Welcome to Part 3 of a multipart consideration of Frank Herbert’s Dune, mostly in film. There will be a total of 6 parts, one not written by me:

1.Ed Grover’s fine review of the SF Channel Dune (Done With
With Dune"
http://www.epinions.com/content_107094380164
2.My lengthy comment on the above
http://www.epinions.com/content_107094380164/show_~allcom
3. This little op-ed piece.
4. A review of the recent SF Channel Dune miniseries
http://www.epinions.com/content_107537141380
5. A review of the more recent SF Channel Children of Dune
Dune miniseries (upcoming).
6.A parody, "Franz : Kafka :: Lorna : _____ :
http://www.epinions.com/content_3418595460
7. The newly revealed alternate ending to "Dune"
http://www.epinions.com/content_3427901572

Reading Parts 1 and 2 are sort of essential, because there will be minimal repeating of that material here. A bit of background: Frank Herbert wrote 6 Dune novels (I had told Ed 7, but after checking my library found that the sequels to “God-Emperor of Dune” were 2, not 3. These novels (“Heretics of Dune” and “Chapterhouse Dune” are in fact better than any of the Dune novels since “Dune” and far better than any Dune novel written after Frank Herbert’s death.

In addition, Frank’s son Brian has co-written (thus far) 5 prequels to “Dune” … 3 dealing with the last years of Emperor Elrood IX and the first years of Shaddam IV and 2 dealing with the era of the Butlerian Jihad. The writing in the 3 prequels is nowhere nearly so compelling and interesting as that in the original 6 novels – and I suspect the more recently published 2 have the same defect. However, since they presumably represent details in Frank’s original notes, they have some interest.

There is, finally, “The Dune Encyclopedia” by Willis McNelly, published after “God-Emperor of Dune”, which also presumably contains large amounts of material from Frank Herbert’s notes. Because the book is written as if it were compiled and published almost 2000 years after the death of Leto II, it contains no information as to how it was actually compiled. It’s essential reading for the Dune fan. Because the entries are so dovetailed and interconnected, it’s best to read it front to back, like a novel.

David Lynch’s “Dune” appeared in 3 versions. The first was the long version, something like 6 hours, that was shown at one (or more than one?) SF convention before the theatrical release. It was well received, and we can assume that most of the film’s later problems stem from the fact that this more complete version has been replaced by the later less complete ones.

The second version, the one Ed Grover reviews, is basically the theatrical release. It’s about 136 minutes long. Huge gaps have appeared in the narrative structure, and the whole complex plot and background are difficult to follow. This is the version you will find on the VHS or DVD version of “Dune”. You have to be careful when ordering that the seller you have chosen has specified whether the widescreen version is being offered. The VHS has been almost exclusively the deceptively-labled “full screen” version (which actually means “pan-and-scan” butchery), but widescreen VHS is available. The DVD seems to be universally widescreen, but it’s probably advisable to check.

“Dune” was later recut to about 190 minutes for TV release. Some special narrative material was added to explain more about the film’s background. Despite the greater length some material in the earlier version was omitted – particularly one in which Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is given a character even more awful than that portrayed in the novel. This version has been cut slightly (to a bit over 170 minutes) in a version now appearing on the SciFi Channel.

Later on, in 2000, the SciFi Channel aired a new version of “Dune” for which a separate review is needed. I mention it here because both items 1 and 2 in our list of items have some comments comparing the 2 versions. I’ll only say here that it took the later version of “Dune” to make manifest the virtues of the earlier.

Aside from extra footage and greater clarity in the later cut, both shorter versions of the Lynch film are pretty much the same. From the point of view of costuming (especially stillsuits) and sets the film is well designed and convincing. The special effects are convincing and well in sync with the source. Lynch deals with the problem of how to portray Guild Navigators very well. The Worms certainly look like Worms, and the technique for riding them is correctly portrayed. The only aspect that bothered me from the beginning was Geidi Prime and the Harkonnens generally. Certainly the portrayal of Baron Vladimir as a madman with the galaxy’s ultimate case of acne – not to mention the business with “heart plugs” – is too much over the top and outside the urtext. Here Lynch would have been better advised to trust Herbert’s judgement in the characteristics of his villains.

The most problematic aspect of “Dune” is, it’s probably generally agreed, is its star. Kyle MacLachlan had, long before there was actually a film being planned, approached Herbert with the specific proposal that he play Paul Atreides. He went to acting school and was, in due course, actually given the part. He’s not a polished actor, and his performance pales in comparison with that of the many luminaries in the cast, but on the whole he didn’t do a bad job. It’s not his fault that he was given some pretty dorky lines. The role of Paul is not an easy one to assay … as the SciFi Channel version was to prove conclusively. It should be observed that MacLachlan was no flash in the pan and has had (is still having) a considerable film career since “Dune”.

