Sammy Sosquirrely's Second Common Bond Quiz

Answer: Little Shop of Horrors

The original 'Little Shop of Horrors' came out in 1960 and was remade into a musical in 1986. The plot follows the arrival of an alien man-eating plant at a shabby flower shop, and the escalating disaster that ensues as the plant grows. Starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin, 'Little Shop of Horrors' is a comedic-horror movie, lightened not only by the musical numbers, but also by the romance that blossoms between the flower shop's two clerks - Seymour and Audrey.

Answer: Yvonne DeCarlo

Yvonne DeCarlo was a trained opera singer and starred in several Broadway musicals, including 'Follies' which ran from February 1971 through July 1972. She also starred in many movies, including 1945's 'Salome, Where She Danced' and 1956's 'The Ten Commandments'.

She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sitcom 'The Munsters' ran from 1964 until 1966, and followed the rather inane and hilarious antics of a family who, despite their monstrous oddities, considered themselves perfectly normal.

Answer: Water Lilies

Claude Monet, a French Impressionist painter, created about 250 paintings that comprise the 'Water Lilies' series. They are prized attractions at a number of museums, including The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, The Art Institute of Chicago and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Answer: The Rose Tattoo

'The Rose Tattoo' opened on Broadway in 1951, and won four Tony awards and one Theatre World award. In 1955, it was made into a movie starring Anna Magnani and Burt Lancaster. Set in Louisiana, the drama follows a widow coming to terms with the death of a husband she idolized, her reluctant but irresistible attraction to a womanizing truck driver, and their eventual acceptance of each other.

Answer: Daisy Miller

Published in 1879, 'Daisy Miller' is only 55 pages in length, but is rich with thematic content. Considered by many at the time to be un-American and a scandalous outrage, the book went on to become one of Henry James' most popular works.

The book follows Daisy Miller, a young American girl on her first and only visit to Europe, and her interaction with 'proper' society. Daisy is too frank, too vulgar, too common and unwilling to stifle her exuberance. Despite charming the men she encounters, she is treated with aloof rigidity by the society women she offends. The conflict between upper-class American and European ideals, social expectations and mores, and the differences between old and new customs, are just two of the weighty themes that make this book a true classic.

Answer: Barbra Streisand

Performed by Streisand and Diamond, 'You Don't Bring Me Flowers' hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in 1978. Written by Marilyn and Alan Bergman, it was originally intended to be the theme song for the sitcom 'All That Glitters'.

Barbra Streisand has achieved star status not only for her singing, but also for her acting. In addition to her live performances and studio recordings, she has appeared on Broadway, the West End, on television and in several memorable movies.

Answer: Blossom

Running from January 1991 until June of 1995, 'Blossom' featured the home life and social interactions of a spunky teenager and her quirky family. The series dealt with hard topics - such as divorce, substance abuse and extended families - with a realistic approach lightened by comic touches.

The title character, Blossom, dealt with her adversities and hopes at least in part by escaping into fantasies where she got hilarious advice from celebrities. Phil Donahue, Sonny Bono and Little Richard were just a few of her celebrity advisers.

Answer: Lilies of the Field

Based on a book written in 1962 by William Edmund Barrett, the movie 'Lilies of the Field' came out in 1963 and starred Sidney Poitier and Lilia Skala. When handyman Homer Smith (Poitier) arrives at a farm run by a group of German nuns, he is at first recalcitrant and gruff with a desire for nothing more than to be back on his way. Persuaded to stay overnight, and to help with a simple repair job, his days at the farm and his repairs stretch on. As the story progresses, personalities and beliefs clash, and understanding grows. With quiet and determined dignity and faith, a mutual respect and reliance develops not only between Smith and the nuns, but with the entire town. 'Lilies of the Field' is a touching and charming drama.

Besides being an Oscar-winning actor, Sidney Poitier is also an accomplished director, writer and diplomat.

Answer: Daisy Buchanan

'The Great Gatsby' was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and published in 1925. Set in the Jazz Age, the main portion of the story revolves around four summer months in 1922. Narrated by Nick Carraway in a series of flashbacks, the novel centers around Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Nick. Rife with themes of greed, moral emptiness, corruption and the decay of the great American dream, the characters indulge in questionable interactions, grasp at illusory dreams, and try to fend off boredom with material wealth. Tensions escalate until in an explosion of violence, their dreams are irrevocably destroyed.

Answer: flower

Flowers are the common bond between the previous questions, either as the answer or contained within the question itself.

In question #1, Audrey is an alien flowering plant, and the movie centers around a flower shop. Questions #2 and #8 both pertain to lilies - Lily and 'Lilies of the Field', both of which belong to the genus Lilium. Question #3 likewise refers to water lilies, which belong to the genus Nymphaea - which was named after the Greek goddess Nymph. In questions #4, #5 and #9, roses and daisies are perhaps two of the most popular bouquet flower choices. Question #6 refers to flowers in general - perhaps roses or daisies? And in question #7, 'to blossom' means to flower or bloom.

Flowers are more than just yard decorations. They have been used throughout the ages in many ways, not the least of which as symbols of friendship or love. And, they are pretty.