Day of the Dolphin

Mike Nichols’ DAY OF THE DOLPHIN (PG, 1973, 104 min)

Long before “The Birdcage” or “Working Girl,” director Mike Nichols made an unexpected career sidestep with this film that’s unlike anything he had ever done or would do again. Part Cold War conspiracy thriller, part science-fiction suspense, and part earnest drama, George C. Scott stars as Dr. Jake Terrell, a marine biologist whose genius dolphins can communicate with humans. Unfortunately, revealing that the dolphins are intelligent turns out to be a mistake.  The dolphins are soon kidnapped and retrained by a government agency to assassinate world leaders. When he discovers the deadly plot, Terrell races to stop the dolphins before they carry out their attacks. Supporting roles from Trish Van Devere and Paul Sorvino add tension and stakes. “The Day of the Dolphin” stands out among 70s paranoia films like “Capricorn One,” “Klute,” and “The Parallax View” for its surreal, high-concept premise and intelligent antagonists.