A Whale for the Killing

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A Whale for the Killing
A Whale for the Killing poster.jpg
GenreDrama
Based onA Whale for the Killing
by Farley Mowat
Written by Lionel Chetwynd
Directed by Richard T. Heffron
Starring Peter Strauss
Dee Wallace
Kathryn Walker
Richard Widmark
Bruce McGill
Theme music composer Basil Poledouris
Country of originUnited States
Production
Executive producers Hugh M. Hefner
Edward L. Rissien
Producers Robert Lovenheim
Peter Strauss
Production locationsPetty Harbour, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Bay Area, San Francisco, California
Cinematography Edmond L. Koons
Editors Michael Eliot
Robert Florio
Running time145 min.
Production companies Beowulf Productions
Playboy Productions
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseFebruary 1, 1981 (1981-02-01)

A Whale for the Killing is an American television film that aired on ABC on February 1, 1981. It is loosely based on a true story by environmentalist Farley Mowat, about a whale that is tortured by a fisherman. The incident happened near Burgeo, Newfoundland, while Mowat & family lived there. [1]

The film, based on Mowat's 1972 book of the same name, received two Primetime Emmy nominations.

The later Canadian singer Alan Doyle starred as a boy on a bridge in the movie. In 2012 he released his solo album Boy on Bridge which paid tribute to the role. [2]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is available on CD from BSX Records. [3] The score was composed by Basil Poledouris. Also included on the same CD is the soundtrack to the 1992 theatrical film Wind, also composed by Poledouris.

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References

  1. McCarthy, Robin (July 16, 2014). "Dead or Alive: Farley Mowat in Burgeo, Newfoundland" . Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  2. "Alan Doyle interview with Jian Ghomeshi on Q". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 11, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  3. BSX Records website. Accessed 21 August 2018.