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Quiz about Stars of the Silent Screen
Quiz about Stars of the Silent Screen

Stars of the Silent Screen Trivia Quiz


Before 1929 it was very quiet at the movies. Then 'talkies' arrived and most of these movie stars couldn't make themselves heard. Who is the famous silent star?

A multiple-choice quiz by fringe. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
fringe
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
78,647
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
6607
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: MargW (8/10), xxFruitcakexx (8/10), MikeMaster99 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Despite his trademark straight face, this actor is regarded as one of the most important comic film-makers of the silent era. His career took a nose-dive with the advent of sound, but he made a comeback of sorts and appeared in a number of 'modern' movies including 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' in 1963. Who is he? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This English born actor is probably the most well-known of all silent movie stars. He appeared in his first motion picture in 1914, and within two years had become one of the best known personalities in America. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, his name is ____ ?.

Answer: (Two words, or just surname)
Question 3 of 10
3. This Canadian born actress was known as 'America's sweetheart' of the silent screen, and was one of the first ever film stars. She was also a shrewd businesswoman, and in 1919 was a prime mover in the setting up of United Artists Corporation. She appeared in 'Pollyanna' and 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'. Her name is _________ ? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Although better known as a director, this dominant Hollywood figure began his career in 1900 as a theatre actor. Known for his strong assertive personality, he was the first director to use a megaphone on set. His 70th, and last, film was 'The Ten Commandments' in 1956. He is ____ ? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This Italian born actor was idolised as 'The Great Lover'. He appeared in 'The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' in 1921 and became an immediate star. Who is this Italian star?

Answer: (Two words, or just surname)
Question 6 of 10
6. The original 'It' girl (after her 1927 film 'It'), this American actress personified the vivacious, emancipated flapper of the 1920s. Her strong Brooklyn accent did not easily make the transition into talkies and she retired after making 'Hoopla' in 1933. Who is this lady from Brooklyn? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This early star of the silent pictures was an agile comedian, despite his large bulk. He was for a time a member of the Keystone Cops and was instrumental, via the the formation of his own production company in 1917, in furthering the career of Buster Keaton. What is his name? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Known as the 'King of Hollywood' during the 1920s this dashing actor was one of the first and greatest 'swashbucklers'. In 1929 he co-starred with his wife, Mary Pickford, in 'The Taming of the Shrew'. His name is __________ ?

Answer: (Two words , or just surname)
Question 9 of 10
9. Although his popularity was at its peak during the silent era, this comedian was to make many movies after the advent of sound, his last being 'Mad Wednesday' in 1947. He was the highest paid star of the 1920s, and in 1952 was honoured with an Academy Award for his contribution to motion-picture comedy. Who is this comedian? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This cowboy star was a deputy sheriff and rodeo rider before embarking on his acting career in 1910. He appeared in more than two hundred films, many of which featured his horse, Tony, who became almost as famous as the actor himself. The name of this cowboy is ____ ? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Despite his trademark straight face, this actor is regarded as one of the most important comic film-makers of the silent era. His career took a nose-dive with the advent of sound, but he made a comeback of sorts and appeared in a number of 'modern' movies including 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' in 1963. Who is he?

Answer: Buster Keaton

Joseph Francis Keaton was born in Kansas in 1895, the son of Vaudeville mime artists. He starred in his first film, 'The Butcher Boy' in 1917 and started his own company in 1920. For eight years, as writer, star and director, he made almost thirty short films and features, but things went downhill for him when pantomime was replaced by the spoken word.

Although he did appear in a few films between the mid 1940s and 1960s, his popularity still very much stems from his silent movie days. Buster died in 1966.
2. This English born actor is probably the most well-known of all silent movie stars. He appeared in his first motion picture in 1914, and within two years had become one of the best known personalities in America. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, his name is ____ ?.

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

Charles Spencer Chaplin was born in London in 1889, the son of musical hall performers. His comedies, made at the rate of two a week, were phenomenally successful, and by the early 1920s he only appeared in movies produced by himself, as no studio could afford him! Charlie died in 1977.
3. This Canadian born actress was known as 'America's sweetheart' of the silent screen, and was one of the first ever film stars. She was also a shrewd businesswoman, and in 1919 was a prime mover in the setting up of United Artists Corporation. She appeared in 'Pollyanna' and 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'. Her name is _________ ?

