Is Flipper a girl or boy dolphin?
Filmed in color in 1962 and released in 1963, Flipper has several underwater sequences, along with scenes of the trained dolphin performing stunts. Flipper was actually Mitzie (1958–1972), a female trained at the Santini Porpoise School (later the Dolphin Research Center) by Milton and Virginia Santini, who are credited in the film.
What was the name of the baby dolphin in Flipper?
Two of the dolphins, Little Bit, a female, and Mr. Gipper, a male, mated at the Santini Porpoise School, yielding a calf named Tursi in 1973 who still lives at the Dolphin Research Center. A film sequel, Flipper's New Adventure, was filmed in late 1963 and released in June 1964.
What kind of bird is the flipper from Flipper?
The famous "voice" of Flipper was actually the doctored song of a kookaburra bird. The show's theme tune was credited to Henry Vars with lyrics by By Dunham. In France, the melody was known as "La Romance de Paris" ("The Love Song of Paris").
Is Flipper based on a true story?
Browning also wrote the book Flipper based on the ancient legend of Taras, a mythical founder of the Spartan city-state of the same name (on the coast of Italy where modern day Taranto is located), who was rescued from shipwreck by a dolphin sent by Poseidon, which was picked up and adapted by famous producer Ivan Tors into the first Flipper movie.
What was the boy's name in Flipper?
Movie Info In the Florida Keys, local 12-year-old boy Sandy Ricks (Luke Halpin) comes across a dolphin that has been pierced by a harpoon. Rushing to help the poor animal, Ricks saves the dolphin's life, cares for it until it regains its health and names it Flipper.
Is the original Flipper still alive?
Since Flipper's death in 1968, the dolphin's former trainer and captor has made activist strives towards the worldwide release of captive dolphins and whales, attempting to keep them from self harm and harm from others.
Is Flipper based on a true story?
Flipper was actually Mitzie (1958–1972), a female trained at the Santini Porpoise School (later the Dolphin Research Center) by Milton and Virginia Santini, who are credited in the film. Mitzie is buried at the Dolphin Research Center, where her grave is the first stop on the center's public tours.
Is Flipper a real dolphin?
The dolphin actors were all female. A handful of dolphins were used to portray Flipper, including Kathy and Susie. (A dolphin named Mitzie was the primary dolphin star of the 1963 film.) Females were used primarily because they are less aggressive and… well, they look better on camera.
What species was Flipper?
Flipper is a bottlenose dolphin and the companion animal of the Ricks family.
Do dolphins get depressed?
Dolphin Depression Syndrome They arise due to chronic impairment of mental and emotional welfare and can result from boredom, lack of stimulation, stress, depression, or any number of other psychological states.
How long do bottlenose dolphins live?
between 30 and 50 yearsIn the wild, bottlenose dolphins generally live between 30 and 50 years.
Do dolphins have skin?
A dolphin's skin is smooth and feels rubbery. The skin has no hair or sweat glands. The outer skin layer (epidermis) is about 15 to 20 times thicker than the epidermis of humans. Dolphin skin constantly flakes and peels as new skin cells replace old cells.
How did the dolphin who played Flipper died?
As the face of TV icon 'Flipper', Kathy the Dolphin was once among the most famous animals in the world. Yet after years of bringing joy to children up and down America, the beloved star was overcome by a depression that tragically led to her taking her own life.
How do dolphins sleep without drowning?
The eye opposite the sleeping half of the brain remains open during rest. The other eye is closed. This style of sleep allows the dolphin to stay alert enough to make it to the water's surface to replenish its lungs with oxygen and not drown. It's also a way to protect again predators.
Was Winter the dolphin buried?
After her necropsy, Winter's body was cremated. In a final tribute to her, CMA staff will release her ashes into the Gulf of Mexico this January. “Returning Winter to her natural home is a poetic ending to her incredible 16-year journey and we couldn't think of a better way to lay her spirit to rest,” said Powell.
