| “ | You revengeful son of a bitch...you win. You want revenge?! Well, you'll have it! I'll come out and fight you! I'LL FIGHT YOU! YOU REVENGEFUL SON OF A BITCH! YOU WIN! DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU WIN! | „ |
| ~ Nolan furiously accepts the Orca's challenge after he bit off Annie's leg. |
Captain Nolan, also known simply as Nolan, is the main antagonist of the 1977 film Orca and archenemy of the titular whale. He is a hardened Irish Canadian who makes a living catching marine animals to sell to aquariums, so he can pay off the mortgage of his boat before returning to Ireland.
The story of Orca is often considered to be a repeat of Jaws, as it was one of many animal-horror films which were made after the commercial success of the original Jaws film in 1975. It also parallels the classic 1851 Herman Melville novel Moby Dick, which also has battle of man versus whale with themes of revenge. But in this case, it's arguable if he really is evil, as while he does kill the whale's pregnant mate and unborn fetus out of carelessness, he comes to regret it and the rest of the film deconstructs his inner conflict.
He was portrayed by the late Richard Harris.
Personality[]
When first introduced Nolan is depicted as being very greedy, arrogant and prideful; believing he has every right to capture any wild animal he encounters. This is demonstrated when he dismisses marine biologist Rachel Bedford's warnings against trying to capture whales, having no knowledge on the complex feelings and emotions of whales as opposed to most other fish and sharks. This level of indifference could possibly be a result of his own personal loss. He does however have friendships with his fellow crew members Novak, Annie and her boyfriend Paul.
It is only upon witnessing the female orca miscarrying her fetus that he is fully able to comprehend the sheer weight of the crime he just committed. After he finds the deceased whale on the shore of his village the next morning he starts having personal doubts, such as contemplating on whether or not he should go forward with killing the male as well, and even asking the priest at his local church if it's possible to sin against an animal. He becomes more willing to learn and take advice, when after being scorned by the locals over what he did, he ultimately agrees to study Bedford's book documenting whales and their behavior.
Biography[]
Nolan has spent the past 16 years of his life in a seaside village in Newfoundland, working for his late uncle on the fishing boat Bumpo. At an unspecified point prior to the events of the film Nolan's wife and unborn child were killed in a car crash by a drunk driver, whose own fate is unspecified.
The film opens with Nolan and his crew searching for a great white shark to capture and sell to a local aquarium. They cross paths with researchers Rachel Bedford and her assistant Ken, nearly colliding with them and their dinghy. Upon spotting the fin of a great white Nolan tries to give chase, startling Ken and causing him to fall overboard, drawing the shark's attention. An orca then comes and kills the shark, saving Ken. Amazed by the whale's ferocity, Nolan decides to catch an orca instead. Bedford confronts him and advises him to reconsider, but Nolan refuses.
The captain and his crew set out on another voyage when they spot several orcas in the distance. He identifies the bull and fires his harpoon, but it grazes the male's fin and instead hits another slightly smaller orca, which screams in pain. The whale swims erratically and collides with the boat's spinning propeller, possibly to commit suicide and avoid being captured alive. After further struggle Nolan manages to hoist up the pain-stricken orca by the tail. The whale screams again as she miscarries, dropping a fetus onto the deck. Nolan is paralyzed in utter horror, and nearly vomits. He demands the female orca to be released but the controls are jammed. Nolan then hastily hoses the dead fetus overboard and decides to return to port.
As night falls Orca rams the Bumpo in an attempt to free his mate from the rope. The impact causes fellow crew member Annie to fall and break her foot. Nolan makes another attempt at release, ordering his first mate Novak to climb atop the mast to sever the ropes. He does so but Orca in a fit of rage jumps up and kills him. The whale then makes eye contact with Nolan, vowing revenge.
The next day, after Orca carries his deceased mate onto the shore, Nolan tries to deny responsibility for the whale's death, but the townsfolk eventually find out about his involvement. After Orca's presence drives off the local fish population and sinks an anchored fishing boat in broad daylight, Nolan becomes somewhat of a town pariah, losing any local respect he once had. He contemplates on whether or not he should go through with killing Orca, initially refusing as he starts to empathize with the whale, as it parallels Nolan's own personal tragedy. However Orca proceeds to attack Nolan's residence and ends up biting off Annie's leg. Nolan becomes enraged and ultimately vows to fight Orca.
The next morning, Nolan sets out to sea along with Bedford, Paul, Ken and indigenous hunter Jacob Umilak to find the whale. Orca rams against the Bumpo, prompting Nolan to throw a stick of dynamite at him, which is stopped by Bedford's quick intervention. Orca then waves his tail at the crew, which they interpret as a signal to follow him. Ken decides to walk onto the mast but Orca emerges and drags him into the water, killing him.
The whale eventually leads the crew to the Strait of Belle Isle. That night, Paul loses his nerve and tries to flee in the lifeboat, prompting Orca to smash it, and he either drowns or kills Paul.
As the morning rises, Orca pushes an iceberg against the Bumpo, causing it to start sinking. Nolan throws a spear at Orca, injuring him, then proceeds to abandon ship along with Bedford and make it out onto an adjacent ice pack, but Umilak is crushed beneath an avalanche of ice after sending an SOS.
Orca breaks the ice several times, with Nolan firing in response. The skipper is eventually forced onto a separate floe which breaks and drifts off. As Orca emerges and roars with anger, Nolan cries "WHAT IN HELL ARE YOU?!" The whale proceeds to jump and use his body weight to tilt the floe, causing Nolan to slide into the icy, cold water. Orca swims a circle around Nolan, then uses his tail to throw the captain against a wall of ice next to Bedford, with the impact killing him instantly. His body then slips into the icy water. With Nolan dead, Orca's mate and unborn child are avenged.
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