SYNOPSIS
Alcon Entertainment’s “Dolphin Tale” is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life.
Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun.
Without a tail, Winter’s prognosis is dire. It will take the expertise of a dedicated marine biologist, the ingenuity of a brilliant prosthetics doctor, and the unwavering devotion of a young boy to bring about a groundbreaking miracle—a miracle that might not only save Winter but could also help scores of people around the world.
The real Winter, who plays herself in “Dolphin Tale,” today serves as a symbol of courage, perseverance and hope to millions of people—both able and disabled—who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery and rehabilitation.
The film stars Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Dr. Ken McCarthy, who is given the seemingly impossible task of crafting a new prosthetic tail for Winter; Harry Connick, Jr. as Dr. Clay Haskett, who runs the Clearwater Marine Hospital; Ashley Judd as Lorraine, a single mother; Nathan Gamble as her son, Sawyer, who frees Winter from the trap and forms an instant connection with the dolphin; Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Hazel, Clay’s daughter, who befriends Sawyer; and Kris Kristofferson as Clay’s father, Reed.
“Dolphin Tale” was directed by Charles Martin Smith from a screenplay by Karen Janszen & Noam Dromi. The film is produced by Alcon Entertainment’s Broderick Johnson and Andrew A. Kosove (Oscar® nominees for “The Blind Side”) and Richard Ingber. Robert Engelman and Steven P. Wegner served as executive producers.
The behind-the-scenes team was led by director of photography Karl Walter Lindenlaub, production designer Michael Corenblith, editor Harvey Rosenstock, and costume designer Hope Hanafin. The music is composed by Mark Isham.
“Dolphin Tale” was filmed on location in Florida, including Winter’s home at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, whose motto is “Rescue, Rehabilitate and Return.”
