Mazes and Monsters (TV 1982)

Bound together by a desire to play "Mazes and Monsters," Robbie and his four college classmates decide to move the board game into the local legendary cavern. Robbie starts having visions ... See full summary »

Director:

Steven Hilliard Stern

Writers:

Rona Jaffe (novel), Tom Lazarus (teleplay)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Wendy Crewson, David Wallace

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Robbie Wheeling
Wendy Crewson	...	Kate Finch
David Wallace	...	Daniel
Chris Makepeace	...	Jay Jay Brockway
Lloyd Bochner	...	Hall
Peter Donat	...	Harold
Anne Francis	...	Ellie
Murray Hamilton	...	Lt. John Martini
Vera Miles	...	Cat
Louise Sorel	...	Julia
Susan Strasberg	...	Meg
Chris Wiggins	...	King
Clark Johnson	...	Perry
Tom Harvey	...	Hayden
James O'Regan	...	Paul

Storyline

Bound together by a desire to play "Mazes and Monsters," Robbie and his four college classmates decide to move the board game into the local legendary cavern. Robbie starts having visions for real, and the line between reality and fantasy fuse into a harrowing adventure.

---

Plot Keywords:

college | cavern | tragic event | mental illness | new york city | 

---

Taglines:

Danger lurks between fantasy and reality.

---

Genres:

Fantasy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and mild violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 December 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rona Jaffe's Mazes and Monsters

Filming Locations:

World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

McDermott Productions, Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Robbie Wheeling: Frilik! Aren't you dead? Didn't you die when you leapt into the pit? It IS you, Frilik, you have been restored to the living! Whoever did that is a great holy man, a greater holy man even than I.

---

Connections

Referenced in Suburban Knights (2011)

User Reviews

F&F (Fact & Fantasy)

Ah, I remember it well. 1982. I was twelve years old. Mom heard they would be showing this movie on TV and decided I should watch it so I would get out of the D&D club I had just joined at school. After it was over, she asked me what I thought.

"A perfect example of the dangers of fantasy."

She missed the sarcasm. Completely.

Rona Jaffe's book and movie did more damage to role-playing in the '80's than almost any single other source. The book and movie have little to do with the realities of role-playing. But, then again, MOST anti-RPG rants are just as bad.

I've seen it a couple of times in the video stores under "Drama". I suggested they move it to it's proper place - "Comedy". At least THEY got the joke! :)