Movie Musicals Mixture Trivia

1. The first full-feature length movie with recorded speech and songs, can arguably be considered the first musical movie. The title was "The Jazz Singer" (1927), but who played the title role?

From Quiz The Winds Stretch Their Legs at Musical Movies

Answer: Al Jolson

"The Jazz Singer" had its theatrical release in February 1928, but most of the studio collaborators had the chance to see a premiere on October 6th, 1927. That's why the year between brackets precedes the year of the actual theatrical release. Al Jolson plays the title role: a musician from a traditional Jewish family, who disappoints his father by pursuing a jazz career instead of taking upon him the task of the main cantor at the local synagogue. One of the lines spoken by Al Jolson is the famous "Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothing yet". According to reliable sources, Al Jolson improvised this line just after the opening credits. Before "The Jazz Singer", Al Jolson (1886-1950) had only one role in a short movie, but he did gain fame before 1927 in several stage productions. Later on, he would star in musicals such as "The Singing Fool" (1928) and "Swanee River " (1939). The red herrings in this question all collaborated on "The Jazz Singer": Darryl F. Zanuck was the director, Louis Silvers conducted the orchestra and Harold McCord edited the movie.

From Quiz Greatest Music Movies Of All-Time

Answer: The Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers started off as a "Saturday Night Live" skit and turned into one of the greatest comedies of the 1980s. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi starred as Elwood and Jake Blues, two criminals who broke out of jail to earn money to save the orphanage they grew up in. They described their quest as a "mission from God". Along the way, they impersonated the Good Ol' Boys and performed "Rawhide" at a Country-western Bar.

From Quiz Singin' in the Movies

Answer: Fiddler on the Roof

The story of a poor but hard-working Russian Jew trying to raise five strong-minded daughters at the beginning of the Russian Revolution, and at the time of the Jewish pogroms. Chaim Topol won a Golden Globe for Best Actor, playing Tevye in this 1971 film.

From Quiz Match the Songs to the Films

Answer: 42nd Street

"42nd Street" was directed by Lloyd Bacon, with the musical numbers choreographed and directed by Busby Berkeley, whose innovative work in this field revolutionized the look of musical films. The film starred Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler and Ginger Rogers. The basic plot - young chorus girl takes over from injured leading lady and becomes a star - has been used so many times that it's become a cliché. However, when this film was made, it was fresh and new, and audiences at the time loved it.

From Quiz Lerner and Loewe Musicals

Answer: They grow up in the most delightful way

"Thank Heaven for Little Girls" was sung by Maurice Chevalier in the movie "Gigi." The song opens and closes the story, which tells of the relationship between Gaston, a wealthy and bored young man, and Gigi, a girl who is being raised by her grandmother to be a courtesan. Of course, Gaston falls in love with Gigi and they marry. As the lyrics say, we thank heaven for girls like Gigi because "without them, what would little boys do?" "Everywhere I turn I can see them" is a line from the song "Little Girls," which Miss Hannigan sings in "Annie." Of course, she doesn't love little girls at all. "They don't ask me questions..." is a line from an Oingo Boingo song.

From Quiz Headlining Movie Musicals

Answer: My Fair Lady

Based on George Bernard Shaw's 1930s play "Pygmalion", in which a Cockney lass was taught to speak and act like a lady by a lonely professor, "My Fair Lady" originated as a theatre production starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. Rex Harrison reprised his role as Professor Henry Higgins in the 1964 movie, though with Audrey Hepburn playing the main role of Cockney flowergirl Eliza Doolittle. Despite Audrey Hepburn's sufficient singing abilities, her singing was dubbed in the movie by seasoned singer Marni Nixon in order to raise the pitch.

From Quiz These Are a Few of My Favourite Musicals

Answer: Chim Chim Cher-ee

'Chim Chim Cher-ee' is sung by Bert, the chimney sweep, played by Dick van Dyke, extolling the joys of clambering about in chimneys. 'Feed the Birds' is a lovely little song, and my personal favourite. 'Let's Go Fly a Kite', 'Step in Time' and 'Jolly Holiday' are all fun tunes, too. Julie Andrews won Best Actress for her performance, and deservedly so!

From Quiz What Musical Is It?

