On Location in Africa Trivia Quiz

Answer: Zulu

As the question indicates this film re-enacts the battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. What the question doesn't show was that this encounter pitted 150 British soldiers, 30 of whom were sick or wounded against 4,000 Zulu warriors. Set against the backdrop of the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, the tense and gripping battle occupies the entire second half of the film.

The film was a coup for Stanley Baker, who produced and starred in it, after being approached by script-writer Cy Endfield. It became the biggest selling film in Britain in 1964 and would remain on the cinema circuit for 12 years before making its first appearance on television. The film also marked the first major role for Michael Caine in a feature film. Interestingly, the role of the Zulu King Cetshwayo kaMpande, was played by that person's great-grandson Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who would go on to become the Minister for Home Affairs in South Africa thirty years later.

Whilst the film's action scenes received high praise, criticism was leveled at a number of historical inaccuracies, in particular the portrayal of Private Henry Hook VC. Brought to life on the screen by James Booth he is shown as a thief and a coward, with a thirst for the stronger drink. In truth he was both a teetotaller and a model soldier.

This question was shot by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who managed to click with the subject matter despite not being able to speak Zulu.

Answer: Tears of the Sun

"Tears of the Sun" tells the fictitious story of a US Navy SEAL team sent in to rescue an American doctor from approaching rebels during the Nigerian Civil War. Willis not only starred in the movie but he also was a producer on it. The film is noted for using actual African refugees in the cast, including some Sudanese Lost Boys. Harry Humphries, a former US Navy SEAL served as a technical advisor on the film as he did on "Black Hawk Down".

The film looks at the toll of a civil war and the barbarity that can ensue from it. The SEALs are forced to make choices along the way as to when they should intervene and what they will do. The movie ends with the quote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Critics did not receive the film kindly seeing it as just another action flick but audiences rated it well.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619 who admires those who risk everything to do the right thing, even in a movie.

Answer: Black Girl

Released in 1966 and often called a sub-Saharan film, "Black Girl" was Ousmane Sembene's first feature film. Mbissine Therese Diop gives a stunning performance as Gomis Diouana, a Senegalese lass who moves to France where she believes she will be employed as a nanny. Instead, she is abused, forced into the role of a servant and alienated to the point that she questions her original decision. This all leads to rebellion and her eventual suicide.

The movie switches between Paris (the present) and Senegal, where we explore Diouana's former life. This allows Sembene to contrast opulence against a lack of resources, privilege versus values and crowded streets against glorious plains. The film also examines racism, colonialism, and works in the theme that money doesn't buy happiness.

The film would win the 1966 Prix Jean Vigo, a French Cinema award, for best feature film.

This question was scripted by Phoenix Rising's most loyal servant pollucci19.

Answer: The English Patient

"The English Patient" starred Ralph Fiennes as the titular character and Juliette Binoche as the nurse caring for him at an abandoned Italian monastery towards the end of the Second World War. Although apparently suffering amnesia, he begins to recall his past and his history is revealed through a series of flashbacks. These remembered scenes include his work as a cartographer exploring Egypt and Libya, his doomed love affair with a married Englishwoman (Kristin Scott Thomas) and the archaeological expedition he joined to find the famed Cave of Swimmers and its ancient Neolithic paintings and drawings.

The film's plot is based on a novel by Michael Ondaatje and the patient's story is a highly fictionalised account of the life of the Polish explorer Laszlo Almasy. However, the Cave of Swimmers is a real-life site, actually located on the Gilf Kebir plateau in southwest Egypt.

"The English Patient" won nine Academy Awards in 1997, including Best Director for Anthony Minghella and Best Supporting Actress for Juliette Binoche. Both Fiennes and Scott Thomas were nominated in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories.

Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81 finally remembered she had to write this question.

Answer: Blood Diamond

Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in war zones and used to finance the activities of the warlords.

As mentioned in the question, the timeline for this film is the Sierra Leone Civil War, which had, to this point, had been raging for almost a decade. The film begins with Solomon Vandy, a fisherman trying hard to get his son into higher learning. He is kidnapped by rebels and forced to work in the diamond mines. He discovers a huge pink diamond but before his commandant can snatch it from him the mine is attacked by rebels. Both Solomon and his commandant are taken and thrown in prison. In jail, the commandant reveals the news of the diamond find and this finds its way to Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) a mercenary diamond smuggler. He also gets word that Solomon's family has been captured, sweet talks a release for both Solomon and himself and then teams up with him to locate both the diamond and Solomon's family.

Director Edward Zwick keeps a tight rein on the action but the biggest kudos go to cinematographer Eduardo Serra who doesn't allow an opportunity to showcase some spectacular African landscapes to go by. The film was nominated for five Oscars, including one for DiCaprio for Best Actor.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who advises that you shouldn't buy diamonds on St. Patrick's Day, for fear you may end up with a sham rock.

