JasparLamarCrabb It's hard to call this a terrible movie as it's so well made, but that's exactly what it is. Zero thrills and zero laughs add up to nothing. George C. Scott is a scientist who teaches a dolphin to speak. A shady group of men decides to exploit this and use the dolphin to assassinate the US president. The movie lumbers along for quite some time before that plot is exposed, making for a really boring time. Scott is fine and the supporting cast includes Paul Sorvino & Fritz Weaver. The stunning cinematography is by William A. Fraker. It's impossible to determine if this is meant to be a thriller or a satire. The script by Buck Henry is devoid of anything interesting at all. It's difficult to believe that Mike Nichols directed this.

Kieran Green 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.

screenman 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.

ivo-marjak 'Just was memorizing my favorite films from childhood and was not sure I could find this one here. I was about 13, when I saw it and went to see it three times. Never has such happened again! Sure, details are blurred (may-be for tears!), but from memories point of view it does not matter that much, I rate it best movie ever seen, if You catch my drift. As was said here already. To have it? For children, certainly; to see it again? May-be not, may spoil beautiful memories...