Other mistake: There is a scene in which Piter DeVries is talking about the Landsraad (one of the governmental organizations in Dune). Twice he mispronounces the name, saying "Lansdraad" instead.
Dune (1984)
Directed by: David Lynch
Starring: Max von Sydow, Patrick Stewart, Brad Dourif, Kyle MacLachlan, Jose Ferrer, Francesca Annis, Sting, Leonardo Cimino
Continuity mistake: Depending on the version, in the final confrontation between the Emperor and the Harkonnen, and Paul and the Fremen, you can see Thufir Hawat standing in the crowd of the imperial side. After the battle between Paul and Sting he has suddenly disappeared. This is due to there being different, much longer versions of the same film. There is a 120 minute version, 180 and 190 minutes, and apparently in Singapore you can buy a 240 minute version. However, in the long versions the stains on Thufir's lips and Paul's totally blue eyes do not appear in the extra scenes: now you see it, now you don't.
Revealing mistake: During the invasion of Dune by the Harkonnen, a Sardukar soldier throws a guard from what appears to be the palace's wall. When he hits the ground all the bodies around him bounce as if they where lying on some sort of cushion. (01:09:50)
Trivia: David Lynch was disgusted with the elongated cut of the film which includes paintings of the 'robot revolt' back story to the original film, a sub-plot he deliberately omitted. He demanded his name be removed from the credits of the film and replaced with the Director's Guild nom de plume, 'Alan Smithee'. This was done so sloppily, by superimposing Smithee's name over Lynch's, that the credit reads "A ALAN SMITHEE FILM".
Trivia: The tendons on the worm when it gets hooked by Paul are made from condoms.
Trivia: The TV version of this film lists a Mr. 'Judas Booth' as the screenwriter. Allegedly this was to get back at David Lynch (who was both screen writer and director) for so brutally condemning and demanding that all credits to him be removed from the film's re-edit for TV. The name is a combination of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, and Abraham Lincoln's killer, John Wilkes Booth.
Paul: The Worm is the Spice! The Spice is the Worm.
Duke Leto Atreides: I'll miss the sea, but a person needs new experiences. They jar something deep inside, allowing him to grow. Without change something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.
Piter De Vries: As you instructed me, I have enlightened your nephews concerning my plan.
Baron Harkonnen: My plan.
Piter De Vries: ...the plan... to crush the Atreides.
Question: Why exactly did David Lynch have his name removed from the TV version?
Question: Admittedly the sound on my copy of this movie is lacking somewhat but when Paul is researching Arrakis and Gurney et all enter I swear I can hear the trailer for the movie playing in the background. Am I correct on this?
Answer: No. At least, not on the DVD I have. It does play the title tune in the background, though.
Answer: The beginning narration is playing softly, as if it's coming from whatever computer Paul was doing research on. Like he was watching a movie about the world he is living in, which is sort of odd.
Question: What's the relative timeline of this movie? It's stated that it starts in the year 10,191 but there don't seem to be any other dates besides that.
Answer: The entire DUNE universe is much more complicated than any movie. For a relatively useful timeline, see www.smirnov.demon.co.uk/Arrakis/timeline.htm.
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Answer: Because it was edited in a way he didn't approve of. The film was actually over 3 hours long, and it was trimmed by about an hour for the cinema version, and then a certain amount of pick and mix went on to come up with the video version.
David Mercier