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Quiz about American Presidents in Classic Movies

American Presidents in Classic Movies Quiz

This is a look at American Presidents as they've been shown in the movies. The first five questions deal with actual presidents; the next five deal with fictional ones.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
robert362

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
169,887

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1361

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (7/10), Guest 207 (8/10), Guest 75 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The finest movie about an actual president may be "Abe Lincoln in Illinois". Raymond Massey was superb in the role of Honest Abe; who played his adversary, Stephen Douglas? Hint

Martin Balsam

Arthur Kennedy

Robert Ryan

Gene Lockhart

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Question 2 of 10

2. Even before "JFK" and "Thirteen Days", there was a movie about "The Missiles of October". Who played President Kennedy? Hint

William Devane

John Gavin

Martin Sheen

Sterling Hayden

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Question 3 of 10

3. Oliver Stone (who directed "JFK") also directed "Nixon". Who played the title role? Hint

Charles Durning

Jack Lemmon

Anthony Hopkins

Jason Robards

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Question 4 of 10

4. "Sunrise at Campobello" was about FDR. Who played him? Hint

Ralph Bellamy

Randolph Scott

Joel McCrea

Gregory Peck

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Question 5 of 10

5. Charlton Heston has portrayed this president on more than one occasion. Hint

Andrew Jackson

James Monroe

James Madison

John Adams

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Question 6 of 10

6. "Seven Days in May" pitted Kirk Douglas against Burt Lancaster in a plot to overthrow the government. Who played the president? Hint

Charles Laughton

Fredric March

Richard Widmark

Victor Mature

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Question 7 of 10

7. "The American President" featured Michael Douglas in the title role. Who played the challenging candidate from the other party? Hint

James Garner

James Caan

Richard Dreyfuss

Robert Culp

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Fail Safe" was a taut cold war thriller. Who starred in the key role of President? Hint

James Stewart

Henry Fonda

Don Murray

Glenn Ford

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Question 9 of 10

9. Henry Fonda starred as a decent presidential candidate in "The Best Man". Who starred as his scoundrel opponent for the nomination? Hint

Cliff Robertson

Fred MacMurray

Robert Cummings

John Payne

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Question 10 of 10

10. "Suddenly" involves a plot to kill the president. Who plays the would-be assassin? Hint

Tony Curtis

Frank Sinatra

Dean Martin

William Holden

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 07 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 207: 8/10
Nov 03 2024 : Guest 75: 2/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The finest movie about an actual president may be "Abe Lincoln in Illinois". Raymond Massey was superb in the role of Honest Abe; who played his adversary, Stephen Douglas?

Answer: Gene Lockhart

There's fine acting by Lockhart (and by Ruth Gordon as Mary Todd) ... but the top honors have to go to Massey for his brilliant portrayal of Lincoln in this film version of a Robert E. Sherwood play.

2. Even before "JFK" and "Thirteen Days", there was a movie about "The Missiles of October". Who played President Kennedy?

Answer: William Devane

Devane was fine in the role of JFK in this fine real-life thriller; a very young Sheen played RFK. (The Costner film, "Thirteen Days", was also good.)

3. Oliver Stone (who directed "JFK") also directed "Nixon". Who played the title role?

Answer: Anthony Hopkins

Hopkins is versatile, but this movie didn't work for me. (On the other hand, does Nixon deserve a "good" movie?)

4. "Sunrise at Campobello" was about FDR. Who played him?

Answer: Ralph Bellamy

This is, I believe, one of the roles for which Bellamy is best known.

5. Charlton Heston has portrayed this president on more than one occasion.

Answer: Andrew Jackson

Heston has played Andrew Jackson in a variety of westerns, including "The President's Lady". (I'm not sure why ... perhaps it just worked out that way.)

6. "Seven Days in May" pitted Kirk Douglas against Burt Lancaster in a plot to overthrow the government. Who played the president?

Answer: Fredric March

This was a fine adaptation (by Rod Serling) of the excellent Knebel & Bailey novel.

7. "The American President" featured Michael Douglas in the title role. Who played the challenging candidate from the other party?

Answer: Richard Dreyfuss

This thoroughly entertaining movie came to the screen via Aaron Sorkin. Annette Bening co-starred (with Martin Sheen and Michael J. Fox).

8. "Fail Safe" was a taut cold war thriller. Who starred in the key role of President?

Answer: Henry Fonda

Fonda is always excellent as the strong, silent man of integrity and character (as in "Twelve Angry Men"). Here, he's very believable as a President who is confronting the ultimate national nightmare.

9. Henry Fonda starred as a decent presidential candidate in "The Best Man". Who starred as his scoundrel opponent for the nomination?

Answer: Cliff Robertson

Do the ends justify the means? That's a question for Fonda to deal with in this very well-done movie.

10. "Suddenly" involves a plot to kill the president. Who plays the would-be assassin?

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Picture young Sinatra as a hit man and you're on the right track. This was a different kind of role for him.

Source: Author robert362

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