IMDb > Dune (1984)
Dune
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Dune (1984) -- In the distant future, a man appears who may be the prophet that a long-suffering galaxy has been waiting for.
Dune (1984) -- special ed. dvd
Dune (1984) -- In the distant future, a man appears who may be the prophet that a long-suffering galaxy has been waiting for.
Dune (1984) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   35,558 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Lynch
Writers:
Frank Herbert (novel)
David Lynch (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Dune on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 December 1984 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi more
Tagline:
You are about to enter a world where the unexpected, the unknown, and the unbelievable meet. more
Plot:
In the distant future, a man appears who may be the prophet that a long-suffering galaxy has been waiting for. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(95 articles)
Danny Arroyo on new film Repo Chick and his passion for superheroes
 (From The Geek Files. 23 November 2009, 12:47 PM, PST)
‘Dune’ Redub
 (From The Flickcast. 13 November 2009, 3:15 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Dune's Devil in David's Details more (490 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Francesca Annis ... Lady Jessica
Leonardo Cimino ... The Baron's Doctor

Brad Dourif ... Piter De Vries
José Ferrer ... Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV

Linda Hunt ... Shadout Mapes
Freddie Jones ... Thufir Hawat
Richard Jordan ... Duncan Idaho

Kyle MacLachlan ... Paul Atreides

Virginia Madsen ... Princess Irulan
Silvana Mangano ... Reverend Mother Ramallo
Everett McGill ... Stilgar
Kenneth McMillan ... Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Jack Nance ... Nefud
Siân Phillips ... Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (as Sian Phillips)

Jürgen Prochnow ... Duke Leto Atreides
Paul L. Smith ... The Beast Rabban (as Paul Smith)

Patrick Stewart ... Gurney Halleck

Sting ... Feyd Rautha
Dean Stockwell ... Doctor Wellington Yueh

Max von Sydow ... Doctor Kynes

Alicia Witt ... Alia (as Alicia Roanne Witt)

Sean Young ... Chani
Danny Corkill ... Orlop
Honorato Magaloni ... Otheym (as Honorato Magalone)
Judd Omen ... Jamis
Molly Wryn ... Harah
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angélica Aragón ... Bene Gesserit Sister (uncredited)
Miguel Cane ... Little Fremen boy (uncredited)
Humberto Elizondo ... Czigo (uncredited)
Ernesto Laguardia ... Harkonnen's victim (uncredited)

David Lynch ... Spice worker (uncredited)
James Mathers ... Fremen Boy (uncredited)
Ramón Menéndez ... Kinet (uncredited)
Ana Ofelia Murguía ... Palace maid (uncredited)
Claudia Ramírez ... Fremen girl (uncredited)
Julieta Rosen ... Palace maid (uncredited)
Margarita Sanz ... Lady Jessica's maid (uncredited)

Jacqueline Voltaire ... Bit Part (uncredited)
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Directed by
David Lynch 
 
Writing credits
Frank Herbert (novel)

David Lynch (screenplay)

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis .... executive producer
Raffaella De Laurentiis .... producer
José López Rodero .... associate producer (as José Lopez Rodero)
 
Original Music by
Toto 
 
Cinematography by
Freddie Francis (photographed by)
 
Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs 
 
Casting by
Jane Jenkins 
 
Production Design by
Anthony Masters 
 
Art Direction by
Pier Luigi Basile (supervising art director) (as Pierluigi Basile)
Benjamín Fernández  (as Benjamin Fernandez)
 
