Classic Movie Queens From A to Z Quiz

Answer: Jean Arthur

Jean Arthur was delightful to watch, starring in movies opposite Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart and Edward G. Robinson. Eve Arden was best known for the TV show "Our Miss Brooks", but she did well in movies also, usually playing the best friend to the female lead. Mary Astor had a long career in movies, and starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in "The Maltese Falcon". Gracie Allen was one-half of the popular comedy team, Burns and Allen, with her husband George Burns.

Answer: Tallulah Bankhead

Tallulah Bankhead was one of the first actresses to be considered for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind", but was finally considered to be "too old" for the part. Lauren Bacall was sultry, glamorous, dynamite in films with Humphrey Bogart...and she finally won her Oscar in 1977. Lucille Ball began as a model and played in many films (Top Hat", "Stage Door") before hitting it big with "I Love Lucy".

Ingrid Bergman was born in Sweden, and starred in many important movies, winning three Oscars, for "Gaslight", "Anastasia", and "Murder on the Orient Express". "Casablanca" is probably her most unforgettable film.

Answer: Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse was famous for her elegant, stylish dancing. Her marriage to singer Tony Martin has lasted over 50 years. French ballet dancer and actress Leslie Caron co-starred with Gene Kelly in "An American in Paris". Marge Champion and her husband Gower appeared in many MGM musicals as a dancing team. Claudette Colbert earned an Oscar for her performance in "It Happened One Night".

She appeared in many great films in her long career.

Answer: Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland's sister is Joan Fontaine. She won Oscars for "To Each His Own" and "The Heiress". Arlene Dahl, a famous red-headed beauty, did most of her film work in the '50's. Linda Darnell was best known for "A Letter to Three Wives". She died tragically in a house fire when she was 41. Yvonne De Carlo had a long and successful career in films, and went on to star in the television show "The Munsters".

Answer: Dale Evans

Dale Evans had a turbulent life. She married for the first time at 14, and had her first child at 15. She wed twice more before marrying cowboy superstar Roy Rogers. They co-starred in 35 movies together. Dale wrote a book about their daughter Robin, who died before her second birthday of complications from Down Syndrome. Anita Ekberg is best known for her role in Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita". Faye Emerson was a movie and TV actress, and it's said the "Emmy", American television's award for excellence, is named after her. British actress Dame Edith Evans has had a distinguished career in theater and films.

Answer: Joan Fontaine

Joan Fontaine is the younger sister of Olivia DeHavilland. She had a long career in films, appearing in "The Women" and "Jane Eyre", among many others. Frances Farmer had the beginnings of a successful career in films, but mental illness put an end to it.

Her tragic life is portrayed in "Frances", with a superb performance by Jessica Lange. Alice Faye was a singer and actress, appearing in musicals in the 30s and 40s. She was married to actor and comedian Phil Harris. Rhonda Fleming appeared in several important films, including "Spellbound" and "The Spiral Staircase".

Answer: Gloria Grahame

Grahame had a long career in movies, most often appearing as the "bad girl". Ava Gardner is high on most lists of "Most Beautiful Hollywood Actresses Ever". She starred in "The Barefoot Contessa" and "Night of the Iguana". Rita Gam appeared in "The Thief" and "Night People" in the 50s.

She was a great friend of Grace Kelly, and was a bridesmaid at Kelly's wedding to Prince Rainier. Beverly Garland has had a long career in movies and television.

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth is probably best known for her role in "Gilda". She had a difficult life, and died from Alzheimer's in 1987. Susan Hayward won an Oscar for her portrayal of real-life murderess Barbara Graham in "I Want to Live". Katherine Hepburn was a legendary actress, having won four Academy Awards.

She made several great movies with her long-time companion Spencer Tracy. Jean Harlow was the blonde bombshell who made several great movies, before dying at age 33 of uremic poisoning.

Answer: Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones also appeared in "Portrait of Jennie" and "Duel in the Sun', among many others. She was married to actor Robert Walker, and later married industrialist Norton Simon. Shirley Jones was in the musicals "Oklahoma" and "The Music Man" before earning her Academy Award for "Elmer Gantry". Frieda Inescort was a Scottish actress, appearing in "Dark Angel" and "The Letter". Carolyn Jones had a movie career before starring in "The Addams Family" on television.

Answer: Evelyn Keyes

Evelyn Keyes started out as a nightclub dancer, and went from small "B" movie parts to starring roles. She also authored several books. Ruby Keeler was a dancer and actress, and appeared in the movie musical "42nd Street". Grace Kelly had an illustrious career in films, including an Oscar win for "The Country Girl", before becoming Princess Grace of Monaco. Scottish actress Deborah Kerr appeared in many great movies, among them "From Here To Eternity", "The King and I", and "Separate Tables".

