This is an outstanding film about a killer whale named Naumu who is being protected by an oceanographer, Robert Lansing,(Hank Donner) and has a very hard time trying to tell the local towns people that this whale is not harmful. John Anderson, (Joe Clausen) is more worried about his salmon business and does not want a whale eating up his profitable business. There is a little boy and girl and Hank Donnear who even communicate with the whale and ride on his back in a row boat all around in circles. There is Comedy, Drama and excellent photography and the background music flows throughout the entire picture. Lee Merriweather, (Kate Donner) is a shop owner in town and has some secrets that she keeps to herself until the time is necessary to tell Hank Donner. If you are an animal lover and enjoy a good fish story, this is the film for you.
9 Reviews
For children that like whales
miguel-1012 August 2002
Not a great film, but entertaining enough for small children that love films about animals in the Walt Disney tradition. Unfortunately, this film is probably not aging very well because the message, "killer whales are nice, humans are bad", has been shown a lot, for example, see the "Free Willie" movies.
Memorable, touching film
modern_fred6 June 2010
Ivan Tors produced many films and TV shows that nudged the audience to treat other species with respect and wonder. This was a novel film in its time that introduced audiences to the "Killer Whale" as a potential friend rather than threat. Based on a true story and very well made (lots of great location photography). The cast is low-key and everything is handled in a convincing manner. This was typical of the Tors approach. It's well-done material- not overly sentimental, with a respect for science and a plea to evolve as a species. It's the sort of movie that one doesn't see these days in a sea of CGI fantasy and family films that are merely bad comedy. Seeing this as a kid it made a lasting impression.
Charming and agreeable family tale made with sense , sensitivity and wonderful lanscapes
ma-cortes17 January 2021
A kind scientific : Robert Lansing meets an enormous killer whale, but the villagers want to kill the giant animal . Along the way, the good-natured scientist makes friends, an adorable little girl : Robin Mattson and her beautiful widow mother: Lee Meriwether. Make room in your heart for a six-ton pet ! . When you are six tons and they call you killer, it is hard to make friends !. He is the biggest animal in the whole wide world of aventure !.
This is an enjoyable family drama with emotion, ecologism, gorgeous outdoors and high sensibility . Many years later , this Orca saga to be continued in similar style by the famous "Free Willy" and its various sequels. It contains ample and gorgeous sea vistas, being very well photographed the exterior scenes, as well as undersea images with the great killer whale jumping and diving. Unfortunately, the killer whale Namu passed away soon after the movie was shot. Stars Robert Lansing as the compassionate scientist who forms an unlikely friendship with the giant whale , he was a good actor who has a few starring roles, the attractive Lee Meriwether especially known for Batman series, the little girl Robin Mattson to be followed a passable cinematic career and John Anderson with a long career as ordinary secondary actor here playing a hateful local citizen who wishes to kill the large whale.
It displays an emotive musical score, adding catching songs composed and sung by Tom Glazer and especially his sensitive Ballad of the Killer Whale . As well as colorful and brilliant cinematography shot in Natural Parks. Well financed by Ivan Tors , in fact he produced Flipper movie and Flipper TV series and other fillms about animals and wildlife. The motion picture was competently directed by Laszlo Benedek. He was a professional artisan who directed nice films as The Kissing Bandit, Moment of Danger, Port of New York, Bengala Rifles, Affair in Habana, Death of a salesman, and his biggest hit : The Wild one with Marlon Brando. He also directed a lot of TV episodes of notorious series such as : The Fugitive, Alfred Hitchcock presents, Mannix, Iron Horse, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Outer limits, among others. Rating : 6,5/10. The picture will appeal to children and animal lovers.
This is an enjoyable family drama with emotion, ecologism, gorgeous outdoors and high sensibility . Many years later , this Orca saga to be continued in similar style by the famous "Free Willy" and its various sequels. It contains ample and gorgeous sea vistas, being very well photographed the exterior scenes, as well as undersea images with the great killer whale jumping and diving. Unfortunately, the killer whale Namu passed away soon after the movie was shot. Stars Robert Lansing as the compassionate scientist who forms an unlikely friendship with the giant whale , he was a good actor who has a few starring roles, the attractive Lee Meriwether especially known for Batman series, the little girl Robin Mattson to be followed a passable cinematic career and John Anderson with a long career as ordinary secondary actor here playing a hateful local citizen who wishes to kill the large whale.
