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Gunga Din Trivia Quiz

'Gunga Din' is a great adventure film from the classic era of Hollywood (1939). This quiz covers the basics from this seminal film of the action genre. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
228,673

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
633

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'Gunga Din' is an exciting early adventure film that set the precedent for big-budget action movies of the future. Upon whose written work was this 1939 film based? Hint

Kipling

Melville

Poe

Defoe

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. 'Gunga Din' is the story of three swashbuckling British soldiers who are on active duty in India. Let's begin with Archibald Cutter. Who plays the role of the funloving but money hungry Cutter? Hint

Jimmy Stewart

Charles Laughton

Clark Gable

Cary Grant

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Scottish Sgt. 'Mac' MacChesney is our second hero. Which Academy Award winner played the role of MacChesney in 'Gunga Din'? Hint

Charles Coburn

Donald Crisp

Victor McLaglen

Walter Brennan

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which son of Hollywood royalty took on the role of soldier and lover Sgt. Thomas 'Tommy' Ballantine in this film? Hint

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Lon Chaney, Jr.

Tyrone Power, Jr.

David Carradine, Jr.

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In this film, the three heroes often find themselves up against hordes of murderous Indian natives. What is the name of the deadly cult to which these dangerous individuals belong? Hint

Santero

Cargo

Thuggee

Macumba

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The actor who portrays the title role of Gunga Din in the film was a native of India.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In 'Gunga Din', Joan Fontaine plays the role of 'Emmy' Stebbins, a beautiful young woman who is going to be married to which of the lead characters? Hint

MacChesney

None of them

Cutter

Ballantine

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What is the name of the name of the sergeant who is to replace Ballantine, whose time is short in the military? Hint

Higginbotham

Farnsworth

Montagu

Sheffield

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Why do Cutter and Gunga Din first go to the palace of the Guru (the main 'bad guy'), setting up an eventual final confrontation? Hint

Cutter is spying on the Guru

Cutter is looking for gold

Cutter wants to personally apprehend the Guru

Cutter wants revenge because the Guru killed his elephant

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. MacChesney, Ballantine and Cutter survive at the end of the film, but Gunga Din has been killed in battle.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Gunga Din' is an exciting early adventure film that set the precedent for big-budget action movies of the future. Upon whose written work was this 1939 film based?

Answer: Kipling

The 1892 poem by Kipling (and the movie) both have the unusual distinction of being praiseworthy and demeaning towards British colonials. Setting that fact aside, one can still enjoy the beauty of Kipling's work (and the entertainment factor of the film) within its historical context.

Answer: Cary Grant

Cary Grant plays his role as if he were doing a screwball comedy, which helps add an element of comedy to this film that is otherwise an action-fest. Interestingly, Cary Grant's real name was Archibald Leach.

3. Scottish Sgt. 'Mac' MacChesney is our second hero. Which Academy Award winner played the role of MacChesney in 'Gunga Din'?

Answer: Victor McLaglen

Victor McLaglen, whom you may recognize from such films as 'Fort Apache' and 'The Quiet Man', won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the 1935 film 'The Informer'.

4. Which son of Hollywood royalty took on the role of soldier and lover Sgt. Thomas 'Tommy' Ballantine in this film?

Answer: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was the son of Douglas Fairbanks, one of the biggest silent screen stars. He appeared in such films as 'Little Caesar' and 'The Prisoner of Zenda'.

5. In this film, the three heroes often find themselves up against hordes of murderous Indian natives. What is the name of the deadly cult to which these dangerous individuals belong?

Answer: Thuggee

The Thuggees were worshippers of Kali, a Hindu goddess often associated with death and destruction. The Thuggees often did battle with British colonial forces until the destruction of the cult in the 19th century.

6. The actor who portrays the title role of Gunga Din in the film was a native of India.

Answer: False

As a matter of fact, Sam Jaffe, who portrayed Gunga Din, was an American actor in body paint. Nonetheless, Jaffe's performance as Gunga Din is quite excellent, especially his facial expressions. Jaffe also appeared in movies like 'Gentleman's Agreement', 'The Asphalt Jungle' and 'Ben Hur'.

7. In 'Gunga Din', Joan Fontaine plays the role of 'Emmy' Stebbins, a beautiful young woman who is going to be married to which of the lead characters?

Answer: Ballantine

Joan Fontaine would later go on to star in the Hitchcock films 'Rebecca' and 'Suspicion', being nominated for Academy Awards for both performances. She won an Oscar for 'Suspicion', the only actor or actress to do so in a Hitchcock movie.

8. What is the name of the name of the sergeant who is to replace Ballantine, whose time is short in the military?

Answer: Higginbotham

Robert Coote plays Sgt. Bertie Higginbotham in the film. He falls victim to a ridiculous prank when Cutter and MacChesney drug him (using elephant medicine!) in order to force Ballantine back into service.

9. Why do Cutter and Gunga Din first go to the palace of the Guru (the main 'bad guy'), setting up an eventual final confrontation?

Answer: Cutter is looking for gold

There is nothing noble here. Cutter is merely gold hungry and this leads him to the Guru's palace where there is rumored to be a great deal of gold. Eventually, Cutter does find gold at the palace, but at the cost of Gunga Din's life (though the Guru's army is routed in the process).

10. MacChesney, Ballantine and Cutter survive at the end of the film, but Gunga Din has been killed in battle.

Answer: True

Indeed, poor Gunga Din is bayoneted by soldiers. This does not stop him from climbing atop the palace to warn Scottish troops who are coming to save the three sergeants. After blowing a horn at the top of the palace, Gunga Din is shot down. The Kipling poem, including the line, 'You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din' is read at his funeral.

Thank you for playing, I hope you have enjoyed this quiz.

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

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