David Lynch is up for doing a directors cut of Dune!!! — Page 2

SpookyDollhouse said:

Ronster said:

SpookyDollhouse said:

I feel if this actually got off the ground he’d inevitably reconstruct his 4 hour cut as it was before Fox went in and did their own thing. Cuz as we know they pushed him around on set but he did what he could in the editing room before the top dogs went “nope.” I don’t think anything SFX would get changed really. Lynch isn’t super into that sort of thing to be honest.

Whilst I agree with your sentiments the fact of the matter is let’s take for instance I think it’s the 6th Draft after the Jamis fight. The Fremen with paul and Jessica set out from the rocks at dawn and go to “Sietch Tabar” chani points whilst they walk in the desert and says (sorry if there is spelling mistake) “Sietch Tabar” So this relies on having an image of this place which they may or may not have filmed. Although you could say ok don’t include the scene because we don’t have the fantastical location that does not exist. Of course it can be remedied by creating it. These sorts of films are like chicken and the egg. You can argue all day which one came first but the reality is that the egg needs the chicken just as much as the chicken needs the egg.

A Special effects film needs special effects constantly and consistantly especially one like Dune with blue eyes roto in on loads of shots but the actors and the performances are just as important. The World is important and that is something Dune did tremendously well with it’s production design.

I think the amount of work it probably would requite is daunting but at the same time it makes it much more plausible that people would want to have a go because it would be a challenge and that makes it more credible. A challenge is something that people can get behind.

It’s a beautiful film and exists how it is and doesn’t “need” anything visually redone to it. I stand by the notion that all Lynch would do is restore his initial cut and leave the rest be. He might request some minor seam corrections like what recently happened to Poltergeist but that’s all I’d realistically see. Everything else is do-it-cuz-we-can-current-year brand presentism tbh.

I don’t mind you havig that opinion at all.

Did you read the Ron Miller Article? Where he says that the effects budget was totally chopped down before they had even started shooting the effects scenes…

The physical shoot was all in the can. He was one of the main artists on the shoot.

He said that there are key effect scenes missing. That is his opinion and from his knowledge of being there. Do you think David Lynch would put the Blue eyes on the Fremen and stuff or just not bother?

I think he would but I’d like to know why you think he would not color in the Fremen eyes blue like he did before?

I myself looked at this problem previously regarding Ron Millers Comments and how to try and not CGI the film or as little as possible…

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0lJoQSDKPas/YTJqGvv5QTI/AAAAAAABppY/aJDUJ0J7vAAVaZunZShSmKCD7aQyGhKoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1978/Dune-1984-concept-art-Ron-Miller-01-1978x799.jpg

Production art of Caladan

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uXUIzttOji8/W90XRObPhFI/AAAAAAAAr-k/2n9P5mtR0cMbJRWxxKpBEbnKABqUl_5lgCKgBGAs/s640/The%2BIsland%2Bvlcsnap-00507.jpg

Good Match by original Special effects artist Albert Whitlock from “The Island”

The Way West by Albert Whitlock

https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/t_share/MTc2Mjk0ODAwNzc2MzczNDIx/albert-whitlock-hollywood-matte-artist.jpg

Creating Sietch Tabar

http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/2091/3pvyixeomp8b929zg.jpg?size_id=a

These 2 I think were pretty good Ideas and it would retain the Albert Whitlock look whilst also creating shot’s that they may not have. I appreciate there could be rights issues over attempting something like this but I think it would be a better approach than CGI it’s a sort of pseudo CGI but for good reason and a good cause. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. So It’s possible to do things without going down some horrible revisionary crusade and try to fill any blanks in a modest and more genuine fashion whilst retaining the look of the original film.

http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/178c/ayp9e4qth16qch8zg.jpg?size_id=5

This Ron Miller painting may have been the “Weather… See Storms” visual for the film book. I’m not sure but it would have been better with that I feel.

