This Movie Quiz Is for the Birds

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Perhaps the best known movie with "bird" in the title is "The Birds" by Alfred Hitchcock. Can you pluck out the pair who starred in the lead roles in the movie?

Answer: Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor

"The Birds" (1963) was Tippi Hedren's first movie. She had been a model and was on the cover of several magazines including "Life" and "Glamour". Hitchcock discovered her when he saw her in a TV commercial. Rod Taylor was from Australia and appeared in over 50 movies. His first leading role in a feature film was in "The Time Machine" (1960).

Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant starred in "North by Northwest".
Kim Novak and James Stewart starred in "Vertigo".
Vera Miles and Henry Fonda starred in "The Wrong Man".

2. "Lady Bird" (2017), starring Saoirse Ronan, was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Which woman directed this film?

Answer: Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig began acting in and co-writing movies by Joe Swanberg as well as co-directing "Nights and Weekends" (2008). She next collaborated with her partner Noah Baumbach on several films as actor and co-writer including "Frances Ha" (2012). She wrote and directed "Lady Bird" on her own and it earned Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

She continued her directing accomplishments with "Little Women" (2019) and "Barbie" (2023).

3. The movie "The Birdcage" (1996) stars the incomparable Robin Williams in one of the leading roles in this wonderful comedy. However, which actor, who also voice acted in "Stuart Little" (1999), won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Lead Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in the film?

Answer: Nathan Lane

"The Birdcage" is a remake of the French/Italian film "La Cage aux Folles" (1978). Nathan Lane has been a dramatic, comedic and voice actor, especially on the stage, professionally since 1978. He has been the recipient of three Tony Awards. His first film work was in "The Lion King" (1994) in which he voiced Timon, the wisecracking meerkat.

4. Sometimes bad movies gain popularity because they're so bad it's funny such as "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and "The Room". Please spread the word that this movie should not to be confused with Hitchcock's "The Birds" which inspired it. Which of the choices below is such a movie?

Answer: Birdemic: Shock and Terror

The "genius" behind "Birdemic" is James Nguyen who wrote, directed and produced the movie with a budget of just $10,000. Several critics have listed it as one of the worst movies of all time which apparently inspired Nguyen to make two sequels which got even worse reviews.

5. "Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" was directed by Alejandro Gonz�lez I��rritu and won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2015. Which actor, who also played Batman, played the lead role in the movie?

Answer: Michael Keaton

With the availability of newer technologies, the movie was conceived from the beginning to appear to be almost totally filmed in a single shot which earned it the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The outstanding cast includes Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts. Michael Keaton was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor while Edward Norton and Emma Stone received nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Actress respectively.

6. The 1988 movie "Bird" is a biopic about jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker. Which actor/director won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture for directing this film?

Answer: Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood began directing films in 1971 with "Play Misty for Me". He has now directed over 40 films. Forest Whitaker played the lead role in "Bird" and earned the Best Actor Award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival and he was nominated for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama at the 46th Golden Globe Awards.

This was first film directed by Eastwood to earn an Academy Award which was for Best Sound.

7. "Angry Birds" the video game was first released in 2009. By 2015 it had over three billion downloads and spawned several spin-offs including "The Angry Birds Movie" (2016). Which otherwise angry actor did NOT voice a character in the movie?

Answer: Brian Cox

The first spin-off from "Angry Birds" was the "Angry Birds Toons" webseries and its success motivated the production of the movie. Other voice actors for "The Angry Birds Movie" include Peter Dinklage, Kate McKinnon, Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Keegan-Michael Key. The movie was financially successful grossing over $350 million worldwide.

8. Robert Stroud was the "Birdman of Alcatraz", so called for his study of birds while in Leavenworth Prison where he was allowed to keep birds. A largely fictionalized account of his life was made into a film in 1962 starring which actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in "Elmer Gantry?"

Answer: Burt Lancaster

The screenplay for "Birdman of Alcatraz" was adapted from a 1955 biography by Thomas E. Gaddis. While at Leavenworth, Stroud fatally stabbed a prison guard which lead initially to a death sentence that was later reduced to life in prison in solitary confinement.

He found a nest with an injured sparrow and nursed it back to health which started him collecting, studying and writing about birds. He was eventually transferred to Alcatraz where birds were not allowed. Lancaster was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal.

9. "Birdy" is a 1984 film from a novel by the same name written by William Wharton. Matthew Modine stars as the title character. Which "Pig-ish" actor also stars as his friend from their teenage years?

Answer: Nicolas Cage

Although "Birdy" did not perform well at the box office, it received mostly positive reviews and was chosen as one of the top ten movies of the year by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. This was an early effort by Nicolas Cage. His first starring role was the previous year in "Valley Girl". He gained further acclaim for his work in "Pig" (2021).

10. "Bye Bye Birdie" is a 1963 film based on the 1960 Broadway musical. Which entertainer played the lead role on Broadway and then made his film debut in the movie?

Answer: Dick Van Dyke

"Bye Bye Birdie" was inspired by the conscription of Elvis Presley into the Army in 1957. The lead character's name, Conrad Birdie, was derived from another country/rock star Conway Twitty. Dick Van Dyke's debut on Broadway was in "Bye Bye Birdie". He earned the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his efforts and the production won for Best Musical.

He went on to star in the very popular "Dick Van Dyke Show" on TV as well as the highly successful musical movies "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".

Source: Author andshar

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Movies with "Bird" in the Title

There has been a flock of movies with "bird" in the title. Try this lofty quiz about them that spans the ages of movies from the 1960s on.

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