1940s Movies Trivia Questions

Answer: Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn (1915-2001) played the role of Juan Martinez/Francisco Morez in the movie. Although born in Mexico he spent most of his life in the USA. He started in movies in 1936 and was active in the industry until his death in 2001. He won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in "Viva Zapata!" (1952) and "Lust for Life" (1956). He fathered 12 children during three marriages and one partnership. Before his acting career he won an architectural design contest and for a time studied under Frank Lloyd Wright.Surprisingly, it was Wright who encouraged him to take up acting.
Henry Fonda (1905-1982) played Gil Carter and Dana Andrews (1909-1992) played one of the lynched men Donald Martin. Henry Fonda portrayed a similar role as Juror #8 in "12 Angry Men" (1957). Eli Wallach(1915-2014) did not appear in the movie but did play Mexicans and baddies in a career spanning six decades.

Answer: Agincourt

Sir Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) is probably the world's most famous Shakespearian actor, remembered for the movie versions of "Hamlet" (1948), "Richard III" (1955), "Othello" (1965), as well as "Henry V".

Agincourt was fought in 1415 and resulted in a famous victory for the English, under the command of King Henry V. Much credit was given to the English long bowmen whose weapon was far more effective than the French crossbow.

The wrong answers: They're all battles fought between the English and the French, but in other years.
Hastings was 1066.
Crecy was 1346.
Waterloo was 1815.

Answer: Laurel and Hardy

"Jitterbugs" was a 1943 Laurel and Hardy film that cast the duo as con men selling gas pills during the gas-shortages caused by WW II. They met up with some girls who had been swindled and came to their aid. "Jitterbugs" was the pair's 18th feature film. They had also appeared in shorts and in guest roles on several films beginning in 1921, when they worked together on a short called "Lucky Dogs". They weren't paired again until 1927 when they did a short silent film called "Duck Soup". Two years after "Jitterbugs" the duo took a hiatus from films and concentrated on doing stage work. After a 1954 appearance on "This is Your Life" there were plans for them to star in their own series, but health concerns shelved the project.

Answer: Meet Me in St. Louis

Another film for the United States National Film Registry, "Meet Me in St. Louis" should be on my list of 'to watch' films because I was supposed to watch it back in university for a film studies course and never did because there's something about the idea of the onomatopoeic 'zing zing zing' of a heartstring that makes me really uncomfortable.
But you should know this film for being a classic musical. Minnelli released it during the later portion of World War II and, in retrospect, its overtly cheery reflection on a family in 1903 St. Louis, leading up to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, is a bit unsettling. The movie was a big hit, not only earning millions in the box office (in 1944), but taking four Oscar nominations. The song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" became a classic soon after and, as noted, Minnelli and Garland married soon after. He was her second husband of five.

Answer: Accidently thwarted a robbery

Mahatma Kane Jeeves is listed as the screenwriter that Fields took from an old vaudeville punchline "My hat, my cane, Jeeves".

Sousé finds a wildcat investment he likes called Beefsteak Mines. He pressures his son-in-law Og, a teller at the bank, to embezzle 500 dollars. Things look fine until a bank examiner appears and Sousé has to devise devious means to distract him. Meanwhile, he has to contend with a shrewish wife, disapproving mother-in-law, and vicious children. Scenes include Fields mixing with a motion picture group and a wild chase scene that ends thwarting another bank robbery. The Beefsteak Mine investment comes through so that Sousé is able to return to his former role as town drunk.

The film is regarded as W.C. Field's masterpiece. Also, it is one those rare films that achieved a 100% evaluation from Rotten Tomatoes.

Answer: Her former swimming coach

Anne Revere (1903-1990) played the role of Mrs. Brown for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Mi's late father had been Mrs. Brown's swimming coach when she had become the first women to swim the English Channel many years ago. It was also significant that her daughter, Velvet Brown became the first women to ride the Grand National winner.

Answer: Out of The Past

Released in 1947, also starring Kirk Douglas, Jane Greer and Rhonda Fleming, "Out of the Past" is a great movie. Robert Mitchum was at this time a movie veteran, having appeared in 35 movies since 1943.
"The Big Steal" also starred Mitchum and Greer. "Detour" and "Roadblock" are other fine examples of film noir. Interestingly when Warner Brothers made the TV series, "77 Sunset Strip", they paid homage to this story by naming the lead characters JEFF Spencer and Stuart BAILEY.

