"Dune" (2000) TV mini-series

Director:

John Harrison

Writer (WGA):

John Harrison (teleplay)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

3 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Discover the greatest treasure in the universe.

Plot:

A three part mini-series based on Frank Herbert's classic Science Fiction novel entailing politics, betrayal, lust, greed and the coming of a Messiah.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Baron | Planet | Emperor | Spice

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Duke Leto Atreides (3 episodes, 2000)
Alec Newman	...	Muad'Dib / ... (3 episodes, 2000)
Saskia Reeves	...	Lady Jessica Atreides (3 episodes, 2000)
P.H. Moriarty	...	Gurney Halleck (3 episodes, 2000)
Ian McNeice	...	Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (3 episodes, 2000)
Matt Keeslar	...	Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (3 episodes, 2000)
László I. Kish	...	Glossu Rabban (3 episodes, 2000)
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Padishah - Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (3 episodes, 2000)
Julie Cox	...	Princess Irulan Corrino (3 episodes, 2000)
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	Stilgar (3 episodes, 2000)
James Watson	...	Duncan Idaho (2 episodes, 2000)
Robert Russell	...	Dr. Yueh (2 episodes, 2000)
Laura Burton	...	St. Alia Atreides (2 episodes, 2000)
Jan Unger	...	Piter Devries (2 episodes, 2000)
Miroslav Táborský	...	Count Hasimir Fenring (2 episodes, 2000)
Barbora Kodetová	...	Chani (2 episodes, 2000)
Karel Dobry	...	Dr. Pardot Kynes / ... (2 episodes, 2000)
Zuzana Geislerová	...	Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (2 episodes, 2000)

Also Known As:

Der Wüstenplanet (Germany)
Frank Herbert's Dune (USA) (complete title)
Frank Herbert's Dune - Der Wüstenplanet (Germany)

Runtime:

Finland:292 min (3 parts) | USA:265 min | Canada:277 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA | Canada | Germany | Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Evision

Trivia:

The glowing Fremen eyes effect was accomplished with special ultraviolet contact lenses and a UV-filtering camera lens. The Mahdi statue at Sietch Tabr was inspired by the same Buddha statues which were much later destroyed by the Taliban.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Piter stabs Dr. Yueh in the back, the knife is quite obviously tucked under Yueh's left arm.

Quotes:

Baron Vladimir Harkonnen: Never become more popular than the boss, unless you intend to sack him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#33.11)" (2005)

Close, but not perfect

I've seen and own both this version and the original movie version. I have to say there are things I like better about each movie. The mini-series version has much more time in which to tell this very complicated story. However, the writers seem to have felt the need to invent story lines that do not exist in the Frank Herbert books (i.e. Irulan's affair with Feyd). I did enjoy that Irulan had more of a presence in this movie, and I prefer the overall look of this film (the ruddiness reminding more of an arid desert than the cold greyishness of the original movie). I much prefer the miniseries interpretation of what the 'Weirding Way' is, showing it as a technique rather than a device. However, I miss the 'though-overs' from the original movie, and I thought Sting played a much better Feyd. A true Dune fan will need to see both movies...