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Directors  Writers Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
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Directors & Writers Trivia

Directors & Writers Trivia Quizzes

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6 quizzes and 65 trivia questions.
1.
  Interesting Facts About Movie Directors   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Several directors have had interesting backgrounds and careers. This quiz is about some of them.
Average, 10 Qns, shanteyman, Sep 19 16
Average
shanteyman
548 plays
2.
  Movie Star Writers    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz features movies whose star also wrote the movie. Example: 'Waiting For Guffman' 1996, Answer: Eugene Levy, stars and co-wrote the movie. Give it a try and have some fun.
Average, 15 Qns, califredrose, Sep 18 20
Average
califredrose
Sep 18 20
3708 plays
3.
  Modern Directors and Their Films    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Think you know which films our most famous directors helmed? Then this quiz should be simple! All you have to do is select which movie each director DIDN'T direct.
Tough, 10 Qns, InXanadu, Dec 26 11
Tough
InXanadu
873 plays
4.
  Who Directed?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The great directors can put their own stamp on a film, many times without the public realizing it. See if you can identify the director.
Average, 10 Qns, Pick61, Nov 29 12
Average
Pick61
508 plays
5.
  Wacky Celebrity Production Companies    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Celebrities are known to be rather creative. If you ever happen to watch the credits of shows you might have noticed some examples. This quiz will test your knowledge of interestingly named production companies and the people who came up with them.
Tough, 10 Qns, darthdragon, Jan 04 24
Tough
darthdragon
Jan 04 24
912 plays
6.
  Writers Turned Screenwriters    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a look at some novelists and playwrights who have wandered into the world of screenwriting.
Average, 10 Qns, robert362, Dec 26 11
Average
robert362
630 plays
Related Topics
  Name The Director [Movies] (63 quizzes)


Directors & Writers Trivia Questions

1. This man directed such diverse films as "Night at the Opera" (1934) and "Goodbye Mr. Chips" (1938). He is the father of actress K.T. Stevens. Can you name him?

From Quiz
Who Directed?

Answer: Sam Wood

Some of Wood's best work came near the end of his career, when he did "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1942) and "Kitty Foyle" (1939). His work has been largely ignored by Hollywood historians because of his hawkish, conservative political views and his testimony before the House Unamerican Activities Committee, which helped ruin many careers. Wood died in 1949.

2. Which director began his film career in England as a Title Card Painter and went on to appear in most of the films he directed?

From Quiz Interesting Facts About Movie Directors

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock directed more than 50 feature films over six decades. He studied at the London County Council School of Engineering and Navigation and became a draftsman and advertising designer upon graduation. In 1920 he began work at Islington Studios designing the titles for silent movies and rose to become a director within five years. In 1926 Alfred Hitchcock married his assistant director Alma Reville. In 1940 he won Academy Award for Best Picture for "Rebecca". Ingmar Bergman's film career began in the early forties rewriting scripts. Christopher Nolan began his education at Haileybury and Imperial Service College in England. Robert Wise won Academy Awards as Best Director for "The Sound of Music" (1965) and "West Side Story" (1961).

3. The production company that Quentin Tarantino is a part of is called A _______ Apart?

From Quiz Wacky Celebrity Production Companies

Answer: Band

The name of the company is a play on the French new wave classic, Bande à part (Band of Outsiders). Other members of the company include Robert Rodriguez, John Woo, Tim Burton, Steve Buscemi and John Landis. It has produced a number of films including "Pulp Fiction" (1994), "Four Rooms" (1995), "White Man's Burden" (1995) and " Kill Bill" parts 1 and 2 (2003).

4. "The Misfits" is an original screenplay by one of America's best playwrights. Which one?

From Quiz Writers Turned Screenwriters

Answer: Arthur Miller

It's a curiously unsatisfying piece - but it's interesting because of the cast: Marilyn Monroe (in her last completed movie) while her marriage to Miller was falling apart, and Clark Gable in his last film role - he died shortly after completion of the picture.

5. This director had great success in England with "The 39 Steps" (1935) and later in America with "Psycho" (1960) and "The Birds" (1963). Can you name him?

From Quiz Who Directed?

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock was the master of camera movement and framing shots so as to convey fear and anxiety. Some of his other films were "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1934) and "Notorious" (1946). He hosted a successful television show in the U.S. He passed away in 1980.

6. Which director's first feature film was "THX 1138"?

From Quiz Interesting Facts About Movie Directors

Answer: George Lucas

George Lucas has produced more than 20 feature films but has directed only six of them. In 1971 "THX 1138" became his first feature directorial credit. He had directed a number of short films in the sixties. Two years after "THX 1138" "American Graffiti" became a successful film for Lucas. He founded Industrial Light and Magic in order to assist in making the special effects while producing "Star Wars". George Lucas wrote and served as executive producer on the Indiana Jones series of films. His wife, Marcia Lou Griffin, earned an Academy Award for editing the original "Star Wars" film. Roger Corman began to direct films in the mid-fifties with such B-Movie classics as "Swamp Woman" (1955). One of Ed Wood's early film efforts was "I Changed My Sex" (1953). One of Curtis Lee Hanson's early directing efforts was "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (1992).

