The Boy Who Loved Trolls Explained

Genre:Fantasy
Screenplay:James A. DeVinney
Director:Harvey Laidman
Starring:Matt Dill
Sam Waterston
Susan Anton
Narrated:Richard B. Shull
Theme Music Composer:Casey Filiaci
Ferdinand Jay Smith III
Country:United States
Language:English
Producer:Bob Walsh
Location:Pittsburgh
Editor:Gary Hines
Neil Travis
Runtime:58 min.
Network:PBS

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

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
Paul
Ofoeti
Kalotte
Pretty Girl
Paul's Father
Guard
Paul's Mother
Olaf the Great
Jogger
Basketball Player
Richman
Guard
Computer Voice
William H. Macy (credited as W.H. Macy)Socrates
Wiseman
Guards
Motorcyclist
Doorman/Narrator
Secretary

Notes and References

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