When the Whales Came (1989)

A pair of children befriend an accentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and ... See full summary »

Director:

Clive Rees

Writers:

Michael Morpurgo (novel), Michael Morpurgo (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Scofield, David Threlfall, Helen Mirren

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Scofield	...	The Birdman
David Threlfall	...	Jack Jenkins
Helen Mirren	...	Clemmie Jenkins
Helen Pearce	...	Gracie Jenkins
Max Rennie	...	Daniel Pender
Jeremy Kemp	...	Mr. Wellbeloved
John Hallam	...	Treve Pender
Barbara Ewing	...	Mary Pender
Dexter Fletcher	...	Big Tim
Nicholas Jones	...	Vicar
Joanna Bartholemew	...	Miss Tregarthen
Barbara Jefford	...	Auntie Mildred
Irene Wilson	...	Molly Woodcock
Fergus Rees	...	The Birdman as a Boy
Kerra Spowart	...	Margaret Pender

Storyline

A pair of children befriend an accentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and the narwhales who sometimes come. Meanwhile WWI is making life hard in the village.

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Plot Keywords:

island | puffin | 1910s | deafness | beach | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cuando vuelvan las ballenas

Filming Locations:

Bryher, Isles of Scilly, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Swan, Central Independent Television, American Continental Corp.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

User Reviews

when the whales came is a whale of a good picture

This one sneaked up on me a Thursday afternoon and the Fox Movie Channel tossed it in. God bless 'em for that. Hope they repeat it soon. (They have that tendency).

This film about life on a remote, barren English island during WWI (it is by no means a war flick) is, in words of one, MAGNIFICENT. The direction, superb photography, excellent music (unobtrusive, unlike too many of today's noisy movies) and the acting all combined to choke you up, or bring tears to your eyes, depending on your level of emotion.

This well told, beautiful tale has the big plus of some fine, fine performers, particularly the youngsters Helen Pearce and Max Rennie. For whatever ungodly reason neither of these two achieved any kind of fame. Young Max only made one other movie, "Hard Road," while Helen did nothing else.

Both youngsters received the Young Artists Award, an honorary but justified recognition.

Paul Scofield and Helen Mirren the entire cast were heavily responsible for the success of this G-rated movie.

The accents were not too heavy so, no problem in understanding. It was a tad slow at first, but that is nit-picking. Overall, it can be rated as one of the best movies of its kind hell, any kind ever made.