Ring of Bright Water (1969)

Director:

Jack Couffer

Writers:

Jack Couffer (screenplay) and
Bill Travers (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 December 1973 (East Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The stars, the warmth, the pleasure of Born Free.

Plot:

Whoever said dog is man's best friend never met Mij! Mij is a cute, cuddly pet shop otter who captures the heart of Graham Merill (Bill Travers)...

Plot Keywords:

Otter | Scotland | Hebrides | Independent Film | Based On Book

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bill Travers	...	Graham Merrill
Virginia McKenna	...	Mary MacKenzie
Peter Jeffrey	...	Colin Wilcox
Jameson Clark	...	Storekeeper
Helena Gloag	...	Flora
Willie Joss	...	Lighthouse Keeper (as W. D. Joss)
Roddy McMillan	...	Busdriver
Jean Taylor Smith	...	Sarah (as Jean Taylor-Smith)
Christopher Benjamin	...	Fishmonger
Kevin Collins	...	Fisherman
Archie Duncan	...	Road mender
June Ellis	...	Barmaid
Philippa Gail	...	Pet stall girl
Tommy Godfrey	...	Ticket seller
Walter Hall
Bill Horsley	...	Timid man
Phil McCall	...	Frank
Philip Morant
Michael O'Halloran	...	Herman
John Young	...	Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Gibson	...	Sleeping car attendant (uncredited)

Directed by
Jack Couffer

Writing credits
Jack Couffer		(screenplay) and
Bill Travers		(screenplay)
Gavin Maxwell		(book)

Produced by
Betty Botley	....	assistant producer
Edgar J. Scherick	....	executive producer
Joseph Strick	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Cordell

Cinematography by
Wolfgang Suschitzky		(lighting cameraman)

Film Editing by
Reginald Mills

Art Direction by
Kenneth Ryan		(as Ken Ryan)

Makeup Department
Hilda Fox	....	hairdresser
Catherine Shirley	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Terry Lens	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brian Lawrence	....	second assistant director
Ernie Lewis	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Michael Hart	....	dubbing editor (as Mike Hart)
Ivan Sharrock	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Dodds	....	camera operator
Geoffrey Moyse	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ernie Farrer	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
John Rushton	....	assembly editor

Music Department
Frank Cordell	....	conductor

Other crew
Mabel Beecham	....	wildlife consultant
Tom Beecham	....	wildlife consultant
Lorraine Fennell	....	production secretary
Suzanne Haig	....	continuity
Hubert Wells	....	wildlife consultant

Production Companies

• Rank Organisation, The (presents)
• Palomar Pictures International (as a Palomar Pictures {PPI} Production)
• Brightwater Film Production (as Brightwater Film Productions Limited)

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• International Film Distributors (1969) (Canada) (theatrical)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1969) (UK) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Odyssey Video (1992) (UK) (VHS)
• Pearson Television International (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Video Collection International (1986) (UK) (video)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:107 min | UK:107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Gaelic

Color:

Color (as Colour by) (Technicolor) (as Technicolor®)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | USA:G | UK:U | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Easdale, Seil, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

Based on the true story of Gavin Maxwell, who bought an otter in Iraq and brought it back to his home in Scotland, only to discover that this was a subspecies of otter not yet recorded. Maxwell gave his name to the new sub species' title: Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Bill Travers's character is supposed to be going to Scotland by train. He enters Victoria station and is then seen buying a ticket at Marylebone. To travel to Scotland he would need to travel from either Euston or King's Cross.

Quotes:

Fishmonger:[Graham is buying fish] You want any shark as well?
Graham Merrill:[Remembering his mistake] No, no shark at all!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Flashbacks of a Fool (2008)

Soundtrack:

Ring of Bright Water

Wonderful film made with sensitivity and insight

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 !