Where is Flipper buried?
Dolphin Research CenterDolphin Research Center is the final resting place of Flipper (real name Mitzi), TV celebrity dolphin of the 1960s.
What happened to the dolphin that played Flipper?
O'Barry transitioned from training dolphins to instead advocating against industries that keep dolphins in captivity, after one of the Flipper dolphins died....Ric O'BarryNationalityAmericanOccupationFounder& Director, Ric O'Barry's Dolphin ProjectYears active55Websitewww.dolphinproject.com2 more rows
Where is Flipper buried?
Dolphin Research CenterDolphin Research Center is the final resting place of Flipper (real name Mitzi), TV celebrity dolphin of the 1960s.
How old was Elijah Wood when he filmed Flipper?
One of the very few who does behave that way is Elijah Wood, the 15-year-old star of Flipper. Wood was at Universal Studios Florida last month to speak with reporters about the new film, in which he portrays Sandy Ricks, the adorable dolphin's best bud.
Where was the original Flipper filmed?
Miami Seaquarium“Flipper” was a national TV show that aired from 1964 to 1967. The show, which made its debut on NBC in September 1964, was filmed at the Miami Seaquarium on the Rickenbacker Causeway and at the Ivan Tors Studios in North Miami.
How old is the boy in Flipper?
Produced by Ivan Tors and directed by James B. Clark, the film centers on a 12-year-old boy living with his parents in the Florida Keys who befriends an injured wild dolphin. The boy and the dolphin become inseparable, eventually overcoming the misgivings of the boy's fisherman father. The film introduced the popular song Flipper by Dunham ...
How much was Flipper worth?
United States. Language. English. Box office. $2,500,000 ( rentals) Flipper is an American feature film released on August 14, 1963 and written by Arthur Weiss based upon a story by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden. Produced by Ivan Tors and directed by James B. Clark, the film centers on a 12-year-old boy living with his parents in ...
What does Sandy name the dolphin?
Sandy names the dolphin Flipper, and Flipper recovers from the wound and puts on a show to entertain the neighborhood children. Porter, seeing Flipper as both a threat to his nets and fish and a distraction to Sandy's chores, lets the recovered Flipper swim out of the pen to the open sea, despite Sandy's tearful plea to keep the pet that he has come to love.
Why did Flipper lose the fish?
The loss is keenly felt because of a red plague killing local fish in large numbers.
When was Flipper filmed?
After he sent the story to his friend, producer Ivan Tors, Tors expressed interest in making it into a film. Filmed in color in 1962 and released in 1963, Flipper has several underwater sequences, along with scenes of the trained dolphin performing stunts.
When was Flipper's New Adventure filmed?
A film sequel, Flipper's New Adventure, was filmed in late 1963 and released in June 1964. That same year, a television series inspired by the movie, also titled Flipper, began and ran until 1967. A 1990s television revival featured Jessica Alba. In 1996, a movie remake was released, starring Paul Hogan and Elijah Wood .
Who created the song Flipper?
The film introduced the popular song Flipper by Dunham and Henry Vars and inspired the subsequent television series of the same name (1964–1967) and film sequels.