Answer: The Wizard of Oz

"The Wizard of Oz" was made in 1939 and starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. "The Wizard of Oz" was based on the book by L. Frank Baum. Dorothy makes this statement when she first ends up in Oz and everything looks bright and colorful as opposed to the grayness of Kansas. "The Wizard of Oz" is about a little girl who is hit on the head and dreams she is in a place called Oz where the Wicked Witch of the West wants her dead for killing her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy's only hope is to find the Wizard of Oz to send her back home to Kansas.

From Quiz Along My Window Ledge

Answer: Paint Your Wagon

"I talk to the trees, But they don't listen to me. I talk to the stars, But they never hear me." Clint plays Pardner, a simple farmer who gets caught up in the Gold Rush. After breaking an arm and a leg in a wagon accident, he is rescued by prospector Ben, played by Lee Marvin. They become partners in prospecting for gold and much fun, drinking and arguing follows.

From Quiz Strike Up The Band

Answer: Neil Diamond

The 1927 version of "The Jazz Singer" is generally accepted to be the first talking movie and the first American musical film. Al Jolson performed six songs in it. There have been several remakes. In 1952 there was a version with Danny Thomas and Peggy Lee, and in 1959 there was a made for television version with Jerry Lewis. The Neil Diamond version of 1980 was not very successful as a movie, but the soundtrack album achieved multi platinum sales. "America", "Love on the Rocks" and "Hello Again" were all released as singles from the album. Neil Diamond is better known as a singer/songwriter than actor. He started as a songwriter in the famous Brill Building where he composed several songs that were hits for other people, among them "I'm a Believer" for The Monkees. His early concerts as a singer saw him as an opening act for people such as Herman's Hermits and The Who. Solo success came in the 1970s with "Sweet Caroline" and "Cracklin Rosie", and he has remained popular ever since.

From Quiz Sing Me a Movie Musical

Answer: All That Jazz

"All That Jazz" ran on from the Overture. As the movie opened we saw Velma Kelly arriving at the Club, washing blood off her hands, putting on her costume, appearing on the stage and singing "All That Jazz". Here are the opening lyrics: "Come on babe Why don't we paint the town? And all that Jazz I'm gonna rouge my knees And roll my stockings down And all that jazz Start the car I know a whoopee spot Where the gin is cold But the piano's hot It's just a noisy hall Where there's a nightly brawl And all That Jazz."

From Quiz Eggheads Musical Melodies

Answer: Razzle Dazzle

The music and lyrics to "Chicago" were written by John Kander and Fred Ebb who also wrote songs for the 1966 stage musical, "Cabaret". The film satirises all the seamier sides of life in the jazz age in Chicago in the 1920s era. It's replete with brilliant song and dance numbers, including a magnificent display of tap-dancing by Richard Gere, who plays a shady lawyer. He learned how to tap in three months for this role and you'd swear he'd been doing it all his life. None of the characters in the film are particularly likable as they're all either criminals or people on the take, but they're all, to the last, eminently watchable. One of the best musicals to be made in recent years, this film won six Academy Awards, every one thoroughly deserved. (Question and additional information provided by Creedy)

From Quiz All Singing! All Dancing! All Movie Musicals!

Answer: My Fair Lady

Rex Harrison portrayed Professor Higgins and Stanley Holloway was the "dustman" and Eliza Doolittle's worldly father, Alfred. When Doolittle finds out Eliza has moved in with Higgins (just to get diction lessons, nothing more), he decides to take advantage of the situation and hit the Professor up for some cash. While talking, they get in a discussion about morals.

From Quiz The World of Movie Musicals

Answer: The Jazz Singer

This movie ushered in the sound era. It featured sound sequences with dialogue and of course the music. It was received to much acclaim in its day, has been remade several times (the last in 1980), and has been selected for preservation by the American National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". However, now it is seen as controversial because of its use of blackface. The movie followed a young Jewish singer who defied his family by singing.

From Quiz Name That Musical!

Answer: Moulin Rouge

"Moulin Rouge" was directed by Baz Luhrmann. This song is called "El Tango De Roxanne" and it tells the story of a prostitute. It is sung by the Argentinian and Christian, just after Satine goes to the Duke to try to save the Moulin Rouge. (The Duke is paying a lot of money for the Moulin Rouge club to become a theatre and he wants the lead actress, Satine, for himself). The "Red Windmill" is not actually a real musical but is what "Moulin Rouge" translates as. In this line Christian is saying that Satine can become the Duke's lover but he is asking her not to lie to him. He is also telling her that he still loves her despite everything that is happening.

