Flipper (1963) Sandy Ricks, a young boy living in the
Florida Keys, has his world forever changed one day when he discovers an injured
bottlenose dolphin. After rescuing the animal and nursing it back to health, he names the dolphin Flipper. The pair form a
friendly bond while exploring various areas, and enjoying their adventures together. When his father Porter instructs him to return Flipper to the wild of open sea, Sandy is disheartened and tries to sneak away with his friend from the ocean. The importance of the pair's friendship is displayed when an encounter with a
shark on the
hunt becomes a dangerous situation and Flipper's loyalty is shown when he fights to protect the young boy who saved his life.
''Flipper's New Adventure'' (1964) Through a number of years, Sandy has formed a meaningful friendship with Flipper and their bond strengthened through their adventures. With his wife since deceased, Porter's primary focus has shifted to providing for his son and continues studying to become a
park ranger. When plans for construction in the Florida Keys cause some hardship for his father's job as a fisherman, Sandy learns that the family may be moving. Determined to remain close to his animal friend, Sandy leaves for the
Bahama Islands with the dolphin. Before he can make it to his destination, he is forced to stop at a nearby deserted island when he runs out of resources. There he discovers a British family who is being held for
ransom. As he tries to devise a plan to help them escape, he secretly befriends their daughter Penny. Becoming
romantically interested in her, he finds himself worrying about whether he will see her once they escape their captors. While Sandy works with Flipper to help their new friends, Porter begins a search in all the nearby islands for his lost son.
Flipper (1996) Sandy Ricks, is a teenager from Chicago who is struggling with adjusting to the
divorce of his parents. His mother decides that a vacation may be therapeutic for him. Sending him to the Florida Keys for the summer to stay with his uncle Porter, Sandy becomes resentful for the situation and his uncle. Though his poor attitude towards the big game fishing proves to be a struggle for Uncle Porter, Sandy's life is changed when he encounters a young bottlenose dolphin who recently escaped the slaughter of his
familial pod, which was killed by Porter's rival and enemy, Dirk Moran. Befriending and caring for the orphaned animal and experiencing adventures together, he also becomes familiar with a local girl named Kim Parker and develops a romantic interest in her. As Sandy begins to feel like his life is improving, he and Kim find that Flipper has
beached himself and is gravely sick. After nursing him back to health, the friends become aware that
toxic waste is being
dumped into the ocean by Moran and his crew. Determined to confront the criminal, situation becomes dire when Sandy finds himself in
open water being pursued by a large and predatory
hammerhead referred to by locals as "Scar". Just when his parents and uncle are too far from him to come to the rescue, the bond he has formed with Flipper may save his life. ==Television==