David Lynch’s Dune (1984) has long been debated, derided, celebrated and discussed. There was even a documentary about a batshit version that never got finished. But everyone can pretty much agree that Lynch was in over his head, and that the studio version represents no one’s true vision.
Enter superfan Michael Warren, who has painstakingly edited together footage from all known versions: the original Theatrical Cut, the Extended TV Cut, and deleted scenes to make the most complete version of the film as of 2012. He writes, “I have done this as a labor of love to give fans of this under-appreciated gem an alternative version to the two flawed cuts currently available on the DVD.”
As a former video store owner, I have vivid memories of the salad days of laserdisc, when imports and director’s cuts ruled the day … and one of the most coveted titles was the 189-minute “Alan Smithee” version, which many considered to be a vast improvement over the studio cut.
Enjoy!
Dune: The Complete Saga from Michael Warren on Vimeo.
