Free Willy (1993)

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writers (WGA):

Keith Walker (story)
Keith Walker (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 July 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

A 12 year old street kid. A 3 ton orca whale. A friendship you could never imagine. An adventure you'll never forget.

Plot:

When a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.

Plot Keywords:

Whale | Marina | Killer Whale | Social Worker | Aquarium

Awards:

7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Keiko	...	Willy
Jason James Richter	...	Jesse
Lori Petty	...	Rae Lindley
Jayne Atkinson	...	Annie Greenwood
August Schellenberg	...	Randolph Johnson
Michael Madsen	...	Glen Greenwood
Michael Ironside	...	Dial
Richard Riehle	...	Wade
Mykelti Williamson	...	Dwight Mercer
Michael Bacall	...	Perry
Danielle Harris	...	Gwenie
Isaiah Malone	...	Vector
Betsy Toll	...	Passerby #1
Rob Sample	...	Passerby #2
Merrilyn Jones	...	Passerby #3

Also Known As:

Sauvez Willy (France) (dubbed version)
¡Liberad a Willy! (Spain) [es]
Eleftheroste ton Willy (Greece) [el]
Free Willy - Ruf der Freiheit (Germany) [de]
Free Willy - un amico da salvare (Italy) [it]
Liberen a Willy (Mexico) [es]
Libertem Willy (Portugal) [pt]
Mon ami Willy (Canada: French title) [fr]
Pelastakaa Willy (Finland) [fi]
Rädda Willy (Sweden) [sv]
Szabadítsátok ki Willy-t (Hungary) [hu]
Uwolnic orke (Poland) [pl]
Willy (Slovenia) [sl]

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/6 | Australia:G | Canada:G | Finland:S | Germany:o.Al. | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Oregon, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

After the release of the film, millions of moviegoers called the number showed at the end of the movie where 20 million dollars was donated for the Save the Whales Foundation.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Willy is being brought out of the tank the water level is shown at 8 ft. But in the next shot you see Jessie and Rae getting Willy in the net, the water level is marked off at 11 ft.

Quotes:

Glenn: Let go of my boy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saved by the Bell: The College Years: Guess Who's Coming to College? (#1.1)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Will You Be There

Great story. Excellent movie.

I just love it when there is a story that has two negative forces coming together, and somehow, magically healing each other. Jesse, roughened from his abandonment and time on the streets, and Willy, kidnapped and separated from his family are the duo. It is a great story, and a wonderful film.

It is so rare, that of all the movies and books and media that I have consumed in my 25 years of life, I can only think of one other story that has this same type of magical quality (The Secret Garden). This movie is also great for environmental reasons, and as an avid watcher of Captain Planet, I fell in love with this movie when I was a child.

As an adult, I have an annual pass to Seaworld, and I love killer whales. They are so intelligent, and extremely beautiful. Willy is no exception. Free Willy!