It displays an emotive musical score, adding catching songs composed and sung by Tom Glazer and especially his sensitive Ballad of the Killer Whale . As well as colorful and brilliant cinematography shot in Natural Parks. Well financed by Ivan Tors , in fact he produced Flipper movie and Flipper TV series and other fillms about animals and wildlife. The motion picture was competently directed by Laszlo Benedek. He was a professional artisan who directed nice films as The Kissing Bandit, Moment of Danger, Port of New York, Bengala Rifles, Affair in Habana, Death of a salesman, and his biggest hit : The Wild one with Marlon Brando. He also directed a lot of TV episodes of notorious series such as : The Fugitive, Alfred Hitchcock presents, Mannix, Iron Horse, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Outer limits, among others. Rating : 6,5/10. The picture will appeal to children and animal lovers.
Real Orca, Fictional Story
kathrynm100026 December 2013
I was a child in Port Orchard when the captive orca was penned in Rich Cove. As a depiction of an orca in captivity the story is fine. There are some pretty significant fictions depicted in the movie however.
One is that the orca was intensively studied while penned there; he was actually being held captive while the captor attempted to sell him.
Also, there was no community enmity towards the creature. The bullies in our town were far too busy beating some of us humans up to bother with the orca.
We kids loved seeing him and rode our bicycles or stopped on family outings to admire him. Port Orchard is not a fishing town, and even then this region admired and loved the orcas as one of our greatest regional icons.
Set aside reality and enjoy the film if you like. But come up to Puget Sound and see them in the wild, where they belong.
One is that the orca was intensively studied while penned there; he was actually being held captive while the captor attempted to sell him.
Also, there was no community enmity towards the creature. The bullies in our town were far too busy beating some of us humans up to bother with the orca.
We kids loved seeing him and rode our bicycles or stopped on family outings to admire him. Port Orchard is not a fishing town, and even then this region admired and loved the orcas as one of our greatest regional icons.
Set aside reality and enjoy the film if you like. But come up to Puget Sound and see them in the wild, where they belong.
A lesson in conservation and a healthy perspective on nature
bruce-spencer-ky13 May 2013
I first watched Namu when I was about 12 - the lesson it teaches has stuck with me all my life ... don't destroy nature just because you don't understand it or because you can. Namu is the "first" killer whale move, but it's also one of the first movies to take a naturalist point of view, that all creatures behave by the laws of nature
except man. Namu is a great film for kids to help them go beyond assumptions and try to see life from multiple points of view. Robert Lansing played the character of the marine biologist just right – intelligent, slow, deliberate, and even when angry he held back, not lowering himself to the level of characters that were blinded by prejudices – the character is sometimes reminiscent of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
More Like A Friend.
AaronCapenBanner19 November 2013
Robert Lansing plays marine biologist Hank Donner, who befriends an Orca who won't leave his cove after some fishermen shot and killed its mate. Named Namu, the whale proves himself to be intelligent and playful after Hank, and a local woman and her daughter(played by Lee Meriwether and Robin Mattson) gain its trust. Those same fishermen are determined to get Namu out of the cove, by any means they can... Fine film is suitable for the whole family, being quite warm and respectful toward nature. Despite being subtitled "The Killer Whale", DVD is subtitled "My Best Friend", which is certainly nicer! Compare this with later film "Orca"(1977) to see what I mean...
Namu, The Killer Whale
abralive4 January 2005
This beautifully remarkable movie was produced in 1966 and provides any family member a chance to enjoy the interaction between benevolent humans and a creature considered a threat. It pits an ignorant, small town against an oceanographer (Robert Lansing) and a shop keeper (Lee Meriweather) in working to educate the local township that Namu is not a threat, but a lonely animal needing attention. The scene in which Lansing and Meriweather engage in play with Namu inside the lagoon is priceless and the background music is equally so. Moreover, when Namu miraculously rescues the very man (John Anderson) who tried to kill him, makes this movie unbelievably precious. Mandatory viewing for everyone.
Great animal story, great reflection on humanity too!
vlavalle8 November 2013
This movie is a great story about a real life set of events, although the attempted killing of the whale aspect may not have been really the case. But whether it was or not, it shows how prejudice can so easily distort reality and take people over to the dark side. In this story it is about a killer whale, and not about race or gender or what your religion is. But we as humans act like they did in the movie SO easily!
Incidentally, the name 'killer whale' derives from their ability and activity of killing whales. In most cases, they are only capable of killing the babies of other breeds of whales. Also, I do not believe there is ANY documented case of a killer whale killing a human in the wild. That has only happened in the killer whale aquariums, and always from drowning the victim, and not from eating them!
They are one of the most gorgeous animals on the planet, and probably more intelligent than dolphins. This is a very heart warming story!
Incidentally, the name 'killer whale' derives from their ability and activity of killing whales. In most cases, they are only capable of killing the babies of other breeds of whales. Also, I do not believe there is ANY documented case of a killer whale killing a human in the wild. That has only happened in the killer whale aquariums, and always from drowning the victim, and not from eating them!
They are one of the most gorgeous animals on the planet, and probably more intelligent than dolphins. This is a very heart warming story!
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