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Popcorn Crunchers, Reel 39 Trivia Quiz

Science Fiction and Horror Films of the 1950s

Before television and video games conquered the world, horror and science fiction motion pictures were in their heyday. How much do you know about these films from the 1950s?

A multiple-choice quiz by FatherSteve. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
FatherSteve

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
410,710

Updated
Aug 17 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
179

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Author's Note: A few questions in this quiz may require a broader knowledge about motion pictures, filmmaking and moviemakers than can be gained by seeing a film and reading its credits.

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What kind of monster terrifyingly appeared in "The Alligator People" (1959)? Hint

a cult of deep-swamp alligator worshippers

a Cajun witch doctor dressed up as a 'gator

a voodoo priestess' son who was half 'gator

a human partly changed into an alligator

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Three of these titles are genuine, bona fide, for-real, professionally-produced and theatrically-released motion pictures from the 1950s. Which one is *NOT*? Hint

Night of the Blood Beast

Night of the Ghouls

Night of the Demon

Night of the Zombie Women

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What did evil Doctor Bronski's gamma ray do to the children on whom he used it in "The Gamma People" (1956)? Hint

made them fight-to-the-end warriors

made some intelligent, others dull

replaced their need for food and water

shrunk them; made them smaller

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Question 4 of 10

4. Undoubtedly better known for his TV role in "Surfside 6" (1960-1962) and his movie role in "A Summer Place" (1959), who played Hank Jackson in "The Monolith Monsters" (1957)? Hint

Van Williams

Roger Smith

Troy Donahue

Edd Byrnes

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What kind of monster is Paul Johnson in "Not of This Earth" (1957)? Hint

an alien in search of a human blood supply

an alien who can take over a human's body

a vampire-like creature who drinks blood

an ambassador seeking to prevent space war

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Was the motion picture "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950) the only medium in which this story appeared?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The people of what planet are the enemies of the people of the Planet Metaluna in "This Island Earth" (1955)? Hint

Arrakis

Vogsphere

Gallifrey

Zahgon

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. For what is Marshall Thompson best known in the world of horror and science fiction movie making? Hint

acting

music-scoring

monster-making

script-writing

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. "The Fly" (1958) -- the original version of this motion picture -- was set where? Hint

Desert Rock, Arizona

Montreal, Quebec

Paris, France

California

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In "The Atomic Kid" (1954), which actress says, "I always pictured my dream man as being tall, dark and handsome. And then you come along; short, redheaded, and radioactive."? Hint

Julie Harris

Harriet Andersson

Elaine Devry

Judy Garland

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What kind of monster terrifyingly appeared in "The Alligator People" (1959)?

Answer: a human partly changed into an alligator

Doctor Mark Sinclair, played by George MacReady, administers a serum to Paul Webster, played by Richard Crane, to save his life. An unfortunate side-effect of the serum is that Paul slowly turns into an alligator. His features are distorted and his voice has changed (until it is more crocodilian).

2. Three of these titles are genuine, bona fide, for-real, professionally-produced and theatrically-released motion pictures from the 1950s. Which one is *NOT*?

Answer: Night of the Zombie Women

"Night of the Blood Beast" (1958) is a Roger Corman film about an alien who inserts its embryos in an astronaut's body. "Night of the Demon" (1957) is a British film about a satanic cult. "Night of the Ghouls" (1959) is an Ed Wood picture which includes both Tor Johnson and the Amazing Criswell from prior Ed Wood films. "Night of the Zombies" (1981) was also titled "Battalion of the Living Dead" because it was a zombie horror war movie. Zombie Girl is not an individual but rather an electro-horror musical group from Canada.

There does not appear to have been any movie with the title "Night of the Zombie Women" in the 1950s.

3. What did evil Doctor Bronski's gamma ray do to the children on whom he used it in "The Gamma People" (1956)?

Answer: made some intelligent, others dull

The gamma rays used by mad Doctor Bronski could make a child a genius or beastly ignorant, both of which would be servilely obedient to the state. The plan was to create an army of mutated subhumans as a workforce and a much smaller elite of obedient bright people to do the jobs requiring intelligence.

4. Undoubtedly better known for his TV role in "Surfside 6" (1960-1962) and his movie role in "A Summer Place" (1959), who played Hank Jackson in "The Monolith Monsters" (1957)?

Answer: Troy Donahue

American actor Troy Donahue portrays Hank Jackson, a local dynamite expert, in "The Monolith Monsters". It is not a large part. The geologist Dave Miller plans to blow up the local dam, thereby flooding salt flats, which will create saline water which will stop the advance of the monolith monsters toward San Angelo. Hank both provides the dynamite and knows how to plant the explosive charges.

5. What kind of monster is Paul Johnson in "Not of This Earth" (1957)?

Answer: an alien in search of a human blood supply

Paul Johnson appears to be a rather humourless gentleman, dressed in a dark suit, who wears dark glasses all the time. His glasses hide his white eyes which are capable of controlling the minds of humans. He (and all of his race) suffer from a blood disease which requires regular transfusion of human blood to live.

He collects this blood by killing people and filling tubes and containers in an aluminum briefcase which he carries. Because he does not actually drink blood, he is not a vampire.

6. Was the motion picture "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950) the only medium in which this story appeared?

Answer: No

"Atom Man vs. Superman" was conceived as a comic book by DC Comics. It was made into a successful radio play. It was made into a successful 15-part 252-minute theatrical serial. These episodes were then edited into the movie "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950). Chapter titles in the serial included "Superman Flies Again", "At the Mercy of Atom Man", "Atom Man's Flying Saucers" and "Superman Saves the Universe".

The radio script was reproduced in (facsimile) print by Watson-Guptill Publications in 2001.

7. The people of what planet are the enemies of the people of the Planet Metaluna in "This Island Earth" (1955)?

Answer: Zahgon

Gallifrey is the original home of Doctor Who. Arrakis is a desert planet in the "Dune" series of novels by Frank Herbert. Vogsphere is a desert planet occupied by Vogons in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series. The Zahgonians are the opponents of the Metalunans. Their campaign to destroy Metalunan civilisation is nearly complete in the time frame of "This Island Earth".

8. For what is Marshall Thompson best known in the world of horror and science fiction movie making?

Answer: acting

Marshall Thompson (1925-1992) was an American actor with a long career in both television and motion pictures. He starred in the 1959 TV programme "World of Giants" (where he was only six inches tall) and the series "Daktari" (1966-1969). Among his 60-plus movie appearances were "Cult of the Cobra" (1955), "Fiend Without a Face" (1958), "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" (1958), "First Man into Space" (1959), "Flight of the Lost Balloon" (1961), and "Around the World Under the Sea" (1966).

9. "The Fly" (1958) -- the original version of this motion picture -- was set where?

Answer: Montreal, Quebec

In the short story on which "The Fly" was based, the setting was Paris, France. The screenplay was adapted to place the story in Francophone Montreal, Quebec. The film was released in both English and French versions.

10. In "The Atomic Kid" (1954), which actress says, "I always pictured my dream man as being tall, dark and handsome. And then you come along; short, redheaded, and radioactive."?

Answer: Elaine Devry

When Blix, played by Mickey Rooney, is taken to the hospital following his exposure to radiation, he is attended by a lovely nurse, Audrey Nelson, played by Elaine Devry. Their relationship grows throughout the picture and, in the end, they marry. At the time the movie was shot, Devry was married to Mickey Rooney in fact.

Source: Author FatherSteve

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