Overview
Production
The television show is an extension of the 1963 film Flipper starring Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin as Porter and Sandy Ricks, and of its 1964 sequel, Flipper's New Adventure. For the second film, the producers scripted that Mrs. Ricks had died, making Porter now a single parent, with Brian Kelly taking over the role as Porter Ricks, but now as a trainee park ranger rather than a fisherman. In adapting the films to a television series, the producers gave Porter a second, younger son, Bud, p…
Characters and cast
• Flipper is a bottlenose dolphin and the companion animal of the Ricks family. Flipper is an extraordinarily intelligent dolphin that helps enforce regulations in the preserve, assists Porter Ricks with rescues at sea, and keeps a watchful eye on Sandy and Bud, whom he has rescued or helped rescue from danger on numerous occasions. Flipper was portrayed by five different dolphins; the mos…
Plot
The series follows a bottlenose dolphin named Flipper that is the wild pet of Porter Ricks, a park warden, and his sons, Sandy (15) and Bud (10). Flipper lives in a lagoon near the Ricks cottage at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve. With the Ricks family, Flipper helps protect the park and preserve and its wild inhabitants. He is also instrumental in apprehending criminals and thugs in th…
Cancellation and subsequent history
The last first-run episode of Flipper aired April 15, 1967. In the conclusion of a two-part episode, the characters of Sandy and Bud are written out of the show (by that time, both Halpin and Norden had grown out of their roles), as it is detailed how each plans to leave Coral Key — Sandy has been accepted to the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut, and Bud will be attending a private school remedially in Massachusetts, as arranged by their Aunt Martha. At the same time, a new family (…
Merchandise
Flipper merchandise generated for the juvenile market during the show's first run is now scarce and collectible. Flipper vintage collectibles include lunch boxes, song books, comic books, coloring books, a Whitman novel, Big Little Books, souvenir spoons, Whitman frame tray puzzles, a board game, Viewmaster reels (based on the two-part episode "Dolphin Love"), a battery-operated "spouting dolphin" water toy, children's swim trunks with the Flipper logo, and a 1966 Bradley glo…
Awards and recognition
The Miami Seaquarium celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Flipper in late 2013 with Tommy Norden and Ricou Browning participating, along with a series of commemorative events through 2014. A previous event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Flipper in 2004 was also held with Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden. Flipper was nominated for two TV Land awards, in 2004 for the TV Land Favorite Fauna Award, and in 2003, for the TV Land Favorite Pet-Human Relationship Awar…
Animal rights
Ric O'Barry, the head trainer of the Flipper dolphins (and also Halpin's occasional stunt double ), became a world-renowned animal activist after the death of the dolphin that portrayed Flipper most often. O'Barry stars in the Oscar award-winning documentary The Cove, which features dolphin capture and captivity. He also wrote of his time with the Flipper films and TV series and subsequent animal-rights activism in the book Behind the Dolphin Smile.
Overview
Flipper is a 1963 American adventure film written by Arthur Weiss based upon a story by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden. Produced by Ivan Tors and directed by James B. Clark, the film centers on a 12-year-old boy living with his parents in the Florida Keys who befriends an injured wild dolphin. The boy and the dolphin become inseparable, eventually overcoming the misgivings of the boy's fisher…
Production
Co-creator Ricou Browning said that he originally conceived the story after seeing his children intently watching the TV series Lassie, which inspired Browning to create a similar story with a dolphin in place of the dog. After he sent the story to his friend, producer Ivan Tors, Tors expressed interest in making it into a film.
Filmed in color in 1962 and released in 1963, Flipper has several underwater sequences, along w…
Plot
Sandy Ricks is a young boy living in the Florida Keys who rescues and befriends a dolphin injured by a harpoon. His father, fisherman Porter Ricks disapproves, as dolphins compete for fish, which jeopardizes the family income. He is also upset that, after befriending the dolphin, Sandy neglects his chores, especially those assigned by Porter to repair items damaged by the hurricane from which Sandy and Porter escape at the beginning of the film.
Cast
• Chuck Connors as Porter Ricks
• Luke Halpin as Sandy Ricks
• Kathleen Maguire as Martha Ricks
• Connie Scott as Kim Parker
Sequels
A film sequel, Flipper's New Adventure, was filmed in late 1963 and released in June 1964. That same year, a television series inspired by the movie, also titled Flipper, began and ran until 1967. A 1990s television revival featured Jessica Alba. In 1996, a movie remake was released, starring Paul Hogan and Elijah Wood.
See also
• List of American films of 1963
External links
• Flipper at IMDb
• Flipper at the TCM Movie Database