Answer: Double Indemnity

"Double Indemnity" starred Fred MacMurray (1908-1991) as Walter Neff, a successful insurance agent who helps Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) kill her husband. Although claiming the death as an accident they are hunted down by a claims adjuster, Barton Keyes played by Edward G. Robinson.
"Dial M for Murder" was made in 1954 starring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968) starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway and "Sleuth" (1972) starred Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.

Answer: Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall (1924-2014) married Humphrey Bogart in 1945. This was the first of a number of Bogart-Bacall movies. Some of these movies included "The Big Sleep" (1946), "Dark Passage" (1947) and "Key Largo" (1948).
Betty Grable (1916-1973), Lana Turner (1921-1996) and Ava Gardner (1922-1990) were all glamorous movie stars of the '40s and '50s.

Answer: The Wolf Man

A rather dark and moody film, the movie follows Larry Talbot's transformation from an ordinary man to an unwilling, but helpless to resist, monster. Claude Rains, and his silver-headed cane, co-stars and turns in a strong performance as Larry's father. The film also showcases the talents of Bela Lugosi, Ralph Bellamy, Warren William and Maria Ouspenskaya.

Answer: Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford starred as the nurse who was obsessed with her former boyfriend. Bette Davis was originally offered the role but declined so she could take maternity leave. Crawford's character was a home nurse to a woman who was a neighbor to her former boyfriend, played by Van Heflin. Heflin's character was uncomfortable about Crawford's overbearing crush on him. After her ward died, the plot thickened when the widower asked Crawford to marry him after Heflin rebuffed her. In the tragic ending Crawford's character eventually killed Heflin's character.
Crawford personally did research in mental hospitals to prepare for the role. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress.

Answer: The Great Dictator

In 1940, Adolf Hitler, spoofed in the movie as Adenoid Hynkel, probably seemed like a better target for satire than he does today. Charles Chaplin played both dictator and barber. Jack Oakie, classic "big lug" type, played fellow dictator Benzino Napaloni.

Answer: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

"Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" is another one of those National Film Registry movies, and based on the words of many of the greatest comedy filmmakers across the generations, it's not hard to see the results of what this movie brought to the table. Comedians Abbott and Costello faced Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man in this Universal film (one of the last to seriously feature the old Universal monsters for the era) and hilarity ensued It's probably worth watching to see where that subgenre came to be; we likely would never have had "Young Frankenstein", "Scary Movie", etc. Abbott and Costello also met "the Killer, Boris Karloff" (in 1949), "The Invisible Man" (1951), "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (in 1953), and "The Mummy" (in 1955).

Answer: Birth of sextuplets

Trudy Kockenlocker (Betty Hutton) is a good time girl and on a drinking spree with a soldier, gets married by a justice of the peace. She doesn't remember his name but it was either "Ratzkywatzky or... Zitzkywitzky". But she also gave a fake name as she thought it was a joke. Later it is found out that she is pregnant. Her father believes her boyfriend, Norval Jones (Eddie Bracken), is involved and has several charges levied against him forcing him to flee the town. When the 'miracle' occurs, there is a massive man hunt to bring back Norval to the cheers and delight of all Morgan's Creek. At the end of the film is the following quotation: "But Norval recovered and became increasingly happy for, as Shakespeare said: 'Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon them'."

The interaction with the censorship Hays Office are legend with outcries of glorifying promiscuity, alcohol use, defamation of the honor of American fighting men, promoting having children out of wedlock, and not reflecting traditional moral values. Preston Sturges released the film with out showing the ending to the Hays Office. In promoting the movie audiences were urged not to reveal the ending so their friends and family could enjoy it. It was the highest grossing film of the year and got an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.

Answer: Hurd Hatfield

Hurd Hatfield (1917-1998) was an American actor who appeared in movies and TV from 1944-1991. However, it is this role of Dorian Gray for which he is best known. The movie was an adaption of the Oscar Wilde novel of the same name written in 1890. George Sanders (1906-1972) played the role of Lord Henry Wotton and Lowell Gilmore (1906-1980) played Basil Hallward the artist, who painted the picture. Peter Lawford (1923-1984) played David Stone and in real life was the brother-in-law of the US President John F. Kennedy.

Answer: Crossfire

Starring the Roberts, namely, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan and Robert Young, "Crossfire" is a very suspenseful film, Film Noir or message picture - maybe both. Also featured are, Gloria Graham, Paul Kelly, Sam Levene and Steve Brodie. I recommend this very enthralling movie, which was nominated for five Academy Awards. The film was named, Best Social Film at the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.