Answer: Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, for "Gone With the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire". She suffered from bipolar disorder and tuberculosis, and died at the young age of 53. Canadian Beatrice Lillie appeared in light comedy films. British actress Margaret Lockwood appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes", and was very successful in British films. Joan Leslie appeared with Humphrey Bogart in "High Sierra" and made several other well-known films in the 1940s.

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe made some great movies, "Some Like It Hot", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", and "The Seven Year Itch". Terry Moore was a "starlet" for quite a while, and eventually went on to some good starring parts. Virginia Mayo was an actress and dancer and had a long and successful career. Ann Miller was a dancer and actress, tapping her way to stardom in MGM musicals.

Answer: Patricia Neal

One of her first films was "The Fountainhead", co-starring Gary Cooper. Kim Novak reached great popularity in the 50s, starring in "Vertigo", "Picnic" and "Pal Joey". She was one of the sexy blonde actresses so popular in that era. Pola Negri and Nita Naldi were silent film stars, both very popular in their day. Both also starred with Rudolph Valentino, the king of silent films.

Answer: Maureen O'Hara

Maureen O'Hara was once voted one of the five most beautiful women in the world. She worked with most of the top directors and actors in Hollywood, and made some good movies. Margaret O'Brien was a famous child actress, playing the part of Beth in the 1949 version of "Little Women". Virginia O'Brien was an actress and singer, appearing in MGM musicals in the 1950s. Maureen O'Sullivan is best known for playing "Jane" to Johnny Weissmuller's "Tarzan".

The Irish-born actress had seven children, one being the actress Mia Farrow.

Answer: Jane Powell

Jane Powell was a talented singer as well as actress. Debra Paget starred in such diverse films as "Love Me Tender" with Elvis Presley and "The Ten Commandments" with Charlton Heston. Eleanor Parker starred in "Caged", an interesting prison drama, and "The Sound of Music" during her career. Susan Peters was on her way to a fine career in movies ("Random Harvest", "Meet John Doe") when she was paralyzed in a hunting accident.

She died in 1952 at the age of 31.

Answer: Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers won the Oscar for "Kitty Foyle". She and Astaire were magnificent together. Mae Questel was a voice artist (she did Betty Boop), and the only actress ever to portray Woody Allen's mother in a movie. Donna Reed won her Oscar for "From Here to Eternity", and went on to star in her own television show. Versatile Rosalind Russell played in a long list of films, including "Auntie Mame", "The Front Page", and "My Sister Eileen".

Answer: Eva Marie Saint

Eva Marie Saint also appeared in "North by Northwest", "A Hatful of Rain" and "Exodus". She won the Oscar for "On The Waterfront". Barbara Stanwyck was an top star for decades. Her many films include "Sorry, Wrong Number", "Double Indemnity", "The Lady Eve". Norma Shearer was a six-time Oscar nominee, winning in 1930 for "The Divorcee". British Actress Jean Simmons appeared in "Elmer Gantry", "Guys and Dolls" and "The Robe".

She was an important Hollywood actress for three decades.

Answer: Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor has become a Hollywood legend, for her beauty, her acting ability, and her romances. Shirley Temple was also a famous child actress. Lana Turner appeared in her first movie at the age of 16, and went on to become a big star. Her films included "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "The Bad and the Beautiful". Gene Tierney was a debutante turned actress, certainly best remembered for her role in the film noir classic "Laura".

Answer: Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters was a successful author, as well as a very well-respected actress. She also appeared in "The Night of the Hunter", "Lolita", among many other interesting movies. Mary Ure was a beautiful and talented British actress ("Sons and Lovers"). Vera-Ellen was an dancer and actress. Natalie Wood was a child star who went on to make many fine films.

She was unforgettable in "Rebel Without a Cause", "Splendor in the Grass", and "West Side Story". She died at the age of 43, an accidental drowning.

Many years ago, Natalie Wood filmed a movie near where I lived. She took time to sign autographs and chat with fans gathered there. She was striking, with enormous eyes, very beautiful and fragile looking. It was at the height of her popularity, and I'll never forget how gracious she was.

Answer: Loretta Young

Loretta Young went on to star in her own television show. Hungarian actress Zsa Zsa Gabor appeared in the original version of "Moulin Rouge". Mai Zetterling was a Swedish actress, she appeared in "The Witches". Clara Kimball Young was a silent film star.