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Classic 'Whodunits' Trivia Quiz

Classic whodunits - of all types.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
robert362

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
55,674

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2937

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The movie 'Laura' stars Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. The supporting cast also includes this actor, who is better known for his roles in a different genre. Hint

Boris Karloff

Christopher Lee

Bela Lugosi

Vincent Price

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these fictional characters was not created by an American author? Hint

Philip Marlowe

Hercule Poirot

Sam Spade

August Dupin

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Question 3 of 10

3. Edgar Allan Poe pioneered the detective story. In 'Murders in the Rue Morgue, who was the culprit? Hint

A child

A police investigator

A supposed victim

An animal

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Question 4 of 10

4. Paul Newman played a detective in 'Harper'. Who played his ex-wife? Hint

Janet Leigh

Julie Harris

Joanne Woodward

Barbara Rush

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Question 5 of 10

5. There actually was a play entitled (in America) 'Whodunnit'. Who was the author? Hint

Ira Levin

Anthony Shaffer

Peter Shaffer

Agatha Christie

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Question 6 of 10

6. The master solver of whodunits is Sherlock Holmes. In what story by Conan Doyle did he first appear? Hint

'The Speckled Band'

'The Woman in White'

'The Hound of the Baskervilles'

'A Study in Scarlet'

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Question 7 of 10

7. Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger try to solve a crime in 'In The Heat of the Night'. Who was the director? Hint

Norman Jewison

Sidney Lumet

Mike Nichols

William Friedkin

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Question 8 of 10

8. One movie version of this Agatha Christie work was actually promoted with a 'whodunit break ' which gave the audience a moment to review clues and try to solve the puzzle. Hint

'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'

'Murder on the Orient Express'

'The Mousetrap'

'Ten Little Indians'

9. 'Murder, She Wrote' is different from many T.V. detective series in that it didn't disclose the identity of the killer until the very end of the show. 'Ellery Queen' (the T.V. series) did the same thing. Who played Ellery? Hint

Jim Hutton

Broderick Crawford

Robert Taylor

David Brian

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 'The Big Sleep', Humphrey Bogart tries to solve a crime. Elisha Cook has a supporting role as a little tough guy. He played a (somewhat) similar role in another Bogart movie. Which one? Hint

'Casablanca'

'Treasure of the Sierra Madre'

'Maltese Falcon'

'High Sierra'

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Nov 07 2024 : Guest 199: 3/10
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The movie 'Laura' stars Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney. The supporting cast also includes this actor, who is better known for his roles in a different genre.

Answer: Vincent Price

He plays one of the suspects. Good movie.

2. Which of these fictional characters was not created by an American author?

Answer: Hercule Poirot

Dupin belongs to Poe. Spade belongs to Dashiell Hammett ('Maltese Falcon', etc.). Marlowe belongs to Raymond Chandler. Poirot is the creation of Agatha Christie.

3. Edgar Allan Poe pioneered the detective story. In 'Murders in the Rue Morgue, who was the culprit?

Answer: An animal

Beware of apes. (If he killed in anger, would it be 'The Apes of Wrath'?)

4. Paul Newman played a detective in 'Harper'. Who played his ex-wife?

Answer: Janet Leigh

Good movie. Harris was in it, but not as the ex-wife. Rush starred with Newman in 'Hombre' and 'Young Philadelphians'. Woodward, of course, is his wife.

5. There actually was a play entitled (in America) 'Whodunnit'. Who was the author?

Answer: Anthony Shaffer

Shaffer never really repeated the giant success that he had with 'Sleuth', a wonderfully entertaining play (that didn't work nearly as well as a movie). Levin did 'Deathtrap': it was a very successful play - but not a particularly good one. Peter Shaffer gave us 'Equus', 'Amadeus', 'Black Comedy' and other excellent plays.

6. The master solver of whodunits is Sherlock Holmes. In what story by Conan Doyle did he first appear?

Answer: 'A Study in Scarlet'

221B Baker Street. 'White' , a mystery (but not a whodunit), is not by Doyle.

7. Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger try to solve a crime in 'In The Heat of the Night'. Who was the director?

Answer: Norman Jewison

Steiger's Oscar, I believe.

8. One movie version of this Agatha Christie work was actually promoted with a 'whodunit break ' which gave the audience a moment to review clues and try to solve the puzzle.

Answer: 'Ten Little Indians'

The movie version with Hugh O'Brian and Shirley Eaton had this gimmicky device. There have been several versions of the movie: some have {worked;} some haven't. 'Mousetrap' is her classic mystery play. As for 'Orient', it's well-known, but not that good.

Answer: Jim Hutton

With David Wayne. It was 'okay'. The others were in old T.V. series: Taylor was in 'The Detectives'. Crawford was in 'Highway Patrol'. Brian was in 'Mr. District Attorney'.

10. In 'The Big Sleep', Humphrey Bogart tries to solve a crime. Elisha Cook has a supporting role as a little tough guy. He played a (somewhat) similar role in another Bogart movie. Which one?

Answer: 'Maltese Falcon'

In 'Sleep' he is the poor chap who gets killed in the latter part of the movie. In 'Falcon' he plays Sydney Greenstreet's 'heavy'. As for trying to understand the plot ...

Source: Author robert362

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