Set Decoration by
Giorgio Desideri 
 
Costume Design by
Bob Ringwood 
 
Makeup Department
Giannetto De Rossi .... creative makeup
Mirella De Rossi .... chief hairdresser
Etsuko Egawa .... special makeup effects artist
Luigi Rocchetti .... makeup artist
Mara Rossi .... wig maker
Mario Scutti .... makeup artist
Mauro Tamagnini .... hairdresser
Jean Ann Black .... makeup artist (uncredited)
Christopher Tucker .... special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Anuar Badin .... production supervisor
Vicente Escrivá hijo .... production supervisor (as Vicente Escriva)
Anselmo Parrinello .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
José López Rodero .... first assistant director (as José Lopez Rodero)
Ian Woolf .... dga trainee
Víctor Albarrán .... first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
James Devis .... assistant director (uncredited)
Ignazio Dolce .... second unit director (uncredited)
Miguel Lima .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Rafael Ablanque .... chief sculptor
José María Alarcón .... assistant art director (as José Maria Alarcon)
Ángel Arriola .... chief carpenter (as Angel Arriola)
Sante Barelli .... chief painter
Malcolm Bensted .... assistant props
Jose Bolano .... chief plasterer (as José Bolaño)
Alessandro Catarinelli .... chief painter
Miguel Chang .... draughtsman
Peter Childs .... assistant art director
Vito Consoli .... chief painter
Steve Cooper .... draughtsman
Ezio D'Achille .... chief painter
Antonio del Amo .... chief plasterer
Antonio De Toro .... chief painter
Ramón Díaz .... chief carpenter (as Ramon Diaz)
Ron Downing .... floor props
Raul Paton Garcia .... assistant art director
Ferdinando Giovannoni .... draughtsman
Mentor Huebner .... illustrator
George Jensen .... illustrator
Giuseppe La Rocca .... chief plasterer
Maurice Larson .... chief painter
Angelo Marta .... chief plasterer
Giles Masters .... draughtsman
Ron Miller .... illustrator
Kevin Phipps .... assistant art director
Aldo Puccini .... construction manager
Luciano Romero .... assistant props
Graham Sumner .... property master
Giulio Tamassy .... chief sculptor
Jose Velazquez .... chief carpenter (as José Velazquez)
Jan Ferris .... designer: jewelry and some props (uncredited)
Martin A. Kline .... production illustrator (uncredited)
Moises Pineda .... production buyer assistant (uncredited)
Mark Siegel .... sculptor (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Derek Brechin .... assistant sound editor
Teresa Eckton .... sound editor
Donald Flick .... foley editor
John Haptas .... boom operator
Lee Haxall .... assistant sound editor
Ann Kroeber .... assistant sound editor
Patricia Lee .... assistant sound editor
Edward Malone .... assistant sound editor
Steve Maslow .... sound re-recording mixer
Kevin O'Connell .... sound re-recording mixer
Jerry Ross .... foley editor
Leslie Shatz .... sound editor
Alan Splet .... sound designer
Nelson Stoll .... sound mixer
Bill Varney .... sound re-recording mixer
Les Wiggins .... sound editor
Martin Maryska .... assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers .... technical director of sound (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
John Baker .... special effects floor chief
Antonio Balandin .... special effects assistant
William Bryan .... master foamsmith: stillsuit (as William C. Bryan)
Theresa Burkett .... suit construction: stillsuit (as Teresa Burkett)
Jeff Clifford .... special effects floor chief
Terence J. Cox .... special effects assistant (as Terry Cox)
Yves De Bono .... special effects engineer
Lyle Eckmeier .... special effects assistant
Charles L. Finance .... special effects coordinator
Linda Frobos .... suit construction: stillsuit
Rodney Fuller .... special effects floor chief
Dino Galiano .... special effects floor chief
Dirck Halstead .... special photography
John Hatt .... special effects electronic unit chief
Steve Humphrey .... special effects assistant (as Stephen Humphrey)
Andrew Kelly .... special effects assistant
Terry Knowles .... special effects assistant
Jim Leonard .... chief sculptor: stillsuit
Barry Nolan .... special photographic effects
Antonio Parra .... special effects floor chief
Don Post .... suit development: stillsuit
Carlo Rambaldi .... creature creator
Mark Siegel .... head of construction: stillsuit
Ronnie Skinner .... special effects rigger (as Ron Skinner)
John K. Stirber .... special effects flying unit chief (as John Stirber)
Phil Stokes .... special effects assistant (as Philip Stokes)
Bruno Van Zeebroeck .... special effects assistant
Kit West .... mechanical special effects
Trevor Wood .... special effects assistant
Gary Zink .... special effects assistant
 
