Before the excellent 2021 remake, there was another film version of ‘Dune’ done back in 1984.
Upon its release however it was considered a flop but it has since gained the status of a cult classic over the years. Particularly within the run-up to the remake. There have been other versions of ‘Dune’ such as the Sci-Fi channel tv series back in the early 2000’s which was able to adapt all three ‘Dune’ books.
After watching the 2021 remake I decided to go and watch the original 1984 film and it doesn’t disappoint.
The story starts off with a narration by Princess Irulan (Virginia Madsen) of the history of the world of ‘Dune’ including the planet Arrakis. She also explains about the history and importance of “spice” which is heavily mined on Arrakis.
Soon afterwards The Guild sends a navigator emissary to the planet Kaitain to discuss a threat to the spice production and the Emperor Shaddam IV (Jose Ferrer). The Duke Leto Atreides has grown quite powerful and The Guild believes that he is mastering an army. They conspire a plot to kill the Atreides family including Leto’s son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan) after giving the Atreides family Arrakis so that the Emperor can take back the planet Arrakis in order to mine the spice there.
Meanwhile on the planet Caladan- currently owned by House Atreides- Paul is confused why the Harkonnens have given them Arrakis. Thufir Hawat (Freddie Jones) tells Paul that they’re going because of the promise of a new army.
Paul’s tutor Gurney Halleck (Patrick Stewart) then tests Paul’s ability with hand-to-hand combat. Something Gurney tells Paul that will come in handy on Arrakis.
Like with the 2021 remake, the 1984 version of ‘Dune’ boasts of a very starry cast including singer and former member of rock band The Police, Sting as well as a pre-Star Trek Patrick Stewart. Many of the cast members such as Kyle MacLachlan have also popped up on another David Lynch project; TV series ‘Twin Peaks’.
‘Dune’ 1984 also boasts of decent (for its time) special effects, especially where the iconic sandworms are concerned.
There were some parts of this version that I preferred over the 2021 version such as the fact that Paul smiles a bit more and is more of a bad-ass. Especially on the scene in which Paul rides a sandworm. I hope next year’s ‘Dune-part 2’ is able to do that scene just as well- if not better- than the 1984 version.
Over all a decent film for its time. It’s a shame that Lynch was never able to do the other two books in the series as a result of it not being very well received at the time.
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