Flipper (1963)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

James B. Clark

Writers:

Ricou Browning (story) and
Jack Cowden (story) ...

Release Date:

14 August 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Drama

Tagline:

You'll have to see it to believe it!

Plot:

Sandy is distraught when, having saved Flipper by pulling out a spear, his father insists the dolphin be released...

Plot Keywords:

Motorboat | Famous Song | Hurricane | Dolphin | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Chuck Connors	...	Porter Ricks
Luke Halpin	...	Sandy Ricks
Connie Scott	...	Kim Parker
Jane Rose	...	Hettie White
Joe Higgins	...	Mr. L.C. Parett
Robertson White	...	Mr. Abrams
George Applewhite	...	Sheriff Rogers
Kathleen Maguire	...	Martha Ricks

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Grassy Key, Florida, USA

Company:

Ivan Tors Productions

Trivia:

Filmed in 1961.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sandy and Kim are feeding Flipper off the dock, Sandy is barefoot. Then Sandy climbs down the ladder onto the platform, and suddenly he's wearing a pair of black Chuck Taylor hi-tops, but is barefoot again when he goes back up on the dock.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in (T)Raumschiff Surprise - Periode 1 (2004)

Soundtrack:

Flipper

Seriously--how can you hate this?

A "red plague" has hit the Florida Keys and fisherman Porter Ricks (Chuck Connors) and son Sandy (Luke Halpin) can't find fish to make a living. But Sandy saves a dolphin from dying and they became buddies. (I know I know--but this IS a kids film). Flipper (as the kid names him) leads them to a place with plenty of fish and saves Sandy from a killer shark (stop smirking!).

OK--the plot is ridiculous and the same shots are used a LOT but it's really hard to hate this film. The underwater photography is impressive and Flipper himself is so cute he's hard to resist. Despite the totally stupid plot I found myself grinning whenever Flipper did cute things like jump out of the water or "talk" to the kid. Also Connors is surprisingly good as a tough (but nice) father and Halpin is easily one of the most likable child actors I've ever seen. He's nice and friendly--he acts just like a kid would. I admit the title song (first played about an hour in) is hysterically bad but I sort of enjoyed it. This is a perfect kids movie--especially if they love animals. I know not everyone loves dolphins but I do and I found this silly movie quite enjoyable. I give it a 6.