Visual Effects by
Tom Anderson .... blue screen mattes
Peter Bohanna .... model shop supervisor
Jeffrey A. Burks .... graphics technician
Mike Cobos .... creature moldmaker
Ralph Cobos .... creature moldmaker
Tom Connors .... creature sculptor
Bryan Cooke .... optical lineup
Syd Dutton .... matte painter
Mark Freund .... optical printer operator
Jeremy Gibbs .... optical effects editor
Devorah Hardberger .... optical coordinator
Patti Harrison .... optical coordinator (as Patt Harrison)
Kevin Koneval .... blue screen mattes
John Kuhlman .... optical lineup
Liz Lord .... graphics technician
Richard Malzahn .... visual effects graphics
Laurie Marems .... creature sculptor
Ray Monahan .... optical printer operator
January Nordman .... graphics technician
Deborah J. O'Brien .... optical printer operator
Bill O'Sullivan .... optical lineup
Christine Overs .... model maker
Dick Ramirez .... optical printer operator
Gus Ramsden .... model maker
Katie Ruah .... graphics technician
Emilio Ruiz del Río .... foreground miniatures (as Emilio Ruiz del Rio)
Stanley W. Sayer .... matte photography consultant (as Stanley Sayer)
Frank Schepler .... creature operator (as Frank W. Shepler)
Paolo Scipione .... creature operator
Brian Smithies .... model unit supervisor
Jacinto Soria .... model maker
Charles Staffell .... front projection consultant
Eric Swenson .... motion control
Steven Townsend .... creature operator
Danielle Versè .... model maker
Albert Whitlock .... additional special visual effects (as Albert J. Whitlock)
William Whitten .... creature sculptor
David S. Williams Jr. .... optical lineup
Megan Williams .... graphics technician
Steven Willis .... creature operator (as Steve Willis)
Charles L. Finance .... visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
Jammie Friday .... rotoscope: Van der Veer Photo Effects (uncredited)
Michael Douglas Middleton .... visual effects still photographer (uncredited)
Judith Miller .... conceptual model builder (uncredited)
Christopher S. Ross .... model maker (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Dickey Beer .... stuntman (as Dickie Beer)
Tony Brubaker .... stuntman
Will Harper .... stuntman
Richard Humphreys .... stunt coordinator
Henry Kingi .... stuntman (as Henri Kingi)
Wayne Michaels .... stuntman
Kiyoshi Yamasaki .... fight coordinator (as Kiyoshi Yamazaki)
Vic Armstrong .... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Humphreys .... stunts (uncredited)
Wendy Leech .... stunts (uncredited)
Scott Wilder .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Annand .... focus puller
Chic Anstiss .... camera operator (as Chick Anstiss)
James Devis .... cinematographer: additional unit
Frederick Elmes .... cinematographer: additional unit
Ed George .... clapper loader
Gordon Hayman .... camera operator
Gerhard Hentschel .... camera maintenance
Roy Larner .... supervising gaffer
Ignazio Maccarone .... practical electrician
John Matthews .... best boy
Shane O'Neill .... clapper loader
Tim Ross .... focus puller
Maria Schiavone .... gaffer
George Whitear .... still photographer
Ken Worringham .... camera operator
Douglas Evan Hersh .... best boy electric (uncredited)
René Marquéz .... electrician (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Maggie Cartier .... casting: UK
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas Casterline .... wardrobe supervisor
Barbara Higgins .... wardrobe cutter
Ana Maria Infante .... wardrobe mistress
Michael Jones .... milliner
Mary Etta Lang .... wardrobe dyer
Edward Percival .... wardrobe cutter
Cyril Streeter .... wardrobe cutter
Nadia Vitali .... wardrobe supervisor
Mary E. Vogt .... wardrobe buyer (as Mary Vogt)
 
Editorial Department
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter
Aubrey Head .... negative timer
Adam Masters .... apprentice film editor
Kate Orr .... assistant cutter
Deborah Phipps .... assistant cutter (as Debbie Harkness)
Penelope Shaw .... assistant film editor
Rosemarie Urioste .... apprentice film editor
Roz Ward .... assistant cutter
Patricia Lee .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Carlos Puente .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
George Brand .... music editor
Brian Eno .... composer: prophecy theme
Roger Eno .... composer: prophecy theme
Allyn Ferguson .... additional orchestrator
Tom Knox .... score engineer
Tom Knox .... score mixer
Daniel Lanois .... composer: prophecy theme
Shep Lonsdale .... score engineer
Shep Lonsdale .... score mixer
Steve Lukather .... musician: Toto
Gilbert Marouani .... music consultant
David Paich .... musician: Toto
Marty Paich .... composer: additional music
Marty Paich .... conductor: Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Concert Society Vienna Volksoperchior
Marty Paich .... music adaptor
Jeff Porcaro .... musician: Toto
Mike Porcaro .... musician: Toto
Steve Porcaro .... musician: Toto
Al Schmitt .... music coordinator
Wiener Symphoniker .... music performed by (as Vienna Symphony Orchestra)
Toto .... music performer
 