The Key Special effects… I don’t know what they are exactly but I have a strong feeling the Heighliners dissolving in simply as a transparent object is nothing like what Lynch had planned. I Believe that the Image of the Heighliner was to be projected on to a water tank and then you put a drop of water to disturb and distort the image until it settles. Then you take that footage and dissolve that blurred distorted Heighliner in with the water ripple effect over your matte painting of the destination. Thus creating or showing that displacement in time and space. There are shots in the film that do use this technique it simply was not applied to the Heighliner arriving at Arrakis.

Let’s look at the trip to Arrakis in more detail…

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--emqOm4S7qM/YTJqIRY-bHI/AAAAAAABppo/2nyUHwcAi008ucRAP1y1W2mrMOVkVIHUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1979/Dune-1984-concept-art-Ron-Miller-07-1979x862.jpg

Here we can clearly see what Caladan was to look like.

https://preview.redd.it/pdvvqo9vyez71.jpg?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=fd8a7f57f639207d8704e5396458435aa466d172

Here is the Original Painting from the film book.

So looking at the film this does not look correct at all in terms of Color.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gVEQRj_WJG4/maxresdefault.jpg

It’s almost as if that is also Arrakis in the background and if you were to travel without moving you would change everything around the Heighliner without touching the Matte painting of the Heighliner. So the one constant would be the tube like ship and everything else changes around it? Can you see what I mean it sort of feels like the whole way this sequence works is incorrect. It’s still lovely in it’s own right but I could see potentially a numerous different ways that this could of or should have gone.

Either the ship is the dissolving distorted object if you are at the location and it is arriving or if you “travel without moving” then all of the exterior planet elements distort and dissolve so everything else changes around the Heighliner vessel ship.

https://textualvariations.substack.com/p/lynch-dune-4hourcut

This is a very interesting article on the history of the many cut’s of Dune and the Unrealised and unknown Directors cut.

https://www.thepropgallery.com/dune-john-dykstras-visual-effects-breakdown-binder

Apogee (John Dykstra) production binder before they left the production and another Effects house Van der Veer took over

https://www.thepropgallery.com/dune-apogee-production-used-storyboards

Found the story board for Keynes (Max Von Sydow) death scene spice blow perhaps this was to go with the water of life from the baby worm scenes?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/dune-465-storyboards-copy-private-1820640753

This site also has many storyboards and some real interesting ones too. Angels seen in Pauls Dream. Jessica floating in the water. It shows the hole on the Heighliner was meant to be where the Navigator was to come out obviously missing effects on that one too. Paul Atreides puking Earth wind and fire. Navigators swarming Pauls face There is some fascinating stuff there.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ExGnAHqWYAkVcvc.png

A new scene has surfaced from the film never seen before.

https://youtu.be/dbaYiWE3Ttk?si=rfYeNDKzXY2ZM3j_

Posted by Max Evry who has released a making of Dune book recently.

Cool.
Is there a list with all unused scenes?

benduwan said:

Cool.
Is there a list with all unused scenes?

No all we have are list of scenes in the script which may have been shot

There is also scenes that were shot not in the script such as the balliset scene in the extended version. Ron Miller has a copy mentioned earlier of final shooting script. This new useen footage scene was in the script however.

Key effect sequences are also missing according to Ron Miller.

I just had a realization this morning… The love scene and conception of Alia with Leto and Jessica in bed may have been a flashback… The scene starts with a corridor shot in the Arakeen palace. This would be placed prior to Duke Leto’s monologue “Jessica I should have marrried you…” before his death. The music for this scene is called “Leto’s theme” and is heard earlier when Leto talks to Paul on Caladan.

Where are the unused scenes to find?
They are all on DVD and Bluray?
Or exists some only on TV production,Internet and Laserdisk?
Is there a list of unused scenes they released?
Thanks

benduwan said:

Where are the unused scenes to find?
They are all on DVD and Bluray?
Or exists some only on TV production,Internet and Laserdisk?
Is there a list of unused scenes they released?
Thanks

The theatrical version was severly shortened in 1984

Lynch wanted to do a directors cut but talks fell apart.

We then got an extended TV version which was poorly assembled by the studio and botched failed.

A cut of this tv version has been slightly improved converted to widescreen.

