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Quiz about The Life and Times of Roman Polanski

The Life and Times of Roman Polanski Quiz

See how much you know about this Academy Award winning director!

A multiple-choice quiz by nic6987. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
nic6987

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
123,000

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
736

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Roman was born August 18, 1933, to Polish parents, but not in Poland. Do you know what European city he was born in? Hint

Saltzberg, Austria

Paris, France

London, Enland

Lucerne, Switzerland

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Question 2 of 15

2. Roman and his Jewish family weren't in Poland long before it was taken over by the Germans. Which of these statements most accurately describes Roman's World War II experience? Hint

Roman survived a concentration camp

His mother died in a concentration camp

Roman and his family survived in the countryside

His mother and father both died in concentration camps

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Question 3 of 15

3. Roman's 1966 film "Cul-de-sac" was the first credited role for what actress? Hint

Jacqueline Bisset

Sharon Tate

Mia Farrow

Vanessa Redgrave

4. The funniest movie you have probably never seen, "The Fearless Vampire Killers (or Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are In My Neck)," was the 1967 film Roman made in England. He fell in love with his co-star of this film, who later became his wife. Who was she?

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname)

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Question 5 of 15

5. Roman's life was turned upside down in 1969, when his pregnant wife was murdered in their Los Angeles home. Roman wasn't home at the time. Where was he? Hint

On a date with another woman

At his father's funeral

Golfing in Florida

In England working on a film

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Question 6 of 15

6. Roman's first American film was the smash hit "Rosemary's Baby." It was filmed at The Dakota, the legendary New York apartment building. What music legend both lived and died at The Dakota?

Answer: ( Two words, or juts surname)

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Question 7 of 15

7. In 1971, Roman filmed a classic Shakespearean play that was especially brutal, having been made on the heels of his wife's murder. What was it?

Answer: ( One Word ... name of a play)

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Question 8 of 15

8. "Chinatown" (1974) was another mainstream Hollywood film for Roman. Jack Nicholson's character spent most of the film with a bandage on his nose after he had been cut in the first reel. What was the name of the person (not the character) who had cut him?

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname)

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Question 9 of 15

9. "Tess" (1979) was based on the book "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." What young and up-and-coming actress played the title role? Hint

Nastassja Kinski

Brooke Shields

Jodie Foster

Mariel Hemmingway

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Question 10 of 15

10. "Pirates" (1986) was a huge flop for Roman. He had always wanted to make a pirate movie, but maybe he should have tried something else. What classic actor stars in this classic bomb? Hint

Walter Matthau

Burt Lancaster

Jack Lemmon

Lloyd Bridges

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Question 11 of 15

11. The 1988 thriller, "Frantic" stars which Hollywood superstar? Hint

Harrison Ford

Tom Hanks

Tom Cruise

Jack Nicholson

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Question 12 of 15

12. 1994's "Death and the Maiden" was a classic Polanski dark thriller. It starred Sigourney Weaver and what "Gandhi" Oscar winner?

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname)

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Question 13 of 15

13. What 2002 film won Roman the Academy Award for Best Director: "The _______ "?

Answer: ( One Word)

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Question 14 of 15

14. In 1969 Roman Polanski was questioned in his late wife's murder?

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. In 1988, Roman had the privilege of becoming a father?

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Roman was born August 18, 1933, to Polish parents, but not in Poland. Do you know what European city he was born in?

Answer: Paris, France

Roman was born in Paris, and moved to Poland as a small child.

2. Roman and his Jewish family weren't in Poland long before it was taken over by the Germans. Which of these statements most accurately describes Roman's World War II experience?

Answer: His mother died in a concentration camp

Roman lived with a Catholic family for a while, but he mostly survived on his own in the ghettos and wandering through the countryside. He was only five years old when Poland was invaded; when the war ended, he was twelve. It's hard to imagine a child keeping himself alive in such conditions, but he somehow did. He was reunited with his father after the war.

3. Roman's 1966 film "Cul-de-sac" was the first credited role for what actress?

Answer: Jacqueline Bisset

Called Polanski's "overlooked gem", Jaqueline Bisset is credited in this film as Jackie Bisset. It was co-written by Roman and is a great example of Roman's trademark film making: twisted, dark humor mixed into a bizarre thriller.