7. Henry Winkler, a.k.a. The Fonz, must have been feeling very down under when he named his production company after this Australian expression. What's the company's name?

From Quiz Wacky Celebrity Production Companies

Answer: Fair Dinkum

Joe Bloggs is the Australian equivalent of John Doe, a Bush Telegraph is the town gossip and Fairy Floss is cotton candy. Fair Dinkum means genuine and is also the name of the koala ringmaster in the "Dumbo's Circus" (1985) TV show. Winkler founded this company in 1979. It produced the made for TV movie "Scandal Sheet" (1985), the TV documentary "Who Are the DeBolts and Where Did They Get 19 Kids?" (1979) and the series "Ryan's 4" (1983).

8. Evan Hunter is a successful novelist; he also wrote the screenplay for a Hitchcock classic. Which one?

From Quiz Writers Turned Screenwriters

Answer: The Birds

Hunter has written many novels as Hunter and as Ed McBain; he's also had some of his novels turned into movies. "Birds" was a very fine screenplay effort (from the Daphne DuMaurier short story).

9. 'Manhattan Murder Mystery,' 1993....

From Quiz Movie Star Writers

Answer: Woody Allen

Woody Allen co-wrote this movie with Marshall Brickman. He also directed and starred in this movie.

10. This filmmaker was known as a 'woman's director'. One of his best was "Philadelphia Story" which certainly was a Katherine Hepburn vehicle when all was said and done. Who was he?

From Quiz Who Directed?

Answer: George Cukor

Cukor (1899-1983) is perhaps best remembered for being fired from "Gone with the Wind" in 1939, at Clark Gable's insistence.

11. Which director was a writer for "The Tonight Show" before directing his first film in 1966?

From Quiz Interesting Facts About Movie Directors

Answer: Woody Allen

Woody Allen appeared in and produced "What's New Pussycat?" in 1965, but didn't direct his first film until "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" was released the next year. Upon completion of high school Woody Allen studied Communication and Film at New York University. In his late teens he was writing for "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show" as well as some special features. In 1961 he debuted as a comedian at a Greenwich Village club called the Duplex. Warren Beatty hired him to write a script and Allen was given in a small part in "What's New Pussycat?". Woody's role was expanded and Beatty eventually left the project. Woody Allen went on to direct several movies earning Academy Awards for three of them. Independent film pioneer and director John Cassavetes appeared in films such as "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) and "The Dirty Dozen" (1967). Robert Bresson made his first short film in 1934. Terrence Malick earned an MFA from the AFI Conservatory in 1969.

12. What was the first show that Jimmy Kimmel's production company Jackhole Industries got involved with?

From Quiz Wacky Celebrity Production Companies

Answer: The Man Show

The "Man Show" (1999) was a show on Comedy Central known mostly for scantily clad women, beer and flatulence jokes. Jackhole Industries also added the "Andy Milonakis Show" (2005), a sketch comedy show and the "Adam Carrola Project" (2005), a home improvement parody, to its roster.

13. The quirky "western" "Night of the Hunter" featured a screenplay by James Agee. Who was the star of the movie?

From Quiz Writers Turned Screenwriters

Answer: Robert Mitchum

Agee, best known for "A Death in the Family" wrote the screenplay to this decidedly strange story. (Robert Mitchum has "Love" and "Hate" written across his fingers.)

14. 'Blues Brothers 2000,' 1998....

From Quiz Movie Star Writers

Answer: Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd co-wrote this movie with John Landis who also directed it.

15. This talented man directed "Ben-Hur" in 1959. His first big film was "Dodsworth" (1936). Twenty years later came "Friendly Persuasion". He won Oscars in 1942, 1946 and 1949 as best director. Can you name him?

From Quiz Who Directed?

Answer: William Wyler

Wyler, who died in 1981, was known as a perfectionist and a superb craftsman, earning the nickname '90-take Wyler'. Over the span of his career, he was nominated 12 times for an Oscar as best director. Another classic is "Best Years of our Lives" from 1946.

16. Who was the first African American director be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director?

From Quiz Interesting Facts About Movie Directors

Answer: John Singleton

John Singleton earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay and as Director for his first directorial effort, "Boyz n the Hood" (1991). He was only 24 at the time, making him the youngest person at that time to be nominated as well. Singleton attended Pasadena City College and followed with the USC School of Cinematic Arts before enrolling at the University of Southern California's Filmic Writing program. He directed Michael Jackson's video for the 1991 single "Remember The Time" and has gone on the direct several other feature films including "Shaft" (2000) and "2 Fast 2 Furious" in 2003. Larry "Flash" Jenkins was an American actor and director who appeared in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986) and "Fletch" (1985). Reginald Hudlin's directing credits included "House Party", (1990) "Boomerang", (1992) and "The Great White Hype" (1996). Scott Sanders' credits include "Black Dynamite" (2009) and "Thick as Thieves" (1998).

