27 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trivia Questions & Answers

Answer: "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

The dolphins of Earth, being the second most intelligent species on Earth while humans were the third, long knew of the impending destruction of Earth. They decide to leave, after many attempts to alert humans of the approaching danger.

Answer: Fish

As the second most intelligent species on the planet Earth, the dolphins, unlike humans, know of the planned destruction of the Earth. Although trying to warn the humans of this, their attempts get misinterpreted as interesting tricks. They leave Earth after saying goodbye and thanking humans for all the fish - summed up nicely with a song and tricks.

Answer: Dolphins

According to the narrator, dolphins had long known the impending destruction of Earth and had left before the end of the planet. Unfortunately, humans had misinterpreted the dolphin language as loud chirps and funny tricks. Their last message to us was "so long, and thanks for all the fish".

Answer: They would have learned to sing

There are two solo parts to the opening song in the film, which allow the dolphins to say thir goodbyes and thanks to the human race. The first is sung by a younger sounding dolphin; "If I had just one last wish, I would like a tasty fish", and this is followed by a much older sounding dolphin, who then sings; "If we could have changed one thing, we would all have learned to sing."

This song is used as a brilliant introduction to the film, as not only does it show that the world is about to be destroyed, but it also points out humankind's ignorance of this event.

Answer: Betelgeuse

Prior to the events that occurred in the beginning of the episode, Arthur Dent had no idea that his friend Ford was an alien. When Arthur realizes that his house is going to be demolished, he tries to prevent it from being flattened, and Ford comes along with beer to distract the demolition crew. He takes Arthur to a pub and tells him the whole story.

Answer: Unpleasant

After escaping Earth, Arthur looks up Vogons in "The Guide". It tells him that Vogons are one of the most unpleasant races in the galaxy, and that they wouldn't even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers.

Answer: Bill Nighy

All contribute to the film, Mos Def plays Ford Prefect, Alan Rickman is the voice of Marvin, and Robbie Stamp is the executive producer. This leaves Bill Nighy who successfully fills the role of Arthur's guide into Magrathea, and to the newly rebuilt second version of the Earth.

Answer: Yellow

According to the Hitchhiker's Guide, the Babel Fish is "small, yellow, and leech-like. It feeds on brainwave energy, absorbing unconscious frequencies and excreting a wave of conscious frequencies to the speech centers of the brain." Basically, when you stick a Babel Fish into your ear, you can understand any language in the universe.

Answer: What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?

This question is then asked of Deep Thought, the super computer, soon after she is made. She says she'll have to think about it, and that they should return in 7 1/2 million years for her answer.

Answer: 50 pounds

In beginning scenes of the film, Ford Prefect finds Arthur lying in front of a bulldozer, trying to save his house from being demolished. Ford manages to persuade Arthur to join him in going to the local pub, where he orders 6 pints and a lot of nuts. To pay for this, Ford places £50 on the counter and tells the barman that he only has 10 minutes to spend it.

Answer: Sofas

The chances of being picked up by another ship while floating in outer space are 2 to the power of 2079460347:1. Luckily, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect were picked up right on time, and they were escorted to the bridge where they saw some familiar faces.

Answer: It is cheaper and has "Don't Panic " on its cover.

The Guide is used to help explain things in the film. In one entry the voice of the Guide, played by Stephen Fry, explains how it is one of the most popular books in the universe.

"Not only is it a wholly remarkable book, it is also a highly successful one - more popular than "The Celestial Home Care Omnibus", better selling than "53 More Things to do in Zero Gravity" and more controversial than "Oolon Colluphid's Trilogy of Philosophical Block Busters"; "Where God Went Wrong", "Some More of Gods Greatest Mistakes" and "Who is This God Person Anyway?"

This extract is concluded with two reasons why the guide is so popular. Firstly it is cheap and secondly it has "Don't Panic" written in large friendly letters on its front cover.

