To further the renaissance connection, it’s pretty clear in the longer versions of the film that the pugs were the dogs of the court. Lynch did the full court procession/entourage with ladies in waiting, court dwarfs and advisors as part of the film’s aesthetic. You see similar depictions in period dramas like the movie “Alatriste” when the Court of Spain meets envoys from England - dogs and all. The way I saw it, Patrick Stewart’s Gurney was making his last stand as the Atreides were under seige. As the dogs are representations /symbols of the court, he’s both protecting them and going into war with them at the same time. I know it’s always looked strange from a movie goer’s perspective, but from a historical view, it’s quite touching. I always loved PS’s portrayal of Gurney and the scene where he’s reunited with Paul literally brings tears to my eyes.

To further the Renaissance connection, it’s pretty clear in the longer versions of the film that the pugs were the dogs of the court. Lynch did the full court procession/entourage with ladies in waiting, court dwarfs and advisors as part of the film’s aesthetic. You see similar depictions in period dramas like the movie “Alatriste” when the Court of Spain meets envoys from England - dogs and all. The way I saw it, Patrick Stewart’s Gurney was making his last stand as the Atreides were under siege. As the dogs are representations / symbols of the court, he’s both protecting them and going into war with them at the same time. I know it’s always looked strange from a movie-goer’s perspective, but from a historical point of view, it’s quite touching. I always loved PS’s portrayal of Gurney, and the scene where he’s reunited with Paul literally brings tears to my eyes.

To further the renaissance connection explaination, it’s pretty clear that the pugs were the dogs of the court. Lynch did the full court with ladies in waiting, court dwarfs and advisors as part of the film’s aesthetic. The way I saw it, Patrick Stewart’s Gurney is making his last stand here and the as the dogs are representation /symbol of the royal court, he’s both protecting them and going into war with them at the same time. It’s always looked strange from a movie goers perspective, but from a historical view, it’s quite touching. I always loved PS’s portrayal of Gurney the scene where he’s reunited with Paul literally brings tears to my eyes.

To further the renaissance connection, it’s pretty clear in the longer versions of the film that the pugs were the dogs of the court. Lynch did the full court procession/entourage with ladies in waiting, court dwarfs and advisors as part of the film’s aesthetic. You see similar depictions in period dramas like the movie “Alatriste” when the Court of Spain meets envoys from England - dogs and all. The way I saw it, Patrick Stewart’s Gurney was making his last stand as the Atreides were under seige. As the dogs are representations /symbols of the court, he’s both protecting them and going into war with them at the same time. I know it’s always looked strange from a movie goer’s perspective, but from a historical view, it’s quite touching. I always loved PS’s portrayal of Gurney and the scene where he’s reunited with Paul literally brings tears to my eyes.