"Topaz "- A Night at the Movies Quiz

Answer: The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962

The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred October 18-29, 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Russia moved missiles into Cuba - 90 miles from the United States' mainland. During this crisis, President John Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Russian military ships to prevent further missiles from being transported into Cuba.

The confrontation brought the two powers to the brink of a nuclear conflict, and the world held its breath. Khrushchev finally blinked after rethinking his position of wanting to engage in a war with the U.S.

This international crisis was averted when Khrushchev finally agreed to remove the missiles.

Answer: Frederick Stafford

French spy Andre Devereaux was working in co-operation with the CIA to help track down double agents in the French Intelligence service. Devereaux was highly trusted by the main CIA character in the movie, Michael Nordstrom, played by John Forsythe. When the United Stated debriefed the Russian spy and learned the information he was able to provide, they asked Devereaux to try to find out who the double agents were within French Intelligence. Frederick Stafford was born on March 11, 1928 in either Czechoslovakia or Austria. Different sources list the two countries.

He emigrated to Australia and died in 1979 in a plane crash in Switzerland.

Answer: Copenhagen

The spy and his family were picked up at a Copenhagen department store after encountering a snafu in the store with Russian agents who were on his tail. He and his family were the taken from Copenhagen by the CIA to Washington, D.C. where they were placed in a safe house in Virginia.

The Russian defector provided information that there was a network of French double agents working against the free world.

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

This picture was not considered to be one of Hitchcock's best films for several reasons. Some critics felt his lack of major stars and Frederick Stafford's wooden performance were two of the main reasons, plus it lacked the trademark tension of his better films.

Answer: Cuba

Devereaux visited Cuba several times a year to collect information from people working with the Cuban underground movement. His wealthy mistress was the head of this organization. Her underground activities were discovered by a close friend of hers, a Castro confidante, against whom she was working, and he shot her to death. Devereaux's marriage survived even though his wife suspected he had a mistress.

Answer: John Forsythe

John Forsythe played CIA agent Michael Nordstrom and Devereaux's close friend with whom Devereaux met to discuss the on-going operations to pinpoint the double agents in the French Intelligence service. Of course, at the end of the movie the double agents were identified. Claude Jade, John Vernon and Claude Martin all had roles in the film.

Answer: Moscow

The opening scene featured a May Day parade in Moscow. This scene provided a way to introduce the topic of missiles in Cuba, and the military power that the Soviet Union possessed at the time, when the free world felt the USSR was a threat to its security.

Answer: A code name for a group of French double agents

Topaz was a list of French double agents working with the KGB. This group included several very high French Intelligence agents. Devereaux worked with all of them and was a good friend with one in particular. His wife was having an affair with this friend.

At the end of the movie this friend was seen boarding a plane to Moscow after being exposed as a Soviet agent, at the same time the Devereaux family were boarding a plane to an unknown destination. This ending was not the first one filmed. The preview audiences hated the first ending and another one had to be filmed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Answer: Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro was shown giving a speech to a large crowd in Havana in order to rally support for his regime. The clip was integrated into the movie in such a way so that it appeared that several of the characters in the movie were up on the platform with Castro during the address. One of these actors was the woman spy who was later executed.

Answer: Edith Head

Edith Head was the designer. Ms. Head won more Oscars for her designs than any costume designer in the 20th century. She was nominated for 34 awards and won eight times. In 2007 the clothes looked as stylish as when the movie was released in 1969. Adrian Adolph Greenberg aka Adrian designed the costumes for "The Wizard of Oz". Irene Rose, who won two Oscars, was probably best known as the designer of Princess Grace's wedding gown. Jane Cunningham is a fictional name.