User reviews

I saw this in grade school with our entire school in our hall. Although the movie is a delight for the most part especially falling in love with Mij. However, I'm 56 years old and have never rewatched this film or showed it to my kids when they were small. I must have been 8 and was deeply affected by the ending of this movie.

The plot of "Ring of Bright Water" is a simple one. Graham Merrill, a London-based civil servant, one day, on impulse, buys an otter which he sees in a pet shop window. It soon becomes clear that a London flat is no place in which to keep a pet otter, and this persuades Merrill to put into effect a plan which he has had in mind for some time, namely to escape from the rat-race and move to the Scottish Highlands in order to write a book. Once there, he takes up residence in a dilapidated old cottage by the shore and becomes friendly with Mary MacKenzie, the local doctor.

Although a romance develops between Graham and Mary, their love-story has to take second place to the love-story which is really at the centre of the film, that between Mij the otter and the audience. Mij, who takes his name from an Arab sheikh whom Graham met during his travels, is one of the most entertaining and engaging creatures in the history of the cinema, and virtually the whole of the film is centred upon him and his adventures- the havoc he wreaks during a train journey from London to Scotland, his growing friendships with Mary's dog Johnnie and with a family of young geese which Graham also adopts, and Graham's efforts to catch a shark in order to provide him with food. (Mij, predictably enough, decides that shark steaks are not to his liking).

The human stars of the film, Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, were husband and wife in real life, and both were well-known for their support for animal welfare and conservation. Three years earlier they had starred together in "Born Free", a film with a conservationist message, and "Ring of Bright Water" can perhaps be seen as more of the same. Here that message is rather underplayed, except perhaps during the poignant ending, but there are some occasional neat touches such as the scene where Graham, on a visit to London, sees an otter-skin coat in a shop window.

This is not a particularly deep film, but it is a charming one, its charm being helped by a catchy theme song (another similarity to "Born Free"), a fine musical score and some equally fine photography of the Scottish Highland scenery. This is perfect Sunday afternoon viewing for the family, and perfect for all nature lovers. 7/10

I saw this when I was a child and enjoyed it, then ran into it unexpectedly on TV not long ago, and was delighted. I'm not a fan of "Born Free," the more famous Travers-McKenna starrer, with its self-importance, travelogue nature photography, sentimentality ... and that awful Andy Williams vocal at the end. Perhaps this has something to do also with the rather insistent way the move was flogged as "wholesome family fare" at a time of change and - some of us would say - maturity in the commercial film industry. Nevertheless, I wasn't prepared for much on the second viewing of "Ring of Bright Water." I was wrong. Jack Couffer, a veteran of Disney's True Life Adventures, turns out to have been a real filmmaker who knew how to create an ambiance that at times approaches a kind of poetry. The atmosphere seems to proceed out of the characters, not just the settings (from London to western Scotland). The cinematography is lovely (Couffer got his start as a DP). The animals - especially Midj - are not sentimentalized but are endearing and empathetic. The story isn't pumped up with any crude comedy. The (human) performances are nicely low-key. The burgeoning romance between the writer and the doctor is predictable but not oppressively so.

Altogether, Couffer's film has a "naturalness" that almost all other family-nature flicks completely lack. "Ring of Bright Water" has little or nothing to do with the social and political changes happening at the time it was made, nor with current trends in film. It could have been made in almost any year. And it will no doubt continue to provide a strong measure of pleasure for some time to come.

usually when you have fond memories of some childhood film you saw when you were young, they usually turn out to be quite awful or trite or just plain dumb upon second viewing as an adult. But I rented this for my 5 year old who loves animals and we both enjoyed it. I had wonderful memories of seeing this when I was nine and it really is a terrific rental to seek out. In fact, my 5 year old was so intriguedby Mij and the other otters, she promptly went to the library and got a book by the original author of Ring Of Bright Water - Gavin Maxwell called an Otter's Tail.

I have no idea how some people give this film low marks, everything from the scenery to the interaction between cast and animals is breathtaking. I was enthralled throughout this emotional roller-coaster thanks to the trainers of Mij the otter and the acting of the two lead roles, i watched seven samurai the night before this, so it had a lot to live up to, and it was one of the first films in ages where i didn't look at the time once, i was so happy watching this man and otter co-exist that i didn't want it to end.

