Frog Dreaming (1986) – Nostalgia Central

Cody Walpole (Henry Thomas, who had starred as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), an orphaned 14-year-old American boy, has been living in Australia with his eccentric but well-meaning guardian, Gaza (Tony Barry), since the death of his parents.

Hyper-imaginative, inventive, and inquisitive, Cody is an irrepressible daredevil, adventurer, and explorer, whose summer holidays plunge him headlong into a strange mystery, deep in the heart of the Australian bush.

While exploring Devil’s Knob National Park with his friends Wendy (Rachel Friend) and Jane (Tamsin West), Cody discovers a murky, flooded quarry called Donkegin Hole.

Intrigued by local Aboriginal mythology regarding “frog dreamings” and a terrifying lake monster called the Donkegin, Cody becomes entirely obsessed.

He crafts some makeshift diving equipment MacGyver-style – using an old bicycle pump, a garden hose, a plastic bucket, and weights – and risks his life to plunge into the dark depths of the lake to uncover the truth about the monster.

The film was released in some markets as The Quest, The Go-Kids and The Spirit Chaser.

Cody Walpole
Henry Thomas
Gaza
Tony Barry
Wendy
Rachel Friend
Jane Cannon
Tamsin West
Charlie Pride
Dempsey Knight
Ricketts
John Ewart
Wheatley
Chris Gregory
Henry
Mark Knight
Mr Cannon
Dennis Miller
Mrs Cannon
Katy Manning
Gleason
Laurie Dobson
Haggard
Jay Mannering
Beilby
Tim Hughes
Ranger
Howard Eynon
Kauffman
David Ravenswood
Neville
Peter Cummins
Becky
Amanda Fernbach
Doctor
Marcus Eyre
Tobins
Glen Hunt
Opah
Kevin King
Barney
Vince Quayle

Director
Brian Trenchard-Smith

Video