Answer: Black Hawk Down

"Black Hawk Down" is a film adaptation of the non-fiction book of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden that tells the story of the ill-fated 1993 US military raid in Mogadishu to capture the Warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The film was noted for its realism and unflinching look at combat and what soldiers go through. It was criticized for its portrayal of the Somalis.

The film starred an ensemble cast that included both Josh Hartnett & Eric Bana along with Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Jason Isaacs, Sam Shepard, Jeremy Piven, and Tom Hardy in his first major role. Orlando Bloom, Ty Burrell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are featured in minor roles. The film was produced and directed by Ridley Scott and co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

This question was flown into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member and helicopter pilot (I wish) tazman6619.

Answer: The Gods Must be Crazy

Sandra Prinsloo is Kate Thompson, a disillusioned journalist, who throws in her job to be the school-teacher at a remote African village. She is to be collected at the bus-stop, and taken to the village by a scientist named Andrew Steyn (Marius Weyers). Steyn, in the presence of women, tends to lose his cool and becomes a clumsy oaf. This makes all his attempts at his routine tasks appear like an awkward and heavy handed advance on the school-teacher, which certainly does not endear him to her.

A band of guerrillas that is on the run after a failed assassination attempt in Botswana, kidnaps Kate and her class. Steyn plays a leading hand in rescuing her. Joining these threads is the story of a Bushman whose tribe is presented with a Coca-Cola bottle that they think is, at first, a gift from the gods but it turns out to be a curse. The Bushman has the task of taking it to the edge of world and disposing of it. Along the way he encounters the other characters and has a profound effect on their lives.

Created by Jamie Uys, who became enamoured with the Kalahari Bushmen when making the 1974 documentary film "Animals Are Beautiful People", the film was a surprise hit on its release in 1980. At times appearing to be a documentary and showcasing some of the most stunning African landscapes, it is an endearing film that famed American film critic, Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times", described as "a nice little treasure".

This question was scripted by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who definitely is not a god but he sure is crazy.

Answer: Babel

"Babel" (2006) is a series of four interwoven stories that take place in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. At first it appears these are four separate stories but, it is eventually revealed, that they all are linked by a single rifle.

"Babel" is a network narrative, where its characters are found in vastly different parts of the globe. There are a large number of protagonists all equally important. The payoff is that we find out what connects all the characters which does not happen until the final act. In short the movie opens in Morocco where Abdullah gives a rifle to his two sons to shoot jackals preying on his goat herd. One of his sons accidentally shoots a tourist bus which injures American Susan (Cate Blanchett). Because Susan and her husband Richard (Brad Pitt), must stay in Morocco for treatment Richard rings his children's nanny and asks her to extend looking after his two children until he and his wife can get back. Amelia the Nanny, fearing she will miss her son's wedding in Mexico, takes the children into Mexico with her, with disastrous consequences. Meanwhile in Japan, we see the story of Cheiko a deaf, non-verbal teenager who has a series of bad outcomes following her unconventional behaviour. She tries to seduce a detective who comes to her apartment she shares with her father. Her mother had shot herself. We find out that the rifle was used on a hunting trip and given to his guide in Morocco who consequently sold it to his neighbour Abdullah.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's 1nn1 who thoroughly enjoyed this movie.

Answer: Raiders of the Lost Ark

In "Raiders of the Lost Ark", Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) ends up in Egypt infiltrating a Nazi archeological dig in an attempt to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do. He is successful but the Nazis discover him before he can escape with the Ark.

"Raiders" was directed by Steven Spielberg and is based on a story by George Lucas. It was the first collaboration between the two friends. The movie would spawn a franchise that included 3 more sequels with a fifth and final sequel due in 2023. The movie has become a cultural phenomenon and inspired many other filmmakers in both style and genre.

Two of Harrison Ford's most iconic characters have come from the mind of George Lucas, Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Lucas first used Ford in his debut movie "American Graffiti".

This question was whipped into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619.

Answer: Out of Africa

This film follows the life of Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) who marries the aristocrat, Bror Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer) and is enticed by him to Africa to set up a coffee plantation. In Karen's eyes, the plantation does little but chew up Bror's fortune, who compounds the situation by being unfaithful to her. Karen meets and falls for a hunter, Denys, played by Robert Redford, and the pair have their own little affair. Add to this an endeavour by Karen to school the natives, a war, and the contraction of venereal disease from her husband, Karen ends up with her hands full. These events, ultimately, lead to Karen to having to make a choice.

Released in 1985, the film was both a box office and a critical success with critic Roger Ebert describing it as "one of the great recent epic romances". Nominated for eleven Academy Awards, it would walk away with seven trophies, including one for Best Picture. Left with such a glorious backdrop as the Ngong Hills in Kenya, it was little wonder that David Watkin walked away with the gong for Best Cinematography.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who is not out of Africa... we just wish he was out of here.

