Sandy the Seal
(1969, U.K.) color 70 minutes
With: Heinz Drache (Jan Van Heerden), Marianne Koch (Karen Van Heerden), David Richards (David), Anne Mervis (Anne), Gert Van den Bergh (Jacobsen), Bill Brewer (Lowenstein), Gabriel Bayman (Lofty)
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Synopsis: Jan Van Heerden serves as a lighthouse keeper on Seal Island (likely located off of the coast of Scotland), and during one of his watches, he encounters a couple of poachers killing seals for their hides. Nevertheless, the illegal hunters fail to harm one seal, which the lighthouse keeper finds isolated on the beach. Following his duty, Jan takes the seal to his home, which is located on the mainland, and surprises his wife and children with the mammal during dinner. His son and daughter, David and Anne, immediately name the seal Sandy (of course, he was found on the beach!), and take to thinking up ways of keeping their new pet at home. The film quickly shifts to the children holding a carnival at their home featuring Sandy performing a myriad of tricks. Then, David and Anne take Sandy with them while snorkeling in the coastal waters. While venturing into town with Sandy, they meet up with the poachers while investigating seal hides found on a boat docked in the town harbor. Their father Jan ultimately confronts the main villain poacher Lowenstein who is in denial about his illegal activity. The movie’s climax involves the poachers returning to Seal Island while Jan, David, and Anne are there, as well as Sandy and his new found seal friend, Sally. Jan leaves his post after sighting the poaching vessel and leaves the lighthouse in the hands of his two children. Shots are then fired, and Jan is wounded in the shoulder. David and Anne come to his rescue, but will they be able to save their dad on a remote, deserted island? Well, they could call for help using the lighthouse radio, but the poachers end up destroying it while Jan lays helplessly injured in the care of his children. Sensing something is wrong when noticing Lowenstein’s boat had left the dockside, the Van Heerden family’s friend Jacobsen, as well as Jan’s wife, Karen, enlist the British Coast Guard’s aid, and they eventually land at the island to rescue Jan, David, and Anne. In addition, Lowenstein and his poacher friend are ultimately captured by the Coast Guard. Good has prevailed over evil. But what about Sandy and Sally? During the poaching raid on Seal Island, Lowenstein shoots Sally, but the good news is that she, like Jan, survives. The film ends with more of Sandy’s hijinks at the Van Heerden homestead.
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Sandy the Seal is a warm-hearted, cute children’s film with a message of hope and faith when the odds appear stacked against you. The 1969 British movie kept my interest for the full 70 minutes running time, but my only gripe is that the cinematography and picture graininess was a minor distraction of this kiddie matinee superstar. The picturesque scenery of either the English or Scottish coastline is magnificent and enhances the storyline. The film’s soundtrack is reminiscent of some of the best of Mantovani, Percy Faith, and other light orchestra/easy listening recordings of the 1960s.
The film opens with Jan Van Heerden, played by German actor Heinz Drache, running a lighthouse on the fictiously named Seal Island. While performing his duty, he notices two poachers killing seals, and takes to going after them. He just misses confronting the criminals, but does find a lonely seal on the beach who just cheated death. Upon returning home to the mainland, Jan surprises his family with their new pet, dubbed Sandy, by his two children, David and Anne, performed by David Richards and Anne Mervis. The two youngsters hold a carnival at their home featuring Sandy, much to the delight of their friends. Sandy, however, ends up annoying the Van Heerden family’s friend Jacobsen, a fisherman, by eating some of his catch. Nevertheless, the payback ultimately comes in the form of David and Anne rescuing Jacobsen on his boat during rough seas.
The Van Heerden children had gone with the fisherman on a fishing trip. Anyway, with Jacobsen back in good graces, the children then take Sandy with them on expeditions of their own around the coastal shores. While the children snorkel, Sandy is seen frolicking with them. The film shifts to the children visiting the local town with Sandy, as well as David and Anne encountering a boat with seal hides. During their investigation, one of the two poachers runs the children off of the boat, but the secret is out. David and Anne tell their father who then confronts Lowenstein, the head poacher, played by Bill Brewer, at dockside. Fists fly, and Lowenstein is now intent on doing Jan harm.
Following a week of two of leave at home, Jan must return to lighthouse duty. David and Anne, too, want to go to Seal Island with their father. The three of them, along with Sandy, say goodbye to wife/mother Karen Van Heerden played by Marianne Koch and head to sea. Likewise, Lowenstein and his criminal buddy also plan their next poaching visit to Seal Island and an ultimate showdown with Jan.
The Van Heerden clan arrive at Seal Island and Jan keeps a close eye on the coastline awaiting the poachers’ visit. Meanwhile, Sandy and his new female seal friend, Sally, enjoy their time alone on the island. The poachers then arrive, and shoot an innocent Sally. Jan tracks them down, but he too is shot, and lies wounded on the coastal rocks. David and Anne hear gunshots and come to their father’s aid. While the lighthouse is unmanned, the two poachers lay waste to the facility, including destroying Jan’s only lifeline, the radio.
David and Anne transport their father back to the lighthouse, but without a radio to contact help, the three are doomed, but are they? Karen and family friend Jacobsen noticed the poacher’s boat had left, and realized something smelled fishy. They contact the British Coast Guard, who take the two of them along for the jaunt to Seal Island. Jan, David, and Anne are subsequently rescued, and the downfall of the poachers is to come. The British Coast Guard catches them out at sea, and good over evil has once again prevailed. Sally too is nursed back to health, and the film ends with a reunited Van Heerden family including Sandy and Sally enjoying themselves back on the mainland.
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Director Robert Lynn II died on Jan. 15, 1982. Following Sandy the Seal, Lynn served as director of the British TV series Space 1999. In addition, he also directed an episode of another British TV series The Saint, which featured Roger Moore in the lead role. In addition, he directed several other TV programs in Great Britain.
German actor Heinz Drache passed away on April 3, 2002. He appeared in the 1966 films Bride of Fu Manchu and Circus of Fear, as well as in the 1999 international TV series Riding the Storm. He has also performed roles in several German films and television programs.
German actress Marianne Koch practiced medicine in Munich from 1985 - 1997, but also acted in several German films and television series. In addition, she appeared in the films Trunk to Cairo (1966) and Clint the Stranger (1967).
British actor Bill Brewer appeared in several European films including Gold (1974), The Jackals (1967), and The Hellions (1961).
Producer Harry Alan Towers has produced numerous American and European feature films and television series/programs including King Solomon’s Treasure (1977), Rocket to the Moon (1967), and Blood of Fu Manchu (1968).
VHS/DVD availability: (various, including "50 Movie Pack Comedy Classics DVD" )
Tigon British Films / Towers of London Productions
Screenplay: Harry Alan Towers (as "Peter Welback")
Cinematography by Stephen Dade
Produced by Harry Alan Towers and Oliver A. Under
Directed by Robert Lynn II
