Celebrating 40 Years of Dune (1984)

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Dune movie, a film that still holds a special place in my heart. Don’t get me wrong—I thoroughly enjoy Denis Villeneuve’s stunning adaptations, and I admire how he’s brought Frank Herbert’s world to life for a new generation. But for me, the original remains unique. It’s tied to so many of my childhood memories and the passions I cultivated during those years.

# Frank Herbert.

In the early eighties, I discovered Frank Herbert’s books. No, not Dune. My first introduction to his writing was The Dosadi Experiment. Growing up on the Hardy Boys and Perry Mason, Dosadi was a thrilling leap into Herbert’s intricate world-building. A galactic lawyer merging with another consciousness? It was unlike anything I’d read before.

Though Dosadi belongs to a completely different universe, you can spot echoes of Herbert’s themes that are more famously explored in Dune: power, survival, and the delicate balance of ecosystems. It didn’t take long before I was devouring Dune and its sequels, along with Herbert’s other works. I’m pretty sure I’ve read them all, even tracking down his contributions to short story anthologies.

Frank Herbert wasn’t my only favorite author, but he was definitely one of the most influential. Summers traveling with my family became synonymous with his books. I distinctly remember one vacation to South Carolina, where I spent the week immersed in God Emperor of Dune. It’s still my favorite in the series, with its profound reflections on humanity and governance.

# Toto.

Music was a huge part of my life back then. I spent hours creating mixtapes from the weekly radio countdown, carefully recording songs onto cassette to enjoy later on my Walkman. Around this time, Toto was skyrocketing in popularity, and I was hooked. They quickly became my favorite band, and I started collecting their records.

When I heard Toto would be scoring the Dune movie, it was like two of my worlds colliding. Of course, I had to grab the soundtrack. Star Wars had already sparked my love of movie scores, and adding Dune to my collection was a no-brainer.

Recently, I’ve been reliving those memories. My wife surprised me with a record player for my birthday, and digging out my old vinyl has been a nostalgic joy. Naturally, Toto’s Dune soundtrack has been on repeat—it still holds up beautifully.

# Dune Movie (1984).

Long before the Dune movie hit theaters, I was soaking in every detail about its production. I pored over movie magazines and even picked up an interview with Frank Herbert discussing the set designs and his involvement. And then there was the music—Toto’s score only heightened my anticipation.

When the movie finally arrived, I was there opening night with friends, ready for the spectacle. The 70mm presentation was awe-inspiring, and the theater buzzed with excitement. We were rowdy before the lights dimmed, tossing popcorn and cracking jokes, but as soon as the film began, we were spellbound.

The pageantry and imagery were breathtaking. Sure, some elements of the adaptation were strange—like the addition of the “weirding modules” as voice-activated weapons—but my 14-year-old self loved it anyway. My friends and I agreed it helped to have read the book first, but even the odd choices didn’t ruin the experience for us.

The movie has stuck with me ever since. I never expected Dune to be adapted again—it felt like lightning in a bottle. Of course, Denis Villeneuve has proven me wrong, but for me, the 1984 version still holds a special place in my life.