More deleted footage is shared in special features and bonus content but a lot of material remains unreleased about an hours worth and missing effects scenes.

To top it all off the film is not how it would have been originally edited had they had no restrictions on running time.

Please read the articles linked within the thread.

I have several versions on bluray and DVD.
Would be great to have a list with all released scenes and source like sporv do this with Star Wars.
But thanks for answer.

Most of my comments relate to things that remain unreleased or investigating possibilities of how it could have been.

I reccomend going over to duneinfo.com and going through the deleted scenes section for the lynch film.

I also suggest looking through the 4th 5th and 6th drafts of the script and being familiar with both existing cuts of theatrical version and the Extended TV vetsion.

You could also watch fan edit on youtube spicediver dune alternate edition redux for a more coherant version yet this edit is not focused on restoring music cues or sound effects and is a kind of book edit rather than a movie edit. It is good though, just that it is not so much of a restoration it is a true fan edit in that sense.

The max evry scene is only unofficial deleted scene.

The deleted scenes with rafella delaurentis bonus feature are only ones shared there are a few snippets in documentary footage about costumes and special effects but they are very short snippets. You can see these documentaries on youtube.

The Dune Comic Book adaptation of the movie is another visual resource and structural reference.

Yes,i’ve seen this dune site and see the cut scenes.
I know all the versions of dune and have them.
But thanks for your effort.

Well I am still trying to figure out this whole “Jessica I should have married you” inner voice monologue before Leto dies.

The scene where Alia is conceived is not a fladhback…It is correctly placed but should be proceeded by the cliffs and the water swirling I think.

My feeling is and this is I think more accurate.

The Leto inner voice about marrying Jessica goes over the deleted scene where she is holding the note and shadout mapes enters. I would also imagine that corridor shot prior to conception of Alia from EE preceeds Jesdica reading the note or putting down the note to give enough time for the monologue. There could also be surreal images here also. Water and waves would be a good choice. Missing home. I can not confirm this but it would make that scene work and Leto going to his death with no monologue would not hurt.

Leto would go to his doom without any innervoice preferably but the script states "Jessica, my dear Jessica wish that we were somewhere else, anywhere. Away from this terrible place. Alone the two of us without a care " or something along those lines as the inner voice.

This also brought to my attention. Duke Leto’s inner voice from the EE “They tried to take the life of my son” Is intended for the deleted scene where Leto looks out the window to the sunset dusk and nightfall seeing the Harkonen signal light flicker and Thuffer enters to talk about city fremen Prophecy and being led to true freedom. This scene was to feature some action however of ships destroying source of the Harkonnen signal light. Perhaps The action was first then revenge and retribution as Leto looks out across arakeen and a threat eliminated. The World building is completely absent here and it obviously hurts the deleted scene in a big way.

Adding some thoughts on announcements…

Hearing “House shields activating”

And likewise “de-activating” is totally not needed. When the shields are brought down it would be better to show shield being raised reversed and color timed to night with a brief alarm.

Another instance of a mindless announcement is “release the bombs! Release the bombs” I actually think it would be better to lift some voice dialogue from the Dune RTS game and have Harkonnen “attacking target! attacking target!” It also got me thinking of giving a voice to some Sardukar troops. Anyway I think these are perhaps the worst offenders of the announcement trope and definitely damage the film.

I also am making notes on the Irulan Narration and the whole “I forgot to tell you” although amusing I am not sure it is worth keeping but it is a joke amongst very few. The whole part about the fremen should definitely be removed. I am in favour of “The guild are responsible for all interplanetry travel making them the highest power in the universe” This line is very important as everything else of importance can be said later spread throughout the film by Irulan.

In terms of the Alternate fremen opening “We are the secret of the universe” is the only thing that seems to resonate and audio only would suffice. Whilst the prophecy speech is also a given but once Paul anf Jesdica crash in the desrt not when they first arrive on Arrakis I feel. It needs to unfold.

