Flipper (1963)

In the heart of the Florida Keys, a region recently ravaged by a devastating red plague that decimated the fish population and the catastrophic Hurricane Hazel, resides the resilient Ricks family. The family, composed of the staunch fisherman father, Po, his steadfast wife, Martha, their adventurous preteen son, Sandy, and Sandy's peculiar pet pelican Pete, continually grapple with these challenging times, their lives inextricably tied to the capricious sea. In the midst of this adversity, Sandy stumbles upon a dolphin, tragically speared by accident. Unable to bear the sight of the suffering creature, he decides not to end its misery but to save it instead. With the aid of his mother, Sandy nurses the dolphin back to health, forming an unexpected bond, and names his new companion 'Flipper'. Sandy's desire to keep Flipper clashes with his father's outlook, who perceives Flipper as competition for the scarce fish resources. Ultimately, Po insists on the dolphin's release back to the wild. However, the story takes a turn when a grateful Flipper reciprocates Sandy's earlier kindness. The young boy finds himself endangered by sharks, and it's Flipper who comes to his rescue. Through this act, Po begins to understand the profound friendship between Flipper and Sandy – a friendship that transcends the barriers of nature, demonstrating that true friends offer help unconditionally, even in the face of adversity.

Flipper is an adventure movie featuring Chuck Connors.

Flipper is currently streaming on TCM.

It is also possible to buy Flipper on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.