Transportation Department
Alfonso Paredes .... driver (uncredited)
Carlos Ponce de León .... transportation captain (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Margaret Anderson .... dialect coach
Ginette Angosse .... production assistant
Yvonne Axeworthy .... script supervisor (as Yvonne Axworthy)
Len Barnard .... production accountant
Mary Breen-Farrelly .... accountant
Ann Busby .... legal consultant
Craig Campobasso .... production office assistant
Emmett Chapman .... creator: Gurney's Baliset, based on 'The Stick'
Jerry Cormier .... administrative staff
Eduardo De La Grana .... assistant accountant
James Devis .... supervisor: additional unit
Frederick Elmes .... supervisor: additional unit
Damian Evans .... administrative staff
Kevin Freemantle .... assistant accountant
Gerald Green .... technical advisor
Hester Hargett .... production assistant
Edward A. Kantor .... medical consultant (as Dr. Edward A. Kantor)
Kuki López Rodero .... assistant: Mr. Lynch (as Kuki Lopez Rodero)
Michael Menzies .... post-production accountant
Sherrye Mossuto .... production assistant
Golda Offenheim .... production coordinator
Juan Clemente Prosper .... location manager (as Juan Clemente)
Robert Schaefer .... title lettering designer
Margy Stein .... administrative staff
Anne Strick .... project coordinator
Anne Strick .... unit publicist
Val Van der Veer .... administrative staff
Debbie Van Hoek .... accountant
Debbie Van Hoek .... office coordinator
Leslie Werner .... production assistant
Harry Kopoian .... airport liaison: Mexico (uncredited)
John Naulin .... still suits fabrication supervisor (uncredited)
Mark Siegel .... creature maker (uncredited)
Mark Siegel .... puppeteer (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Federico De Laurentiis .... dedicatee
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
137 min | USA:190 min (special edition)
Country:
USA
Language:
English | Italian
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Iceland:L | Italy:T | Spain:13 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 (special edition) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (uncut) (1986) | UK:PG (original rating) (cut) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia)
Filming Locations:
Churubusco Studios, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico more
Company:
De Laurentiis more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Number of production crew came to a total of 1,700. Dune required 80 sets built upon 16 sound stages. More than 6 years in the making, it required David Lynch's work for three and a half years. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After the baron is struck with the Gom Jabbar and is flying through the air, a sandworm turns, opens its mouth and takes the floating baron. As the sandworm is turning and comes to a stop, the made-of-rubber creature wobbles like jello and looks, unfortunately, exactly like what it is: a miniature molded latex creation that is stopped too abruptly and jiggles like a slinky. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Princess Irulan: A beginning is a very delicate time. Know then, that is is the year 10191. The known universe is ruled by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam the Fourth, my father. In this time, the most precious substance in the universe is the spice Melange. The spice extends life...
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Hellsing III (2007) (V) more

FAQ

Where can I get the Director's Cut version of this film?
What's the name of the musical piece Gurney plays in the extended TV cut?
What did Frank Herbert think of the film?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
16 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
Dune's Devil in David's Details, 9 April 2007
7/10
Author: mstomaso from Vulcan

My review covers both versions of Dune, the 2 hour release and the extended 3 hour "Smithee" version aired on television. The first cut of the film was over four hours long, but there was never any intention to release this, and Lynch himself shot scenes which consolidated the final product into a more manageable length.

Allen Smithee, a protest pseudonym adopted by Lynch when he disassociated himself with the 3 hour version of this film, is also alluded to in Lynch's latest film - Inland Empire. A portion of a film studio in Inland Empire is "Smithee's Room" - a metaphorical insight into Lynch's feelings about Dune, and studio-controlled film-making in general.

