"Dune" (2000) TV mini-series

Director:

John Harrison

Writer (WGA):

John Harrison (teleplay)
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

3 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Discover the greatest treasure in the universe.

Plot:

A three part mini-series based on Frank Herbert's classic Science Fiction novel entailing politics, betrayal, lust, greed and the coming of a Messiah.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Baron | Planet | Emperor | Spice

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Duke Leto Atreides (3 episodes, 2000)
Alec Newman	...	Muad'Dib / ... (3 episodes, 2000)
Saskia Reeves	...	Lady Jessica Atreides (3 episodes, 2000)
P.H. Moriarty	...	Gurney Halleck (3 episodes, 2000)
Ian McNeice	...	Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (3 episodes, 2000)
Matt Keeslar	...	Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (3 episodes, 2000)
László I. Kish	...	Glossu Rabban (3 episodes, 2000)
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Padishah - Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (3 episodes, 2000)
Julie Cox	...	Princess Irulan Corrino (3 episodes, 2000)
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	Stilgar (3 episodes, 2000)
James Watson	...	Duncan Idaho (2 episodes, 2000)
Robert Russell	...	Dr. Yueh (2 episodes, 2000)
Laura Burton	...	St. Alia Atreides (2 episodes, 2000)
Jan Unger	...	Piter Devries (2 episodes, 2000)
Miroslav Táborský	...	Count Hasimir Fenring (2 episodes, 2000)
Barbora Kodetová	...	Chani (2 episodes, 2000)
Karel Dobry	...	Dr. Pardot Kynes / ... (2 episodes, 2000)
Zuzana Geislerová	...	Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Directed by
John Harrison		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
John Harrison		(unknown episodes)
Frank Herbert		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Rola Bauer	....	consulting producer: Executive for Tandem Communications (3 episodes, 2000)
Tim Halkin	....	consulting producer: Executive for Tandem Communications (3 episodes, 2000)
Mitchell Galin	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
David R. Kappes	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Michael D. Messina	....	assistant producer (unknown episodes)
Harry B. Miller III	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Richard P. Rubinstein	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Tim Simonec		(3 episodes, 2000)
Graeme Revell		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Vittorio Storaro		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Harry B. Miller III		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Molly Lopata		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Miljen Kreka Kljakovic		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Theodor Pistek		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Rene Stejskal	....	prosthetics designer (2 episodes, 2000)
Tamara Koubová	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Josef Lojik	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Alena Lojikova	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Zdena Prohliková	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Nora Robertson	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Ivo Strangmüller	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Alan Tuskes	....	foam latex supervisor (unknown episodes)
Milan Vlcek	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Eva Vytlelová	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Michal Cerveny	....	unit manager: second unit (unknown episodes)
David R. Kappes	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)
Pavel Solc	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Pavel Typolt	....	unit manager (unknown episodes)
Michelle Weller	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew J. Clark	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Tereza Engelova	....	assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Ernest D. Farino	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
Richard Gironi	....	second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Larry D. Horricks	....	first assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Andy Howard	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jirí Ostry	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Frantisek Rezek	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Zuzana Smukova	....	assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Milan Babik	....	propman (unknown episodes)
Jim Bandsuh	....	illustrator (unknown episodes)
Paul Herndon	....	conceptual artist / storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Andrej Kostic	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Stanislav Suva	....	scenic painter (unknown episodes)
Dennis Todorovic	....	art department interpreter (unknown episodes)
Karel Vanásek	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Erik Aadahl	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Ulrika Akander	....	adr editor / dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
David Beadle	....	adr editor / sound editor (unknown episodes)
