December 14th, 2009 / 11:31 pm
Film

“He showed me these things called Wookies”

“and now this headache is getting stronger.”

David Lynch explains why he turned down George Lucas’s offer to direct Return of the Jedi.

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47 Comments

  1. David

      Lynch is such a great anecdote teller. Love how the headache just slowly consumes him, haha.

  2. David

      Lynch is such a great anecdote teller. Love how the headache just slowly consumes him, haha.

  3. mark

      wasn’t mullholland dr’s dumpster monster just some dude in a dirtied-up wookie suit?

  4. mark

      wasn’t mullholland dr’s dumpster monster just some dude in a dirtied-up wookie suit?

  5. Blake Butler

      no, that was terror incarnate.

  6. Blake Butler

      no, that was terror incarnate.

  7. Almanacco del Giorno – 14 Dec. 2009 « Almanacco Americano

      […] Giant – David Lynch Explains Why He Turned Down the Direction of The Return of the Jedi […]

  8. sasha fletcher

      had nightmares about that dude for weeks.
      nearly pissed myself that first time.
      my dad laughed, but the way he looked he almost did too.

  9. sasha fletcher

      had nightmares about that dude for weeks.
      nearly pissed myself that first time.
      my dad laughed, but the way he looked he almost did too.

  10. mark

      during ghost world my blood pressure upticks 10 points during the video store scene, cos the dumpster monster nar. is the video clerk. scarlett, thora, DO NOT GO BEHIND THE VIDEO STORE!

  11. mark

      during ghost world my blood pressure upticks 10 points during the video store scene, cos the dumpster monster nar. is the video clerk. scarlett, thora, DO NOT GO BEHIND THE VIDEO STORE!

  12. Nicolle Elizabeth

      i have the same birthday as david lynch
      surprised?

  13. Nicolle Elizabeth

      i have the same birthday as david lynch
      surprised?

  14. Blake Butler

      i always get weird feelings when i see that guy in other movies now too. his face.

  15. Blake Butler

      i always get weird feelings when i see that guy in other movies now too. his face.

  16. mimi

      That actor also plays the crazy/obnoxious comedian Jimmy Barrett on Mad Men. Pathos.

  17. mimi

      That actor also plays the crazy/obnoxious comedian Jimmy Barrett on Mad Men. Pathos.

  18. sasha fletcher

      that’s not the same person as was behind the dumpster though. that’s just the dude what dreamed about it.

  19. sasha fletcher

      that’s not the same person as was behind the dumpster though. that’s just the dude what dreamed about it.

  20. alec niedenthal

      my favorite part of this story is david lynch potentially eating salad

  21. alec niedenthal

      my favorite part of this story is david lynch potentially eating salad

  22. bruiser brody

      had to laugh at this, alec, nice job.

      reminds me of bill murray’s reaction in tenenbaums when he sees the book detailing all the men gwyneth has been with. he pauses and then says, “she smokes.” his lttle wry smile – gold.

  23. bruiser brody

      had to laugh at this, alec, nice job.

      reminds me of bill murray’s reaction in tenenbaums when he sees the book detailing all the men gwyneth has been with. he pauses and then says, “she smokes.” his lttle wry smile – gold.

  24. davidpeak

      i think the dumpster monster is actually a woman.

  25. davidpeak

      i think the dumpster monster is actually a woman.

  26. davidpeak

      http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/credits.html

      The “bum” is played by Bonnie Aarons. Even considering that the “thing behind the dumpster” might be a woman, and not a man, puts a new spin on the man’s dream, and the themes of a “woman in trouble” that run throughout the movie.

  27. davidpeak

      http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/credits.html

      The “bum” is played by Bonnie Aarons. Even considering that the “thing behind the dumpster” might be a woman, and not a man, puts a new spin on the man’s dream, and the themes of a “woman in trouble” that run throughout the movie.

  28. sasha fletcher

      like i said. played by different people.
      thanks for the fact check, dave.
      high five.

  29. sasha fletcher

      like i said. played by different people.
      thanks for the fact check, dave.
      high five.

