The Boy Who Loved Trolls

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The Boy Who Loved Trolls
The Boy Who Loved Trolls.jpg
VHS cover
GenreFantasy
Based onplay
by John Wheatcroft
Screenplay byJames A. DeVinney
Directed byHarvey Laidman
Starring Matt Dill
Sam Waterston
Susan Anton
Narrated by Richard B. Shull
Theme music composer Casey Filiaci
Ferdinand Jay Smith III
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerBob Walsh
Production location Pittsburgh
EditorsGary Hines
Neil Travis
Running time58 min.
Original release
Network PBS
ReleaseOctober 29, 1984 (1984-10-29)

The Boy Who Loved Trolls is a 1984 American made-for-television fantasy-adventure film produced for the PBS series WonderWorks . [1]

Contents

The story was adapted by James A. DeVinney from a play by John Wheatcroft. The original play, entitled Ofoeti, was telecast in 1966, on NET Playhouse, winning a National Television Award that year for best original television play. [2]

Plot

12-year-old Paul would like nothing more than for the magical trolls and mermaids he reads about in his favorite story to be real. He goes searching for a real troll and finally meets one named Ofoeti, who has friends like Kalotte, a mermaid, and Socrates, a talking turtle. Soon the mermaid's home is threatened by an evil bridge builder. Paul also discovers that Ofoeti is dying and has less than a day to live. Paul must see if he has what it takes to risk everything and save his new friends.

Cast

ActorRole
Matt Dill Paul
Sam Waterston Ofoeti
Susan Anton Kalotte
Nicolle Cherubini Pretty Girl
David Crawford Paul's Father
James A. DeVinney Guard
Winnie Flynn Paul's Mother
Paul Gertner Olaf the Great
Arther Greenwald Jogger
Larry Harris Basketball Player
James Karen Richman
Radar Long Guard
Russ Martz Computer Voice
William H. Macy (credited as W.H. Macy)Socrates
Josh Mostel Wiseman
David Roland
Radar Long
James A. DeVinney
Guards
Tom Savini Motorcyclist
Richard B. Shull Doorman/Narrator
Max Wright Secretary

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References

  1. John Tiech (2012). Pittsburgh Film History: On Set in the Steel City. The History Press. pp. 44–. ISBN   978-1-60949-709-5.
  2. John Wheatcroft (1991). Our Other Voices: Nine Poets Speaking. Bucknell University Press. pp. 197–. ISBN   978-0-8387-5196-1.