Sultry Stars of Film Noir Trivia Quiz

Answer: Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake (1922 - 1973) was originally cast with Alan Ladd because Ladd was rather short in stature, and Veronica Lake was less than five feet tall. They clicked, and made several films together.
She did away with the famous hairstyle during World War II, when many women were working in defense plants and it was felt Lake's much-copied peekaboo style might be unsafe. Some thought the haircut hurt her career, but Veronica's problems were much more serious. She was considered very difficult to work with, and the juicy roles gradually dried up. She had problems with alcohol and mental illness, and eventually her career faded away.
But she had some unforgettable moments. She died in 1973, only fifty years old.

Answer: Ida Lupino

Ida Lupino (1918-1995) was born in London, England, where both her parents were entertainers. She started out in films as a blonde glamour girl, and moved on to more interesting roles in film noir in the 1940s. She became interested in directing, and when given the opportunity she did well. Among the films she directed, "Outrage" (1950) "Hard, Fast and Beautiful" (1951) and the well-received film noir "The Hitch-Hiker" (1953). She directed many prestigious television programs in addition to acting for the next several decades.

Answer: Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney (1920-1991) was born in New York to a well-to-do family. She first appeared on Broadway, then began a career in films. While working on a 1946 movie called "Dragonwyck" she met a young politician named John F. Kennedy. They embarked on a year-long romance that ended when JFK told the married-but-separated Tierney that they could never marry, as it would surely damage his political career. In 1944, she starred in what was to become her signature role, that of supposed murder victim Laura Hunt in "Laura".

But Tierney was also suffering from what may have been a bipolar disorder, which made it increasingly difficult for her to work. She gave birth to a severely disabled daughter after contracting rubella during the pregnancy.

She suffered from depression, there was a probable suicide attempt, and after many hospital stays which included a large number of shock treatments, and a brief comeback, Gene Tierney's career was essentially over.

Answer: Claire Trevor

Claire Trevor began acting first in theater and then moved on to films. After several years in Hollywood she established a solid career, starring with the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy. She most often played the bad girl and was sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Film Noir". She co-starred with Dick Powell in "Murder My Sweet" (1944) and "Born to Kill" (1947).
One of the top performing arts study centers in the United States was established in the late 1960s at the University of California, Irvine. The school is named in her honor, the Claire Trevor School of the Arts.

Answer: Joan Bennett

Joan Bennett (1910 - 1990) began as a blonde ingenue, became a sultry brunette, and appeared in over seventy films. She first worked in silent movies, then moved on to films and television. She is well-remembered for her film noir roles and later as a wife and mother in such films as "Father of the Bride" (1950). At the end of her career she appeared as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard on the Gothic television soap opera "Dark Shadows" from 1966-1971.

Bennett's career suffered severe damage in 1951 when her then-husband, producer Walter Wanger, shot and wounded Bennett's agent Jennings Lang. Wanger suspected an affair between his wife and Lang. Lang survived, and Wanger went to jail for four months. Joan Bennett's film career was virtually ended by the scandal.

Answer: Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck (1907 - 1990) was known throughout her six-decade career as a consummate professional and performer, well-liked by everyone who worked with her. She began as a stage actress, then made over eighty movies before turning to work in television. She was Oscar-nominated for Best Actress for
"Stella Dallas" (1938), "Ball of Fire" (1942), "Double Indemnity" (1945) and "Sorry, Wrong Number" (1949). She was awarded an honorary Oscar for "superlative creativity and unique contribution to the art of screen acting" in 1982.
She was equally adept at comedy or drama, one of Hollywood's great stars.

Answer: Jane Greer

Jane Greer (1924 - 2001) is best known for her role in the classic "Out of the Past". She was a model and a big band singer before producer Howard Hughes discovered her on the cover of "Life" magazine. Upon arriving in Hollywood she appeared in several forgettable films, until she was given the lead role in "Out of the Past".

She made quite an impression, and continued to work in films and television for several decades. Her last appearances were as a regular in television dramas including "Falcon Crest" (1984) and "Twin Peaks" in 1990.

Answer: Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner (1922 - 1990) began her film career in 1941, playing bit parts until she appeared in "The Killers". She became one of Hollywood's top stars, and was known as one of the most beautiful women in films. She married Frank Sinatra in 1951, and they divorced six years later. He remained a loyal friend to her till her death.

She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her work in the 1953 film "Mogambo", and starred in several important films in the 50s and 60s, including "Show Boat" in 1951, "On the Beach" in 1959 and "The Night of the Iguana" in 1964.

Answer: Gloria Grahame

Gloria Grahame (1923 - 1981) began her acting career in the early 1940s, and in 1946 landed a role in the classic James Stewart film "It's a Wonderful Life". From there, her sultry good looks and acting talent earned her many starring roles in film noir.

She received an Oscar nomination for "Crossfire" in 1947, and she won the Supporting Actress award for her performance in "The Bad and the Beautiful" in 1952. She also appeared in "Sudden Fear" (1952)and "Oklahoma!" (1955). She began to develop health problems as well as personal ones, and her career slowly began to fade.

She died of cancer in 1981 at age 57.

Answer: Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall began modeling while in her teens, and was discovered by the wife of director Howard Hawks when she appeared on the cover of "Harper's Bazaar" magazine. She was given a screen test and then made her first film appearance was in the 1944 classic "To Have and Have Not", co-starring the man who would become her husband, film icon Humphrey Bogart. A legendary romance was born, as well as a legendary career.

Her appearances in film noir include "The Big Sleep" (1946) and "Dark Passage" (1947). Later in her life Bacall appeared on Broadway, winning Tony Awards for "Applause" (1970) and "Woman of the Year" (1981).