Fun Film Grab-Bag Trivia Quiz

Answer: William Wyler

William Wyler (1902-81) was a prolific and successful Hollywood director, who began his career in the silent movie era, making almost 30 low-budget western films. He went on to direct many critically acclaimed films, including three for which he received a "Best Director" Oscar: "Mrs Miniver" (1942), "The Best Years of our Lives" (1946) and "Ben-Hur". His final film as director was "The Liberation of L.B. Jones", released in 1970.

"Ben-Hur", starring Charlton Heston in the title role, was released in 1959 and received 11 awards at the Oscars in 1960. This was a record haul that as at 2023 had been equalled but not surpassed - in 1998 by "Titanic" and 2004 by "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King".

It was not in fact the first version of the story, being preceded by a 15-minute short in 1907 and a full-length silent version in 1925. A subsequent film version in 2016 was a bit of a flop with both critics and audiences. All versions feature the famous chariot race as a central part of the story.

Answer: Some Like It Hot

Directed by Billy Wilder, "Some Like It Hot" is generally considered to be one of the great movie classics, often featuring in "Top Ten" lists. Curtis and Lemmon play two jazz musicians who witness a gangland massacre in 1920s Chicago. To escape the mob, they disguise themselves as women (Josephine and Daphne) and join an all-female jazz band on a train to Miami. Monroe plays Sugar Kane, a ukulele-playing singer.

The cross-dressing theme was regarded as rather risqué at the time, but it didn't stop the film being a huge critical and popular success, and its reputation has only grown over the years.

Answer: Goldfinger

Directed by Guy Hamilton, "Goldfinger" was released in 1964. In the film, James Bond investigates the activities of Auric Goldfinger, a criminal bullion dealer who plans to detonate a bomb inside the United States bullion depository at Fort Knox.

The English actress Honor Blackman plays the quintessential "Bond girl" with a suggestive name. When the character is introduced, she is employed by Goldfinger, but in the film's climax she betrays him and joins the good guys.

The other options are all other "James Bond" films, but fans will hopefully spot that none of them starred Sean Connery.

Answer: The Fearless Vampire Killers

Roman Polanski co-wrote, directed and starred in the quirky horror comedy "The Fearless Vampire Killers". The film was released in 1967, the year before he made his Hollywood directing debut with "Rosemary's Baby".

The "Fearless Vampire Killers" of the title are Professor Abronsius (played by Jack MacGowran) and his apprentice Alfred (played by Polanski). The plot of the film sees them attempt to rescue an innkeeper's daughter from the local vampire, Count Krolock. The stylish look of the film is somewhat at odds with the occasionally farcical plot, and the original US release was badly cut and given the jokey sub-title.

The role of the innkeeper's daughter, Sarah, was taken by a young actress named Sharon Tate, and she and Polanski were married soon afterwards. The other three options are also comedy films based on the vampire concept.

Answer: Norman Jewison

Norman Jewison had a 40-year career as a film director, working on over 20 films including "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), "Fiddler on the Roof" (1971) and "Agnes of God" (1985). "Jesus Christ Superstar" was based on the musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was filmed around the actual Biblical locations in Israel.

The cast included Ted Neeley as Jesus, Carl Anderson as Judas and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene, all of whom had appeared in the musical's Broadway stage premiere.

Answer: Target

The 1985 thriller "Target" was directed by Arthur Penn. Jean-Pierre Melville directed the other three films. He became famous for his French-language crime films, very much in the film noir style, and was regarded as a strong influence on the French New Wave movement. "Bob le flambeur" (1956), "Le deuxième souffle" (1966) and Army Of Shadows (1969) are all typical examples of his work.

Answer: Bicycle Thieves

The Italian film "Ladri di biciclette" was directed by Vittorio De Sica, and released in 1948. It tells the story of an impoverished father who is trying to find his stolen bicycle, which is essential for the new job which he needs to support his family. The film is acknowledged to be a masterpiece of the "Italian neorealism" movement, and perhaps De Sica's best-known work.

At the time, there was no regular Oscar category for "Best Foreign Film", but the practice of making "honorary awards" was already well-established, to recognise individuals and films which didn't fit into existing categories. An official annual "Best Foreign-Language Film" category was added in 1956, when it was won by Fellini's "La Strada".

Answer: Hanna Schygulla

"Die Ehe der Maria Braun" was filmed in 1978 by the German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and is regarded as one of his finest achievements. It tells of Maria's attempts to make a life for herself in post-war Germany, while her husband (Hermann) is first missing in action and then in prison for a murder actually committed by Maria. Hanna Schygulla was particularly associated with Fassbinder's films, including appearances in "Effi Brest" (1974) and "Berlin Alexanderplatz" (1980).

Answer: Zack and Jack

"Down by Law" is a low-budget independent film directed by Jim Jarmusch, in which Waits and Lurie play two men who find themselves sharing a jail cell with a third, Bob, played by Roberto Benigni. Zack and Jack dislike each other but are persuaded by Bob to join them in a jail break. By the end of the film, they have developed an uneasy friendship.

The other options are all cartoon animal couples.

"What I want to do is make films that tell stories, but somehow in a new way, not in a predictable form, not in the usual manipulative way that films seem to work on their audiences" - Jim Jarmusch.

Answer: Ted Levine

"Short Cuts" was directed by Robert Altman and released in 1993. It had a large ensemble cast and was based on various short stories by Raymond Carver. Lily Tomlin played a waitress named Doreen Piggot, while Tom Waits was her husband, Earl, a limousine driver with a drink problem. Lyle Lovett was a baker named Andy Bitkower. Ted Levine was not in the film; even if you hadn't seen it, hopefully the image of a teddy bear was a helpful clue.