Popcorn Crunchers, Reel 121 Trivia Quiz

Answer: loss of blood

The night nurse working at the New Mexico State Blood Bank in Alameda is brutally murdered and her blood removed through a slash in her neck. Much of the sanguineous fluid stored in the bank is missing and was apparently consumed. That same night, a number of cows were killed and they bled out through throat wounds. Both the nurse and the cows show similar shiny specks around their wounds.

This shiny stuff is also found on the blood bank door. These deaths by exsanguination are predictive of three more killings, two of them of pursuing police officers.

Answer: The Haunted Manor

In "Beast from Haunted Cave" (1959), a large spider-like monster, enjoys eating bank robbers. In "House on Haunted Hill" (1959), Vincent Price's character is as creepy as the mansion to which his guests are invited. "Terror in the Haunted House" (1958) used subliminal on-screen messages in an attempt to amplify the shock and horror of the film.

In 1849, William Holman Hunt painted "The Haunted Manor" in oils. In 1861, Polish composer Stanisław Moniuszko wrote the four-act opera "Straszny dwór" ("The Haunted Manor"). In 1916, Mutual Film Company released a silent motion picture titled "The Haunted Manor" which was set in India. Shéa MacLeod wrote "Lady Rample and the Haunted Manor" (2019). BuildMoc (a company something like LEGO) produced a 3961-piece building set called "The Haunted Manor" in 2022. It does not appear that a science-fiction and/or horror movie named "The Haunted Manor" was made in the 1950s.

Answer: small, aged humanoids with oddly-shaped hats

When the aliens first exit their flying saucer, they are all clad in what appears to be body armour, crowned with helmets that look like Rick Moranis' headgear when he played Dark Helmet in "Spaceballs" (1987). When one is killed and the corpse examined, the scientists discover that the body is withered, extremely aged, and weak. Apparently the suit keeps them alive, makes them stronger and amplifies their senses.

The scientists conclude that the protective garment is made of "solidified electricity". Shortly after the armour is removed, the corpse rots and disintegrates into dust.

Answer: Hugh Beaumont

Hugh Beaumont was perhaps best known for his role as Ward Cleaver, father of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, in the television series "Leave it to Beaver" (1957-1963). In "Lost Continent", Beaumont plays Doctor Robert Phillips, identified as a scientist who is a Geiger counter expert. Three scientific experts who helped create the atomic rocket accompany the military to the uncharted island.

While there, Phillips stumbles and has to climb a tree to escape a Brontosaurus. (Exactly why he would need to escape a Brontosaurus, a herbivore, is unclear.)

Answer: the tribe's native king/ruler

The group are surrounded, captured and brought to the village of the natives on the island. The native chief/ruler explains to them that he led a small group of his people to this island 50 years before to escape white men and their so-called civilisation.

They see a shrine in which four voodoo dolls with pins through their hearts or heads represent the first party of four men who disappeared when sent to explore the island. The "Native Chief" was played by Friedrich von Ledebur, a six foot seven inch tall Austrian who often played roles outside his own race, e.g. Queequeg in "Moby Dick" (1956).

Answer: Saturn Awards

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films was founded in 1972 by Dr. Donald A. Reed (1935-2001). Its creation was a reaction to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' consistent overlooking of horror and science fiction films. ASFFHF was founded to present Saturn Awards to films, producers, directors, writers, and technical artists in these genres.

Winners have included Ann Robinson, Bud Abbott, Elsa Lanchester, Herman Cohen, Jack Arnold, John Agar, Lon Chaney Jr., Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, Reginald Le Borg, Roger Corman, Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Mel Brooks, Guillermo del Toro, J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, and Wes Craven.

Examples of films which have won best picture include "Soylent Green" (1973), "The Exorcist" (1973), "Young Frankenstein" (1974), "Logan's Run" (1976), "Alien" (1979), "The Howling" (1981), "An American Werewolf in London" (1981), "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982), "Gremlins" (1984), "The Lost Boys" (1987), and "Total Recall" (1990).

Answer: She awakens and falls into Ronald's arms.

Ronald and Elga, who have confessed their love for each other, are given a drug by Dr. Meissen which causes them to appear to be dead for a short time. Count von Bruno orders them placed in coffins and buried alive. Fender releases Ronald from his coffin. Ronald shoots von Bruno. He then tenderly awakens Elga and takes her in his arms.

Answer: acting

Leo McKern (1920-2002) was born in Australia but worked extensively on stage, television and in motion pictures in the the United States and the United Kingdom, as well. He was particularly well known for playing Thomas Cromwell in "A Man for All Seasons" (1966).

His performance as barrister Horace Rumpole on the British TV series "Rumpole of the Bailey" led to great popularity. His science fiction and horror films included "X the Unknown" (1956), "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" (1961), "The Omen" (1976), and "Damien: Omen II" (1978).

Answer: Linda Rosa, California

The setting of H.G. Wells' novel was Victorian England. Producer George Pal rejected the idea of an Anglian setting both to reduce costs and to make the film more accessible to American audiences. In the 1953 film, the Martians land in Linda Rosa, California.

This fictional location was doubled by Corona, California. The culminating church scene was shot at St. Brendan's Roman Catholic Church, at 310 South Van Ness Avenue in Los Angeles. Orson Welles' Mercury Theater on the Air production, aired 30 October 1938, was set in Grover's Mill, New Jersey. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) was set in Washington, D.C.; "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (2008) was set in New York City.

Answer: There is room for unresolvable debate.

Horace wrote (perhaps not for the first time), "De gustibus non disputandum est". This means "In matters of taste, there can be no disputes". This aphorism applies as well to the assigning of genres to movies. About genres and subgenres of film, there is no point in arguing. One classification is not necessarily better nor worse than another.

There have been many motion pictures made which are both comedies and science fiction films: "Spaceballs" (1987), "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" (1988), "Mars Attacks!" (1996), "Galaxy Quest" (1999), "Iron Sky" (2012), and "They Cloned Tyrone" (2023).

There have been many motion pictures made which are both comedies and horror films: "The Fearless Vampire Killers" (1967), "Young Frankenstein" (1974), "Love at First Bite" (1979), "Ghostbusters" (1984), "Once Bitten" (1985), "Hocus Pocus" (1993). "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" (1995), "Bubba Ho-Tep" (2002), and "Werewolves Within" (2021).

However these movies might be classified, they exist in sufficient numbers to justify a subgenre with them in it.