History Film / Dune

** Meanwhile, every Harkonnen is ugly save Sting as Feyd. Heck, his introduction has him slathered in ''oil'', with his ''father'' lusting after him.

* CreepyUncle: The movie plays up the HoYay between Baron Harkonnen and Feyd Rautha even more than the books.

* CreatorCameo: Lynch, as the radio operator on the spice harvester that Baron Leto rescues.

The producers turned to a hot new director who had been considered for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', mostly because of Creator/GeorgeLucas' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen still-intense passion for experimental film]], mostly on the strength of his classic [[Film/{{Eraserhead}} first film]] and a critically and commercially successful [[Film/TheElephantMan biopic]] that made him a true commodity in the industry. That man's name: DavidLynch, who took the project and made it his own to only a slightly lesser extent than Jodorowsky would have. Due to his alien style and the sheer scale of the book, the already-complex narrative became nearly incomprehensible to some viewers; many theaters handed out [[AllThereInTheManual printed plot summaries]] to patrons. Ironically, the altered cut made more understandable to be commercially viable for television was ''even longer'' than the existing film, running about '''four hours''' with commercials, and included, among other things, altered narration and a lengthier prologue (narrated by WordOfGod himself). Lynch was incensed that the studio had [[ExecutiveMeddling recut his movie]] behind his back (one of the easiest ways to spot the lost footage restored in the extended version is that the Fremen lose the unnaturally vivid "blue within blue eyes" effects); he had himself credited for director as AlanSmithee and as ''[[BitingTheHandHumor Judas Booth]]''[[note]](as in John Wilkes; a name he has signed at least once as an autograph at the request of a fan)[[/note]] for his screenwriting credit - and Lynch didn't even have final cut on the theatrical version of the film, editing duties takena way from him by the studio, which also left him very unhappy. The 1984 Lynch version of ''Dune'' is the most memorable (and notorious) for its Freudian imagery, [[SceneryPorn elaborate set design]] (containing some holdovers from the Jodorowsky version, including Giger's designs), and AllStarCast. Subsequent recut and extended versions have inspired [[BrokenBase varying]] degrees of critical [[LoveItOrHateIt reappraisal]]. It was a complete flop at the box office and has become both a CultClassic, and an example of how ''not'' to make a blockbuster.

From the early 1970's on, attempts were made to produce a theatrical film. Cult director Creator/AlejandroJodorowsky (known for incredibly bizarre films such as ''Film/ElTopo'' and ''Film/TheHolyMountain'' and equally strange or stranger comic books) came to the project after having a bizarre dream almost identical to the broader plot of the first novel and then hearing about a book of almost exactly the same story. Convinced that there was something more here he resolved to make '''a movie based on his dream,''' with bits of the book itself thrown in (that's not hyperbole, that's his stated agenda). Comic artist Moebius and fellow HeavyMetal writer/artist Dan O'Bannon (also responsible for the concept art and a decent chunk of the screenplay for ''Film/{{Alien}}'') worked on concept art and designs, as well as ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' designer Creator/HRGiger, whose work actually ended up in the final film in small doses. Salvador Dali was cast as the Emperor (which is not nearly as ridiculous as it sounds to non-''Dune'' fans) and PinkFloyd had agreed to provide the score. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Sadly, and inevitably, it fell apart.]] The 2014 documentary ''Alejandro Jodorowsky's Dune'' is a look into what might have been.

The producers turned to a hot new director who had been considered for ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', mostly because of Creator/GeorgeLucas' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen still-intense passion for experimental film]], mostly on the strength of his classic [[Film/{{Eraserhead}} first film]] and a critically and commercially successful [[Film/TheElephantMan biopic]] that made him a true commodity in the industry. That man's name: DavidLynch, who took the project and made it his own to only a slightly lesser extent than Jodorowsky would have. Due to his alien style and the sheer scale of the book, the already-complex narrative became nearly incomprehensible to some viewers; many theaters handed out [[AllThereInTheManual printed plot summaries]] to patrons. Ironically, the altered cut made more understandable to be commercially viable for television was ''even longer'' than the existing film, running about '''four hours''' with commercials, and included, among other things, altered narration and a lengthier prologue (narrated by WordOfGod himself). Lynch was incensed that the studio had [[ExecutiveMeddling recut his movie]] behind his back; he had himself credited for director as AlanSmithee and as ''[[BitingTheHandHumor Judas Booth]]''[[note]](as in John Wilkes; a name he has signed at least once as an autograph at the request of a fan)[[/note]] for his screenwriting credit. The 1984 Lynch version of ''Dune'' is the most memorable (and notorious) for its Freudian imagery, [[SceneryPorn elaborate set design]] (containing some holdovers from the Jodorowsky version, including Giger's designs), and AllStarCast. Subsequent recut and extended versions have inspired [[BrokenBase varying]] degrees of critical [[LoveItOrHateIt reappraisal]]. It was a complete flop at the box office and has become both a CultClassic, and an example of how ''not'' to make a blockbuster.

