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The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 8

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 1,038

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Movie Info

Director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Buck Henry team up again (after collaborating on The Graduate and Catch-22) for this adaptation of Robert Merle's best-selling adventure novel concerning dolphins who become pawns in a plot to kill the president. George C. Scott plays Dr. Jake Terrell, a researcher who, along with his wife Maggie (Trish Van Devere), is investigating dolphin intelligence, believing they have the capability of speech. Harold DeMilo (Fritz Weaver), in charge of a major

PG, 1 hr. 44 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Mike Nichols

Written By: Buck Henry

In Theaters: Dec 19, 1973 Wide

On DVD: Jul 29, 2003

Cast

George C. Scott
Dr. Jake Terrell
Trish VanDevere
Maggie Terrell
Paul Sorvino
Mahoney
Fritz Weaver
Harold DeMilo
Jon Korkes
David
Edward Herrmann
Mike
John David Carson
Larry
Leslie Charleson
Maryanne
Severn Darden
Schwinn
Phyllis Davis
Receptionist
John Dehner
Wallingford
Julie Follansbee
First Woman
Brooke Hayward
Third Woman
Victoria Racimo
Lana
William Roerick
Dunhill
Florence Stanley
Women at Club
Buck Henry
Elizabeth Wilson
Mrs. Rome
Pat Englund
Fourth Woman
Willie Myers
Stone
Trish Van Devere

Critic Reviews for The Day of the Dolphin

All Critics (17) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (8) | DVD (7)

A rare and regrettably uneven combination of ideas and action.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Some of the cloak-and-dagger stuff that follows is so awkwardly staged that it's difficult to know whether the simplicity was designed for youngsters or as parody.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

Tries so hard not to be a conventional science-fiction thriller that it fails, alas, to be anything.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

The screenplay chooses some poor times to relieve tension, and the jokes fall flat.

August 16, 2010 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

A less stone-faced than usual Scott kept up with the frolicking dolphins in the acting department.

April 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A bizarre and often ridiculous attempt to merge documentary, suspense and comedy.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Depois da proeza de conseguir fazer com que acreditemos em sua premissa absurda (um golfinho falante), o filme se rende a uma trama �bvia e repleta de clich�s.

February 1, 2004 Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

As a cinematic time capsule to a goofier era, it kinda works.

October 29, 2003 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

Apollo Guide

Jake told us kids that what we always suspected was true: the summer of love was dead, long live the summer of the shark.

September 14, 2003 Full Review Source: PopMatters

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Erich Kuersten

PopMatters

Is it all a gag?

July 17, 2003 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

A hugely expensive misfire.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Day of the Dolphin

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A movie that is surely dated but as a kid was engrossing involving scientists who have to protect the beloved dolphins they are studying from becoming pawns in a political assasination attempt. George C. Scott leads a stellar cast and the dolphins are incredible to watch.

July 29, 2011

Christopher Oakley

Super Reviewer

This was nominated for an academy award? That, just shows you what the awards are worth. Most of the time this movie is just laughable. Especailly the "talking" dolphins.

May 11, 2011