There are emotional extremes in this film, moments of tearful joy and moments of terrible sadness, so be careful if watching with kids. For a 1969 production, I cannot recommend this enough, i watched a free copy with a newspaper, and i will be buying the full DVD very soon and I'm 24! Thoroughly impressive editing & acting makes this a film that will stay with me till the day i die. And dammit, i want that otter !!

I saw this movie at five and have never forgotten it. I thought the otter's name was "mitch" and had no clue what the movie title was, but I managed, after renting four or five otter movies to find it again. I found it just as memorable the over 3 decades later. The scenery is quite amazing. The movie is a great snapshot of 1960's England. I did find the sound to be low; the narrator's speaks so softly it is hard to hear him sometimes.

You can judge the ending from other posts, but at 5 years old I was totally devastated. I have no idea why children's movies tend to be so traumatic.

I was surprised to see that the main characters were the same two actors in Born Free.

Absolutely one of the films that defined a generation - Ring Of Bright Water was a huge success worldwide and is considered by many to be the best animal film.

The true story of a divorced insurance actuary who trades London and the 9-5 for Scotland because he bought an otter from a pet shop is simply brilliant. Based on Gavin Maxwell's excellent autobiography it translated very successfully to film.

Director Jack Couffer already a long career making classic animal films for Disney and had obviously never heard W C Field's famous line about never working with animals of children...here he adapted to a British sensibility and we end up with a film that is not sappy but rather genuinely magic. The cinematography by Walter Suschitsky is outstanding. Suschitsky went on to film the original Get Carter (....And not a lot of people know that ) The humans are great, but the otter (and other wildlife: the geese!) are truly amazing and lift this from ordinary to extraordinary. Maxwell actually bought the otter back from Iraq and it was discovered to be new subspecies which named by the London Zoological Society in his honour Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.

If you vaguely remember seeing this first time round you'll definitely want to see it again, if you haven't I promise you'll see something you won't easily forget - it is charming in the best sense with Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna at their understated British best. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking: it is the otter and the beautiful settings that you'll remember.

One of our favourites ever.

After the success of the 1966 British film "Born Free," which starred real-life couple Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, is it any wonder that the similarly-themed "Ring of Bright Water" came out a few years later in 1969? THE STORY: Travers plays a writer in London who is strangely drawn to an otter in a pet store window. After purchasing the animal he decides to leave the city to give them both some much-needed breathing space. They move to desolate coastal Scotland where he fixes up a shack to make it livable. There they develop a relationship with another animal-lover, a rural doctor played by McKenna. Adventures ensue.

"Ring of Bright Water" is a must for animal/nature fans. The film features a good assortment of animals, although otters are the main item. In addition the picture features some beautiful rural Scotland photography (filmed on location, of course).

Personally, I can relate to the protagonists' love for the otter and other cute & cuddly critters. A family of woodchucks (aka groundhogs) used to live by us until last May and we would get much enjoyment out of watching them, especially each Spring when the mother would have 5-7 cubs. We've become so familiar with woodchucks that we often spot them on our drives in the country. If you know what to look for you'll spot woodchucks almost every day in the Northeast. One day this past August we spotted ten woodchucks in ten minutes (!). But I digress.

"Ring of Bright Water" is a quiet film, a breath of fresh air in this age of special-effects laden extravaganzas. To appreciate it you have to be in the mood for something that glorifies nature and is generally laid-back. The film is certainly family-friendly but, be forewarned, it has edge. This is a good thing, to me at least.

For one thing, there's a sequence where the couple goes out to an island looking for their missing otter (named Mij), who naturally went off looking for a babe. The sequence takes on an ominous vibe with mysterious shots of the ancient landscape.

Other reviewers rightly point out that the film ultimately takes an unexpected dark turn (even though it still ends on a positive note). Some have even given the DVD a low rating for this reason. I defend this "dark turn" for a number of reasons. For one thing it does give the film an edge. By this point in the story things had become a bit lull; something shocking NEEDED to happen.

I don't want to give away the ending so don't read the next paragraph if you haven't seen the film yet.

