A Whale of a Tale

I saw this movie when it came out. In a western Michigan small town--I got the impression even then (as a teen) that it was being marketed primarily to "hicksville" theatres, like concurrent Sunn Classic and Benji movies (only more so). I can still visualize the fin-splashing poster. Yet I remember absolutely nothing about the movie itself. Which should tell you a lot, cuz I remember at least something from practically every other movie I saw back then. It must have been cheap/innocuous/generic beyond the pale. I didn't even remember that any famous actors (Shatner etc.) were in it--I thought it was all unknowns. Of all movies from back then I'd like to see again, at least in excerpt...this is one I figure I'm just fine losing all memory of, for keeps. Yep, even more than mid-70s ultra- obscuranties like "The Wonder of It All," "Echoes of a Summer" and "The Teasers Go to Paris," to mention a few.

A very, very, VERY tame movie. This was clearly created around 1972, although credits list the film as coming out in 1976 and to VHS in 1980. (Note that the star actor was born in '62 and looks around ten...definitely not 14!)

This movie is definitely of interest to those who enjoyed Marineland so much, the defunct forerunner to SeaWorld. Footage includes a nice shot from the ocean to the park, plus aerial footage. You can also see a *very* young Orky and Corky, the old entrance near the killer whale arena, the Catalina Room restaurant, and pier near Sea Lion Point. Based on the development of the park in the movie, all indications also point to a circa 1972 filming--cars are parked right next to the killer whale complex, there's no sea lion arena (they're in the dolphin arena), the potato sack slide looks brand new, and obviously, there's no Baja Reef.

Forget about the story (although one does wonder how in the world Shatner got into this film!), but enjoy it for the local scenery of Palos Verdes.

MHS '91

This movie was a tax scheme. Investors were told they could write off more than 100% of what they invested in the movie. This is, of course, impossible. The investors had to reimburse the government. I think "Lucky" went to the federal pen. Not surprisingly this movie is terrible. It bored me out of my skull when I saw it as a kid. Anyone who claims it is a good movie is out of their mind. William Shatner is at his best in this movie, which is to say he is hilariously hammy. I also recall having a nightmare about the wailing (no pun intended) theme song: "Looking for a frieeeeeend. Looking for a frieeeeeeeeend." The good thing about the movie is that the people responsible actually got what they deserved--hard time.

Whale of a Tale is basically a story about a kid who visits a marine park and forms an attachment to a killer whale there. Not much else happens. It's very cheap looking and totally inoffensive, even by 1970's standards. It plays like an average episode of The Wonderful World of Walt Disney. In fact the star, Scott Kolden, appeared in many Disney productions, which seems odd as he's an actor of little talent. What really makes the film interesting is the appearance of William Shatner who plays a marine biologist at the park! The clothes he wears is enough to make watching the movie worthwhile. The box says that the film came out in 1976 but judging from the fashions worn by the characters, I'd say it was more like 1972. Oh yes, Shatner also has a totally forced romance with the boy's mom (naturally, Kolden plays a fatherless child) Whale of a Tale is actually pretty funny if you can accept it as tongue in cheek. It may well have inspired Free Willy twenty years later! One wonders how Shatner feels about it.

As I put the Director of the movie (and the writer) Ewing "Lucky" Brown and the Producer together, I thoroughly enjoyed the making of the movie. The movie was made for children, rather than adults.

"Whale of a Tale" was produced before we had the current rating system. Ewing "Lucky" Brown was simply ahead of his time with his concept of making a movie for "the whole family to enjoy" and did it on what today would be considered a very small budget.

He (Ewing) never planned for it to be an Oscar nominee - just a good family movie and to this degree -- he suceeded!