Answer: Gorillas in the Mist

"Gorillas in the Mist" (1988) is a film adaptation of the true story of American naturalist Dian Fossey, who studied mountain gorillas in Africa and promoted their conservation. The movie begins with Fossey earnestly requesting famed primatologist Louis Leakey for a job to study these mountain gorillas. Leakey agrees and the pair set off for the Congo where Fossey locates a troop of the creatures. The Congo Crisis threatens to force Fossey out of the country, but she is persuaded by friends to stay on in Africa instead of returning to the United States. Fossey decides to begin her research efforts anew in neighbouring Rwanda and she makes great leaps in her study of the great apes there, which garners her international recognition. However, it is also apparent that the gorillas face threats from poachers. Appalled and saddened by the poachers' brutality, Fossey organises and takes counter measures against the poachers. This earns her the poachers' enmity and she is found murdered by an unidentified assailant. The movie ends by crediting Fossey for saving the mountain gorillas from extinction even though her murder remains unsolved.

"Gorillas in the Mist" was well received by critics and viewers, and it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including a Best Actress nomination for Sigourney Weaver (as Dian Fossey). The film also won Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama, and Best Original Score - Motion Picture.

This question was studied from all angles by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing.

Answer: The Flight of the Phoenix

Well, in a quiz by Phoenix Rising you'd hope that a plane that had crashed in the Saraha desert with an airplane designer onboard could rise from the ashes - before the passengers ran out of supplies.

The cast included James Stewart, Ernest Borgnine, Peter Finch, George Kennedy, and Sir Richard Attenborough, all Oscar winners. Pilot Frank Towns was played by James Stewart, who in real life was a very experienced pilot due to his service in World War 2. Captain Harris, played by Peter Finch, set off in search of an oasis, but he was unsuccessful and returned to the wreckage, nearly spent. It was Hardy Kruger as Heinrich Dorfmann who suggested that the plane's parts be repurposed; though the rest of them later find his expertise was with models rather than full-sized planes! The cartridges used to fire the engine were running out before it finally ignited and they took off, finding an oasis with a manned oil rig where they landed successfully, completing their deliverance.

This 1965 film was produced and directed by Robert Aldrich; sadly, stuntman Paul Mantz was killed during the film when the plane was landing.

This question was in a holding pattern for a long time, thanks to Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.

Answer: Khartoum

"Khartoum" is a 1966 film directed by Basil Dearden that tells the story of the ill-fated attempt by General Charles Gordon (Charlton Heston) to prevent rebel Sudanese forces led by the Mahdi (Laurence Olivier) from capturing the country's capital city, Khartoum. In the movie, Gordon accepts a mission from the British government to help evacuate the city's garrison and civilian population following a series of military successes for the Mahdi against the Egyptian forces who held effective control over Sudan at that time. He later discovers that the Mahdi plans to massacre the city's residents, so rather than organising an evacuation as planned, he begins fortifying Khartoum and plans to lead the city's defence instead. While his efforts succeed for a short while, Gordon and the city end up surrounded and besieged by the Mahdi's forces and are eventually overrun and slaughtered just days before the arrival of reinforcements in the form of British troops.

While the film was lauded as a historical epic and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, its plot deviates somewhat from the real and complicated history of the period. It has also become somewhat controversial for Olivier's portrayal of the Mahdi with blackface makeup.

This question was scripted by Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81.

Answer: The Desert Rats

"The Desert Rats" was released in 1953 and was based on the Siege of Tobruk during World War II. The film explored the exploits of the Australian 9th Division which held out in Tobruk for eight months when they only hoped to hold out for two. Burton portrays a fictional British captain named "Tammy" MacRoberts who leads the Australian troops. James Mason plays the role of German General Erwin Rommel, a role he had played two years earlier in "The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel". This movie was seen as a quasi-sequel to that movie.

The name 'Desert Rats' was a misnomer since the British 7th Armored Division held that nickname. The actual soldiers of Australian 9th Division were known as the 'Rats of Tobruk' after the Germans said they were caught like rats in a trap. The name became a source of pride within the unit.

This question was entered into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619 who does not suffer from musophobia but he does not like rats either.

Answer: Shout at the Devil

Flynn O'Flynn (Lee Marvin) is a notorious ivory poacher who manages to con Sebastian Oldsmith (Roger Moore) into joining him on a poaching venture. It takes the pair from Zanzibar into German East Africa. Flynn does not get on well with the Germans who, led by Herman Fleischer (Rene Kolldehoff), use a warship to sink Flynn's boatload of ivory. Retreating, the pair spend some time at Flynn's house recovering. Oldsmith falls for and marries Flynn's daughter and the pair have a little girl before embarking on a series of raids to disrupt and deprive the Germans. Things get out of hand and then they get nasty when the Germans kill Oldsmith's baby girl. The pair are now determined to sink that German warship.

This 1976 film was based on a Wilbur Smith novel of the same name that was published in 1968. The story appears to be loosely based on the events that surrounded the scuttling of the SMS Konigsberg in the Rufiji Delta (German East Africa) in 1915.

When Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 was asked why he wished to write this question he replied that "he enjoyed the exorcise".