words & screenshots // Zack Schlemmer
In the early 1990's hit children's movie FREE WILLY (1993), an odd couple of street kid Jesse who is sent to live with foster parents and a killer whale named Willy held in captivity in poor conditions form a bond and become friends. But when the water park's sleazy owner decides Willy is worth more dead than alive, it's up to Jesse to get Willy back to the ocean and save the orca's life! Let's take a look at some sneakers spotted in the movie.
The night Jesse reluctantly moves in with his new foster parents, they show him to his new room where they have some clothes laid out...and what's that? Some brand new Nike Air basketball shoes for him!
Later in the movie, while Jesse and Willy are hanging out, we get a better look at the shoes: the Nike Air Sabre Flight. Released around 1992, the Air Sabre Flight was a moderately priced shoe in Nike's Flight line of basketball shoes.
And Jesse's not the only one who wears Nikes in the movie. Randolph Johnson, water park employee and friend to Willy, has some heat of his own. Here we spot him in an OG pair of the Air Trainer SC, Bo Jackson's legendary cross-trainer.
This concludes this edition of On-Screen Sneaker sightings. Stay tuned for more looks at footwear on film!
