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The Day of the Dolphin More at IMDbPro »

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21 reviews in total

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13 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
Highly improbable but not bad, 31 May 2006

Author: Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States

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.

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17 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Worthy Film, Worthy Message, 22 June 2004

Author: Etherdave from Edmonton, Alberta

George C. Scott stars as a marine biologist who has taught two dolphins to communicate with humans in english. His project attracts the notice of a shadowy corporate sponsor, who then kidnaps the dolphins to perform an assassination-at-sea. The film is divided in two parts, both exploring the ethics of man's meddling with nature. Stunning photography, excellent supporting cast, superlative effort from Scott, whose deep personal investment in the film's subject is easily sensed.

I saw this film in the theater in 1973 and thought it was one of the best I'd ever seen. I wasn't expecting a period action film or a potboiler-thriller and was pleasantly surprised to get neither. This is a thinking person's film, a modern-day Frankenstein which is made even more tragic because of the creator's love for what he has created. The conclusion of this film is uncompromising, and calls into question all animal experimentation. One of the best, and most important films to come out in my lifetime. See it.

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7 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Beautiful epic, 15 December 2005

Author: ali13kat from California

Don't shy away from this film just because it isn't an action film. It does advance at a very slow pace, and is often overlooked because of this . . . unfairly. This film is truly designed for the animal lover. Anyone who has not shared a profound relationship with an animal will probably have a difficult time relating to this film. It is a slow paced, and beautifully scored experience for a more sophisticated movie lover. George C. Scott delivers his usual, inspiring and powerful performance as the dolphin's trainer. The filming of the dolphin's, alone, makes this film worth watching. Bring along a box of tissues, and don't miss it if you love the art of movie making.

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6 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Hauntingly beautiful music, 24 September 1999
Author: MooeyG-2 from Phoenix, AZ

I agree with the assessment that the movie points out how we, as caretakers of the Earth, tend to abusiveness and misunderstanding. I agree also that it is a hokey telling of that theme, but still effective. I might venture that a contributing factor in its effectiveness is the beautiful music created by George Delerue. It is lilting and graceful, moving through the air the way the dolphins move through the water. I was very affected at the end of this film.

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7 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Everything I hate in a film-normally, but.........., 11 August 1999
Author: Bob O'Sullivan (1806bob@netscape.net) from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England

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.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
nothing short of brilliant, 3 May 2011

Author: Kieran Green (greene515@hotmail.com) from Scotland

George C. Scott plays Dr Jake Terrell, who has been training a pair of dolphins for many years, has had a breakthrough. He has taught his dolphins to speak but they have a limited vocabulary.

the dolphins are abducted by some sinister government agency who want to use the mammals in an assassination attempt. what follows is a beautifully shot race against time to thwart the attempt.

'The Day of The Dolphin' is nothing short of brilliant in it's acting, it features some excellent cinematography by William Fraker, the underwater scenes are excellently lensed ,it is essential to see this in it's original aspect ratio.

it is also nothing short of amazing as when one looks at this film which is thirty seven years young, it is all filmed for 'Real' if this was remade today there would be an over reliance on rubbish digital animation to depict the leaping and talking Dolphins.

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
" If word get's out before I can explain my work, it will turn into a freak show ", 23 April 2009

Author: thinker1691 from USA

Throughout the motion picture business there is many a thespian who truly believes in their role. Some more than others and is why a few become exceptional. The original script called " The Day of The Dolphin " was delivered to several actors, prior to the film's inception. When the principal actor read the interesting dialog between himself and his subject called Alpha, he was not only intrigued, but anxious to begin. The story centers around a Research Scientist named Dr. Jake Terrell (George C. Scott) and his wife Maggie. (Trish Van Devere) Their secret island project concerns a special Dolphin, whom they have raised since birth. In an amazing feat of Phonetic science, laboring on the cutting edge and years of patience instruction, they have taught their unique Dolphin to speak English. However, their financial benefactors are not men with lofty ideals like Dr. Terrell or his staff. Indeed their primary goal is to use the amazing oceanic mammal to swim underwater undetected to a secured location where the President of the U.S. is vacationing and eliminate the Chief Executive. Although it's Harold DeMilo (Fritz Weaver) the C.E.O. of the funding institute who plans on subverting Dr. Terrell's innovative project, it's a strange, mysterious and uninvited visitor, Curtis Mahoney (Paul Sorvino) whom they suspect is behind the theft of their special Dolphin and a midnight murder. Trust is not inherent between the characters, indeed the audience is in for a surprise or two. However it's this very element which gives the film it's dramatic texture. The cast is incredible and delivers a dynamite performance which as a result allows this film to become a Classic. Excellent movie. ****

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2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Saved By Big George, 6 February 2009

Author: screenman from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Here's a creature feature from the early 1970's.

