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The Quest

Original title: Frog Dreaming
  • 1986
  • PG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
Henry Thomas in The Quest (1986)
A resourceful American orphan living in rural Australia finds himself caught up in the magic of a local Aboriginal myth that might be more real than anyone knows.
Play trailer1:32
1 Video
92 Photos
AdventureDramaFamilyFantasyMystery

A resourceful American orphan living in rural Australia finds himself caught up in the magic of a local Aboriginal myth that might be more real than anyone knows.A resourceful American orphan living in rural Australia finds himself caught up in the magic of a local Aboriginal myth that might be more real than anyone knows.A resourceful American orphan living in rural Australia finds himself caught up in the magic of a local Aboriginal myth that might be more real than anyone knows.

  • Directors
    • Brian Trenchard-Smith
    • Russell Hagg
  • Writer
    • Everett De Roche
  • Stars
    • Henry Thomas
    • Tony Barry
    • Rachel Friend
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    2.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Brian Trenchard-Smith
      • Russell Hagg
    • Writer
      • Everett De Roche
    • Stars
      • Henry Thomas
      • Tony Barry
      • Rachel Friend
    • 34User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:32
    Official Trailer

    Photos92

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    Top cast25

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    Henry Thomas
    Henry Thomas
    • Cody
    Tony Barry
    Tony Barry
    • Gaza
    Rachel Friend
    • Wendy
    Tamsin West
    Tamsin West
    • Jane Cannon
    Dempsey Knight
    • Charlie Pride
    John Ewart
    John Ewart
    • Ricketts
    Chris Gregory
    • Wheatley
    Mark Knight
    • Henry
    Dennis Miller
    Dennis Miller
    • Mr. Cannon
    Katy Manning
    Katy Manning
    • Mrs. Cannon
    Laurie Dobson
    • Gleason
    Jay Mannering
    • Haggard
    Tim Hughes
    • Beilby
    Howard Eynon
    • Ranger
    David Ravenswood
    • Kauffman
    Peter Cummins
    • Neville
    Amanda Fernbach
    • Becky
    Marcus Eyre
    Marcus Eyre
    • Doctor
    • Directors
      • Brian Trenchard-Smith
      • Russell Hagg
    • Writer
      • Everett De Roche
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews34

    6.02.3K
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    Featured reviews

    7pleiades10

    Cool adventure film for kids

    Let me start by saying it has been about 8 or 9 years since I last saw the Quest, but I still remember it fondly.

    Henry Thomas, soon after his performance as "Elliot" in E.T., finds himself living with relatives in Australia after his parents pass on. He soon begins to investigate a local legend called the "Dahnk-a-gin" (or something like that...), a fierce loch-ness-monster style beast living in an old quarry that has been flooded.

    As a child, I was always very inquisitive and imaginative, and loved to explore old buildings and creepy places, so this movie appealed to me greatly. The area surrounding the flooded quarry is littered with scrap metal, beat up shacks, and a cool broken down 50's car that just call to the exploring spirit.

    During some scenes, Henry rides the railroad using a modified bicycle that could lock onto the railroad tracks... start pedaling, and off you go! I always wanted one of those...

    Anyway, check out the Quest, and see if it doesn't sweep you up in it's imaginative spell!
    Samus Aran

    One of my favorite movies as a kid

    Yes, this movie was peculiar. Yes, the plot was sort of strange and a bit difficult to follow the first time around ... that is why we watched it many times !

    The boy is a great inventor, and goes exploring strange things in this lake... and I thought the movie was just very mysterious and exciting as a kid.

    I just thought I would put out this little review, as the other voter quite disliked it, heh. I thought it was superb !
    8eepiwee

    Ever wondered what's at the bottom?

    It's been many years since I've seen this movie but I'm working on making it a part of my collection. Basically, there's an eerie, spooky, creepy pond that perks a boy's curiosity. The boy, Cody, starts investigating an old legend about "Donkegin" and/or "frog dreamings," all this I don't quite remember but I do remember certain parts as being incredibly intriguing. As a kid, and even today, I've always been fascinated with lakes and ponds, always wondering what's at the bottom. I believe they even get some underwater footage at some point when Cody wears an old-fashioned dive suit! This is an excellent adventure movie that's great for the whole family! Highly recommended!
    ScottG74

    Not a Bad Flick

    I have not seen this movie in over 10 years, but it must have been good because I still remember it. I saw it when I was 12 and it seemed really cool at the time. The plot didn't seem boring to me, kids looking for a lochness-type monster. Had a lot of dialogue, but good stuff. I remember thinking the young girl in it was so cute. That is the whole reason I looked this movie up, to see what her name was (Rachel Friend). Unfortunately, she never did much else. Anyway, I think pre-teen and young teens would still like this movie.
    8ekestler

    Great Film For Younger Kids & Old

    The story concerns an American boy named Cody who now lives in Australia with his guardian Gaza. He sets out with two of his friends to explore a lake that is said to inhabit a mysterious creature known as 'Donkegen'.

    The opening scene is really well done. The film score is fantastic and the acting gives this film a very realistic feel.

    Even though it's a kids film, it never plays down to a lower intelligence and understands that a kids film doesn't have to use slang in order to reach it's target audience.

    I honestly believe in the age of too many video games and TV, this is a great film for young or old. Better to show to young ones in the hopes they understand you can have so much fun by just exploring and creating/building things. Perhaps when they are older they will look back at this film and realize one of it's overall messages.

    Let's hope for a proper DVD release soon.

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    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The book Jane is shown reading in bed, "The Perfumed Garden" (or more completely "The Perfumed Garden of Sensual Delight" by Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Nafzawi) is a work of Arabic erotic literature (and art sex manual) from the fifteenth-century.
    • Goofs
      The water pumps used to drain the waterhole would not work as the waterhole is the lowest point in the landscape and the water would merely drain back in.
    • Quotes

      Ricketts: Son, every time that brain of yours starts punching out data, public property is in danger, women cry and dogs bark.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Dream Quest: 'Frog Dreaming' Shooting Locations Revisited (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Rockabilly Fever
      Written and performed by El Prezzos

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    FAQ16

    • How long is The Quest?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Geisterjäger
    • Filming locations
      • Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve, Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia
    • Production companies
      • UAA Films
      • Middle Reef
      • Western Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • A$3,880,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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