Death Cuts the Film Trivia Quiz

Answer: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" was groundbreaking because it concluded with the death of Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy. In order to give the space ship, the USS Enterprise, enough power to make it to warp speed, to escape the Genesis project going supernova, Spock enters the main reactor area of the engine room, exposing himself to deadly levels of radiation. Although Dr. McCoy tries to stop him, Spock merely mind-freezes McCoy, then transfers his memories to the unknowing Doctor.

At the end of the film, Spock's funeral is held, and his casket is jettisoned off of the Enterprise--only to land on the newly-formed Genesis planet. The next film, "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock", shows how Spock is regenerated on Genesis and McCoy, who holds Spock's memories, has to find Spock to reunite his two halves.

Released in 1982, "The Wrath of Khan" was hugely popular and starred William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and Ricardo Montalban as Khan.

Answer: Carousel

"Carousel" was based on Rodger and Hammerstein's play of the same name, and was made in 1945. It starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones.

MacRae plays Billy Bigelow, a carousel barker who is fired for his relationship with a mill worker named Julie. They marry, and Julie is expecting a baby, but Billy is so desperate for money that he agrees to join a robbery. During the robbery, things go wrong, and Billy is left to the police--only to accidentally fall on his own knife.

Fifteen years later, the dead Billy is allowed to return to Earth for a day to comfort his daughter, Louise, whose life is effected by his participation in the robbery. He secretly attends her high school graduation, making things right for Julie and Louise.

Answer: Gladiator

"Gladiator" tells the story of General Maximus Decimus Meridius, whom Emperor Marcus Aurelius wishes to succeed him, instead of the Emperor's own son, Commodus. Commodus, however, murders his father and sells Maximus into slavery, killing the General's family. Maximus is forced to work as a gladiator.

Near the end of the film, Commodus challenges Maximus to a public duel, but stabs Maximus in the lung beforehand. Nevertheless, the fight still goes on; Maximus, though injured, still manages to kill Commodus, but later dies himself.

"Gladiator" was released in 2000 and starred Russel Crowe as Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Russel Crowe).

Answer: Star Wars IV: A New Hope

"Star Wars IV: A New Hope", known at the time of release in 1977 simply as "Star Wars", starred Sir Alec Guinness, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. Guinness played Obi-Wan Kenobi, the last Jedi knight, who tutors the young Luke Skywalker.

While on the Death Star, the headquarters of the dreaded Imperial forces, Obi-Wan fights a duel with lightsabers, with the villain leader, Darth Vader. Letting himself lose, Obi-Wan is cut down by Vader, and mysteriously vanishes, leaving a pile of robes behind. This mystery is solved later in the series, when it is revealed that Jedi knights can leave behind their "force", which still retains powers.

Answer: Titanic

"Titanic" told the story of Rose DeWitt Bukater, a first-class passenger onboard the fated liner in 1917, and Jack Dawson, an artist in third class. The two fall in love during the course of the passage, but when the Titanic strikes an iceberg, all goes wrong. Jack is framed for having stolen a precious necklace, but the necklace is inadvertently given to Rose as the ship sinks. He also pushes her onto a raft, where she is later picked up by a searching ship; Jack, however, dies of cold shock in the water. Rose remembers Jack forever, and dreams of reuniting with him even into her old age.

"Titanic" starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. It won 11 Academy Awards, tying with the previous record-setter for the most awards, "Ben-Hur". Just as popular as the film was the theme from "Titanic", sung by Celine Dion, called "My Heart Will Go On".

Answer: Weekend at Bernie's

"Weekend at Bernie's" tells the story of two, broke, firm employees who are invited by their rich employer to his holiday home for a weekend--only to discover that their boss, Bernie, had ordered their assassination before being killed himself. The two employees, Larry and Richard, had discovered an insurance fraud, and, thinking that he was found out, Bernie had ordered their deaths. Larry and Richard, however, pretend that Bernie is still alive in order to remain alive themselves!

Starring Johnathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy, "Weekend at Bernie's" was released in 1989 and even boasted a sequel, "Weekend at Bernie's II", in 1993.

Answer: Moulin Rouge!

"Moulin Rouge!" tells the story of Satine, a courtesan and cabaret performer, and Cristian, a young writer. Christian wants to have his play used by the Moulin Rouge, a real-life cabaret, but there are difficulties, along the way and in their love. These difficulties include the Duke of Monroth, who finances the play.

Near the end of the film, however, Satine discovers that she has fatal consumption. Although she and Christian triumph over the Duke and embrace on stage, she collapses soon after. The film is told by Christian, who is writing it a year later, still grieving over Satine's death.

"Moulin Rouge!" starred Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor. Released in 2001, it won 2 Academy Awards, though it was nominated for 8, including Best Picture.

Answer: The Sons of Katie Elder

"The Sons of Katie Elder" starred John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, and Michael Anderson Jr. as the four sons who come back home to their mother's for her funeral. There is a mystery surrounding their father's earlier death, however, and the ownership of some property that had earlier belonged to him. Soon the Elder boys are framed for the murder of the likable local sheriff, and in the shootout that invariably ensues, the third son Matt (Holliman) dies, while the youngest, Bud (Anderson Jr.) is wounded. Other than Matt's death, the film ends happily for the heroes, with Bud on the mend and the villains dead or arrested.

"The Sons of Katie Elder" was released in 1965. It was loosely based on real events that occurred in 1888 when the five Marlow brothers were accused falsely of stealing horses (although one of the brothers had killed a man earlier, in self-defense). Three of the brothers were shot during the ensuing events and the last two were acquitted at trial. The 2005 movie "Four Brothers" was based on this film.

Answer: A Star Is Born

"A Star Is Born" has been made into a film four times: in 1937, it starred Janet Gaynor and Frederick March; in 1954, it starred Judy Garland and James Mason; in 1978, it starred Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson; in 2018, it starred Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

No matter the adaption, however, "A Star Is Born" has always had a similar story line. It tells of a successful musician who is near the end of his career and losing popularity, and a near-unknown girl who is gaining success in the music business. His alcoholism is ruining both his own life and everyone else's, however, and so he kills himself. A sad end to a sad tale.

The four adaptions were all nominated for Academy Awards, the 1937 version winning 2, the 1978 version winning 1, and the 2018 version winning 1. The 1954 version, however, is considered by many to be the most popular.

Answer: Ben-Hur

"Ben-Hur" is the story of a wealthy Jewish man who is sold into slavery. Near the end of the film, while seeking help for his leprous mother and sister, he encounters the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The film follows the Biblical theory that Jesus died for everyone that death might hold no more power over anyone. Interestingly, Jesus' face is never seen in the film; this was done on purpose, that there might be no depiction of someone whom many consider to be the Son of God.

"Ben-Hur" was released in 1959 and starred Charlton Heston as the title character (Claude Heater, an opera singer, was an uncredited Jesus). It went on to win 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, which was a new record at the time.