Dean Beville	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Pete Elia	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Andrew Ellerd	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Stephen Fitzmaurice	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Petr Forejt	....	production sound mixer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Larry Goeb	....	adr editor / dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
David Grecu	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Sonya Henry	....	adr editor / dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Patrick Hogan	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)
Michal Holubec	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Victor Iorillo	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Helen Luttrell	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)
Gus Medina	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)
Bob Newlan	....	supervising dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Chris Ostler	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
R.J. Palmer	....	supervising adr editor (unknown episodes)
Dale W. Perry	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Roman Rigo	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Jeff Rosen	....	adr editor / dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Jana Smidova	....	boom operator: second unit (unknown episodes)
Larry Stensvold	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Jay Wilkinson	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Joseph Hahn	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Jim Healy	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Robert Kurtzman	....	animatronic creature effects supervisor/puppeteer (unknown episodes)
Gregory Nicotero	....	lead special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Pavel Sagner	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bryan Smith	....	mold maker (unknown episodes)
Keith Suzuki	....	pyrotechnics supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Ernest D. Farino	....	visual effects supervisor (3 episodes, 2000)
Tony Alderson	....	CGI supervisor (unknown episodes)
Whitney Scott Bain	....	visual effects production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jamie Baxter	....	digital artist: matte painter: Digital Firepower (unknown episodes)
Gary E. Beach	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Everett Burrell	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Ryan Carter	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Sarah Coatts	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Clay Dale	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Charles Darby	....	digital matte supervisor: Digital Firepower (unknown episodes)
Gina Di Bari	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Linda Drake	....	visual effects editor (unknown episodes)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital element colour correction: THDX / digital imaging: THDX / ... (unknown episodes)
Kevin Gendreau	....	CG artist: Area 51 (unknown episodes)
Buddy Gheen	....	digital compositor: E=mc2 (unknown episodes)
John Gibbons	....	3D artist (unknown episodes)
Paul Gimm	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Steve Graves	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Justin Hammond	....	digital effects: Area 51 (unknown episodes)
Michael F. Hoover	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Martin Hubacek	....	visual effects editor (unknown episodes)
Frank H. Isaacs	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Laurel Klick	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Kevin Kutchaver	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Kevin Lane	....	digital effects: Area 51 (unknown episodes)
Kim Lavery	....	digital matte painting producer: Digital Firepower (unknown episodes)
Paul Le Blanc	....	3D supervisor and compositor: E=mc2 (unknown episodes)
Carlyle O. Livingston II	....	miniature effects shoot coordinator / miniature effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Viktor Lonek	....	second unit visual effects video assist operator (unknown episodes)
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Michelle Massie	....	visual effects production manager (unknown episodes)
Don L. McCoy	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Tim McHugh	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Michael Melchiorre	....	data manager (unknown episodes)
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	visual effects supervisor: E=mc2 (unknown episodes)
Michael Pecchia	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Todd Perry	....	CG consultant: Max Ink Cafe (unknown episodes)
Ethan Phillips	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Scott Ramsey	....	visual effects producer: E=mc2 (unknown episodes)
Gianluca Risita	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Gian Luca Rizzo	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Naz Shams	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Fabrizio Storaro	....	visual effects supervisor: Proxima (unknown episodes)
Kevin Struckman	....	CG artist: Area 51 / CG artist: Flat Earth Productions (unknown episodes)
