Best Picture Oscar Anagrams 1960-1969 Quiz

Answer: Midnight Cowboy

"Midnight Cowboy" was the story of a newly established friendship between Buck and Ratso (Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman). They team up and try to navigate their way through New York City's social set and move up the money ladder as they go. Life does not go according to plan, however.

Nominated for seven Oscars, "Midnight Cowboy" won three. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Director (John Schlesinger) and Best Screenplay.

It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Dustin Hoffman), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jon Voight), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Sylvia Miles) and Best Film Editing.

Answer: Oliver Twist

"Oliver!" was of course based on Charles Dickens' book "Oliver Twist". Oliver lived in a workhouse as an orphan but was sold as an apprentice due to his truculent manner. He lived with a gang of street thieves before finding his real family, who never knew of his existence.

"Oliver!" won five Oscars, was nominated for six more and received an honorary Oscar for choreography. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Director (Carol Reed), and three others.

It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ron Moody), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Wild), Best Screenplay and three others. Onna White received an special Oscar for "outstanding choreography achievement".

Answer: In the Heat of the Night

"In the Heat of the Night" was about Virgil Tibbs (Poitier), a Philadelphia homicide policeman waiting for a train in Sparta, Mississippi. Incorrectly arrested for murder, he was asked to help with their investigation once his identity was confirmed. Rod Steiger played the Sparta Sheriff, Bill Gillespie. A black cop in the South of the 1960s didn't have an easy time working with the racial tensions of the era. His life was endangered as he tried to solve the murder without being murdered himself.

"In the Heat of the Night" won five Oscars and was nominated for two more. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Rod Steiger), Best Screenplay and two others.

It was also nominated for Best Director (Norman Jewison) and Best Sound Effects.

Answer: A Man for All Seasons

British statesman Sir Thomas More was Lord Chancellor of England when asked by King Henry VIII to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Fiercely catholic, More was torn between loyalty to his king and country and loyalty to his church. The film was about the last few years of More's life as he wrestled with his conscience and the power brokers of England until he was eventually executed for treason.

"A Man for all Seasons" won six Oscars and was nominated for two more. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Director (Fred Zinnemann), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Scofield), Best Screenplay and two others.

It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert Shaw) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Wendy Hiller).

Answer: The Sound of Music

Julie Andrews was Maria, a postulant nun who didn't quite fit into the quiet convent she lived in. In order to "solve a problem like Maria" she was assigned to the Von Trapp family as a governess. Maria enchanted the children and their widowed father with her charm, singing and music. World War II intervened and the Von Trapps fled Austria and headed for Switzerland.

"The Sound of Music" won five Oscars and was nominated for five more. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise), Best Score and two others.

Nominations were for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Julie Andrews), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Peggy Wood) and three others.

Answer: My Fair Lady

Audrey Hepburn was Eliza Doolittle, a flower seller on London's streets. All she dreamt of was working in a proper florist shop. She met Henry Higgins, a phonetics expert, who immediately told her where she was born and raised based on her accent. Henry Higgins made a bet with a friend that he could take Eliza, train her in the ways of the aristocracy and pass her off as a woman born in the highest echelons of society.

Nominated for 12 Oscars, "My Fair Lady" won eight. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Director (George Cukor), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Rex Harrison) and five others.

"My Fair Lady" was also nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Stanley Holloway), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Gladys Cooper), Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing.

Answer: Tom Jones

Set in England of the 1700s, "Tom Jones" was a film adaptation of Henry Fielding's novel of the same name. Tom was a foundling adopted by a local squire. When he fell in love with the girl next door he was disowned and headed to London to build a life.

"Tom Jones" won four of the nine Oscars for which it was nominated. The Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Director (Tony Richardson), Best Screenplay and Best Music.

It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Albert Finney), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hugh Griffith), three nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Diane Cilento, Edith Evans and Joyce Redman) and Best Art Direction.

Answer: Lawrence of Arabia

"Lawrence of Arabia" was the story of T.E. Lawrence's wartime exploits. Lawrence was a British soldier who entered the deserts of Arabia in an effort to unite Arab tribes and combat the enemy. Enduring many types of hardships, emotional and physical, he succeeded in uniting enemy factions to fight against the Ottoman Empire.

"Lawrence of Arabia" won seven of the 10 Oscars it was nominated for. Oscar wins were for Best Picture, Best Director (David Lean), Best Cinematography and four others.

It was also nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter O'Toole) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Omar Sharif).

Answer: West Side Story

"West Side Story" took place in New York City. Based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", it featured the Sharks and Jets, rival New York gangs, rather than the Montague and Capulet families. Juliet became Maria, sister to the Sharks' gang leader, and Tony was Romeo, leader of the Jets. They fall in love and fatal consequences ensue for some.

"West Side Story" won 10 Oscars and was nominated for another. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (George Chakiris), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Rita Moreno) and six more Oscars.

The eleventh Oscar for which "West Side Story" was nominated was Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Answer: The Apartment

Jack Lemmon worked for an insurance company and let his bosses use his apartment so they could meet their mistresses. Jack in return received good work performance reviews and promotions. He fell for Shirley MacLaine but then found out she was the mistress of one of his bosses. He wants it all... the girl, the apartment and the job promotions, but if he chose one he may lose another.

"The Apartment" won five of the 10 Oscars it was nominated for. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder), Best Screenplay and two others.

"The Apartment" was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Lemmon), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Kruschen), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Shirley MacLaine) and two others.