The deleted scene where Paul is in bed having a nightware the Audio was to be placed on the waking dream in Pauls room before the hunter seeker “My terrible Purpose” only. As previously stated witch and fire gone from dream replaced by Sting I will kill you put back in (Paul dead on a stone floor)

Also looked at the filmbook segment for sandworms and I thought there must be some missing worm footage but to my surprise it focus on the digestive system on the worm and it’s stomach acid. Not sure what would be on screen exactly but I was quite surprised by that.

When Paul has his waking dream in the rocks after the cras he says I am not your kwizadtzaderach and when he screams Father I think it is here we cut to a like tear drop referenced in the comic and it drops into mother Ramalo cupped hands then she talks of the prophecy. This is an important visual as she is like catching pauls tears in her hands.

Just wanting to add a correction to the waking dream and the prophecy. I watched the scene it seems that the Mother Ramal was to fade in and replace the image of the hand And the flag or inter-twine fading back and fourth as she narrates the fremen prophecy.

A few other things to note.

In EE TV version the guild navigator in the tank goes off on a tangent but his voice is sped up. I was wondering if slowing his speech down and editing some of what he says out would be the way to solve this. Some of it is redundant. However it was obviously made prior to Irulan narration was inserted although some of what he says is relevant I feel.

After the Box of pain scene it seems that when considering the extended scene here it could be better to swap around order. EE first talking of water of life. Then going on to talk about Pauls dreams.

Regarding Leto’s “Jessica I should have married you” monologue this I think would go while Jessica is on the Ornithopter like telepathy leading up to where he bites the tooth. And as previously stated the monologue where he misses her over the note Jessica reads. He should definitely come down the stairs with no monologue.

Finally when Paul and Bene Gesderit Guyas Mohim confront one another in the palace. He talks of the place where you dare not look. Here was meant to appear with a visual and Paul’s line from the EE TV version “And I can destroy the Spice forever!” Before the whole “Silence!” Exchange. This reaffirms the rain on Arrakis ending. However just because it rained there does not mean it was raining everywhere on the planet. I really can not understand how people who dislike the rain ending think it’s raining on the whole surface of the planet. Some people have an inability to understand that when it rains it’s not raining everywhere I guess. There is a shot in the Costume documentary that has the Navigators looking uneasy in relation to the verbal exchange about the threat of destroying the spice forever.

Having looked over this on about my 5th or 6th pass over the years… I don’t think Jessica being the traitor was in. I think it may have been written out and scrapped. Meaning Gurney believing and Attacking Jessica may never have been shot or put to film.

This also Leads me to conclude that a directors cut of David Lynch’s Dune would NOT run 4 hours but anywhete from 3hrs 20 minutes to 3hrs 40mins.

I did a rewatch of some of the extended edition version in 4:3 laser paradise. I like this version it is darker and bluer than the current version but the desert scenes are pale and washed out not orange yellow.

I was looking for missing stuff and something I did not mention was the flying spotters. No design exists for the flying variant but it was to feature in 2 shots I think. The extended edition shows a repeated shot of wormsign rather than the flying spotter after Max Von sydow points them out. When the bike variant is shown driving we see another follow it driving up the ramp and I think the second shot of the spotter would go between these 2 shots to intercut.

Also when Paul Rides the Sandworm as a Fremen trial or test. When he plants the thumper we see a vibrating amount of sand. I feel this is a sfx shot for the pre-spice mass leading up to Max Von Sydows death scene. So it is evidence for that. It is here we should have seen the repeated shot of wormsign I think.

In the Extended TV broadcast Sound effects for wormsign are missing amongst other sound. On the Ornithopter rescuing workers on the harvester wormsign flashes were Blue via Lighting. However Wormsign is yellow. Then Later Lightning is Yellow when it should be blue meaning they used the Wormsign effect for Lightning effects in the desert without altering the color.

When I said about writing out Jessica as the traitor I say that because there is little or no evidence to support it however Leto’s exclaimation “I should have married you” is the only evidence for the sub plot scenes.

I also read throgh Brian Herberts Dune Graphic novel books 1 and 2 and I took note of scene orders presented there. Although Lynch did make changes I find it hard to believe the scene orders would or should differ too much or too drastically. Although Lynch version of Dune is fairly brief It is all by and large there in the script and I wonder if Lynch did intend to cut it together exactly or far more closer to as the graphic novel structures the scenes no doubt the same as the book.

