When the Whales Came

When the Whales Came
Theatrical release poster
Directed byClive Rees
Written byMichael Morpurgo
(novel and screenplay)
Produced bySimon Channing-Williams
Starring
CinematographyRobert Paynter
Edited byAndrew Boulton
Music byChristopher Gunning
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • 20 October 1989 (1989-10-20)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

When the Whales Came is a 1989 British drama film directed by Clive Rees and starring Helen Mirren, Paul Scofield, David Suchet, Barbara Jefford, David Threlfall, John Hallam, Barbara Ewing, and Jeremy Kemp. It is based on the 1985 children's book Why the Whales Came written by Michael Morpurgo. The film is, like the book, set on Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly.