The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Robert Merle (novel)
Buck Henry (writer)

Release Date:

31 July 1974 (Sweden)

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:

Assassination | Dolphin | Talking Animal | Exploding Boat | Scientist

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

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
Willie Myers	...	Stone
Julie Follansbee	...	Woman at Club
Florence Stanley	...	Woman at Club
Brooke Hayward	...	Woman at Club
Pat Englund	...	Woman at Club
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Buck Henry	...	Man standing outside ladies club (uncredited)
Robert Lydiard	...	Fa the Dolphin (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Nichols

Writing credits
Robert Merle		(novel "Un Animal doue de raison")
Buck Henry		(writer)

Produced by
Dick Birkmayer	....	associate producer
Joseph E. Levine	....	executive producer
Robert E. Relyea	....	producer

Original Music by
Georges Delerue

Cinematography by
William A. Fraker

Film Editing by
Sam O'Steen

Casting by
Alan Shayne

Production Design by
Richard Sylbert

Art Direction by
Angelo P. Graham		(as Angelo Graham)

Set Decoration by
George R. Nelson

Costume Design by
Anthea Sylbert

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist
Dorothy Byrne	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tim Zinnemann	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Haley	....	second assistant director
Al McCabe	....	second unit director
Alan McCabe	....	second unit director
Thomas J. Schmidt	....	assistant director

Art Department
Matty Azzarone	....	leadman
Alan Levine	....	property master (as Allan Levine)

Sound Department
Larry Jost	....	sound recordist (as Lawrence O. Jost)
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recordist
Greg Dillon	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jim White	....	special effects
Albert Whitlock	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Pat Blymyer	....	gaffer (as Pat Blymer)
Lamar Boren	....	underwater director of photography: second unit
Bobby Byrne	....	camera operator (as Bob Byrne)
Dick Colean	....	first assistant camera
David Garfath	....	photography: second unit
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	camera operator: underwater scenes
Richard Moran	....	key grip
Al Reiners	....	gaffer: Miami

Costume and Wardrobe Department
G. Tony Scarano	....	wardrobe (as Tony Scarano)

Editorial Department
Stu Linder	....	editorial assistant

Transportation Department
Paul Casella Jr.	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Erica Abt	....	assistant trainer
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	titles
Peter Moss	....	trainer: dolphins
Kathy Troutt	....	assistant trainer
Jesse White	....	veterinary supervisor
Meta Wilde	....	script supervisor
John Cunningham Lilly	....	scientific researcher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• AVCO Embassy Pictures

Distributors

• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (laserdisc)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Gloria (1974) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnetic Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1975) (Netherlands) (theatrical)

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) | 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.

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.