Answer: Mary Pickford

Gladys Mary Smith was born in 1893 in Toronto. At the height of her career she was one of the richest and most famous women in America. She retired from motion pictures in the early 1930s and died in California in 1979.
4. Although better known as a director, this dominant Hollywood figure began his career in 1900 as a theatre actor. Known for his strong assertive personality, he was the first director to use a megaphone on set. His 70th, and last, film was 'The Ten Commandments' in 1956. He is ____ ?

Answer: Cecil B DeMille

Cecil Blount DeMille was born in 1881, the son of playwright, Henry Churchill DeMille. In 1913 he joined Lassky, Goldwyn and Freed in forming a company which was later to become Paramount Pictures. He died in Hollywood in 1959 and his name is ____ ?
5. This Italian born actor was idolised as 'The Great Lover'. He appeared in 'The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' in 1921 and became an immediate star. Who is this Italian star?

Answer: Rudolph Valentino

Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Gugielmi was born in Italy in 1895. He moved to America in 1913, finding employment as a gardener, dishwasher and dancer before making his mark in the movies. He died from a ruptured ulcer in 1926 in New York, sparking worldwide hysteria, riots and suicides.
6. The original 'It' girl (after her 1927 film 'It'), this American actress personified the vivacious, emancipated flapper of the 1920s. Her strong Brooklyn accent did not easily make the transition into talkies and she retired after making 'Hoopla' in 1933. Who is this lady from Brooklyn?

Answer: Clara Bow

Born in 1905 into a poor family, sexually abused and neglected, Clara left school at the age of thirteen. Three years later she entered a beauty contest and won. Part of the prize was a small role in the 1922 film 'Beyond the Rainbow'. She never looked back. She died in Los Angeles in 1965.
7. This early star of the silent pictures was an agile comedian, despite his large bulk. He was for a time a member of the Keystone Cops and was instrumental, via the the formation of his own production company in 1917, in furthering the career of Buster Keaton. What is his name?

Answer: Roscoe Arbuckle

Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle, otherwise known as 'Fatty' Arbuckle, was born in Kansas in 1887. At the height of his fame Fatty was forced into retirement and his films were banned. This was as the result of an accusation by a starlet that he had sexually assaulted her.

She later died of complications relating to the assault, and, although Fatty was acquitted of manslaughter charges, his career never recovered from the scandal. He died in New York in 1933.
8. Known as the 'King of Hollywood' during the 1920s this dashing actor was one of the first and greatest 'swashbucklers'. In 1929 he co-starred with his wife, Mary Pickford, in 'The Taming of the Shrew'. His name is __________ ?

Answer: Douglas Fairbanks

Douglas Elton Ulman was born in 1883 in Colorado. By 1914 he had become a popular Broadway actor, and three years later was the head of his own production company. He retired from acting in 1936, but continued producing until his death in 1939.
9. Although his popularity was at its peak during the silent era, this comedian was to make many movies after the advent of sound, his last being 'Mad Wednesday' in 1947. He was the highest paid star of the 1920s, and in 1952 was honoured with an Academy Award for his contribution to motion-picture comedy. Who is this comedian?

Answer: Harold Lloyd

Harold Lloyd was born in Nebraska in 1893, the son of an itinerant commercial photographer. He performed his own stunts and was the first comedian to use physical danger as a source of comedy. He died in Hollywood in 1971.
10. This cowboy star was a deputy sheriff and rodeo rider before embarking on his acting career in 1910. He appeared in more than two hundred films, many of which featured his horse, Tony, who became almost as famous as the actor himself. The name of this cowboy is ____ ?

Answer: Tom Mix

Thomas Hezikiah Mix was born in Pennsylvania in 1880. After joining a wildwest show and circus he graduated to acting. As with many of his contemporaries, the coming of sound heralded the beginning of the end for Tom Mix. He was killed in a car accident in 1940.
Source: Author fringe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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