Popcorn Crunchers, Reel 112 Trivia Quiz

Answer: a crawl

"Forbidden Planet" was not the first motion picture to use an opening crawl. Both the Flash Gordon and the Buck Rogers serials of the 1930s used opening crawls to bring theatregoers up-to-date on their continuing stories. George Lucas adapted these scrolls to all of the numbered films in his "Star Wars" series. Cecil B. DeMille used a credits crawl superimposed over railroad tracks over which the camera appears to be rushing in "Union Pacific" (1939). "Forbidden Planet" (1956) imitated all of these earlier usages.

In Mel Brooks' whacky spoof of "Star Wars" films, "Spaceballs" (1987) used a crawl disappearing into infinity which ended with the tiny text "If you can read this, you don't need glasses."

Answer: Dracula's Revenge

Hammer Films "Dracula" (1958) was based on Bram Stoker's 1897 novel adapted by screenwriter Jimmy Sangster. This film was released in the United States as "Horror of Dracula" (1958). The screenplay for "The Return of Dracula" (1958) was a sort of continuation of the basic story by Pat Fielder in which the undead count comes to the U.S. When this film was released to U.S. television, it was renamed "Curse of Dracula."

A two-team board game called "Dracula's Revenge" was developed by Human Head Studios, Madison, Wisconsin (now defunct) and published by Green Ronin Publishing, Seattle, Washington, in 2004. A video game called "Toziuha Night: Dracula's Revenge" was developed and published by Danny Garay in 2022. "Dracula's Revenge" is a traveling art gallery, in and around New York City, showing particularly the work of Sidony O'Neal and Nicholas Hatfull. A recipe for "Dracula's Revenge" (baked penne pasta with sausage and lots of garlic) was published by "Cooking Light" Magazine in October of 2000. Gary Morecambe (son of the English comedian) wrote a series of three juvenile novels, the third of which was "Dracula's Revenge" (Scholastic, 2003). The irrepressible Donald F. Glut wrote, produced, directed and played the part of the vampire (despite the visible braces on his teeth) a six-minute short movie called "The Revenge of Dracula" in 1958. Glut made 41 amateur movies between 1953 and 1969, most of them involving Frankenstein's monster, dinosaurs, flying saucers, Superman, Dracula, and Spider-Man.

Answer: a huge telepathic homicidal bird-beast

When Major John Corcoran, played by Michael Emmet, returns to Earth in his spacecraft X-100, an alien hitches a ride with him. This creature has apparently inserted eggs of his species into the astronaut. The large creature, played by Ross Sturlin, seems immune to gunshot wounds.

It maintains a telepathic connection with Major Corcoran. The creature eats the brain of scientist Dr. Alex Wyman, played by Tyler McVey. It thereby acquires all of Wyman's knowledge and the ability to speak in his voice.

The creature appears to be afraid of fire.

Answer: Bela Lugosi

"The Black Sleep" was Bela Lugosi's last complete role. Lugosi died in 1956. Some scenes including Lugosi, which were shot before his death, were included in "Plan 9 from Outer Space" which was completed in 1957 and released in 1959. Lugosi was unhappy with his speechless role in "The Black Sleep" and asked director Reginald Le Borg to give him some lines. Le Borg shot some scenes in which Casimir spoke but these were not used in the finished film.

Answer: they were not

The Pairan's mission to Earth was a peaceful one to warn the Earth of the approach of a killer planet. Despite great difficulty in communicating with humans and great difficulty in persuading humans of the threat, they persevered. In the end, disaster was avoided and the Pairans departed the Earth with the gratitude of humankind.

Answer: Yes

Roger Corman's first attempt at a combination of black comedy and science fiction-horror was "A Bucket of Blood" (1959). Corman, a bit surprised, declared that "It worked well." He then shot "The Little Shop of Horrors" (1960) using the same sets as were used in "A Bucket of Blood." His third comedic film was "Creature from the Haunted Sea" (1961) which was a send-up of the entire monster-movie genre.

Answer: one small town

The noun "Earth" must be used metaphorically in the title "Earth vs. the Spider." The entirety of the planet is not involved in (nor even necessarily aware of) the threat posed by the huge tarantula. There is no indication that the continent or the nation is involved in the battle.

The whole conflict occurs between the people of one small town and the over-size arachnid. One small town is a bit smaller than "Earth" but the global title sounds ever so much more dramatic.

Answer: acting

Patricia Neal (1926-2010) won numerous awards for her acting: an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and two British Film Academy Awards. She was not a common cast member in horror nor science fiction films but did appear memorably opposite Michael Rennie in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) and in a somewhat echoic role in "Stranger from Venus" (1954). Later in her career, she also appeared in "Ghost Story" (1981) with Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and John Houseman, which must have been fun.

Answer: a military base on the California Pacific coast

Dave and Anne Brewster, with their pre-teen sons Bud and Ken, are driving down the California coast from San Francisco. Dave has been transferred to a secret seaside military base at Eagle Point. [There is no Eagle Point on the California Pacific Coast.

There is an Eagle Point which thrusts out into Big Bear Lake in the California mountains.] The civilian engineers brought there will work on the Eagle Point Missile Project; their families will live in a small trailer park inside the base. The exteriors were shot at Point Dume [a real Southern California location which features a large beach and rocky coves, backed up against rocky cliffs and headlands].

Answer: English-language narration throughout

American actor David Vaile (1913-1982) narrated "Prehistoric Women" in English. The narration is continuous, a sort of running commentary. Vaile describes the action (which is sometimes difficult to follow) and translates the primitive cave-person language used by the characters.