Ideas initially meant for dune have been incorporated into many films, either consciously or unconsciously, and the documentary presents examples. The story of cult film director alejandro jodorowskys ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel. Before star wars era, jodorowskys adaptation of frank herberts classic scifi novel dune was. Jodorowskys dune by frank pavich frank pavich, alejandro.
By mike cecchini february 19, 2015 share on facebook opens in a. It was filmed at the churubusco studios in mexico city and included a. A documentary film about alejandro jodorowskys attempt to make a film adaptation of frank herberts 1965 science fiction novel, dune, starring jodorowskys own 12yearold son, as well as orson welles, mick jagger, david carradine and salvador dali with music by pink floyd. As the 20 documentary jodorowskys dune shows, the director managed to assemble a jawdropping group of talent for the film. In this manner, then, his vision was seen and admired by countless filmmakers and film technicians. Iirc they show jodorowskys copy of the book in the documentary, and it looks like that. Jodorowskys dune didnt get made for a reason and we should. From the jodorowskys dune documentary we know that the film would have opened with a long continuous shot, starting from approaching the galaxy all the way through to the streets of the emperors golden planet.
Its delightful to watch jodorowsky, perpetually impassioned, chronicling the history. The idea was more fashionable in 1975, when alejandro jodorowsky was planning his version of the scifi novel dune. The documentary reveals very compelling evidence that work meant for jodorowskys dune was used in many films that came afterstar wars, flash gordon, terminator, raiders of the lost ark, contact. This version of dune was set to star david carradine, orson welles, salvador dali and mick jagger. Jodorowskys dune is a documentary about very important men making. Jodorowsky granted documentary director frank pavich, unprecedented access to his production materials, including his hardbound book, which has come to be known as the dune bible, containing his meticulously detailed story boards. Inside the greatest scifi film never made the verge.
Echoes of his work, through such exposure, would later be found in star wars, the terminator series, bladerunner and, of course, alien. They storyboarded the entire film from beginning to end 3,000 images, says frank pavich, who has directed a documentary about the project. In the 20 documentary, jodorowskys dune, they show a thick book of art and scenes from the movie that they sent to the studios. Frank pavichs new documentary, jodorowskys dune, chronicles the quixotic venture of exhaustively prepping a film that never got made.
Moebius concept art for jodorowskys dune characters. After spending 2 years and millions of dollars, the massive undertaking eventually fell apart, but the artists jodorowsky assembled for the legendary. And when you see them flipping through the book in the documentary it looks nothing like this. The comic book series the incal by moebius and jodorowsky, features some of the visual influences that wouldve been used on the film, and as. They show it in the documentary several times, but i think they mention in it that there werent many copies of it. Jodorowskys dune, from frank pavich the new york times. There are about 300 pages in total, including illustrations. Painfully, frank pavich tempts us with what might have been in jodorowskys dune. Jodorowskys dune is a documentary about the chilean director alejandro jodorowskys efforts in the 1970s to turn the science fiction novel dune into a feature film. Their recirculation, along with the 20 release of the documentary jodorowskys dune and the dance of realityjodorowskys first film after a twentythreeyear hiatusrestored the filmmaker as a figure of mass worship and fascination. Book to screen timeline from december 1963 to december 1984 the journey of dune, from book to screen. Jodorowskys dune closes by revealing that copies of his script, storyboards and concept art were sent to all of hollywoods major film studios back in 1975.