  30. davidpeak

      sasha, maybe my point wasn’t clear.

      i’m not talking about the actor who has the dream, i’m actually talking about the thing behind the dumpster, who everyone has referred to as a man or in your case a “dude.”

      i’ve always thought it was a woman.

      that’s all i’m saying.

  31. davidpeak

      sasha, maybe my point wasn’t clear.

      i’m not talking about the actor who has the dream, i’m actually talking about the thing behind the dumpster, who everyone has referred to as a man or in your case a “dude.”

      i’ve always thought it was a woman.

      that’s all i’m saying.

  32. davidpeak

      nevermind. this is stupid.

  33. davidpeak

      nevermind. this is stupid.

  34. mimi

      You’re right!

      Believe it or not I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night last night thinking “that wasn’t the guy behind the diner, that was the guy, scared, in the diner”!

      And I also thought “I wonder if tomorrow morning someone will have corrected me on HTMLG”!

      If not, I would have corrected myself.

      In any case, that actor, Patrick Fischler, has a memorable face and on-screen presence. He gives Jimmy Barrett great “squirm factor”.

      Cheers!

  35. mimi

      You’re right!

      Believe it or not I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night last night thinking “that wasn’t the guy behind the diner, that was the guy, scared, in the diner”!

      And I also thought “I wonder if tomorrow morning someone will have corrected me on HTMLG”!

      If not, I would have corrected myself.

      In any case, that actor, Patrick Fischler, has a memorable face and on-screen presence. He gives Jimmy Barrett great “squirm factor”.

      Cheers!

  36. mimi

      Always thought the “behind the dumpster” was male, too. Sheds a whole new light for me, too. Too.

  37. mimi

      Always thought the “behind the dumpster” was male, too. Sheds a whole new light for me, too. Too.

  38. sasha fletcher

      no i did too, and it was, and i looked it up last night. i was saying that they were not the same people. i referred to the dude what dreamed about the monster. i said that he was not the monster but just the dude what dreamed it up.

  39. sasha fletcher

      no i did too, and it was, and i looked it up last night. i was saying that they were not the same people. i referred to the dude what dreamed about the monster. i said that he was not the monster but just the dude what dreamed it up.

  40. davidpeak

      oh man i just figured out what you were saying, sasha. i misread. i need to start fully reading comments before responding, or at least stop reading the comments while at work.

  41. davidpeak

      oh man i just figured out what you were saying, sasha. i misread. i need to start fully reading comments before responding, or at least stop reading the comments while at work.

  42. mimi

      Got it. I think. In any case, we aren’t arguing, are we? and I for one want to watch Mullholland Drive again real soon. I commented way too quickly, and off the top of my head. I can, in my head, picture, however, the Patrick Fischler character sitting in the diner a-feared, talking about his dream…. who is he talking to? I don’t know, am feeling now all muddled. Must watch movie again. Will then feel much better. Let’s all watch the movie again and take notes. And David, I don’t think this is stupid, but it is silly!

  43. mimi

      Got it. I think. In any case, we aren’t arguing, are we? and I for one want to watch Mullholland Drive again real soon. I commented way too quickly, and off the top of my head. I can, in my head, picture, however, the Patrick Fischler character sitting in the diner a-feared, talking about his dream…. who is he talking to? I don’t know, am feeling now all muddled. Must watch movie again. Will then feel much better. Let’s all watch the movie again and take notes. And David, I don’t think this is stupid, but it is silly!

  44. davidpeak

      mimi, i am communicating poorly. i wasn’t saying this thread was stupid, i was saying my comment to sasha was stupid.

      that scene in MD is actually one of my favorites because of its rich contributions to (or depending on how you see it, the skewering of) the dream logic of the movie as a whole.

      and who IS he talking to? what is their relationship. i see it differently each time.

  45. davidpeak

      mimi, i am communicating poorly. i wasn’t saying this thread was stupid, i was saying my comment to sasha was stupid.

      that scene in MD is actually one of my favorites because of its rich contributions to (or depending on how you see it, the skewering of) the dream logic of the movie as a whole.

      and who IS he talking to? what is their relationship. i see it differently each time.

  46. mimi

      Duly noted! Have a nice day!

  47. mimi

      Duly noted! Have a nice day!