Unveiling the Epic Behind-the-Scenes Blooper in Lynch's Dune, Kyle MacLachlan Spills the Beans!

Summary

Kyle MacLachlan struggled with a scene in David Lynch's "Dune" where Paul cries after killing Jamis, trying various methods to produce genuine tears.

MacLachlan's frustration and lack of support during the filming of the scene ultimately gave way to relief when it was ultimately removed from the movie. Despite the challenges, the fight between Paul and Jamis holds immense importance to the story, as it serves as a platform to demonstrate Paul's personal development and propels him towards his destiny as the Fremen leader and messiah.

Kyle MacLachlan, known for his role in the 1984 film Dune directed by David Lynch, recently revealed that he struggled with a particular scene during production. The film, based on Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel, tells the story of Paul Atreides and his alliance with the Fremen after his house falls on the planet Arrakis. In a pivotal moment, Paul engages in a fight to the death with Fremen member Jamis to prove himself to their people.

In an interview with TheWrap, MacLachlan and writer Paul M. Sammon discussed the challenges they faced during the making of Dune. MacLachlan specifically mentioned his difficulty in portraying Paul's emotions after killing Jamis. He described the various techniques he attempted to induce tears for the scene, but ultimately, the footage was not included in the final version of the film. Here's what MacLachlan shared with TheWrap:

MacLachlan found it challenging to convey the emotions of killing someone and then experiencing a sudden realization and remorse. The book had created a setup where there was a period of time between the killing and the expression of emotions towards Jamis. During this time, the tribe members would reminisce about their connections with Jamis, and MacLachlan's character would ultimately speak about what he had learned from Jamis, leading to an emotional response. Kyle, the actor, became upset because he was struggling to evoke the necessary tearful reaction in this scene, especially with a large audience present.

MacLachlan: Suddenly, everything was compressed. I found myself in a situation where I had to portray both killing a person and then immediately bursting into tears. Being young, this was quite challenging because you anticipate what's coming and hesitate, unsure of how to respond. Looking back, I realize that the circumstances didn't really support me in executing that scene effectively.

MacLachlan: They suggested using menthol to induce tears, to which I objected, considering it a cop-out. I firmly believed that the authenticity of the scene should come naturally. However, despite their attempt with the menthol, it still didn't achieve the desired effect. I felt frustrated and exclaimed in frustration. In the process, I accidentally rubbed the menthol into my eyes, causing genuine tears. Even then, the scene didn't play out as intended. Reflecting on it now, I understand why. The progression felt forced and lacked an organic flow. What I loved about the scene in the book was the character's internal struggle and being forced into a situation, leaving his thoughts ambiguous. Then, with the passage of time, comes the moment of mourning, the sudden realization. As an actor, that progression made sense to me, but unfortunately, it wasn't portrayed that way.

Why Paul's Fight With Jamis Is Important

MacLachlan faced challenges while filming the scene, but Lynch allowed him multiple attempts before ultimately deciding to remove it from the movie. MacLachlan, despite his best efforts, was actually relieved that the scene was cut because he felt that his performance in the previous versions was not convincing enough. In the 2021 version of Dune, the fight scene between Paul and Jamis includes the parts of the duel that were eliminated in Lynch's version.

This fight scene is significant because it showcases Paul's ability to defeat a skilled Fremen warrior, ultimately leading to Jamis' demise. Paul's emotional reaction, where he cries over Jamis, holds importance due to the Fremen culture's emphasis on water conservation for survival. When Fremen leader Stilgar and others witness Paul's tears, they interpret it as Paul offering water to the deceased, further solidifying his status as the prophesized messiah, Maud'Dib, in their eyes.

Paul and Jamis' conflict marks the beginning of a series of events that ultimately lead to Paul becoming the leader of the Fremen people and being seen as their messiah. The subsequent parts of Lynch's Dune provide further insight into how this unfolds, but it seems that Dune: Part Two will delve even deeper into this aspect. Despite MacLachlan's difficulties with the scene depicting Paul's grief for Jamis, his interpretation of Dune remained noteworthy as the initial adaptation of Herbert's novel, serving as a guide for contemporary retellings.