Answer: Marvin

Oddly, Marvin is extremely depressed throughout the whole movie. Since he was built by Sirius Cybernetics Corporation, he was the prototype for the Genuine People Personalities Chip. Throughout the movie, he always shares his grim outlook with the main characters and he's responsible for saving everyone in the end.

Answer: Blue

Since they have the now incredibly stupid Zaphod, whose brain is powered by lemons, they can use him to set Trillian free from being eaten by the troll. They originally filled out a regular white release form, but since they had Zaphod they needed a Presidential release form, which the Vogon made them go back and fill out once again, telling them it was blue.

Answer: Big

When Arthur and Ford are ejected into space by the Vogans, the Guide is used comically to describe space. As well as commenting that an individual can live up to 30 seconds with a lung full of air, the introduction to the guide begins like this:

"Space," it says, "is big. Really big. You won't believe how mind bogglingly big it is."

Answer: Eddie

Unlike Marvin, Eddie is extremely cheerful and optimistic even in the worst of times. All of the doors on the ship are programmed to sigh when they open and close to make a happier, more friendly atmosphere.

Answer: Think

After Marvin, Ford, Arthur, and Zaphod land on Vogsphere and get slapped in the face a few times, they figure out why they are getting slapped. They try not thinking about anything, but it doesn't work too well. They finally run for the city as fast as they can.

Answer: Warwick Davis and Alan Rickman

Another highly amusing aspect to the film is the part of Marvin. As a robot, Marvin comes with the spaceship, the Heart of Gold, but unfortunately is programmed with real-life emotions and 'a head the size of a small planet' which leads to him being constantly depressed.

Marvin is contributed to by two leading actors; Warwick Davis has the role of wearing the 'robotic' suit, while Alan Rickman does the overly gloomy voice..."Oh I'm so depressed."

Answer: 42

The people of the universe were eager to hear Deep Thought's answer, but were shocked to find that it seemed to be meaningless. Deep Thought said that a giant computer was being programmed to give a question for the answer, but it was unexpectedly blown up to make way for an interplanetary highway.

Answer: Madagascar

Madagascar is a country right off the coast of Africa. Trillian wants to go somewhere with Arthur she has never been before, and thinks Madagascar would be a nice place to go with him.

Answer: JinJenz

The first scene with Zaphod shows him fulfilling his need for attention - watching a news report on his kidnapping of himself and the Heart of Gold. This report begins with the news reporter speaking in a studio, while her name briefly appears in the right hand corner of the screen. The report then continues with images of Zaphod on a very high hill, Humma Kavula anti - Zaphod election campaign, images of Zaphod stealing the spaceship, and then the beginning of an interview we fail to see concluded, as Trillian then turns the TV off.

Answer: Vogsphere

After landing on a planet, Trillian is captured by the Vogons and the guys on The Heart of Gold decide to save her before she suffers a horrible, painful death on Vogsphere. When they arrive, they have to sign complicated forms before she can be released, and luckily, they free her on time.

Answer: Earth Mark II

Slartibartfast finds Arthur after he can't get through the portal on Magrathea. He reassures Arthur that things are going to be alright by showing him Earth Mark II, which they are rebuilding after the Vogons have destroyed the original, and finally brought him right back to his house.

Answer: Kavula called him stupid.

In their search for Magrathea, the quartet arrive at a planet known to be the home of Humma Kavula. Zaphod then states he has a score to settle and quickly descends onto the planet. This we are told is because during the election campaign for President of the Universe, Humma Kavula called Zaphod stupid, and based much of his run for election around this fact. Instead of settling this score however, Zaphod loses his second head and receives another mission; to find a special gun at Magrathea...a special gun which ultimately saves the day.

Answer: Arthur

Although Arthur was going to enter the portal, it closed when he attempted to jump into it. While the others are talking to Deep Thought, Arthur meets Slartibartfast, who shows him that Earth was created by the Magratheans.