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Wild about Billy Wilder Trivia Quiz

Billy Wilder gave us many film classics, all stamped with his special touch. A lot of them are among my favorites. See how much of Wilder you've been wild about!

A multiple-choice quiz by tjoebigham. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
tjoebigham

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
23,978

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
763

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Who starred in Wilder's directorial debut? Hint

Joan Fontane

Jean Arthur

Marlene Dietrich

Ginger Rogers

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. Name the lead character in Five Graves To Cairo. Hint

J.J. Bramble

C.C. Baxter

Walter Neff

Joe Gillis

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Question 3 of 15

3. What did Barbara Stanwyck wear that attracted Fred McMurray in Double Indemnity? Hint

a pearl choker

a nose ring

emerald earrings

an ankle bracelet

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Question 4 of 15

4. What famous detective writer co-wrote Indemnity with Wilder? Hint

Dashiell Hammett

Raymond Chandler

Johnathan Latimer

Geoffrey Homes

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Question 5 of 15

5. What was the only musical Wilder ever made? Hint

The Emperor Waltz

Singin' In The Rain

Good News

The Band Wagon

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Question 6 of 15

6. Name the two films Wilder made with Marlene Dietrich. Hint

Rancho Notorious, Stage Fright

A Foreign Affair, Witness For The Prosecution

The Blue Angel, The Scarlet Empress

Destry Rides Again, No Highway In The Sky

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which real-life disaster did Wilder base Ace In The Hole on? Hint

the Hindenburg crash

the Floyd Collins cave-in

the Lusitania sinking

the Stock Market crash

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which real-life Hollywood street became the title of Wilder's best-known film? Hint

Rodeo Drive

Gower Street

Sunset Boulevard

Mulholland Drive

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which later film did Norma Desmond's mansion play a part in?

Answer: (( a James Dean film))

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Question 10 of 15

10. Which film director (NOT von Stroheim) starred in Stalag 17? Hint

Otto Preminger

John Huston

Orson Welles

Howard Hawks

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Question 11 of 15

11. Name the title character of Wilder's last film at Paramount. Hint

Rebecca

Marnie

Sylvia

Sabrina

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which of these blond bombshells co-starred with Tom Ewell in The Seven Year Itch? Hint

Jayne Mansfield

Marilyn Monroe

Mamie Van Doren

Anita Ekberg

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Question 13 of 15

13. Name the two actors Wilder worked most often with. Hint

Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau

Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby

Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart

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Question 14 of 15

14. Which composer never worked with Wilder? Hint

Miklos Rozsa

Bernard Herrmann

Franz Waxman

Alfred Newman

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Question 15 of 15

15. What is Billy Wilder's real name?

Answer: (One Word)

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Oct 15 2024 : Guest 73: 8/15
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who starred in Wilder's directorial debut?

Answer: Ginger Rogers

Rogers was the lead in The Major and The Minor, the first film Wilder both wrote and directed.

2. Name the lead character in Five Graves To Cairo.

Answer: J.J. Bramble

Franchot Tone played Bramble, who pumped secrets from Erich von Stroheim's Rommel.

3. What did Barbara Stanwyck wear that attracted Fred McMurray in Double Indemnity?

Answer: an ankle bracelet

The ankle bracelet was not in James M. Cain's original novel, but added to the film.

4. What famous detective writer co-wrote Indemnity with Wilder?

Answer: Raymond Chandler

Though Cain was one of his least favorite writers, Chandler worked with Wilder on {Indemnity;} he later co-wrote Hitchcock's 'Strangers On A Train'.

5. What was the only musical Wilder ever made?

Answer: The Emperor Waltz

Waltz was also Wilder's first color film, and his last try at the musical genre.

6. Name the two films Wilder made with Marlene Dietrich.

Answer: A Foreign Affair, Witness For The Prosecution

Fritz Lang made Rancho, Hitchcock lensed Fright, von Sternberg did the middle two, and Jimmy Stewart was her co-star in the last two!

7. Which real-life disaster did Wilder base Ace In The Hole on?

Answer: the Floyd Collins cave-in

Wilder based his film on the 20's tragedy of Floyd Collins who was trapped in a cave and died before he could be rescued.

8. Which real-life Hollywood street became the title of Wilder's best-known film?

Answer: Sunset Boulevard

A film classic starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, it later became a hit musical.

9. Which later film did Norma Desmond's mansion play a part in?

Answer: Rebel Without A Cause

The Desmond mansion was used by Nicolas Ray for one of the final scenes in Rebel.

10. Which film director (NOT von Stroheim) starred in Stalag 17?

Answer: Otto Preminger

Preminger, of course also gave us Laura and The Man With The Golden Arm.

11. Name the title character of Wilder's last film at Paramount.

Answer: Sabrina

Sabrina (not the teenage witch!) was played by Audrey {Hepburn;} it was remade with Julia Ormonde.

12. Which of these blond bombshells co-starred with Tom Ewell in The Seven Year Itch?

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

However, Ewell and Mansfield did team in Frank Tashlin's The Girl Can't Help It.

13. Name the two actors Wilder worked most often with.

Answer: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau

Yes, it was Lemmon and the late {Matthau;} but Martin and Stewart did make a film apiece with Wilder( Kiss Me, Stupid and The Spirit Of St. Louis)

14. Which composer never worked with Wilder?

Answer: Bernard Herrmann

Sadly, Herrmann, best known for his work with Welles and Hitchcock, never scored for {Wilder;} Waxman won an Oscar for Sunset.

15. What is Billy Wilder's real name?

Answer: Samuel

Yes, that's Billy's real name!

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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