleton's actual performances in several serials, so I question whether he could have elevated FLASH GORDON, and perhaps even equaled Middleton's turn."

Bela's best moments, in my judgement, were in features. Perhaps the lengthy scripts were a problem for an actor performing in his third language. Middleton was one of the best of his era at delivering even clumsy dialogue with conviction. He got his best chances in serials.