Frank Herbert’s mammoth cult novel, about the competition in the year 10,991 between two warring families for control of Dune – a barren planet renowned for its life-prolonging and mind-expanding spice – is converted by director David Lynch into a dense, swirling mass of religious symbolism and mysticism.
Unwieldy and confusing, it’s not as bad as it seemed on release. Lynch was, reportedly, unhappy with the final cut, but his film is visually stunning – the industrial design is truly unique – and many of the scenes are among the most memorable, and original, of the genre.
Kyle MacLachlan (in his film debut) stars as the “messiah” alongside an amazing cast that includes Sean Young, Francesca Annis, Sting, Patrick Stewart and Kenneth McMillan as the decaying, bloated Baron Harkonnen, perhaps the most repellent villain ever created (pictured at right).
Paul Atreides
Kyle MacLachlan
Lady Jessica
Francesca Annis
Piter De Vries
Brad Dourif
Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV
José Ferrer
Shadout Mapes
Linda Hunt
Thufir Hawat
Freddie Jones
Duncan Idaho
Richard Jordan
Princess Irulan
Virginia Madsen
Reverend Mother Ramallo
Silvana Mangano
Stilgar
Everett McGill
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Kenneth McMillan
Nefud
Jack Nance
Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
Sian Phillips
Duke Leto Atreides
Jürgen Prochnow
Beast Rabban
Paul Smith
Gurney Halleck
Patrick Stewart
Feyd Rautha
Sting
Dr Wellington Yueh
Dean Stockwell
Dr Kynes
Max von Sydow
Alia
Alicia Witt
Chani
Sean Young
Director
David Lynch
