Kind Hearts and Coronets Online Trivia | Kind Hearts and Coronets

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The plot of 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' revolves around the story of Louis, an obscure member of a distinguished noble family in England. Louis feels cheated out of his birthright because his mother was banished from the family after marrying an Italian opera singer. What is the surname of this Italian tenor whose name is consequently passed to Louis?

Answer: Mazzini

At Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini's birth, his father passes away, leaving the baby and his widowed mother impoverished. Already banished from the rest of the D'Ascoyne family, the mother is forced to take in a lodger, and Louis is forced get a 'job' when he comes of age. Humiliated at the concept of being a pariah, he formulates a revenge plot!

2. What distinguished British actor not only plays Louis, but also his father, the Italian opera singer?

Answer: Dennis Price

Though perhaps overshadowed by the amazing performances of Alec Guiness, Price's work in this film should not be underestimated. Dennis Price is a veteran of a number of classic British films, including 'A Place of One's Own' (1945), 'The Magic Bow' (1946) and 'Caravan' (1946). He also appeared in one of my very favorites (besides 'Kind Hearts and Coronets', of course), called
'Tunes of Glory' (1960).

3. As Louis is growing up, he meets one of the loves of his life, played as an adult by the gorgeous and sultry actress Joan Greenwood. What is the name of this girl who provides Louis with equal parts rapture and frustration?

Answer: Sibella

Sibella is wickedly cruel to Louis, suggesting she will only marry him if he secures himself a reliable fortune. This is part of Louis's motivation for his various murder plots.

A word about Joan Greenwood. I absolutely adore her as an actress. Please check out some of the great films in which she appeared, including: 'Whisky Galore!' (1949), 'The Man in the White Suit' (1951) and 'The Importance of Being Earnest' (1952). I promise, you won't regret it!

4. In order to gain what Louis considers to be his rightful honor, the coveted position of Duke of Chalfont, and in order to exact revenge on his heartless family, he conspires to murder each person who stands between himself and the hereditary title. What obviously versatile actor has the amazing distinction of playing a total of eight characters in this film?

Answer: Alec Guinness

Alec Guinness is absolutely stunning in the film, and his performances in this film predate similar performances by Peter Sellers by at least a decade. Guinness plays the current Duke of Chalfont, several of his siblings, namely the timid banker, the witless parson, the bellicose general, the misguided admiral and the suffragette, Lady Agatha, and two nephews, the bumbling Henry and the banker's haughty son, young Ascoyne D'Ascoyne. You have to see it to believe it!

5. Who is the first victim of Louis in his murder rampage through the D'Ascoyne family?

Answer: Young Ascoyne

Louis hatches his plan to kill young Ascoyne after the latter treats him with great pomposity. Meeting Ascoyne at the Cruikshanks resort in Maidenhead, Louis does away with Ascoyne and his lady by releasing their boat over a waterfall.

6. Which of Louis's victims is done away with after Louis switches petrol for paraffin in a photographic darkroom?

Answer: Henry

Poor young Henry, he is blissfully unaware of the fate that awaits him when he returns to his photographic darkroom while Louis spends time with his wife. Following Henry's 'accident', Louis consoles Henry's widow (played by Valerie Hobson), eventually inducing her to marry him.

7. Henry's wife Edith is the character who recites the poetic lines from whence comes the title of the film. From what poet's work comes the phrase 'Kind Hearts and Coronets'?

Answer: Tennyson

Specifically, the line from Tennyson's 1842 poem 'Lady Clara Vere de Vere' goes thusly: 'Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood.' I'll allow you to interpret it in your own personal manner.

8. Which of the D'Ascoyne family succumbs to the terrible fate of being downed in a hot air balloon by a well-placed arrow?

Answer: Lady Agatha

Lady Agatha is the only non-speaking part for Alec Guinness, for obvious reasons. The most socially active of the family, she goes up in a hot air balloon for her the cause of women's liberation, but finds herself liberated from life via a deadly arrow fired by Louis.

9. What luxury food is associated with the death of General Lord Rufus, brother of the current Duke?

Answer: Caviar

In the least subtle of Louis's murder methods, a caviar bomb is devised to do away with the General. As Louis suggests, using the old French proverb, 'Revenge is a dish best served cold'.

10. Whose is the last death of the family, paving the way for Louis to become the 9th Duke of Chalfont?

Answer: The Banker

After having killed young D'Ascoyne, Henry, the Parson (by poisoning), Lady Agatha, and General Lord Rufus (the Admiral dying in a naval accident not involving Louis's machinations), Louis finally goes after his heartless uncle, the Duke of Chalfont. He kills him with a shotgun after the Duke is captured in a mantrap set by his own servants. Louis's banker uncle then dies a natural death, allowing Duke to take his seat in the House of Lords.

I hope you have enjoyed this quiz, thanks for playing!

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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Kind Hearts and Coronets Trivia Quiz

'Kind Hearts and Coronets' is a classic 1949 comedy from Ealing Studios in the UK. Enjoy this quiz on one of the all-time greatest comedy films!

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