I was watching the destination dune documentary and on Max Von Sydows actors title card still is from a deleted shot of him standing in front of the harkonnen flagship battered and bruised. Then on Dune info there is a photo of Paul Smith (Rabaan) carrying him on his shoulder. This preceeds the deleted footage that has been released. I would assume that means Rabaan was to beat up Kynes some more before throwing over his shoulder and then ripping his suit apart.

In the scene where Dean Stockwell (Yueh) examines the dead Harkonnen. The X-Ray is correct however the mirror image of the corpse is flipped vertically. This is noticeable because the heart plug is clearly shown on the wrong side of corpse vs x-ray. This is in addition to missing laser pen thing cutting open Dead Harkonnen Soldier censorship.

In terms of a definite intended edit when Yueh examines fremen in the palace with the light gun scanner. When mapes appears the dialogue “bene geseritt mother… The legend” Is correctly placed in this scene. However “where is your son? I must warn you you are in grave danger” Should be on the shots of Paul walking to his room in POV. As previously stated before the door opens we were meant to see mapes creeping up to the door before it opens. I have the feeling mapes shadow on the blue wall may preceed her entering Jesdicas room.

This also makes me think of the written notes Duke Leto writing to Baron and Jessica Reading note in room before mapes enters. Since we know what is meant to be written on those notes I am wondering if Lynch simply intended letting the viewer voyeur and read what would be written rather than confusing inner monologue thoughts? Something tells me this was probably to be read by the audience via text on paper I think now to avoid this being muddled.

Mapes going to see Jessica in her room was to come at some point after the hunter seeker sequence where as in the book it was mapes first goes to Jessica then hunter seeker with Paul. This I am sure of. Leto also goes to greet Duncun from Pauls Room after “If something should happen to me” conversation. Interestingly the comic contains other inner dialogue regarding The Duke exclaiming he will need Duncans strength in the coming days ahead…rather than Marrying Jessica dialogue. I kind of feel the comic is probably the correct version of events in terms of monologue. I wonder if Yueh crying in the Room was what goes between Leto and Duncan and then Leto going down the steps before Yueh attacks? I think that would make sense.

This part of the film in the Palace of Arakeen is in a complete mess and it really does need sorting proper. But it is still enjoyable but not reaching the best possible version of this yet.

In the costume documentary there is an uncensored shot of Kyle McGlaughen and Sean Young Love scene although brief it was meant to probably also be opaque and put over rolling sand dunes. So you would not see what minor nudity there was anyway really.

Nearly there…

Ok so going to talk about the Sound Square training scene. As mentioned before this was part of a montage with water droplets interdispersed.

The sound square or weirding block was a tool that helped you initially confirm the sounds being made would work with the module paul says. "Sound, Rhythm, Motion - all form the base of the weirding way… Mastering the weirding block helps you understand this’ Paul makes a sound and the Square machine lights up.
This sequence is another that shows time passing Stilgar shows Paul plants in wind traps which is all part of the terraforming sub plot and really essential for the rain on Arrakis ending. This then leads into the Obelisk scene where Paul demonstrates the weapons power in the film.

There was a small exchange after Chani and Pauls love scene where Harah accepts that Paul will look after her but will not be a Lover without any dialogue just acceptence that Paul is disintetested in Harah sexually. But Paul treats both Stilgar and Harah with respect.

When Jessica takes the water of life this was chopped down quite a bit with the ritual itself a monk doing the rites. Monk “One among us has consented to enter the rite. She will attempt to pass within therefore we do not lose the strength of our reverend mother… This is the ultimate awareness spectrum narcotic. She must transform the poision configuration within her body. The Blue must be made clean… Now drink Jesdica”

The ritual is conducted as in the book verbally.

Jessica convulses and screams as in the film now some very intetesting visuals. The Mother Ramallo was to reach over to Jesdica with her hand but her hand was to pass into her head like dipping her fingers in water but into Jessicas head and face. The image of the fetus in water in the TV broadcadt is missing the whole Navigator rings.