Elaine Essex Thompson	....	visual effects production supervisor: Netter Digital (unknown episodes)
Devin Uzan	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
John van Barneveld	....	digital effects artist (unknown episodes)
Robert Ward	....	model maker (unknown episodes)
Scott Wheeler	....	digital effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Chris Zapara	....	CG artist: Area 51 (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Pavel Bezdek	....	assistant stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Radek Bruna	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Petr Drozda	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Hana Dvorska	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Jiri Horky	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dusan Hyska	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Jindrich Klaus	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ladislav Lahoda	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Katerina Lahodova	....	assistant stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Miroslav Lhotka	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
David Motl	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Jan Petrina	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Petr Vlasak	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Arnautov	....	gaffer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Martin Benc	....	camera operator: second unit (unknown episodes)
Alfredo Betrò	....	camera operator: "a" camera (unknown episodes)
Jan Boruvka	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Václav Cermak	....	rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)
Karel Charvat	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Miro Gábor	....	cinematographer: second unit (unknown episodes)
Jiri Gazda	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Ivo Gresak	....	key grip: second unit (unknown episodes)
Ladislav Hruby	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Lukas Jaromersky	....	rigging electrician (unknown episodes)
Igor Jelen	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Borivoj Klecka	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Viktor Lonek	....	video assist operator: second unit (unknown episodes)
Filip Majer	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Antonin Marik	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)
Zdenek Mrkvicka	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Petr Rosicky	....	still photographer: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Nancy Bishop	....	casting: Prague (unknown episodes)
Wendy Brazington	....	casting: London (unknown episodes)
Leonard Finger	....	casting: New York (unknown episodes)
Jirí Hrstka	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)
Cornelia von Braun	....	casting: Munich (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Hubackova	....	set costumer (3 episodes, 2000)
Bela Friedlová	....	wardrobe (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Andrea Folprecht	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)
Tom Kugler	....	negative cutter (unknown episodes)
Lou Levinson	....	colorist (unknown episodes)
Frances Solis	....	negative cutter (unknown episodes)
Elvio Sordoni	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Wolfgang Amadeus	....	scoring mixer (unknown episodes)
Melissa Deanne Ferguson	....	assistant music editor (unknown episodes)
Matthew Ferraro	....	music programmer (unknown episodes)
David E. Russo	....	music arranger / music programmer (unknown episodes)
Joshua Winget	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Gabriela Dolenska	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Sheila Allen	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Nancy Bishop	....	dialogue coach (unknown episodes)
Alisa Buckley	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Michal Caban	....	choreographer (unknown episodes)
Marketa Dankova	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Frank De Palma	....	sequence editor (unknown episodes)
Larry Garrison	....	unit publicist (unknown episodes)
Klara Holubova	....	assistant to cast (unknown episodes)
Marianna Krenova	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Dita Lylova	....	medic (unknown episodes)
Marketa Reichlova	....	medic (unknown episodes)
Lenka Rock	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Philip Seeger	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Darko Stavrik	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Martin Supka	....	medic (unknown episodes)
Michal Suzpa	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Aneta Valaskova	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Jana Vesela	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Zdenek Vrubel	....	assistant to cashier (unknown episodes)
Lori Wyant	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Rola Bauer	....	thanks (unknown episodes)
Moritz von der Groeben	....	thanks (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Evision
• New Amsterdam Entertainment
• Tandem Communications (in collaboration with)
• Victor Television Productions Inc. (in association with)