Answer: Sharon Tate

The perfect example of Roman's twisted sense of humor, "Vampire Killers" was written by Roman, with the help of French writer Gerard Brach, who also co-wrote "Cul-de-sac."

5. Roman's life was turned upside down in 1969, when his pregnant wife was murdered in their Los Angeles home. Roman wasn't home at the time. Where was he?

Answer: In England working on a film

Roman was scouting locations in England for the film "The Day of the Dolphin," when Sharon and her friends were slaughtered by the murderous Manson family. He later left the project, and it was eventually brought to film in 1973 by Mike Nichols.

6. Roman's first American film was the smash hit "Rosemary's Baby." It was filmed at The Dakota, the legendary New York apartment building. What music legend both lived and died at The Dakota?

Answer: John Lennon

A film about a woman (Mia Farrow) who gives birth to Satan's child, it was my first exposure to Roman, but I didn't know it. My mother saw this film when she was pregnant with me. Not something she recommends!

7. In 1971, Roman filmed a classic Shakespearean play that was especially brutal, having been made on the heels of his wife's murder. What was it?

Answer: Macbeth

Roman's film "MacBeth" was especially violent. It graphically showed King Duncan's murder, when in the play it was just implied.

Answer: Roman Polanski

Roman has a cameo as "Man With the Knife." He has also appeared in "Fearless Vampire Killers" and "Repulsion."

9. "Tess" (1979) was based on the book "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." What young and up-and-coming actress played the title role?

Answer: Nastassja Kinski

Roman had a relationship with his star, Nastassja Kinski. He has a track record of falling for his younger co-stars. Sharon, who was in "Fearless Vampire Killers," was nine years his junior, and Nastassja was 25 years his junior. It was Sharon who first gave him a copy of the book ten years before, thinking it might make a great film.

He dedicated the film to her. By the way, this was another of Roman's films co-written by Gerard Brach.

10. "Pirates" (1986) was a huge flop for Roman. He had always wanted to make a pirate movie, but maybe he should have tried something else. What classic actor stars in this classic bomb?

Answer: Walter Matthau

I feel, personally, that "Pirates" is so bad it's good. Another film with that status? "Valley of the Dolls", starring Roman's late wife, Sharon Tate. "Pirates" was co-written by Gerard Brach (are we keeping track?).

11. The 1988 thriller, "Frantic" stars which Hollywood superstar?

Answer: Harrison Ford

A beautiful French actress named Emmanuelle Seigner co-stars with Harrison Ford in this film. In 1989 she became Mrs. Roman Polanski. Things about this film that are classic Roman? Emmanuelle was his star and is 32 years younger than Roman. This film was also co-written by ... Gerard Brach! FYI-it was Harrison Ford who read Roman's name as Best Director for "The Pianist."

12. 1994's "Death and the Maiden" was a classic Polanski dark thriller. It starred Sigourney Weaver and what "Gandhi" Oscar winner?

Answer: Ben Kingsley

Based on a play by Ariel Dorfman, this film was shot in chronological order, unusual for film-making.

13. What 2002 film won Roman the Academy Award for Best Director: "The _______ "?

Answer: The Pianist

Roman knew he would one day make a Holocaust movie and this was the one. It wasn't his story, but the parallels to his own life were uncanny. This film also won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor (Adrien Brody).

14. In 1969 Roman Polanski was questioned in his late wife's murder?

Answer: True

Though he was out of the country at the time of Sharon Tate's death, he did take a polygraph, during which, according to his claims, he lied and got away with it; he did not believe in lie detector tests. Roman, however, had no involvement in Sharon's murder.

15. In 1988, Roman had the privilege of becoming a father?

Answer: False

Roman and Emmanuelle Seigner have two children. His daughter, Morgane, was born in 1991, and his son, Elvis, arrived a few years later. His unborn child, Paul Richard Polanski, is buried with Sharon in California. Roman resides in Paris with his family.

Source: Author nic6987

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor JuniorTheJaws before going online.
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