The Day of the Dolphin

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.

I think I was six when I first saw it. I might have been five. It's always been my favorite movie.

All I can remember, and I don't know how many times I've seen it since, is that I cry when I do. I wouldn't have known who George C. Scott was, then, but he certainly adds to the drama.

This is a classic. This is about the United States, about the people of the world. This movie is a classic - eternal.

I don't know that I understood, then, what was truly going on - that scientific discovery, technology - as precious and valuable as it is, was going to be corrupted to carry out an assassination plot.

It's almost eerily reminiscent of 9/11. But we didn't stop 9/11.

Maybe what needs to change is the way we see the world, whether we're 6, or 86. This is a movie for all to see, especially children. This is a movie that will bring us together, and instruct us about the dangers of not only technology, but also the sometimes destructiveness of human nature.

George C. Scott stars as a scientist who has trained dolphins to speak and understand English. Naturally some bad guys find out and want to use the dolphins in an assassination attempt.

One of the many ecological "message" films of the 1970s. The plot is, technically, pretty silly but they pull it off. It has a great director (Mike Nichols) and Scott and Trish Van Devere are very good--but this just misses the mark. It's not a BAD movie just not a great one and I personally had some trouble taking it seriously. It was supposed to be a big hit and cost quite a bit to make. Unfortunately it was a HUGE bomb and disappeared quickly. That's too bad because it's actually pretty good. It's well done and the voices of the dolphins are (at first) frightening but you get used to them. Also it does have an ending which had me crying. I defy anyone to sit through that and not be moved.

So, despite the scientific improbabilities, a pretty good movie that deserves a wider recognition.

With some generous financial backing marine biologist George C. Scott has trained two dolphins to actually speak some rudimentary English. The dolphins are Alpha and Beta and they refer to Scott and wife Trish Van Devere as Ma and Pa. To all intents and purposes they are parents of the porpoises.

Pure scientist Scott as he describes himself has never given a thought as to his backers and their generous financial backing. But when he and Van Devere are lured off the island they work on and Alpha and Beta are taken, it's up to Scott to find them as he considers them as like his children.

Scott usually the most intense of actors is rather subdued in his part here. He has trouble comprehending why anyone would want to put such creatures in harm's way. Make no mistake it's in harm's way they are going.

I couldn't quite figure out Paul Sorvino's role in this film. He's first with the bad guys and then defects and gives Scott a voice of common sense that he desperately needs.

The dolphins are the real show, the true innocents in a corrupt world. To an extent they mirror their ma and pa.

The Day Of The Dolphin got Oscar nominations for sound and for the music score. It's an interesting and absorbing film even today.

Jake Terrell (George C. Scott) and his wife Maggie are trying to train their dolphin Alpha "Fa" to communicate in English. They bring in a female dolphin for companionship. The problem is that the foundation funding the research has different objectives for the dolphins.

Despite the weirdness of talking broken English with a dolphin, I try to take this movie seriously on its own level. It is certainly sincere in creating this world and its people. I appreciate the ultimate message. The problem is that I don't get why the foundation is funding the dolphin to talk English. It makes no sense. They don't need to discuss philosophy with the dolphins. They just need it to carry stuff. Ultimately, the movie does not make sense in its central premise.