Flipper et les Pirates

Silly, kids movie that is not even close to realistic. A young runaway boy trying to save his dolphin friend witnesses pirates stealing a yacht off the coast of Florida and forcing a mother and her two children in a small boat. The pirates kidnap the father and sail off while the women row to a small, nearby island. Trying to remain hidden, has the dolphin assist the women to the island. More concerned about saving his dolphin than reporting the crime. The young boy tries to help the 3 women without their knowledge. Later the pirates return to the island, kidnap the women and try to shoot the dolphin. The premise of the movie is beyond ignorant.

RELEASED IN 1964 and directed by Leon Benson, "Flipper's New Adventure" has Luke Halpin returning as teenager Sandy who runs away to an island where he discovers three female castaways, a mother and two daughters (Helen Cherry, Francesca Annis & Pamela Franklin). Meanwhile there are three escaped convicts on the loose. Brian Kelly replaces Chuck Connors as the kid's father, Po.

As a family adventure/fantasy/animal flick, this sequel has even more "Yeah, right" moments than the first one, but I like it better because there's more human interest and sense of adventure. Luke was 16 during filming and Pamela 13. Their chemistry is real seeing as how Pamela was Luke's first girlfriend and he later traveled to England to see her, although it never morphed into anything permanent.

It's amusing to observe Sandy basically becoming a teenage Tarzan as he aids the three females: Penny (Franklin) secretly receives his help while humorously pretending to possess great survival skills to her mother & sister. The showdown with the three convicts in the last act is actually kinda thrilling for a kid's adventure.

The dolphin Mitzie played Flipper in the first movie whereas Suzy performs as Flipper in this one. Right before the film's release Luke confessed that Mitzie was more affectionate.

THE MOVIE RUNS 94 minutes and was shot in Bahamas and Key Biscayne & Miami, Florida. WRITER: Ivan Tors. ADDITIONAL CAST: Lloyd Battista plays the lead convict while Tom Helmore plays the Brit patriarch.

GRADE: B

Filmed in colour in Florida and the Bahamas by veteran cinematographer Lamar Boren, despite being a sequel to that most American of kidflicks, 'Flipper's New Adventure' largely has a cast of Britons unfamiliar to Hollywood.

Of the damsels in distress, the nice sensible one is played by Pamela Franklin, while Francesca Annis draws the booby prize in the form of the thankless role of the whiny elder sibling.

To the cineliterate the biggest surprise comes in the presence as the girls' father of Tom Helmore, who brings to the proceedings all the dubious connotations you'd expect from the actor best known as the two-timing Gavin Elster in 'Vertigo'.

Sandy Ricks (Luke Halpin) is losing his Florida home and fears separation from his beloved Flipper. He decides to run away with the dolphin and finds refuge on an island. Only their isolation is pierced by three escaped convicts and a very dumb British family.

I can see Sandy taking down the convicts but they really can't have guns. The guns raise the danger level too high. It stretches reason beyond its limit and it contravenes its light family fun premise. Then there is the British family. Dad knows that these could be the escaped convicts and yet he goes right up to them. A reasonable man would radio the authorities and keep his distance. Once on the island, it gets even dumber. Here's the thing. The movie has to choose. It can be dumb or it can be dangerously thrilling. A Flipper movie should probably dial back the danger. It can survive being a silly family film.

It is largely due to the participation of handsome Luke Halpin that this film drew my attention. Although Flipper the dolphin is well trained and does a good job it's also nice to see "Sandy Ricks" appear in a movie again.