The Mother Ramallo panics " You should have told us about the child. This changes both. What have we done?" Then the next image was to show Jesdicas head surfacing from a lake or water. Mother Ramallo says “I have been a long time waiting for you. Here is my life” Then as in the film the Mother Ramallo slumps over Dead and Jessica successfully changes the water with the Monk who exclaims it is the prophecy.

This seems to me that Jessica taking the water of life is nowhere near as visually impressive nor as culturally and mystically signifficant as was intended. I think this would be a signifficant scene for a directors cut most certainly. It is clearly a stand out scene amongst many.

Last post on this research… Hopefully it has been valuable and I do hope some others chime in.

Beast Rabaan in the bath tub. Saw an interview with Paul smith regarding punching the light and black liquid running over his face being in danger of electricution so cancelled. I believe the scene was shot though as a lot of still images exist of it but it was shot without punching the light above him. It is in the comic.

The comic and script have more dialogue between Duncun and Leto when he delivers fremen message regarding a degredation of the great houses of the landsraad.

The comic and script hace further dialogue and scenes at the ending even more than is provided in the deleted scenes. They remain unreleased

Missing shot of the Bulls head in Arakeen palace.

The Feyed knife fight with Paul at the end is also cut and shortened. After he taunts Paul’ about his little pet Chani Feyed manages to cut Pauls wrist this then slows paul down as blade is poisioned but paul being a super being neutralizes the poision quickly. The music is far longer than the fight and the music cues do not match up but can be heard for the various blows and hits but will not work properly or fully unless the footage is restored and dialogue. Re-instated.

In the TV broadcast version when Atreides land on Arakis there are 2 establishing shots. One is for dawn destroyed shield wall I do not know what the other one is…They do not go in that part of the film though they are misplaced.

When the Emperor orders the Genocide on Arrakis it would seem to me that this should cue a flurry of Sandakar Activity and ships and Heighliners and so on otherwise it falls flat. It would have been an ideal moment to show Salusa Secondus and the Prision planet amongst the othets named which were mentioned IX, Richese ultimately showing a convergence to Arrakis but with the main focus on Salusa Secondus.

When we see the moon crack apart there is another version of this in a TV spot which looks better effect but has a rip in the footage. TV spot is labelled TV spot 2. This was also for the waking dream.

And finally The Movie poster image with the two moons over the deseart was meant for Pauls waking dream after thopter crash. The moons were animated as in the german trailer footage. However this plate is missing the desert and the sky element and also it was meant to be raining also. This was to acompany. “Never one drop of rain on Arrakis” monologue and was refetence to the rain ending and teraforming plot / threat of destruction of the spice. When Paul get’s his robes at the end the speech was cut and explains there will always be desert for the spice but it is all there and definitely worth looking at.

When Paul has no further visions of his future and exlaims “the empetor is coming” Surely we were meant to see the emperors ship here in space? Would seem obvious.

So that’s it all I think. I hope it can remain a good source of information on the film for any preservation efforts and or fan edits too. I will update the first post accordingly.

Nothing to add to it, but this is a super great write-up of all shot material intended for Dune.
Thanks for all the work you’ve done here!

Thank you Ryan I will leave one further thought. The place they detonate the atomics from in the script is called communication room.

Although for a communication room there is more scientific equipment and bottles and filters and things like more of a laboritory than anything else. This place would seem to be Dr Kynes Laboritory. That is what I think although I can not confirm such a thing but it may mean that Max Von Sydow may have had a scene here even if only when Thuffer Hawatt says “Kynes… Doctor Kynes”

Since we have no Palm Trees no sub tropical Conservatory in the palace and no plants in the sietch either that would seem to be the only last remaining shred of Teraforming plot that is shown although they are setting off Atomic bombs there.

I was thinking that might be that still image from the TV broadcast might be with the cave window in the cliff face. As Paul Gurney and Stilgar look out of a cave window over to the Palace. But I can’t be sure of this. It’s not obvious but it kind of links up. Not sure.