The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Robert Merle (novel)
Buck Henry (writer)

Release Date:

29 March 1974 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Unwittingly He Trained a Dolphin to Kill the President of the United States

Plot:

Dr Jake Terrell, who has been training a pair of dolphins for many years, has had a breakthrough. He...

Plot Keywords:

Dolphin | Assassination | Exploding Boat | Scientist | Talking Animal

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

George C. Scott	...	Dr. Jake Terrell
Trish Van Devere	...	Maggie Terrell
Paul Sorvino	...	Curtis Mahoney
Fritz Weaver	...	Harold DeMilo
Jon Korkes	...	David
Edward Herrmann	...	Mike
Leslie Charleson	...	Maryanne
John David Carson	...	Larry
Victoria Racimo	...	Lana
John Dehner	...	Wallingford
Severn Darden	...	Schwinn
William Roerick	...	Dunhill
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Mrs. Rome
Phyllis Davis	...	Receptionist
Pat Zurica	...	First Mate

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Company:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Trivia:

Roman Polanski was originally supposed to direct the movie. He was in England scouting locations for the movie when his wife Sharon Tate was killed by the Manson Family.

Quotes:

Harold DeMilo: Are you blackmailing me Mr Mahoney?
Curtis Mahoney: Goodness no... I'm just an average person with an above average curiosity... and of course I don't make make friends easy

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tremors: The Sounds of Silence (#1.10)" (2003)

Everything I hate in a film-normally, but..........

Even though starring the great George C Scott this film is a bit of a non-starter. However I have to admit that it is the only film that I have seen in all of my 40 yrs that has managed to reduce me to tears. I challenge anyone to watch the final scenes and not be at least a little moved. Although the story is very simple and does little to encourage Scott-or any of the cast- to 'act their heart out', it shows both humans and dolphins as they are. Humans as sly and cunning and dolphins as naive and trusting, and this is what hurts at the end of the film, when................. Well why spoil it, it may be shown on t.v again, one day.

If anyone knows how I might get a copy of the film (for my kid's-honest), please could they contact me through the e-mail supplied. Ta Ta. (Or is that 'Ka Ka'?) Bob O'Sullivan. Southend-on-Sea, England.