Flipper (1963) on Netflix
In the Florida Keys, Sandy Ricks pulls a spear from a wounded dolphin and names it Flipper. His father Porter, a fisherman, counts the dolphin a threat to his nets and fish.
- Netflix2.8/5
- IMDb6.1/102,209 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes50%
Trailer
Plot summary
Sandy Ricks is a boy in the Florida Keys, living with his parents Porter and Martha. After a hurricane, Porter, a fisherman, gives his son chores to repair storm-damaged items. Sandy finds a dolphin wounded by a harpoon, pulls the spear free, and names it Flipper. The dolphin recovers and performs for neighborhood children. Porter disapproves of the dolphin because it takes fish the family needs for its income, and he is upset that Sandy neglects the repairs.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Flipper (1963)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Flipper was portrayed by the dolphin Mitzi, a female born in 1958 who was trained at the Santini Porpoise School, later the Dolphin Research Center, by Milton and Virginia Santini, who are credited in the film. Mitzi died in 1972 and is buried at the Dolphin Research Center.
- Ricou Browning came up with the story after seeing his children intently watching the TV series Lassie, and created a similar tale with a dolphin in place of the dog. He sent it to his friend, producer Ivan Tors, who wanted to turn it into a film.
- The film was a surprise hit at the box office and led to the television series Flipper, which ran from 1964 to 1967, as well as film sequels.
- Four other dolphins besides Mitzi were filmed for the movie, and two of them, Little Bit and Mr. Gipper, mated at the Santini Porpoise School, producing a calf named Tursi in 1973 who still lives at the Dolphin Research Center as of 2026.