The goal, jodorowsky explains in frank pavichs wildly entertaining documentary jodorowskys dune, was to mimic the effects of lsd without requiring actual drug intake. He wouldnt be making a mere film, he recalls in a 2014 documentary, jodorowskys dune. When french producers asked jodorowsky to adapt dune, he was at the peak of his prestige. Before star wars era, jodorowskys adaptation of frank herberts classic scifi novel dune was poised to change cinema forever. Considering the book is about a substancedrug that expands consciousness, and psychedelics being in the forefront at the time in the media, the timing to make this movie was perfect. Billed as the greatest film never made in the 2014 documentary, alejandro jodorowsky acquired the rights in 1974 and undertook the project as though on a holy mission to. As the 20 documentary jodorowskys dune shows, the director. Jodorowskys dune and the allure of the unmade masterpiece. Director alejandro jodorowsky was readying a wildly ambitious version of frank herberts scifi novel. A new film of the classic scifi novel is due in 2020, but will it match up to alejandro jodorowskys surreal and legendary vision. Telling the story of cult film director alejandro jodorowskys most ambitious, yet ultimately illfated project. Alejandro jodorowsky was born in iquique, chile on february 17, 1929. Jodorowskys dune is a documentary about very important men making very important art, and as such, it has very little to do with frank herberts novel at all. Frank pavichs intensely watchable documentary is a window into the greatest movie never made, an adaptation of dune by chilean surrealist director alejandro jodorowsky which would have.
Jodorowskys dune, however, as this documentary shows, would have been completely unworkable for hollywood back in the mid 1970s. Giger jodorowskys dune mick jagger moebius movies pink floyd psychedelic shaun of. The documentary jodorowskys dune, which is an absolutely excellent piece of work, became a bit of what the actual jodorowskys dune could have been. But thats just the starting point for what was, by all accounts, the most insanely ambitious scifi picture of its era.
Yet in jodorowskys dune, frank pavichs documentary about the aborted project, jodorowsky proves to be as charming and thoughtful as he is wildly ambitious, to the point where its. Hed be making an artistical, cinematographical god. Mindbogglingly awesome sketches for jodorowskys dune. This documentary takes pains to remind us that these three guys did, definitely, all meet and start working together because of the illfated dune, a consequence of jodorowskys brilliant mad idea to. Jodorowskys dune is a 20 americanfrench documentary film directed by frank pavich. Jodorowskys dune didnt get made for a reason and we.
Early on in frank pavichs documentary about jodorowskys failed attempt to. The film explores cult film director alejandro jodorowskys unsuccessful attempt to adapt and film frank herberts 1965 science fiction novel dune in the mid1970s. Camera one of france and koch media of germany have begun production on frank pavichs scifi documentary jodorowskys dune. It appears to be a full script for alejandro jodorowskys dune, however, it is not the phone book size script as seen in the documentary jodorowskys dune, but appears to be an earliershorter version. In jodorowskys dune, a documentary about alejandro jodorowskys failed 1970s adaptation of the acclaimed scifi novel by frank herbert, the chileanborn directoressentially a talking head throughout the filmis more captivating in his musings than most actors are in sweeping, oscarbait dramas. What of frank herberts dune, a book that he barely seems to have.
Is the storyboard for jodorowskys dune available for. Jodorowsky granted documentary director frank pavich, unprecedented access to his production materials, including his hardbound book, which has come to be. Filmmaker frank pavich explores one of cinemas great what ifs in this documentary detailing alejandro jodorowskys aborted feature adaptation of frank herberts celebrated scifi novel dune. He wouldnt back down on numerous issues the studios had, including the 6 hour running time and the 15 million dollar budget, which back in the 70s was a lot. Giger, chris foss, and dan obannons collaborative work on ridley scotts 1979 alien. Alejandro jodorowsky chriss foss crazy town dan obannon documentary dune frank herbert h.
Jodorowskys dune is a stunning documentary that tells of alejandro jodorowskys attempt to bring frank herberts book to life. The film stars kyle maclachlan in his film debut as young nobleman paul atreides, and includes an ensemble of wellknown american and european actors in supporting roles. Dune is a 1984 american epic science fiction film written and directed by david lynch and based on the 1965 frank herbert novel of the same name. Jodorowskys dune looks back on the greatest scifi film. Check out some amazing stills from jodorowskys dune.
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