The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

53% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(1,056 ratings)

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… More 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 corporation, sponsors their work. But undercover work by government agent Curtis Mahoney (Paul Sorvino) reveals that DeMilo is working with a right-wing group planning to kidnap the dolphins and use them to blow up the presidential yacht. Jake and Maggie have to race against time to save both their dolphins and the president. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Mike Nichols
Written By: Buck Henry
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Dec 19, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Jul 29, 2003

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
A rare and regrettably uneven combination of ideas and action.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
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.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Tries so hard not to be a conventional science-fiction thriller that it fails, alas, to be anything.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The screenplay chooses some poor times to relieve tension, and the jokes fall flat.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A less stone-faced than usual Scott kept up with the frolicking dolphins in the acting department.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A bizarre and often ridiculous attempt to merge documentary, suspense and comedy.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Depois da proeza de conseguir fazer com que acreditemos em sua premissa absurda (um golfinho falante), o filme se rende a uma trama óbvia e repleta de clichês.
Scott Weinberg, Apollo Guide
As a cinematic time capsule to a goofier era, it kinda works.
Erich Kuersten, PopMatters
Jake told us kids that what we always suspected was true: the summer of love was dead, long live the summer of the shark.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Is it all a gag?
, Film4
A hugely expensive misfire.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Christopher O

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.