* ActorAllusion: Siân Phillips has some experience playing [[Series/IClaudius a scheming matriarch]].

* PrettyBoy: Paul Atreides is portrayed by the strikingly pretty Kyle [=MacLachlan=].

* DracoInLeatherPants: Creator/{{Sting}} as Feyd. Oh dear yes.

From the early 1970's on, attempts were made to produce a theatrical film. Cult director Creator/AlejandroJodorowsky (known for incredibly bizarre films such as ''ElTopo'' and ''TheHolyMountain'' and equally strange or stranger comic books) came to the project after having a bizarre dream almost identical to the broader plot of the first novel and then hearing about a book of almost exactly the same story. Convinced that there was something more here he resolved to make '''a movie based on his dream,''' with bits of the book itself thrown in (that's not hyperbole, that's his stated agenda). Comic artist Moebius and fellow HeavyMetal writer/artist Dan O'Bannon (also responsible for the concept art and a decent chunk of the screenplay for ''Film/{{Alien}}'') worked on concept art and designs, as well as ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' designer Creator/HRGiger, whose work actually ended up in the final film in small doses. Salvador Dali was cast as the Emperor (which is not nearly as ridiculous as it sounds to non-''Dune'' fans) and PinkFloyd had agreed to provide the score. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Sadly, and inevitably, it fell apart.]] The 2014 documentary ''Alejandro Jodorowsky's Dune'' is a look into what might have been.

The producers turned to a hot new director who had been considered for ''[[StarWars Return of the Jedi]],'' mostly because of George Lucas' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen still-intense passion for experimental film]], mostly on the strength of his classic [[Film/{{Eraserhead}} first film]] and a critically and commercially successful [[Film/TheElephantMan biopic]] that made him a true commodity in the industry. That man's name: DavidLynch, who took the project and made it his own to only a slightly lesser extent than Jodorowsky would have. Due to his alien style and the sheer scale of the book, the already-complex narrative became nearly incomprehensible to some viewers; many theaters handed out [[AllThereInTheManual printed plot summaries]] to patrons. Ironically, the altered cut made more understandable to be commercially viable for television was ''even longer'' than the existing film, running about '''four hours''' with commercials, and included, among other things, altered narration and a lengthier prologue (narrated by WordOfGod himself). Lynch was incensed that the studio had [[ExecutiveMeddling recut his movie]] behind his back; he had himself credited for director as AlanSmithee and as ''[[BitingTheHandHumor Judas Booth]]''[[note]](as in John Wilkes; a name he has signed at least once as an autograph at the request of a fan)[[/note]] for his screenwriting credit. The 1984 Lynch version of ''Dune'' is the most memorable (and notorious) for its Freudian imagery, [[SceneryPorn elaborate set design]] (containing some holdovers from the Jodorowsky version, including Giger's designs), and AllStarCast. Subsequent recut and extended versions have inspired [[BrokenBase varying]] degrees of critical [[LoveItOrHateIt reappraisal]]. It was a complete flop at the box office and has become both a CultClassic, and an example of how ''not'' to make a blockbuster.

* AdaptationExpansion: The Lynch film introduced many elements that influenced later works in the Dune universe. Examples include the Mentat Mantra ("It is by will alone that I set my mind in motion" sounds similar enough to the Litany Against Fear that it feels like a line from the book, but never appeared there), the Atreides research into sound-based weaponry (again, never mentioned in the book. Sonic tanks and the like have turned up in subsequent works), heart-plugs (only briefly mentioned in the book as some sort of filtration device, but turned into something entirely more sinister by the Harkonen), the Baron Harkonen's skin conditions (never mentioned in the book, the Baron is only ever described as morbidly obese with no references made to skin problems), and many elements of the film's "look and feel" are aped by the works that followed (It's very rare to see the Emperor depicted without a neat little beard these days, for example, and Bene Gesserit are often depicted as bald).

