The Storyteller

The Storyteller

1988
The Storyteller
The Storyteller

The Storyteller

8.8 | TV-Y7 | en | Drama

The Storyteller aided by his cynical dog, narrates classic folk tales, fables, and legends.

View More
AD

WATCH FREEFOR 30 DAYS

All Prime Video
Cancel anytime

Watch Now

Seasons & Episodes

1
EP9  The True Bride
Jul. 10,1988
The True Bride

A girl who was adopted by an abusive troll finally is freed with the help of a white lion. When her betrothed does not return after a trip, the girl is grief-stricken to learn that the troll's sister had put a spell on him and plans to marry him. The white lion appears again and helps the girl by giving her three magical gifts. From an early German folk tale.

EP8  The Heartless Giant
Jul. 03,1988
The Heartless Giant

A young prince is tricked into helping a heartless giants escape from the king’s dungeon. The evil giant unleashes terror across the land and those who go off to fight him never return. The young prince becomes the servant of the giant and tries to find where the giant’s heart is hidden. But even if he were able to get the heart, can all be made right once more? From an early German folk tale.

EP7  Sapsorrow
Jun. 26,1988
Sapsorrow

Upon fleeing her kingdom to escape an arranged marriage, the lovely Princess Sapsorrow toils in the kitchen of a faraway palace, disguised as an ugly hag. Her masquerade is no ball, as Sapsorrow has fallen in love with a prince, who sees her only as a peasant!

EP6  The Three Ravens
Jun. 19,1988
The Three Ravens

After using her powers to charm the widowed king into marrying her, an evil witch sees his children standing in the way of her power. She uncovers the children’s secret hiding place and turns the three princes into ravens. The ravens tell the princess she cannot speak a word for three years, three months and three days or they will remain forever as birds. From an early German folk tale.

EP5  Hans My Hedgehog
Jun. 12,1988
Hans My Hedgehog

Hans, a hedgehog-boy, feels ostracized in his town so he runs away. Twenty years later, Hans helps a king lost in the woods find his way back to his kingdom. The king rewards Hans with the first thing that the king will see when he re-enters his kingdom. But when the first thing he sees turns out to be his beautiful daughter, will despair take hold or can love prevail? From an early German folk tale.

EP4  A Story Short
Jun. 05,1988
A Story Short

The storyteller recalls his days of servitude to the king for bamboozling the royal cook out of a free meal. A story a day was his punishment - or else he'll boil in the cook's cauldron of oil! All goes well until the final day... when he can't think of a story to save his life! From an early Celtic folk tale.

EP3  The Luck Child
May. 29,1988
The Luck Child

Upon news of the birth of a Luck child - a peasant boy predicted by wise man to one day wear the crown - the cruel-hearted king seeks out the boy, pretending to take him under his terrible wing. Will luck indeed play a part in our hero's final destiny? From an early Russian folk tale.

EP2  Fearnot
May. 22,1988
Fearnot

Fearnot is a young man who is incapapble of feeling fear. He leaves his home and his true love to embark on a vast journey to experience the shudder of fear. No monster or creature that he meets, however horrible or terrifying, makes him afraid. It is only upon return that he learns that true fear exists in the places which are closest to us. From an early German folk tale.

EP1  The Soldier and Death
May. 15,1988
The Soldier and Death

Returning from war, a young soldier trades his last biscuit for a magical sack... into which anything summoned will enter! Trapping devils and even death itself, the soldier brings peace to his country. But death soon proves a greater enemy captured than free! From an early Russian folk tale.

SEE MORE
8.8 | TV-Y7 | en | Drama , Family , Action & Adventure | More Info
Released: 1988-05-15 | Released Producted By: The Jim Henson Company , TVS Television Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

The Storyteller aided by his cynical dog, narrates classic folk tales, fables, and legends.

...... View More
Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

John Hurt , Brian Henson

Director

Jim Henson

Producted By

The Jim Henson Company , TVS Television

AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.

Watch Now

Trailers

Reviews

pixiedrea Sadly, every single person I ask about this series says they've never heard of it. I remember it fondly from my early childhood (I wasn't quite 10 when it came out).My favorite story was "A Story Short". Something about the way the "stone soup" story was woven into a greater story gets me every time. And then the storyteller explains why he has no story to tell, and it becomes a story itself. I've always been a fan of Jim Henson, and this is just one reason why.I'm adding this DVD on the self with Labrynth, The Dark Crystal, The Neverending Story, The Princess Bride, The Last Unicorn, Willow and MirrorMask. These are all DVDs I share with my siblings who are 6, 5, and 4 yrs old.
wardeliz If you watch this show from the perspective of a grown person, as opposed to a child, you will realize that it is completely tripped out. The puppets are either really ugly or really freakish, and the stories are insane! They're mostly derived from early folk tales from Hungary or Germany, but they make no sense. They don't have morals at the end, except maybe "Always carry a sack that you can put little red demons in." The Storyteller himself isn't particularly great, nor is his dog--who is voiced, mind you, by the same person who did the voice of Hoggle in "Labyrinth." Also, in the episode "The Three Ravens," the girl who plays the princess is the same woman who plays Julia McNamara on "Nip/Tuck." Just a bit of trivia for you. In conclusion, the episodes are engrossing, and kind of funny. Recommended for when you're not exactly the picture of sobriety.
sirjonsnow Absolutely the best presentation on TV or movies of classical stories. If you want something magical you must see this. John Hurt is perfect as the storyteller as he retells the stories, often blending into them. Wonderful effects as paintings and shadows dance as the Storyteller enspells us. A definite must to own, especially if you have children, but a series *everyone* should see.
John J. Puccio I was mistakenly sent the DVD of "The Storyteller" by Sony (Columbia TriStar), apparently for review at DVD Town, but since Sony is one of the studios I no longer handle, another reviewer does, I was slow about watching it. Knowing nothing about this 1987 made-for-TV series, I was loathe even to put it on, thinking it was going to be so corny. But, lo and behold, every episode was wonderful! If you haven't seen them, and there are stories in all, I recommend them strongly and without hesitation.The stories are all old fairy tales narrated by John Hurt as the storyteller and peopled by some terrific British actors (including Sean Bean in one of the many tales that features a handsome Prince). The stories are beautifully told, lasting about twenty-odd minutes each. Some of them moved me unexpectedly and immensely. Highly recommended, to say the least.John J. Puccio, Review Editor