Free Willy 3: The Rescue
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| Free Willy 3: The Rescue | |
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| Directed by | Sam Pillsbury |
| Produced by | Jennie Lew Tugend |
| Written by | John Mattson |
| Starring | Jason James Richter August Schellenberg Annie Corley Vincent Berry Patrick Kilpatrick Tasha Simms Peter LaCroix |
| Music by | Cliff Eidelman |
| Cinematography | Tobias A. Schliessler |
| Editing by | Margaret Goodspeed |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | November 18, 1997 |
| Running time | 86 min |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home |
| IMDb profile | |
Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997) is the second sequel to the 1993 film Free Willy, the first being the 1995 film Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home.
[edit] Plot
Jesse is 16 and works as an orca-researcher alongside his old friend Randolph. They suspect that Willy and his pod are being hunted by whalers posing as commercial fishermen. Aboard just such a ship -- The Botany Bay -- Max (10) takes his first trip to sea with his father, a whaler from a long line of whalers, and learns the true nature of the family business. During his first hunt, Max is thrown overboard and is saved from drowning by Willy. From here on, Max is pitted against his own father, teaming with Jesse and Randolph to save Willy from becoming $200/pound sushi. Jesse introduces Max to Willy properly after learning of Max's experience and how Max likes whales. Jesse tries to get his and Randolph's head boss to take the threat to the whales seriously but he refuses to until Jesse manages to get proof with help from Max. Jesse knows the whalers are heading back out to go after Willy and his pod using a copy of the song Jesse plays on his harmonica as a lure for Willy who won't realize its not Jesse until its too late. Jesse's boss plans to call for help the next day, but knowing it will be too late then, Jesse, Randolph and one of their fellow researchers steal the research boat, the Noah and go after the whalers themselves. Max manages to buy them a little time by jumping into the water forcing the whalers to perform a rescue but it just buys Jesse and his two companions enough time catch up. Max's father is angry because he learns that Max isn't on his side and believes Max tried to sabotage the engine (Jesse did that) but it doesn't stop him. Jesse, Randolph and the researcher try to bluff the whalers into stopping, but when it doesn't work, Jesse rams the Botany Bay with the Noah causing them to miss Willy and knocking Max's father into the water. Max's father gets trapped under a net and nearly drowns as the net drags him down and ultimately comes face to face with Willy himself. Willy, instead of killing him, saves him by pushing him to the surface and holding him there long enough for Jesse and Randolph to rescue him. The Marine Patrol arrive, having been summoned by Jesse before he rammed the Botany Bay and catch the whalers (who are stunned by Willy rescuing their boss) in the act and arrest them. Being saved by Willy causes Max's dad to realize what he was doing was wrong and he apologizes to Max. Later Jesse, Randolph, the researcher and Max witness the birth of Willy's son and Jesse decides to name him Max when given the choice.
[edit] Trivia
The crew of the whaling ship -- Wesley, Dineen, Kron and Sanderson -- was named after players on the 1996 Hartford Whalers NHL hockey team. Filmed in White Rock, BC Canada
