Flipper (MGM) (1963)

SMASHING BASEBALL HOME RUNS LED TO STARDOM IN FILMS FOR CHUCK CONNORS > One of Hollywood’s most unusual success stories centers around Chuck Connors, former big league baseball player and a one-time basketball professional with the world champion Boston Celtics. Connors, currently starring in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, ‘Flipper,’ story of the remarkable friendship between a boy and aé-— dolphin, segued smoothly from the athletic arena to become one of the nation’s most successful television stars. For five years, aS ABC-TV’s “The Rifleman,” Connors’ show ranked continuously among television’s top ten. The road to Hollywood took several curious turns for Connors, who was born in Brooklyn, New York. Because of his exceptional ability he was awarded an athletic scholarship to Adelphi Academy. When it came time for him to select a college, he had a choice of more than 27 such scholarships. He selected Seton Hall in Kathleen Maguire greets her Florida Keys fishermanhusband Chuck Connors on his return from a trip to the mainland in this scene from MetroGoldwyn-Mayer’s ‘‘Flipper.’’ The fascinating new film tells the story of the remarkable friendship between a boy and a delightful dolphin. Luke Halpin makes his motion picture debut as the boy in the Ivan Tors production, filmed on locations in the Florida Keys, Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Still 5305-27 Flipper Mat 1-B New Jersey but his college career came to an abrupt halt when he was offered a contract with the then Brooklyn Dodgers. Connors played professional ball in the Dodgers minor league system for a few months. After the season ended, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to West Point, where he instructed cadets in tank warfare. On his discharge, he resumed his baseball career. He played in the Dodger chain, with the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels, batting .321 and smashing 23 home runs to become one of the major stars of the Pacific Coast League. His success in Los Angeles proved the turning point in Connors’ life. He became friendly with actors, directors and producers and during the off-season played roles in motion pictures and on television. Director William Wyler cast him as a conniving heavy in “The Big Country” and Chuck turned in a performance that prompted many of the country’s critics to boom him for an Oscar in the supporting category. His acting success decided Connors’ professional fate and he gave up baseball for the motion picture and television screens. He guested on more than 65 top TV shows and finally hit the jackpot when the producers of “The Rifleman”’ cast him in the title role. Connors was formerly married to model Elizabeth Jane Riddle and is the father of four boys. He is still devoted to sports and works out with all the Los Angeles professional teams in season, holding the title of staunchest rooter in town for the home clubs. ‘FLIPPER’ PROVES A SMART COOKIE! Ivan Tors, who produced MetroGoldwyn-Mayer’s unique drama, “Flipper,” telling the story of the remarkable friendship between a boy and a dolphin, is loud in his praise for dolphins, their intelligence and imagination. Giving an example of the latter, the producer cited a sequence of the picture in which Flipper, the dolphin, was supposed to retrieve a swim-fin thrown into the water by young Luke Halpin. The first time Filpper brought it in its mouth, much as a dog would do. The second time it had the swim-fin balanced on its nose, and the third time it emerged carrying the fin under its flipper, much as a businessman would carry a briefcase! Together with Halpin, the human stars of “Flipper” are Chuck Connors and Kathleen Maguire, portraying Luke’s father and mother, and Connie Scott, cast as the boy’s playmate, who shares many of his adventures. PUBLICITY A BOY AND A DOLPHIN BECOME PALS! Flipper, the most human dolphin, eagerly anticipates the gift of a small mullet from his friend, Luke Halpin. The scene is from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s fascinating film, ‘*Flipper, 3° telling the story of the remarkable friendship between a boy and a captivating dolphin. Chuck Connors heads the cast of the Ivan Tors production, filmed in color on locations in the Floricu Keys, the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. Still 5305-13 CAST PORTER RICKS..CHUCK CONNORS SANDY: RICKS. -.ci40 LUKE HALPIN MARTHA RICKS ‘exes ale KATHLEEN MAGUIRE KIM PARKER........ CONNIE SCOTT And MATZ ects OE ia FLIPPER Produced by IVAN TORS Directed by JAMES B. CLARK Screen Play by ARTHUR WEISS Story by RICOU BROWNING and JACK COWDEN In METROCOLOR PRESENTED BY METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER Flipper Mat 2-A LIKES TO WHISTLE Chuck Connors, who stars in “Flipper,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s unique drama of the remarkable friendship between a boy and a dolphin, claims some of the things dolphins do have not only to be seen to be believed—but be heard. Flipper, the dolphin star of the picture, demonstrated the unique talent of these friendly creatures to imitate humans during location filming in the Florida Keys. During an off-camera moment, Connors stood near the shore absent-mindedly whistling. Immediately, Flipper surfaced and whistled back at him with the exact intonation. Connors kept on whistling, but in a different key. Whereupon the _ dolphin also changed its key to match that of the actor. “IT tried several different keys but I could never get Flipper offpitch,” relates Connors. “If they ever put that dolphin in a whistling contest, it would win flippers down!” “FLIPPER” FASCINATING STORY OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN A BOY AND DOLPHIN; FILMED IN COLOR IN FLORIDA KEYS AND BAHAMAS Moviegoers viewing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s unusual new motion picture, ‘Flipper,’ are in