Kyle MacLachlan’s Struggle with a Heart-wrenching Scene in Dune – Sky Bulletin

During the filming of a poignant scene in Dune, actor Kyle MacLachlan faced a significant acting challenge that led to intense frustration. MacLachlan recounted the experience: “I was young, and when you’re that age, that’s one of the things that stops you dead in your tracks, because you know what’s coming and you’re like, ‘Ahhh, I don’t know.’” In an attempt to elicit tears, the film crew provided him with a menthol tear stick for use beneath his eyes. However, the attempt backfired when MacLachlan accidentally got menthol in his eyes, causing him to cry for real—a reaction that did not fit the stoicism of his character, Paul Atreides.

Reflecting on the scene, MacLachlan expressed that the emotional portrayal did not feel natural: “It wasn’t really an organic progression.” Despite completing the scene, it was removed from the final cut, a decision that MacLachlan ultimately appreciated. The actor’s performance had to live up to the faith director David Lynch placed in him, which was not done without challenge, as Sean Young (Chani) attested: “David really believed in him. He had to fight for Kyle. There were a lot of other people who had more credit. David won that fight, so he would take a lot of time with Kyle. He wanted to be vindicated for that choice.”

What was the challenge Kyle MacLachlan faced on the set of Dune?

Kyle MacLachlan struggled to produce authentic tears during an emotional scene, which led to a frustrating experience on set.

How did the film crew try to help MacLachlan cry?

The crew gave MacLachlan a menthol tear stick to use under his eyes, but this method proved to be problematic when he accidentally got menthol in his eyes.

What was the problem with MacLachlan’s crying in the scene?

The intense crying caused by the menthol did not align with his character’s response, as Paul Atreides was supposed to display restrained grief rather than uncontrollable crying.

Was the scene retained in the final cut of the film?

No, the scene was ultimately cut from the final version of the film, which was a relief to MacLachlan.

Did director David Lynch support Kyle MacLachlan during the filming?

Yes, Lynch was very understanding and supportive of MacLachlan, having fought for his casting in the first place.

Kyle MacLachlan’s experience while filming an emotional scene for Dune serves as a vivid window into the trials and tribulations of an actor striving for authenticity in their craft. His frustration underlines the complexity of translating a character’s inner turmoil to the screen—a balance between performance and the director’s vision. Despite the challenges, the support from the legendary director David Lynch and the dedication of MacLachlan to his role remain testament to the arduous process and collaborative nature of filmmaking.