Given the tremendous investment made by the studio, Lynch's general distaste for the final product, the repetitive cliché soundtrack, and the occasionally bizarre use of voice-over narrative in the TV version, it seems more a DeLaurentis film than a Lynch film. Although I am very interested in Lynch's films and other projects, I am evaluating this solely from my own perspective. Despite the great director's poor opinion of this film, I enjoyed it and it is one of my favorite sci-fi films.

Frank Herbert, author of the novel upon which it is based, approved the theatrical version, but he had the benefit of knowing what he was going to see. If you haven't read the book, these films can be somewhat difficult to understand. And if you come to the experience expecting something like Star Wars, you should probably find something else to do.

The soundtrack is repetitive and only interesting the first time you hear the film's major theme (the Eno composition). The use of rock orchestration simply does not work in this film. Happily, Lynch learned from the experience and used rock instrumentation beautifully in later films (especially Wild at Heart and Lost Highway). The camera work is generally less inspired than the rest of Lynch's portfolio. There are occasional visually striking scenes which will remind you of the film's origin, but there are too many static shots - especially during the action scenes. The soundtrack is easy to explain - like the inclusion of Sting in the cast - this is a marketing move by the production company, not a creative choice of the director. The camera work is much less easily explained. Perhaps Lynch was asked to avoid doing anything surreal or bizarre with this film (sort of like asking Groucho Marx to avoid being funny), or the studio was trying to appeal to fans of Star Wars by simplifying and sterilizing its story.

The recently released special edition DVD reveals some very interesting aspects of the production. Lynch's influence, not surprisingly, is best explored in the short documentary concerning the film's design. As an artist, Lynch spent a great deal of time and energy envisioning the material culture – both historical and modern – of each culture depicted in the film, helping to create a consistent and unique characterization for each. This spilled over quite naturally into costume design. The sets and costumes used in this film are really spectacular. The special effects, often derided by contemporary viewers, required a great deal more effort that the synthetic art of today's computerized extravaganzas and, the documentary concerning their production on the DVD is also appropriately respectful.

What you will see is an intense visualization of several, fully realized alien cultures whose art, architecture and general heritage are as well realized, if not more so, than in Herbert's epic novel. To fully appreciate this, don't just check out the extras on the DVD, turn down the sound and just watch the sets, costumes, and effects move through each scenes. There is, as with Lynch's entire portfolio, a great deal to be seen. And the acting and direction are fine throughout the film.

The longer version fleshes out the stories, themes and intricate subplots of Herbert's book more thoroughly, and maintains a much steadier pace than the cinematic release. Even so, both films, to some extent, suffer from too much story, overwhelming visualization, and a un-Lynchian frenetic pace. The later TV mini-series by the sci fi channel does a better job of telling the story in its entirety, but runs about 246 minutes and does not compare to the original in terms of design. Lynch's cinematic release, by contrast, rushes through components of the book and often feels inconsistent in pace.

PLOT: Dune is the story of Paul "Muad'ib" Atreides, the son of Duke Leto Atreides the Just and his Bene Jesserat concubine Lady Jessica. Combining aspects of fantasy, sci-fi and anthropology, the story follows young Paul through a series of tragedies which find him seeking redemption for an entire galaxy by leading an adoptive tribal culture to a revolutionary cleansing of the malignant imperial system from which he sprung. The plot is exceedingly complex – in both Lynch versions of the film much is left out of Herbert's original work. Subplots abound, but, true to form, Lynch avoids short-cuts as much as possible and attempts to show his audience what is going on rather than resorting to a great deal of voice-over narrative in the theatrical release. The TV version, however, attempts to provide even more detail, and uses voice-over to patch up the areas glossed over by Lynch's script.

SUMMARY: If you're a Lynch fan and not a big Herbert fan or you don't have a great deal of patience, see the cinematic release. It is the class of the lot.

If you haven't read the book, or you are a Herbert purist who will accept only what was written, choose the Sci-Fi Channel version (review forthcoming soon) - but be forewarned - it is very long.

If you want something that compromises between story and cinematic artistry, go for the TV version. The weakest link, but still OK.

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You know you've watched Dune too often, when... a9447363
Lynch walks out of interviews if Dune is mentioned pete_michaud
Most disappointing change from the book LondoMollari1
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