17. What celebrity from New Jersey decided to name their company after their birthplace?

From Quiz Wacky Celebrity Production Companies

Answer: Danny Devito

Danny's production company is entitled Jersey Films. Jersey Films has produced many films including "Get Shorty" (1995), "Erin Brockovich" (2000) and "Garden State" (2004). Neither Jack or Meryl have production companies of their own. Kevin Spacey's is named Trigger Street.

18. "The Big Sleep" included screenplay work by what author?

From Quiz Writers Turned Screenwriters

Answer: William Faulkner

Perhaps that's why the plot is so damned hard to follow.

19. Sadly, this Irish born director of silent movies is best remembered for his 1922 murder. His notable films included "Anne of Green Gables" (1919) and "Huck Finn" (1920). His slaying was never solved. Who was he?

From Quiz Who Directed?

Answer: William Desmond Taylor

The crime is still unsolved and, as such, the case is still open. It is known that Taylor was trying to help comedy star Mabel Normand overcome her cocaine addiction and he was the object of Mary Miles Minter's affections, of which her mother vehemently objected.

20. Which director studied to be a Catholic priest before entering the film business?

From Quiz Interesting Facts About Movie Directors

Answer: Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese was raised in a strict Catholic family in New York. He was asthmatic and unable to participate in sports so going to the movies became a passion. He expressed a sincere desire to become a Catholic priest and attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. Scorsese eventually gave in to his desire to be a filmmaker and enrolled in NYU's University College of Arts and Science. He earned a M.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1966. In 1968 he directed "Who's That Knocking at My Door" and went on to earn not only Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes but also garnered BAFTAs and DGA Awards. Sir Ridley Scott started his film career as a set designer and making television commercials in the UK. Terry Gilliam began as an animator and strip cartoonist who went on to direct films including "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1988), "The Fisher King" (1991) and "12 Monkeys" (1995). Roberto Rossellini's dad built the first movie theater in Rome.

21. It was named after the famous promise made to freed African slaves, about what they were supposed to receive along with their freedom. 40 Acres and a Mule is the name of whose production company?

From Quiz Wacky Celebrity Production Companies

Answer: Spike Lee

Freed slaves were at one time promised this rather generous offer that was almost never delivered, due to its expense and land constraints. This has sometimes been cited as a reason for reparations for slave descendants. Films made by this company include "Do the Right Thing" (1989), "Malcolm X" (1992), " The Orginal Kings of Comedy" (2002) and " The 25th hour" (2002).

22. F. Scott Fitzgerald worked on the screenplay version of the novel, "The Three Comrades". Who wrote the novel?

From Quiz Writers Turned Screenwriters

Answer: Erich Maria Remarque

Remarque did more than merely write the classic "All Quiet on the Western Front".

23. This early giant of the movie industry scored a huge, controversial success with "Birth of a Nation" in 1915. It was lavish, very costly and one of the first full length features. Who was he?

From Quiz Who Directed?

Answer: D.W. Griffith

Griffith, who was born in Kentucky in 1875, brought his own background and prejudices into this hugely successful film, which portrayed Klansmen as heroes and reinforced the perception that African Americans were shiftless, dishonest and untrustworthy. In 1916, he brought "Intolerance" to the screen which displayed the same innovative and startling techiques he had used in his previous films.

24. Which director assisted the Boy Scouts of America in developing a merit badge in cinematography?

From Quiz Interesting Facts About Movie Directors

Answer: Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg became a Boy Scout in 1955. He completed the requirements for earning the photography merit badge by making a short film entitled "The Last Gunfight". At age 13 he produced a 40-minute war film titled "Escape to Nowhere" and at age 16 he wrote and directed his first independent film titled "Firelight". He made the film at a cost of $500. When it was shown at a local theater he grossed $1. He went on to make several novice WWII films after hearing his dad's war related stories. In 1989 the badge for cinematography was launched at the 1989 National Scout Jamboree. Spielberg attended and he personally counseled many boys regarding the requirements for getting their own badges. Howard Winchester Hawks was known for many great films such as "Scarface" (1932) and "Bringing Up Baby" (1938). As a teen David Lean entered his father's accountancy firm as an apprentice. James Cameron Cameron started his film career working as a miniature model maker for Roger Corman.

25. What writer worked on the screenplay version of Lillian Hellman's play "Watch on the Rhine"?

From Quiz Writers Turned Screenwriters

Answer: Dashiell Hammett

Hammett and Hellman had a long personal relationship.

26. 'Mr. Saturday Night,' 1992....

From Quiz Movie Star Writers

Answer: Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal co-wrote this movie with Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz. He also starred in and directed this movie.

27. This director was unique in that he acted in his own films and performed his own stunts, many of them dangerous. He is probably best remembered for "The General" (1928). Two others were "Sherlock Jr." and "Steamboat Bill". Can you name him?

From Quiz Who Directed?

Answer: Buster Keaton

Keaton, a vaudevillian, began his movie career with encouragement and help from Arbuckle. His films became increasingly successful and more expensive but, in signing with a major studio, he lost artistic control of his films. A bad marriage and alcohol sent his career into a downward spiral from which it never really recovered. In his later years, though, a newfound public appreciation for his films helped ease the burden for him. He passed away in 1966.

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