Flipper *** (1963, Chuck Connors, Luke Halpin, Kathleen Maguire, Connie Scott) – Classic Movie Review 10,577

Director James B Clark’s 1963 children’s movie Flipper is the Florida adventure that started the highly popular 1960s TV show (1964–1967) about a 12-year-old fishing boy called Sandy Ricks (played by the 15-year-old Luke Halpin) living with his parents in the Florida Keys who makes friends with an injured wild dolphin he rescues from a reef by pulling out a spear. The boy and the dolphin become inseparable friends, but then the boy’s fisherman father insists the dolphin is released.

This good-hearted, innocent fun outing for the young and young at heart was a cinema hit. Halpin makes a cheering little hero and Chuck Connors and Kathleen Maguire give pleasant support as the lad’s parents, Porter Ricks and Martha Ricks. The simple but pleasing ingredients were enough to keep the TV series going for three seasons (1964–1967), and inspire a sequel and a reboot.

Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin in Flipper (1963).

Flipper is filmed in the Florida Keys and Miami.

Flipper is played by Mitzie (1958–1972), a female trained at the Santini Porpoise School (later the Dolphin Research Center) by Milton and Virginia Santini. Four other dolphins were filmed.

It was remade by writer-director Alan Shapiro in 1996 as Flipper with Elijah Wood and Paul Hogan. A 1990s TV revival featured Jessica Alba.

Also in the cast are Connie Scott as Kim Parker, Jane Rose as Hettie White, Joe Higgins as Mr L C Parett, Robertson White as Mr Abrams and George Applewhite as Sheriff Rogers.

Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden as his younger brother Bud in TV’s Flipper.

Halpin was chosen by producer Ivan Tors as Sandy Ricks because of his skills in the water, his all-American look and his extensive acting experience as a child actor from the age of eight. Brian Kelly took over as Porter Ricks in the sequel Flipper’s New Adventure and he and Halpin kept their roles for the Flipper TV series that began filming in the summer of 1964, adding new character younger brother Bud, played by Tommy Norden.

The Flipper TV series of 88 episodes ran three seasons on NBC from 19 September 1964 to 15 April 1967. Halpin is the sole lead actor and character to appear in both movies and the entire TV series.

After his three decade acting career, Halpin worked as a stuntman, marine coordinator, diver and speedboat pilot on films such as Never Say Never Again, Porky’s Revenge!, Flight of the Navigator and Speed 2: Cruise Control and the TV series Miami Vice.

The story is co-written by associate producer Ricou Browning, who said in 1961 he used his last $100 to write a book telling the boy and dolphin story and persuaded his producer friend Ivan Tors to read the book and make the movie. Browning conceived the story after seeing his children intently watching the TV series Lassie, inspiring him to create a similar story with a dolphin replacing the dog.

Ricou Browning (born February 16, 1930) is best known for his underwater stunt work, playing the Gill Man in Creature from the Black Lagoon, Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us.

The film also introduced the popular song ‘Flipper’ by ‘By’ Dunham and Henry Vars.

A sequel, Flipper’s New Adventure, was filmed in late 1963 and released in June 1964, with Luke Halpin returning as Sandy Ricks.

Flipper is directed by James B Clark, runs 89 minutes, is made by Ivan Tors Productions, is released by MGM, is written by Arthur Weiss, based on a story by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden, is shot in Metrocolor by Lamar Boren and Joseph C Brun, is produced by Ivan Tors, Ricou Browning (associate producer) and Harry Redmond Jr (associate producer), and scored by Henry Vars.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,577

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