novel about the Marsh Arabs; however, after seeing the baby otters playing, he takes pen and paper and begins to write about Mij and what the otter has taught him about himself. Cast and characters Bill Travers as Graham Merrill Virginia McKenna as Mary MacKenzie Peter Jeffrey as Colin Wilcox Jameson Clark as Storekeeper Helena Gloag as Mrs. Flora Elrich W. D. Joss as Lighthouse keeper Roddy McMillan as Bus driver Jean Taylor-Smith as Mrs. Sarah Chambers Christopher Benjamin as Fishmonger Archie Duncan as Road mender Tommy Godfrey as Ticket seller Phil McCall as Frank Joyce McClain as stunt woman for Virginia McKenna Two Wisconsin otters owned and trained by Tom and Mabel Beecham of Phillips, Wisconsin portrayed Mij the otter. Filming Part of the film was shot in Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil. Reception and critical response The film earned rentals of US$1 million in North America and US$1.4 million in other countries. After all costs were deducted it recorded an overall loss of US$615,000. In a contemporaneous review, Variety called the film "engaging" and noted "Travers and McKenna unselfishly subdue their performances to the star demands of the lolloping young rascal, Mij, but keep the interest firmly alive by their tactful playing." The National Board of Review placed Ring of Bright Water on its list of the Top Ten Films for 1969. In 2005, The Daily Telegraph called it "one of the best-loved British films of all time." Comic book Dell Comics published a comic-book adaptation of the film drawn by Jack Sparling in October 1969. Documentary The documentary film Echoes of Camusfearna (1995) contains previously unseen footage of Gavin Maxwell with the otters, and is introduced and narrated by Virginia McKenna. It was released to DVD in 2007. Home media The film was released as a region 2 DVD in 2002, and as a region 1 DVD in 2004. Previously, it had been released as a VHS tape in 1981 and 1991. See also List of British films of 1969 References External links 1969 films 1969 comedy-drama films 1960s children's comedy films 1960s English-language films American children's comedy films British children's comedy films American comedy-drama films British comedy-drama films Films about otters Films adapted into comics Films based on non-fiction books Films directed by Jack Couffer Films about pets Films set in Scotland 1960s American films 1960s British films