* AlanSmithee: David Lynch had his name removed from the extended cut of the '84 film, replacing it with this. And then had his script credit changed to "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Judas Booth]]", in case anyone didn't get the message.
* AttackItsWeakPoint: In the film, the population of Giedi Prime all wear 'heart plugs' that are prominently displayed and quite easy to yank out. Hawat is fitted with one once he's captured; Kenneth [=McMillian=]'s line, "[[HandWave Everyone gets one here]].", is so delightfully deadpan.
* AStormIsComing: "A storm is coming... our storm." -- ''Dune'' (1984 Version).
* BigOlEyebrows: Thufir Hawat and Piter deVries in the '84 Lynch film have big bushy eyebrows, possibly to denote them as Mentats.

* CompellingVoice: The Voice is clearly heard as the VoiceOfTheLegion. In the film, it can be heard playing over and over in the target's mind, forcing him to comply.

* CreatorCameo: Lynch, as the radio operator on the spice harvester in the movie.

* DidYouActuallyBelieve: The '84 film has a heroic example, where Thufir Hawat (the Atreides mentat) betrays the Emperor and Harkonnens by refusing to kill Paul:

* ErmineCapeEffect: In the film's prologue, José Ferrer flamboyantly shrugs off his cape before meeting with the Navigator. He wears standard military attire in all other scenes.
* EvilRedhead: Almost all of the Harkonnens we see in the movie have red or orange hair.
* ExoticEntree: The movie has an inexplicable throwaway scene of Rabban crushing a live mouse-like creature in a small device and then drinking the resulting mess with a straw.

* FisherKing: The movie has Paul Atreides taking up his place as the Kwisatz Haderach, at which point Arrakis, a planet defined by its absurd dearth of water, is consumed by a torrential downpour of rain. In the book, it took years of {{Terraform}}ing. Perhaps the filmmakers subconsciously realised there weren't going to be any sequels and they had better get it over with?

* IWasNeverHere: The Guild Navigator from Lynch's movie, after telling the Emperor to kill Paul Atreides. "I did not say this, I am not here."
* KickTheDog: Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in the '84 film when he pulls the heart plug from one of his slaves and then does something [[{{squick}} too gruesome to describe here]].

* MonochromaticEyes[=/=]TechnicolorEyes: A result of high-level Spice addiction, when enough ingestion saturates the blood stream and stains the eyes. Turned into GlowingEyesOfDoom in both live-action adaptations.
* MrFanservice: Feyd's utterly gratuitous speedo scene in the film. Sting's running five miles a day really paid off.

* NonActorVehicle: TheMovie by DavidLynch, with Sting.
* NotableOriginalMusic: Brian Eno and Toto's score .
* OpeningMonologue: "A beginning is a very delicate time. Know then that it is the year ten-thousand, one-ninety-one..." Narration was used to insane levels in the movie, although being Dune it needed it.

* PimpedOutDress: The movie has dresses based on renaissance gowns.

* PrettyBoy: Paul Atriedes in the movie is portrayed by the strikingly pretty Kyle [=MacLachlan=].

* PsychicNosebleed: The movie has a scene in which several Bene Gesserit cry blood when Paul drinks the Water of Life. Although the movie doesn't make it clear, those who read the books will know that [[spoiler:all of them are his relatives]], and the identity of two of them makes guessing the significance of the third reasonably easy.
* RealityWarper: Contrary to the books, the Guild Navigators in the film fold spacetime with their minds.

* SpaceClothes: The 'film portrays the various peoples wearing European Renaissance-style military uniforms and court regalia with an early nineteenth-century feel. This comes off remarkably well.
* TrainingMontage: a short one is used in TheMovie to show Paul Muad'dib training the Fremen to fight against the Harkonnens.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: At one point, the David Lynch film was going to include incestuous themes between Paul and his mother.
* WordsCanBreakMyBones: The 1984 film turns the Weirding Way into a martial art and turns "My name is a killing word" into something much more literal. In fact, Paul is nearly flattened by rocks when a hapless Fremen utters the word "Muad'Dib".

->''"A secret report within the Guild. Four planets have come to our attention ... regarding a plot which could jeopardize spice production. Planet Arrakis, source of the spice. Planet Caladan, home of House Atreides. Planet Giedi Prime, home of House Harkonnen. Planet Kaitain, home of the Emperor of the Known Universe. Send a third stage Guild Navigator to Kaitain to demand details from the Emperor. The spice must flow... "''

Dune is the 1984 [[TheFilmOfTheBook feature film adaptation]] of the popular Frank Herbert novel ''{{Literature/{{Dune}}''

[[redirect:Literature/{{Dune}}]]