From Quiz Musical Mania

Answer: South Pacific

This is a really nice musical that takes place is the South Pacific islands during WWII. Lieutenant Cable sings this to Bloody Mary's daughter.

From Quiz Musical Movies

Answer: So-Do-La-Fa-Mi-Do-Re

"Do-Re-Mi" is sung in the hills while Maria and the kids are on a picnic. Maria tries to teach the children a song, but since they don't know any song, she thinks the best way to start is by teaching the musical notes. That is where this happy song enters.

From Quiz Musicals

Answer: Sweet Charity

The girl who wanted to be loved, Sweet Charity, was inspired by Fellini's Oscar winning film but certain changes were brought to the story. Bob Fosse's movie told the story of an unlucky in love taxi dancer who still had faith that one day she'd find her perfect match. In the original Fellini picture, the lead character was a prostitute but the racy story line was dropped, probably lost in translation.

From Quiz How Well Do You Know Your Musicals?

Answer: My Fair Lady

"My Fair Lady," released in 1964, is about a man who bets his friend he can make a poor woman he meets in the street pass for a lady at a ball. It starred Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison and won many awards. Some other famous songs include: "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "I Could Have Danced All Night," and "Just You Wait."

From Quiz Movie Musicals from 1934 to 2004

Answer: Betty Grable

Ginger Rogers, who starred with Fred Astaire, tried to have Betty Grable sacked from this film, fearing that Grable would upstage her. "The Gay Divorcee", a romantic comedy about Americans falling in love in London, was a film version of the stage play, but only kept one of Cole Porter's original sixteen songs ("Night and Day").

From Quiz Movie Musicals (Part II)

Answer: Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman also wrote the music for the film. Danny Elfman has provided the music for several of Tim Burton's films, including "Big Fish", "Sleepy Hollow", "Planet Of The Apes" and "Edward Scissorhands". He has also written music for the films "Hulk", "Good Will Hunting" and "Spider-Man".

From Quiz Movie Musicals

Answer: Barbra Streisand

"Hello, Dolly!" was directed by the legendary actor and dancer Gene Kelly.

From Quiz Assorted Movie Trivia For You 3! Musical Edition

Answer: Scotland

This film starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, who also appeared in other films together.

From Quiz Musical Magic

Answer: Danny Kay & Danny Kaye & Kaye

'The Five Pennies' is based on the life of Loring "Red" Nichols. He was a famous band leader.

From Quiz Old Movie Musical Quotes!

Answer: Silk Stockings

Also starring Fred Astaire as Steve Canfield, George Tobias as Peter Boroff, Peter Lorre as Brankov, and Jules Munshin as Bibinski.

From Quiz Musical Movie Moments

Answer: '10 Things I Hate About You'

Patrick (Heath Ledger) pays the high school band to play this song as he sings and dances to it on the bleachers, for which he gets detention.

From Quiz Broadway Musicals In Hollywood

Answer: Topol

Good job, too. Bernardi (and Mostel, too, I think) played Tevye. Kiley did 'Man of La Mancha'.

From Quiz The Winds Stretch Their Legs at Musical Movies

Answer: Top Hat (1935)

"Flying Down to Rio", the first movie with Fred and Ginger (albeit in supporting roles), was based upon a soundtrack by Vincent Youmans, best known for the movies "No No Nanette" (1930 and 1940). "The Gay Divorcee" had a soundtrack by various composers. Cole Porter wrote "Night and Day", and Con Conrad was responsible for "The Continental", which were the two best known numbers from that 1934 movie, which also featured an uncredited performance in a dance number by a young Betty Grable. "Top Hat" and "Shall We Dance" are probably the two best known movies starring Fred and Ginger. Irving Berlin wrote the music and the lyrics to the songs featured in "Top Hat", including "Dancing Cheek to Cheek". George and Ira Gershwin came up with the entire soundtrack (music and lyrics) for "Shall We Dance". "Top Hat" tells the story of an American dancer named Jerry Travers (Fred Astaire) visiting London. When he rehearses his new dance steps in his hotel room, he accidentally wakes a model named Dale Tremont (Ginger Rogers) in her room below. She storms in to complain, but falls in love at first sight.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:44 AM

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