Following a notorious aborted attempt by Alejandro Jodorowsky in the 1970s, Frank Herbert’s bestselling sci-fi epic Dune finally made it to the big screen as the third film by emerging surrealist wunderkind David Lynch, featuring an all-star cast that includes several of Lynch’s regular collaborators.  The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe – found only on the planet Arrakis.  A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice.  As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides’ son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan, in his screen debut) finds himself at the center of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever.  Though its initial reception ensured that Lynch largely eschewed mainstream filmmaking for the rest of his career, Dune has since been rightly re-evaluated as one of the most startlingly original and visionary science fiction films of the 1980s.

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.  At least four versions have been released worldwide.  Lynch largely disowned the finished film and had his name removed or changed to pseudonyms in the credits on certain versions.  The film has developed a cult following…

“A movie you feel with your eyes. ” – JoAnn Rhetts, Charlotte Observer

“Underrated, especially for devotees of the book. An impressively faithful if necessarily streamlined adaptation.” – Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest

“It gets under your skin and is marked by unforgettable images and an extraordinary soundtrack.” – Jo Creed-Miles, Time Out