Answer: A railway station

Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) meets Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard) at a railway station tea shop. Both are in their late 30s early 40s and are married with children. They meet secretly and then openly but eventually realise they cannot have a future together. Alec accepts a job abroad and Laura goes back to her husband. Their final meeting occurs in the railway station refreshment room. Celia Johnson was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards but lost out to Olivia de Havilland in "To Each His Own". David Lean was nominated for Best Director but lost out to William Wyler for "The Best Years of Our Lives".

Answer: Ray Milland

Ray Milland (1907-1986) was actually born in Wales (UK) and moved to America in 1930. He starred in such movies as "Reap the Wild Wind" (1942), "Dial M for Murder" (1952) and "Love Story" (1970). He was married to Muriel Frances Weber for 54 years until his death in 1986. Gregory Peck, Bing Crosby and Gene Kelly were also nominated for Best Actor in 1945 but Ray Milland won the award.

Answer: She was shot by a hunter.

Disney adapted "Bambi" from a book titled "Bambi, A Life in the Woods" written by Felix Salten. His mother's name was never revealed in the movie, but she was shot by hunters when Bambi was young. Bambi's father broke the news to him when they reached safety. The following spring his bunny friend Thumper and skunk pal Flower found mates and Bambi met a doe named Faline. They were threatened by fire and a pack of dogs as the movie developed. Although Bambi was wounded by a hunter, he survived and in the finale Faline gave birth.
The artists involved studied the behavior and movements of deer at the Los Angeles zoo and other artists visited New England to create authentic animated forests.

Answer: The Great McGinty

This movie proves the adage "No good deed goes unpunished". Preston Sturges wrote and directed, and Brian Donlevy, not accustomed to leads in "A" pictures, played McGinty, perfect type casting.

Answer: Miracle on 34th Street

I feel like, at this point, my 1940s film 'to-do list' is mostly Christmas films, but to be fair, this one is probably one of the big deals of the decade. It ended up winning three Oscars and was nominated for four (it lost Best Picture) and became a staple for Christmas TV viewings as time went on. Starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, and a young Natalie Wood, the movie dug into the magic of Christmas by following a Macy's Santa Claus who just might have been the actual Santa.
The movie was very well received and a remake was made with Mara Wilson in Woods' role and Richard Attenborough, fresh off his appearance in "Jurassic Park", playing Kris Kringle.

Answer: I Was a Male War Bride

Regulations were relaxed for war brides so they did have to go trough the arduous red tape of most immigrants. However, the regulations did not provide for female military officers to bring their foreign born husbands into the United States that is the premise for this film.

Lt. Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan) of the Women's Army Corps works on a military project with French Capt. Henri Rochard (Cary Grant). After a rough start, they fall in love and marry, actually three times - civil, military, and church. When Gates is reassigned stateside, Rochard plans to go with her. After many misunderstandings, he is granted permission to accompany her. However, personnel on the ship do not believe it so Rochard dresses as an army nurse. Although his impersonation of a woman may be flawed, he does get a few whistles from some soldiers and sailors. Their scheme is exposed, they are both arrested and are placed in the ship's brig where for the first time they are able to consummate their marriage.

"I Was A Male War Bride" was one the highest grossing films of 1949.

Answer: Philip Marlowe

Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) played Philip Marlowe in the movie, yet many described this movie as confusing with many different plots and characters. The fictional character of Philip Marlowe was created by the writer Raymond Chandler and appears in a number of his books. Robert Mitchun played the role of detective Philip Marlowe in the remake of the movie in 1978. Bogart played the roles of Harry Morgan in "To Have and Have Not" (1944), Rick Blaine in "Casablanca" (1942) and Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon" (1941).

Answer: Criss Cross

Another great piece of Film Noir, "Criss Cross" has it all. Starring Burt Lancaster, Dan Duryea and the beautiful Yvonne DeCarlo. Also featured are Stephen McNally, Richard Long and, in his third appearance before the camera, Tony Curtis, in a very small part as a gigolo.

Answer: Victor Mature

Victor Mature (1913-1999), born in Kentucky, was a stage, film and television actor. He appeared in many westerns and a number of biblical movies such as "The Robe" , "Demetrius and the Gladiators", "Samson and Delilah" and "The Egyptian". He also starred with Esther Williams in the musical "Million Dollar Mermaid". Henry Fonda played Wyatt Earp in "My Darling Clementine" and in the 1957 movie "The Gunfight at the OK Corral", Burt Lancaster played Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas played Doc Holliday. The western ballad "Oh! My Darling, Clementine" was sung in parts over the opening and closing credits of this 1946 movie.