Free Willy (1993)

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writers (WGA):

Keith Walker (story)
Keith Walker (screenplay) and
Corey Blechman (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 July 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

A 12 year old street kid. A 3 ton orca whale. A friendship you could never imagine. An adventure you'll never forget.

Plot:

When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.

Plot Keywords:

Whale | Marina | Social Worker | Aquarium | Killer Whale

Awards:

7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Keiko	...	Willy
Jason James Richter	...	Jesse
Lori Petty	...	Rae Lindley
Jayne Atkinson	...	Annie Greenwood
August Schellenberg	...	Randolph Johnson
Michael Madsen	...	Glen Greenwood
Michael Ironside	...	Dial
Richard Riehle	...	Wade
Mykelti Williamson	...	Dwight Mercer
Michael Bacall	...	Perry
Danielle Harris	...	Gwenie
Isaiah Malone	...	Vector
Betsy Toll	...	Passerby #1
Rob Sample	...	Passerby #2
Merrilyn Jones	...	Passerby #3

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/6 | Australia:G | Canada:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Oregon, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

When the film was broadcast with a Mexican dub in the United States, it was titled "Libren a Willy," which is grammatically incorrect. The correct Spanish title would have been "Liberen a Willy," or "Liberad a Willy" which is the title used in Spain.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Killer whales only jump over things when they know how deep the water is on the other side. The final scene (Willy's jump over the port wall) would be impossible for a real whale.

Quotes:

Rae:[Anxious about Willy's clearing the rocks in the marina] You ever see him jump that high?
Randolph:Things can happen.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Vecinos: Servicio de cable (#1.12)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

How Can You Leave Me Now

Eco-Friendly, Underrated Family Drama

It is hard to believe how fast kids are forced to grow up nowadays. I remember a time when pre-teens were anxious for the next Disney movie to come out. Those days are over, as most of today's "family" movies usually contain a more mature subtext. Now kids get excited about the next installment of the Michael Myers or Freddy Kruger sagas. Even Disney, the great family-oriented Film Company, has opted to concentrate more on the adult product that its sister companies (Miramax and Dimension films) are producing. Fortunately, there are still producers willing to make films that the whole family can enjoy, and "Free Willy" is an example of a modern, no-sex, no-violence film that is not only apt for kids of all ages, but it is also a really good movie that adults can enjoy.

The film's storyline is simple. Orphan and full-time troublemaker Jesse (newcomer Jason James Richter in a convincing performance), vandalizes a local aquarium. As a punishment, the young punk is forced to clean up his mess. And surprise, surprise, once at the aquarium, the boy befriends a whale (kept at the facilities ever since the creature was separated from his parents), and soon boy and whale develop a unique friendship. Yes, the movie offers very few surprises, and in an era of cynicism, many will find the movie too sentimental. However, I think Jason James Richter's excellent work helps a lot, and the footage of real-life whales (which is seamlessly integrated with the computer-generated work), adds immeasurably to the film's sincere approach.

"Free Willy" was a surprise hit when it first debuted in movie theaters more than 10 years ago, and its enormous popularity brought attention to the real plight of Keiko, the killer whale who played he titular character of Willy. Kept in captivity and unable to survive on his own, Keiko became a symbol of a very serious problem: animals on the verge of extinction. The notoriety of Keiko's real problems combined with the film's good vibes (plus Michael Jackson's hit song from the movie) made this simple story of a boy that regains his self-esteem with the help of a whale, a must-see film during the summer of 1993. In fact, the film was so successful that over the years it spawned a couple of very good sequels. So much for a little film that was expected to disappear soon after its initial theatrical run.

As a resident of the West Coast, where Keiko was kept under observation, I had been well aware of the whale's plight for quite some time. I am glad that if anything, the movie brought the whale's problems to the attention of many animal lovers (including Michael Jackson, who donated a substantial amount of money to help with Keiko's rehabilitation). Keiko's notoriety also helped the movie become a box office hit. However, in all fairness, all the artists that participated in the production of this film should get credit not only for creating a movie that sends a strong message about preserving our ecosystem, but also for making a quality film. Unfortunately, Keiko passed away not long ago, but I'm sure "Free Willy" will make it difficult to forget his story – the film will always serve as a reminder of our responsibility to preserve all species for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Warner seems to recognize the appeal – and unexpected relevance – of this box office hit. Despite the lack of substance in terms of supplemental material, the extras (on the DVD) are a nice addition – few movies of this vintage get a well-produced DVD special edition as this one. This 10th anniversary edition is a delightful DVD product, designed to please most families that are looking for a pleasant movie experience. "Free Willy" is a good film, and the DVD is a real treat.