George C Scott plays Dr Jake Terrell, a marine biologist who has taught a couple of dolphins to speak and understand English. It's a child's vocabulary with a pidgin dialect to suit their peculiar enunciation. Much of the movie entails his developing relationship with the animals and their slowly-dawning grasp of what is being asked. It's a bit like 'My Fair Lady', but with fins instead of songs.

Soon the wrong kind of people hear about their achievements. It's 1973, so we're still talking cold-war spies and subterfuge, here. The good doctor realises that the animals are destined to pass from his custody. Very likely they'll be used as living torpedoes or something. There's only one option: to let them go.

This movie ran the risk of being an absolute howl, but was saved from disaster by George C Scott. Yep; that's the same GCS who blew the silver screen to atoms with his towering portrayal of General Patton in 'Lust For Glory'. Here he is, with his face looking like it's been ground from granite, and a voice that sounds like the machine used for the task. To observe him betray moments of stricken regret is truly touching to see, all the more so for his typical appearance of such unshakable gravitas. He carries this movie on his shoulders. Which is just as well, because it couldn't otherwise stand on its own feet.

Pretty Trish Van Der Vere plays his young 'trophy' wife, and brings nothing to the movie than the obvious. And the dolphins are, of course, as believable as you want them to be. The script is surprisingly intelligent. There's a memorable sentimental/romantic theme. And although there's no tiresome kids, it's the sort of feature they'll enjoy. Happily, there's also no bad language, no explicit sex and no graphic violence, making it great family viewing.

The final parting is about as sad as any you will see in a movie, made all the more so by Scott's excellent portrayal of suppressed grief and the animals' incomprehension. You may laugh, but you'll feel guilty at the same time.

Not much in the way of a sci-fi movie, hokum from the standpoint of wildlife and environment, but still a worthy vehicle for George C Scott's amazing talent. Recommended for that if for no other reason.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Excellent Movie - Still Keeps You On The Edge of Your Seat, 24 January 2006

Author: isnotjoanne from United States

Our family hadn't seen this movie for a long time and so I decided to get my taped copy out (aired on Showtime in 1989) and was surprised to see the excellent film quality -- even though the tape was recorded in SLP. We enjoyed the movie very much. The beginning is a little slow but rest of the movie more than makes up for it. I loved the dolphins, I wish I knew more about how they made the movie -- I was looking for any trivia here at IMDb.com but didn't find any. I think children would really love the parts that involve the dolphins interacting with the "owner"/ humans (and fascinating) but this movie is NOT for children as there is violence toward humans and dolphin as well and it would be frightening for young ones. I feel it has a lot of different things to like. I can't say more without spoiling the story but I wish there was closed captioning for some of the dialog. We viewed this in Full Screen but the 2003 & 2006 DVD releases come in Wide Screen: 2.35:1 aspect ratio and I am sure the beautiful scenery benefits by it.

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4 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Matinée Movie Time from the Team of Mike Nichols and Buck Henry, 1 March 2006

Author: GaryVidmar from United States

You may think that the best-loved, most memorable thing about this minor effort are the dolphin protagonists, but it's the lovely music score by Georges Delerue owning up in that category. This is actually quite a decent cinematic version of a really stupid bestseller of the times, so if you think this film is ludicrous, don't even bother with the book. Maudlin is the term I'd use to describe those moved by the dolphin antics in this lackluster thriller, because the minute they start "Fa La La'ing", keeping a straight face becomes quite difficult; my praise to George C. Scott for managing that so well! This one is now available on DVD from Image Entertainment and they've delivered a wonderful anamorphic widescreen print, which wisely delivers the original 3-track stereophonic sound of the original theatrical prints and beautifully preserves composer Delerue's work.

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