The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

In the world of marine research, Dr. Jake Terrell and his team, including his wife Maggie Anderson Terrell, are celebrated pioneers. Funded by the powerful Franklin Foundation, they are tasked to unravel the mysteries of dolphin behavior. Their most intriguing subject is Alpha - fondly known as Pha - a dolphin born and raised at their facility since his mother's demise. An unprecedented revelation is made when Jake, under the threat of losing their funding, discloses to Harold DeMilo, their liaison at the foundation, that their primary endeavor is teaching Pha to communicate in English. DeMilo swears to keep their secret, understanding the Terrell's fear of exploitation. However, their attempts to break the interspecies language barrier hit a wall when Pha reaches sexual maturity and abruptly halts communication. Their solution is the introduction of a female dolphin, Beta, or Bea. The result is unexpected and thrilling as not only does Pha resume his English lessons, but he also teaches Bea. Just as they celebrate this breakthrough, their world is disrupted by the arrival of Curtis Mahoney, a supposed 'old friend' sent by DeMilo for a tour. Unbeknownst to Jake and his team, Mahoney is anything but a friend. He blackmails DeMilo to gain access to the facility, threatening to publicly reveal their clandestine project. The Terrells are forced into action, but they soon discover that Mahoney's intentions are far darker than mere blackmail. The dolphins, now linguistic marvels, are central figures in a sinister assassination plot. Caught in a deadly race against time, the Terrells must unravel the assassination plan's target and location while ensuring the safety of Pha and Bea. The stakes are sky-high, with their groundbreaking research and the lives of their beloved dolphins hanging in the balance. The Day of the Dolphin explores the delicate balance between scientific discovery and the potential for its abuse, all set against the backdrop of the deep, enigmatic ocean and its intelligent inhabitants.

The Day of the Dolphin is an adventure movie featuring George C. Scott.

The Day of the Dolphin is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Day of the Dolphin on Kino Now.