***SPOILER ALERT*** I found the ending uplifting despite the otter's death; in fact, it delivers quite a few important messages. The message of Mij's death is revealed in the words of the old man who killed him; he states, "Oh, I didn't know it was your pet; I just thought it was an otter." In other words, he killed the beautiful creature for no legitimate reason at all; just because Mij happened by him. This is a tendency of the fallen nature of human beings; it's ignorance & hostility and it must change if this world is to ever improve. Aside from this the ending shows the couple discovering that Mij had a mate and kids. His life begat life; and that life continues despite Mij's death. Another message is that perhaps otters should stay in the wild rather than become our pets; if Mij wasn't a pet he wouldn't have needlessly died the way he did. Yet another lesson is the cold fact of death in this world. Children (and people in general) need to learn and accept the reality of death sooner or later, why not sooner? The film opens the door for parents to discuss this important subject with their kids. It powerfully illustrates how death can happen at any time and can be quite a shock. We all know of friends and loved ones who have died suddenly, without warning, and what a shock it was to deal with. This movie preps us all for this inevitable happening. ***END SPOILER*** Bad ending? No way; it's an important and necessary ending.

The film was based on the book of the same name. The ending sort of explains the strange title but IMHO they should have come up with a better title. "Born to Frolic and Swim Free" perhaps. Just joking, but just about anything would be better than "Ring of Bright Water." Another highlight is the moving acoustic folk song played during the credits, which I assume (from the lyrics) is also titled "Ring of Bright Water." This is a simple yet magnificent & timeless piece, and the singer has a stirring voice.

The film runs 1 hour and 44 minutes.

GRADE: B+

If you ever feel like giving up the rat-race of the city life and a hectic job, see this film. Ring of Bright water is a getting-away-from-it-all kind of movie set in the Gaelic-speaking Western Isles of Scotland. The busy London professional decides to take a broken-down croft house, fix it up, write and be creative. He accomplishes all these things but finds the friendship and love of a woman and as well as a dear otter. There are some scenes with Gaelic dialog to add reality to the film. The bittersweet end will bring a tear to even the most hardened big-business type. Great movie for a rainy day or a cozy evening - positive, uplifting.

A very simple plot: man disaffected with London life decamps to the Scottish wilderness accompanied by the tame otter he rescued from a pet shop. In Scotland he meets a woman and their mutual appreciation of the countryside and love of the otter brings them together. The film has a very bittersweet ending as a tragedy gives birth to a creative endeavour.

The film is autobiographical being based on a true story available as a book of the same name. It is subtle and unassuming making the most of the characters given its simple plot. The footage of the otter - called Mij - is fantastic and if you were indifferent to otters before I am confident you will love them after watching Mij. The connection between the man, Graham (played by Bill Travers), and Mij is funny and poignant.

This is a gem of a film. It offers so much without any of the manipulations in which many modern films indulge. I was absorbed watching it and it has stayed with me since seeing it. I recommend this highly. Be warned it is upsetting and if you decide to show it to a child there may be tears.

Like other reviewers, I first saw this film when I was a child. I was totally absorbed by the story and the antics of Mij the otter. I saw it again on video recently and it had lost none of it's charm. I remember the stunning cinematography of the wild country where it was filmed,best seen on a true big screen. Bill Travers and Virginnia McKenna ( Born Free - An Elephant called Slowly ) are well cast as Mij's friends. Any child with an interest in animals will enjoy this film , but there is enough adult interest to make it fun for all. The ending may seem somewhat brutal/bitterwseet ( although not shown in graphic detail ) but we often underestimate childrens abilities to understand what is happening around them and as I recall being a child when I saw it, the film was more memorable because it had a gritty ending and not a "warm fuzzy" throw away end. Enjoy !

Graham Merrill is working in a dead-end job in London when he adopts an otter, Mij, as a pet. He soon realises that his small apartment is not the ideal place to keep an otter and figuring it is time to work on that book he always intended to write he quits and moves to a small cottage in an isolated village on the Scottish west coast. The change makes for some great adventures with Mij and also causes Graham to meet the beautiful town doctor, Mary MacKenzie.

One of the first films I remember seeing as a child and one that left a lasting impression on me. Rewatching it 40 or so years later and it seems no less sweet and emotional.

Starring (real-life husband and wife) Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna of Born Free fame plus two trained otters as Mij the film is a wonderful adventure, mixing the trials and tribulations of Graham as he shifts location and focus and makes new friends with the sweet joy, naughtiness, innocence and cuteness of Mij the otter.

The adventure culminates in a very poignant climax but the conclusion is uplifting and very emotional.

A movie for all ages, as my liking it at very young age as well as 40 years later will attest to.

Ring of Bright Water is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen.

