DUNE, 1984 english Science Fiction movie

Dune is a 1984 American epic space opera film written and directed by David Lynch and based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel Dune. It was filmed at the Churubusco Studios in Mexico City. The soundtrack was composed by the rock band Toto, with a contribution from Brian Eno. Its large ensemble cast includes Kyle MacLachlan's film debut as young nobleman Paul Atreides, Patrick Stewart, Brad Dourif, Dean Stockwell, Virginia Madsen, José Ferrer, Sean Young, Sting, Linda Hunt, and Max von Sydow. The setting is the distant future, chronicling the conflict between rival noble families as they battle for control of the extremely harsh desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. The planet is the only source of the drug melange (spice), which allows prescience and is vital to space travel, making it the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe. Paul Atreides is the scion and heir of a powerful noble family, whose inheritance of control over Arrakis brings them into conflict with its former overlords, House Harkonnen. Paul is also possibly the Kwisatz Haderach, a messianic figure expected by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. After the novel's initial success, attempts to adapt Dune as a film began in 1971. A lengthy process of development followed throughout the 1970s, during which Arthur P. Jacobs, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Ridley Scott unsuccessfully tried to bring their visions to the screen. In 1981, executive producer Dino De Laurentiis hired Lynch as director. The film underperformed at the box office, grossing $30.9 million from a $42 million budget. At least four versions have been released worldwide. Lynch largely disowned the finished film and had his name removed or changed to pseudonyms. The film has developed a cult following, but opinion varies between fans of the novel and fans of Lynch's films. Cast Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, the Atreides heir Francesca Annis as Lady Jessica, concubine of Duke Leto and mother to Paul and Alia Leonardo Cimino as the Baron's Doctor Brad Dourif as Piter De Vries, the Harkonnen Mentat José Ferrer as Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV Linda Hunt as the Shadout Mapes, the Fremen housekeeper of the Atreides' Arrakis palace Freddie Jones as Thufir Hawat, the Atreides Mentat Richard Jordan as Duncan Idaho, a Swordmaster of the Ginaz in the Atreides court Virginia Madsen as Princess Irulan, the Emperor's eldest daughter Silvana Mangano as Reverend Mother Ramallo, a Fremen woman who predicts Paul's arrival Everett McGill as Stilgar, the leader of the Fremen with whom Paul and Jessica take refuge Kenneth McMillan as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Duke Leto's rival Jack Nance as Nefud, the captain of Baron Harkonnen's guard Siân Phillips as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, the Emperor's advisor and Jessica's Bene Gesserit superior Jürgen Prochnow as Duke Leto Atreides, Paul's father Paul Smith as Glossu Rabban, Baron Harkonnen's older nephew Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck, a troubador-warrior and talented baliset musician in the Atreides court Sting as Feyd-Rautha, Baron Harkonnen's younger nephew Dean Stockwell as Doctor Wellington Yueh, the Atreides physician and unwilling traitor Max von Sydow as Doctor Kynes, a planetologist in the Fremen Alicia Witt as Alia, Paul's younger sister Sean Young as Chani, Paul's Fremen lover Additionally, Honorato Magalone appears as Otheym, Judd Omen appears as Jamis, and Molly Wryn as Harah. Director David Lynch appears in an uncredited cameo as a spice worker, while Danny Corkill is shown in the onscreen credits as Orlop despite his scenes being deleted from the theatrical release. Tom Cruise, Kevin Costner, Lewis Smith, Zach Galligan, Michael Biehn, Kenneth Branagh, and Val Kilmer were either screen-tested or auditioned for the role of Paul, Kilmer was the top choice for the role until Kyle screen-tested. Glenn Close tested for the role of Lady Jessica, but lost to Francesa Annis. Helena Bonham Carter was originally cast as Princess Irulan, but she left due to scheduling conflicts with A Room with a View. Production Main article: Dune (novel) Early stalled attempts Early attempts and Jodorowsky's Dune After the book's initial success, producers began attempting to adapt it. In mid-1971, film producer Arthur P. Jacobs optioned the film rights to Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune, on agreement to produce a film within nine years, but died in mid-1973, while plans for the film (including David Lean already attached to direct) were still in development. The film rights reverted in 1974, when the option was acquired by a French consortium led by Jean-Paul Gibon, with Alejandro Jodorowsky attached to direct.