for a delightful experience. Chuck Connors and twelve-year-old Luke Halpin, making his film debut, are the human stars of this picture but the real star is a sevenfoot-long, 300-pound dolphin, playing the title role. And what a title role! Not too many people can be aware of what ingratiating, friendly, intelligent and frolicsome creatures dolphins are, but they will have their eyes opened when they see this completely enchanting movie unfolding the story of the extraordinary friendship between a dolphin and the young son of a Florida Keys fisherman. The story was filmed in color in the Keys, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands with many of the sequences photographed below the surface of the ocean, giving the spectator fascinating close-ups of the mysterious finned world beneath the seas, including a scene showing a battle to the death between Flipper and a shark which has attacked Sandy, the youngster played by Halpin. There is also a sequence showing the devastation caused by a frightening hurricane which wreaks havoc on homes and fishing boats. ‘FLIPPER SYMBOL OF WATER SAFETY Flipper, the almost human dolphin star of Metro-GoldwynMayer’s captivating new picture, “Flipper,” telling the unique story of the friendship between a boy and a dolphin, has been awarded a U. S. Coast Guard commission. As ‘“Flipper the Skipper,” it will be the ofticial symbol of boating and water safety. ; Henceforth, ‘Flipper the Skipper” will be the water counterpart of “Smokey the Bear,’ preaching water safety through posters and radio-T'V spots. Flipper was selected because of the historical role played by the dolphin, in legend and fact, in saving lives, guiding fishermen and leading helmsmen through dangerous waters. The amazing intelligence of the dolphin has become the subject of wide scientific study. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, an Ivan Tors production in color, was filmed on locations in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands and features remarkable underwater photography. The human stars in the cast are Chuck Connors, young Luke Halpin, portraying the boy who makes a friend of the dolphin, Kathleen Maquire and Connie Scott. The picture was directed by James B. Clark. The screen play was written by Arthur Weiss from a story by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden. High spots of the picture include a battle to the death between Flipper and a shark which has attacked his human pal. Another thrill sequence shows the devastation caused by a hurricane which wrecks havoc on a Florida fishing community. lz i But while these in themselves are tensely dramatic episodes, equally spellbinding are _ those showing the growing friendship and remarkable intimacy between boy and dolphin after he has found the air-breathing mammal impaled on a spear and caught in a reef. Towing the wounded dolphin home, Sandy houses it in his father’s fish pen, where the boy and his sympathetic mother nurse Flipper back to life. Once having regained its health, the grateful dolphin becomes Sandy’s devoted friend. They swim and frolic together in the water, Flipper is delighted to give its human playmate a ride on its back. The boy teaches the dolphin to retrieve rubber balls, swimfins and other objects. But there are more wonders to come. An ocean parasite known as the Red Plague kills the local supply of fish, creating a serious threat to the livelihood of the Florida Keys fishermen and when Flipper, after his release from Sandy’s pen, returns to visit his friend and devours an entire catch of fish, it is a grave matter. Sandy’s father (Chuck Connors) has no choice but to threaten to kill any dolphin he encounters. A desolate Sandy takes his small boat out in the hope of catching a supply of fish to make up for those eaten by Flipper. And it is the wise and knowing Flipper who leads him to a new fishing ground unknown to the human anglers. Not only does the dolphin lead him there but it becomes very busy catching fish itself and bringing them to Sandy. The boy leans over the side of his boat, takes the fish from Flipper’s mouth and adds it to the increasing catch. It has to be seen to be believed! Thus, Flipper and his fellow dolphins who for a time seem to be the enemy of the Florida fishermen prove to be their greatest benefactors. And when the story ends with scenes of a reunited Flipper and Sandy resuming their frolicking in a special lagoon adjoining the fish-pen, there isn’t a person in the audience but wishes he could join them. This remarkable motion picture was produced by Ivan Tors, well known for the television show “Sea Hunt” and other TV and motion picture features with seagoing and scientific backgrounds. In the past, trainers of dolphins have always been outside the water, with the dolphins inside a pool. But in making “Flipper,” the producer and his underwater unit approached the dolphin it its natural element in the ocean and thereby were able to accomplish the almost incredible relationship between dolphin and boy shown in the film. “Flipper” was directed by James B. Clark. The story was written by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden, with the screen play by Arthur Weiss. Playing leading supporting roles are Kathleen Maguire as Sandy’s mother and Connie Scott as a little girl from the mainland who shares the boy’s adventures. But the performer which will remain in your mind long after you leave the theatre will be Flipper the most delightful new star ever introduced to the screen. Chuck Connors, as a Florida Keys fisherman, and Luke Halpin, as his son, sight a school of fish in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s fascinating new picture, ‘*Flipper.”’ The story, filmed in color in the Florida Keys, Bahamas and Virgin Islands, tells the story of the extraordinary friendship between a boy and a delightful dolphin. Still 5305-38 Flipper Mat 2-B