Dolphin Tale (2011)

A story centered on the friendship between a boy and a dolphin whose tail was lost in a crab trap.

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Karen Janszen, Noam Dromi

Stars:

Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr.

4 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harry Connick Jr.	...	Dr. Clay Haskett
Ashley Judd	...	Lorraine Nelson
Nathan Gamble	...	Sawyer Nelson
Kris Kristofferson	...	Reed Haskett
Cozi Zuehlsdorff	...	Hazel Haskett
Morgan Freeman	...	Dr. Cameron McCarthy
Austin Stowell	...	Kyle Connellan
Frances Sternhagen	...	Gloria Forrest
Austin Highsmith	...	Phoebe
Betsy Landin	...	Kat
Juliana Harkavy	...	Rebecca
Megan Lozicki	...	Brittany
Jim Fitzpatrick	...	Max Connellan
Kim Ostrenko	...	Alyce Connellan
Michael Roark	...	Donovan Peck

Storyline

A lonely and friendless boy finds and untangles a hurt dolphin that is caught in a crab trap. He becomes very attached to the dolphin when the tail must be taken off to save the dolphin's life. The boy believes the dolphin would be able to swim normally if it was given a prosthetic tail.

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Plot Keywords:

competition | bare chested male | father figure | beach | medical examination | 

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Taglines:

Inspired by the amazing true story of Winter

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Delfiini lugu

Filming Locations:

Admiral Farragut Academy, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$37,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,152,401, 25 September 2011

Gross USA:

$72,286,779

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$95,415,285

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcon Entertainment, Arc Productions, St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The gel / liner for Winter the dolphin - as well as Winter herself - is in fact REAL. It was not done with special effects and is actually Winter herself swimming around both without the prosthetic tail and with the prosthesis. Initially the aquarium had issues with keeping a prosthetic tail on her that was secure and comfortable. Because of this they reached out to a local medical manufacturer, ALPS South out of St. Petersburg, Florida partnered with Hanger Orthopedic Group and ALPS South developed the liner, specifically designed to comfortably and securely fit Winter's prosthetic tail.

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Goofs

When the news channel shows Winter, there is footage of the dolphin being lifted into the truck at the beach. At the beginning, when the dolphin was first rescued, there were only the rescuers and the boy, but one of the rescuers did have a camera and was filming the events.

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Quotes

Lorraine Nelson: Sawyer... I don't know what to say
Sawyer Nelson: Please mom, I'll do extra class credit next year, I"ll write a essay, I'll do anything you want
Lorraine Nelson: I believe you... I get... I get this... I mean, it's... it's amazing
[Sawyer pleading to his mom]
Lorraine Nelson: I'll talk to Mr. Doyle
Sawyer Nelson: YES, I love you... Thank you
Lorraine Nelson: You're welcome
[Sawyer runs to Hazel]
Sawyer Nelson: Hazel, she said, "yes"
Hazel Haskett: Yes!
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Also shown in 3D version.

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Connections

Referenced in The Nostalgia Teen: Buddy (2011)

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Soundtracks

Knee Deep
Written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette (as Wyatt B. Durette III), Coy Bowles and Jeffrey Steele
Performed by Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
Jimmy Buffet appears courtesy of Mailboat Records
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing/WACBIZ

User Reviews

What a great film!

Congrat's Charlie Smith, you've done it again. Congrat's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson...and Bob Engelman. I've been a part of a lot of films in our industry, as an actress, a choreographer, a director...and there are only a handful of great films you can point too, that you can watch over and over and over, and it never gets old. Dolphin Tale will be added to that list. From Morgan Freeman to Ashley Judd, all of the actors were phenomenal. The child actor Nathan Gamble pours his little heart into this one, and will become the new it young actor. Harry Connick Jr. is the dad of all dads, and the young actress Cozi Zuehlsdorff will will eventually become a wonderful little actress if she stays away from troublemakers in the industry. There were also a lot of successful actors in the supporting cast that helped make this film one for the ages. like, Frances Sternhagen, Kris Kristofferson, Ray McKinnon, Jim Fitzpatrick, Marc Macauly and Richard Libertini. And last but not least Winter. If you love animals and/or Dolphins..you too will love Dolphin Tale!