Flipper (1963 film)

Flipper is a 1963 American family film produced by Ivan Tors Films and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film stars Chuck Connors and Luke Halpin, and tells the story of a young boy in the Florida Keys who befriends a wild bottlenose dolphin.

The plot revolves around Sandy Ricks (Halpin), a troubled teenager who is disinterested in his father Porter's (Connors) fishing business. When Sandy injures a dolphin with a speargun, he feels remorse and nurses it back to health. He names the dolphin Flipper and develops a strong bond with him. Flipper proves helpful to the family, assisting with fishing and eventually rescuing Sandy from a shark attack.

The success of Flipper spawned a 1964 sequel, Flipper's New Adventure, as well as a popular television series that ran from 1964 to 1967, starring Brian Kelly in place of Chuck Connors. The film is noted for its heartwarming story and its contribution to popularizing dolphins in American culture. It also led to increased interest in marine biology and conservation efforts. Although considered a family-friendly movie, it touches upon themes of responsibility, grief (as Sandy initially believes he killed Flipper), and the importance of the relationship between humans and animals.