Orca (1977)

A hunter squares off against a killer whale seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

Luciano Vincenzoni (story), Sergio Donati,

Stars:

Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling, Will Sampson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Harris	...	Captain Nolan
Charlotte Rampling	...	Rachel Bedford
Will Sampson	...	Umilak
Bo Derek	...	Annie
Keenan Wynn	...	Novak
Robert Carradine	...	Ken
Scott Walker	...	Al Swain
Peter Hooten	...	Paul
Wayne Heffley	...	Priest
Vincent Gentile	...	Gas Station Attendant
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Dock Worker

Storyline

After witnessing his mate and child's death from Nolan's hands, Orca, the killer whale, goes on a rampage in the fishermen's harbor. Under the villagers' pressure, Nolan, Rachel and an Indian sail after the great beast, who will bring them on his own turf.

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Plot Keywords:

whale | killer whale | revenge | death | harbor | 

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Taglines:

Terror just beneath the surface

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Genres:

Adventure | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Orca: Killer Whale

Filming Locations:

Malta

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Famous Films (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Animal rights activists blocked trucks that were delivering the animatronic whales to the set, thinking there were real whales in them.

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Goofs

Whales and dolphins only sleep with half of their brain at a time due to their need to come to the surface to breathe; they don't breathe automatically like humans do. If someone really tranquilized an orca like Nolan did with the needle in the harpoon, both halves of its brain would be asleep at the same time and therefore it would stop breathing. It wouldn't have survived for as long as Nolan's harpooned orca did.

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Quotes

Rachel: There's a word for you.
Captain Nolan: And I've been called it. Many times.

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Connections

Referenced in Unleashing the Beast: Making 'The Howling' (2003)

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Soundtracks

"My Love, We Are One"
Performed by Carol Connors
Music by Ennio Morricone

User Reviews

Orca has a particular charm to it that is often overlooked

Most of the reviews about Orca that I have seen say that, essentially, it belongs in the garbage can, with an unrealistic plot and terrible acting. Yet I must confess I quite enjoyed this film. It's been a number of years since I saw it, and I've actually forgotten most of the violent scenes. Probably what held much of the attraction for me was the theme of moral uncertainty which it maintains until the very end.

This is a much more humanely stimulating movie than Jaws. In this film there are no real bad guys, either human or otherwise, and we feel compelled to feel pity for both the orca, and the character Nolan.

The "We are One" song, the music of which features throughout the movie, is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard, and the scenes which show the orcas slowly swimming together to this music are quite entrancing.

The chilling scene in which the female orca aborts her unborn foetus is, of course, unforgettable, and it is this scene that begins the tragic theme of the story. This is a different movie altogether from Jaws, and the dramatically different endings of the two films perhaps show this difference most of all.

Watch Orca - you won't regret it.