Distributors

• AXN (2004) (Japan) (TV)
• Artisan Entertainment (DVD)
• Artisan Entertainment (VHS)
• Chum Television
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (Germany) (VHS)
• Fox Pathe Home Entertainment (UK)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (USA)

Special Effects

• AI Effects (visual effects)
• Area 51 (visual and digital effects)
• Chiodo Brothers Productions (stop motion animation)
• E=mc² (digital matte painting compositions)
• Flat Earth Productions (digital visual effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup and creature effects)
• Netter Digital Entertainment (visual effects)
• Proxima (baron rig removal)
• Title House (digital landscapes)

Other Companies

• Bystrouska  sound equipment provided by
• CE VideoAssist Rental  VideoAssist equipment provided by (2nd unit)
• Catering Petricard 2000 s.r.o.  catering
• Iride s.r.l.  special lighting equipment
• Milk & Honey Films  productiuon services
• Noon Filmtechnik  grip and lighting equipment
• Panther R.F.O., Praha  grip and lighting equipment
• Technovision France  cameras equipment provided by
• Westwind Media  audio post-production

Also Known As:

Der Wüstenplanet (Germany)
Frank Herbert's Dune (USA) (complete title)
Frank Herbert's Dune - Der Wüstenplanet (Germany)

Runtime:

Finland:292 min (3 parts) | USA:265 min | Canada:277 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA | Canada | Germany | Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Evision

Trivia:

The glowing Fremen eyes effect was accomplished with special ultraviolet contact lenses and a UV-filtering camera lens. The Mahdi statue at Sietch Tabr was inspired by the same Buddha statues which were much later destroyed by the Taliban.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the vehicles land at the harvester to pick up its crew, we see the crew run to the 'thopters. When Paul walks back in the 'thopter you see no prints going to the vehicle, only the prints from those who stood outside.

Quotes:

Baron Harkonnen: I want him to know that I, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen am the instrument of his family's demise.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#26.11)" (2001)

If only movies had spliceable DNA as well as frames...

I was wondering if I needed to wait until viewing the entire mini-series version of Frank Herbert's seminal science fiction classic, but now having seen Part One, I know that won't be necessary.

How I wish there were some way to extract the charisma of the movie's cast, and somehow meld it with the production values and plotline of the new version. That way, fans of this sprawling allegorical tale could have the best of both worlds. Not that there aren't admirable things about both versions.

Where the magnificent photography of the late, great Freddie Francis served well David Lynch's more ethereal tendencies in the 1984 version, Vittorio Storaro's cleaner, clearer images for Harrison's miniseries could very well be a metaphorical reflection of the ever-expanding vision of its hero, young Paul Atreides (nee Paul Mu'ad D'ib.) The production design of both films is lavish, but where Lynch's film gave locations and accoutrements a more lived-in look, the mini's similar designs, though equally accurate by the novel's standards, reflect that antiseptic cleanliness that we are learning to recognize more and more with the advent of digital technology and its application to cinematic visual techniques.

With a few exceptions, the casting and therefore the subsequent performances are just as clean and clear-cut, dispensing with some of the character's humanity in exchange for the original's hystrionics of its more memorable characters.

Where Kenneth McMillan's unredeemably repulsive yet completely unforgettable Baron Harkonnen was the apex of pustulant, corpulent evil, Ian McNeice's version comes off as daintily perturbed, as if the most upsetting event in his worldview is not being served tea on time. William Hurt and Saskia Reeves capture the confident, manor-bred mantles of Duke Leto and the Lady Jessica accurately enough, but gone are the sorrowful grace of Jurgen Prochnow and the stunning Francesca Annis, whose relationship seemed tinged with the inescapable taint of a prophecy waiting to be fulfilled, and the damned, doomed parts they both played in its unfolding.

The rest of the cast, though gamely essaying their roles to the best of their ability, could hardly hope to match the powerhouse ensemble assembled by Italian mega-mogul Dino de Laurentis. For years, David Lynch was wrongfully assigned the blame for butchering his own film, when buffs everywhere know that he suffered through the ham-handed, studio-supervised editing of what should've been a landmark of science-fiction filmmaking, similar to what Terry Gilliam would endure at the same studio with BRAZIL.

Further insult was added to the injury when a four-hour cut was assembled by Universal for the TV version, which Lynch promptly removed his name from, (hence the traditional "Smithee" credit for direction, and the writing by "Judas Booth.")

While it is a splendid example of how CGI and other visual technological developments are making it possible for filmmakers to maintain accuracy and a truth to tell those stories it would've been impossible to film over a decade ago, (and for about half the cost), I for one do miss the star power and (at least) some of the remarkable acting in the Lynch version. I suspect where more money was spent on securing stars in '84 than for the sets and costume designs, the exact opposite is true for the new miniseries.

New and old fans of the tale should view and enjoy the latest version for the visuals, then go back and review the movie for the Lynchian touch, which in some odd but affecting ways came closer to Herbert's underlying messages of mysticism, miracles and seizing one's destiny than the Harrison version. In any case, you can come away with some elements of the best of both DUNE worlds.