Dune (1984) Review

Dune

Release Date: 14th December 1984 - Australia

Production Companies

Dino De Laurentiis Company
Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 137 minutes
                 177 minutes
                 (extended cut)


Budget: $42,000,000

Box Office Gross: $31,501,189 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

In the distant future, the universe and space travel heavily rely on the spice that can only come from the planet Dune. Now, a young son of the noble Duke Leto named Paul Atreides must not only avenge his father's betrayal and murder at the hands of the evil Baron Harkonnen. He has to find the secret of Dune and lead the Fremen in freeing the planet and its residents from the despotic rule of the Emperor, which was his destiny.

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan - Paul Atreides

Sean Young - Chani

Sting - Feyd-Rautha

Patrick Stewart - Gurney

Halleck

Francesca Annis - Lady

Jessica

Jürgen Prochnow - Duke

Leto Atreides

Richard Jordan - Duncan

Idaho

Dean Stockwell - Dr.

Wellington Yueh

Freddie Jones - Thufur

Hawat

Max von Sydow - Dr. Kynes

Linda Hunt - Shadout Mapes

Everett McGill - Stilgar

Alicia Witt - Alia

Virginia Madsen - Princess Irulan

José Ferrer - Padishah

Emperor Shaddam IV

Siân Phillips - Reverend

Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam

Kenneth McMillan - Baron

Vladimir Harkonnen

Brad Dourif - Piter De Vries

Jack Nance - Nefud

Paul L. Smith - The Beast Rabban

Leonardo Cimino - The

Baron's Doctor

Silvana Mangano - Reverend Mother Ramallo

Danny Corkill - Orlop

Honorato Magaloni - Otheym

Judd Omen - Jamis

Molly Wryn - Harah

David Lynch - Spice Worker

(Cameo) (Uncredited)

William Phipps - Narrator

(TV Version) (Uncredited)

Crew

Screenplay/Director - David
Lynch

Based on the Novel "Dune" - Frank Herbert

Executive Producer - Dino De Laurentiis

Producer - Raffaella De Laurentiis

Technical Advisor - Gerald Green

Casting Director - Jane Jenkins

Production Designer -
Anthony Masters
Supervising Art Director - Pier Luigi Basile
Art Director - Benjamin
Fernandez

Assistant Art Directors, Jose Maria Alarcon, Peter Childs, Raul Paton Garcia, Kevin Phipps and Gilberto de Anda (Uncredited)

Draughtsmen - Miguel Chang, Steve Cooper, Ferdinando Giovannoni and Giles Masters
Set Decorator - Giorgio Desideri

Costume Designer - Bob Ringwood

Wardrobe Supervisors - Thomas Casterline and Nadia Vitali

Head of Construction: Stillsuit - Mark Siegel

Creative Makeup - Giannetto De Rossi

Cinematographer - Freddie Francis

Cinematographers/Supervisors: Additional Unit -

James Davis and Frederick Elmes

Production Coordinator - Golda Offenheim

Stunt Coordinator - Richard Humphreys

Fight Coordinator - Kiyoshi Yamasaki

Creature Creator - Carlo Rambaldi

Special Effects Coordinator - Charles L. Finance

Special Effects Flying Unit Chief - John K. Stirber

Special Photographic Effects - Barry Nolan

Mechanical Special Effects - Kit West

Additional Special Visual Effects - Albert Whitlock
Model Unit Supervisor - Brian Smithies
Foreground Miniatures - Emilio Ruiz del Rio

Motion Control - Eric Swenson

Film Editor - Antony Gibbs

Assistant Film Editor - Penelope Shaw

Sound Designer - Alan Splet

Sound Editors - Teresa Eckton,

Leslie Shatz and Les Wiggins

Re-Recording Mixers – Bill Varney,

Steve Maslow and Gregg Landaker

Music - Toto

Composers: Prophecy Theme - Brian &

Roger Eno and Daniel Lanois

Awards

1985 Academy Awards
Best Sound - Bill Varney, Steve Maslow,
Kevin O'Connell and Nelson Stoll (Nominated)

Review

I have never reviewed a David Lynch feature before, as I have not seen any other than DUNE. The film adaptation of DUNE has become a significant part of my life, after Star Wars. I'm sad to say it was a financial flop in release, adding to a dismal reception among readers and fanatics of Frank Herbert's acclaimed sci-fi book series. Unfortunately, halfway through filming, the director, David Lynch, lost control of the movie due to pressure to cut its length. His original vision of DUNE was severely compromised in post-production when numerous scenes received extensive editing, trimming, deleting, and reshooting, resulting in a seemingly disorganised arrangement. The changes also reduced the movie's overall running time to just over two hours.

It was not until 1988 that the extended cut version, which aired on television, was further edited. Previously filmed scenes used as stock footage and instances of censorship have been added to this version, contrary to Lynch's wishes. He was not pleased about this and requested that his name be changed in the opening credits to "Alan Smithee" and "Judas Booth" instead. Since the 1988 re-release, it has gained a following in the online community and remains a cult favourite among fans of sci-fi, David Lynch films, and even Frank Herbert's source material. After watching the film's theatrical cut, the plot feels inconsistent, with most scenes misplaced and what seems like a disastrous butchery. We can all forgive the flaws in this lacklustre version, as the film compensates with its glorious, elaborate sets, costume and makeup design, and some VFX, which complement the movie and make the bad things about DUNE more bearable.

The acting is good. Some classic actors proved terrific choices for names, such as Kyle MacLachlan in his debut role as Paul Atreides and Sean Young as the film's leading lady. The supporting actors, like future Star Trek alumnus Patrick Stewart, Sting, and Max von Sydow, also have their place in the movie. The background score by rock band Toto creates a genuine ambience not heard in any other classic sci-fi film.

DUNE has its moments, but it leaves us wondering if a director's cut of Lynch's version would do this movie justice. In my opinion, DUNE doesn't deserve the negative feedback it received at the box office, which nearly cost David Lynch his directorial career, as its production should have concluded under his supervision.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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