Modern advances in wildlife photography (Planet Earth etc.) cannot compare to the simple and powerful camera work by Wolfgang Suschitzky (Get Carter) who captures the antics of Mij, the otter, with an obvious passion and humour for a deeply lovable creature.

Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna (both married to each other at the time)are fantastic. They seem as a part of the stunning scenery as Mij himself and I was hooked at watching two actors NOT perform, but just let the camera capture their devotion and delight at all things wild and natural.

For those of us living the city life, the unspoilt scenery of the west coast of Scotland is nothing short of breathtaking and it's very easy indeed to relate to Bill Travers's character as he questions his quality of life, before he quits London to live a more fulfilling life. More interestingly, the film is far more relevant today than it was then as our hi tech digital world makes the London of its day seem almost antique and charming.

The film surprised me most because my taste in film veers towards more radical fare and it was only to please my girlfriend that I sat down and watched; within twenty minutes I was totally hooked -and by the end I have to admit that I was crying as much as she was.

A must see for any animal lover or city dweller who even remotely appreciates the simple and unrivalled beauty of nature.

A family film starring BILL TRAVERS and VIRGINIA McKENNA (the "Born Free" couple), in which most of the action takes place in a ramshackle Scottish cottage on a hillside overlooking the sea.

The story of a man who takes an otter for a pet while he works on his novel in the countryside, is beautifully filmed and all of the rapport between the otter and the stars of the film is extremely well captured. The Technicolor photography is beautiful, especially for the scenes of a shimmering sea under the sun or the moon.

But it would take someone with enormous patience, not to mention naivety, to think he could buy an otter in a pet shop and take him to live in his London apartment. And when the pet makes a shambles of his city surroundings, the owner is forced to look elsewhere for lodgings. The rest of the tale deals with his locating a rustic cottage by the sea and his interaction with a lady animal doctor who soon forms a warm friendship with him.

Children more than adults will appreciate the antics of the lively otter whose curiosity knows no bounds, especially when he gets loose aboard a train and creates havoc. But the story is slow and plodding, moving at a snail's pace through a series of uneven scenes without any dramatic highlights to heighten any tension as to the final outcome.

Travers and McKenna, real-life husband and wife, are excellent in the leads but the script tends to be on the weak side with content not compelling enough for most adults but of special interest to nature lovers.

Ring of Bright Water is a truly wonderful film. This story of an englishman and his otter reminded me of a wonderful childhood oddessey I experienced myself. On a waterborne journey along the british columbia coast we stopped at a fjord that had a house very much like that of Graham Merrill's. They themselves must have been great fans of Gavin Maxwell's book as they too had a free ranging pet otter. It was astonishing and wonderful to swim with one of these little mammals. I hadnt heard much about the film before I watched it so it was a wonderful surprise. I'd heartily recommend it for children and adults. It has some suprisingly realistic scenes but nothing that a child wouldnt understand. It is a very touching story. I plan on listening to the audiobook of the book the film was based upon immediately.

I have been trying to figure out this movie for a long time. For some reason I thought the otter's name was "Mitch" and the name of the movie was "Mitch" - Turns out it's Mij, and I'm way off on the title! I remember many nights at my grandparents watching "Family Film Festival." I think this was one of the films that aired on this show, although I could be mistaken.

I've only seen this movie once, but from what I remember it is a very sweet, simple movie about an man and an otter. It was impressionable enough to stick in my brain many, many years. I probably saw it when I was 6-8?

Now that I know the title, I am going to find a copy and watch it again...

This is a lovely little film by Jack Couffer and Bill Travers (not-to-mention the delightful Virginia McKenna as the blond, animal-loving love interest) about a bloke who leaves London to go and live with his otter in the remote Scottish Highlands.

There are some delightful shots of late-1960s London, all red buses, Fitzrovia and suchlike, showing the commotion and pollution that drives Graham Merrill (Bill Travers) to seek solitude and nature in the Highlands, like a latter-day Emerson or Thoreau. The naturalism in both the cinematography and theme is superb. So relaxing.

The music, by Frank Cordell, is equally brilliant, reminding me a bit of the signature tune to Robinson Crusoe, that black and white version from the 1960s/70s (which they used to show on BBC2 after school).

They must have some animal trainer in this film because the otter, known as Midge, behaves beautifully, as does his friend the cocker spaniel. The scenery is a delight, all white sandy beaches and dark green hill-sides. Brilliant.