Surrounding MacLachlan is a wonderful cast. Jose Ferrar and Siān Phillips are spectacular as Shaddam IV and Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam. Despite the disastrous departure from the book, Kenneth MacMillan is wonderfully paranoid, lecherous, grasping, and almost mad as the homosexual and pederastic Vladimir Harkonnen. Sting plays Vladimir’s nephew Feyd(-Rautha) to a fare-thee-well, but a key scene depicting his less-than-ethical behavior in the arena is omitted. Although we don’t see this in either version of “Dune”, nor in the book for that matter, the Encyclopedia tells us that Feyd was as gay as his uncle. (And, for that matter, Vladimir was at one time fully as gorgeous as Feyd. In case you’re wondering how he got the way he was, the Brian Herbert prequels reveal he ran afoul of – guess who? – nasty old [well, young, then] Gaius Helen Mohiam, who gave him a very grody and incurable “obesity” disease after her second tryst with him.)

Paul’s parents, Duke Leto (I) and Lady Jessica, are effectively portrayed by Jurgen Prochnow and Francesca Annis. She is particularly well cast, having the sort of beauty one imagines for Jessica. He does a fine job, giving Leto just the right touches of common sense and nobility. The Mentat Thufir Hawat is played by the inimitable Freddy Jones. Patrick Stewart gives Gurney Halleck appropriate intensity, although Lynch apparently does nothing with Halleck’s virtuosity with the baliset. Richard Jordan as Duncan Idaho is more problematic … not least because he lacks the dark, lean charisma of the character. The film also does nothing to give any basis to Paul’s attachment to Idaho. Another problematic character is Piter De Vries. Brad Dourif plays him in a quirky manner – which may fit a Tleilaxu-produced “twisted Mentat”. Two other “name” actors have key roles: Dean Stockwell as Dr. Wellington Yueh and Max von Sydow as Liet-Kynes. Both are killed off about the same time as Duke Leto, so only last through the first third of the picture, but have nice parts up to then – which they handle well. Von Sydow gives his role appropriate gravitas – although his character is presented as an off-worlder who’s gone native instead of what he actually is: the half-Fremen son of an off-worlder. Stockwell seems just a tad on the inappropriate side for Yueh – although that’s just a general feeling I have rather than anything specific I can point to.

Among less well-known actors, we should note that Everett McGill is wonderfully stoic as Stilgar and Sean Young is hard yet vulnerable as Liet-Kynes’ daughter Chani. Paul Smith gives Vladimir Harkonnen’s other nephew, Rabban, a wonderfully vicious and beastly performance.

“Dune” has a less-than-positive reputation that is largely undeserved. The film suffered mightily on the cutting-room floor: not entirely the director’s fault. It has problems with plot clarity and some gratuitously stupid departures from the original (book). But it has one great advantage: with few exceptions, the actors play their roles believably and with passion and commitment. You can read the novel to fill in the holes and gaps … and after that the many virtues of the film will more than make up for its shortcomings. The entire effort is so earnest that it grows on you … but the longer version occasionally shown on the SF Channel is definitely the better of the two available. You can by the other version on DVD if you want, but recording the longer one off your TV is a better option. (I have both, but I’m a fanatic.)

A further note on the actual date of the events in “Dune”. The year given for Duke Leto’s occupation of Arrakis (Dune) is 10,190 (and I think this is the date given in the narration for both film versions). What neither film tells you is that this date is NOT Common Era (or “A.D.”), but A.G. (After [the foundation of the Spacing] Guild. The foundation of the Guild takes place over 14,000 years in our future. The Encyclopedia of Dune gives 14,255 B.G. (Before Guild) as the equivalent of 1945 C.E. Therefore, the Common Era equivalent of 10,190 A.G. is 26,390 C.E. Leto II ascends the throne 29 years later and reigns 3505 years. Add a few thousand years for the Starvation, the Scattering, and the Return, and the last 2 Frank Herbert novels are taking place well after 30,000 C.E. (Side note: Historians of this future record that Alexander the Great was the first Emperor and that the only time in history there was no Empire was between the fall of Byzantion and the rise of Madrid. The Atreides family, by the way, is descended from King Ashur-nasirpal of Assyria. Go figure.)


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older