2015 TCM Film Festival Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hollywood, California

Hollywood is known as the Film Capital of the World, so it is natural that it would be the location. The headquarters of the festival is the historic Roosevelt Hotel, site of the first Academy Awards ceremony in April, 1929.

Answer: Sophia Loren and Christopher Plummer

Sophia Loren was in attendance at the showing of her movie, "Marriage Italian Style", and gave an interview to be shown later on TCM. Christopher Plummer was there for the showing of his film "The Sound of Music". He was also honored with the hand and footprint ceremony.

In addition, other stars honored were 100-year old Norman Lloyd (best known for his title role in 1942's "Saboteur"), Shirley MacLaine, stuntman Terry Leonard and award-winning film editor, Anne V. Coates.

Answer: Woody Allen

Woody Allen and Mia Farrow were linked not only in marriage, but in the making of 13 movies together; this was the fourth. For the plot of the movie, Allen acknowledges movies by two of his heroes, Federico Fellini's "The White Sheik"
(1952) and Buster Keaton's "Sherlock Jr." (1924).

It's a romantic tale of an actor stepping out of a movie and falling in love with a young movie-goer, who goes to movies to escape her drab and unhappy life during the 1930s depression.

The 1940s superstar, Van Johnson, also appears in this movie.

Answer: Charles Laughton

Charles Laughton is considered one of the 20th Century's greatest actors by other great actors. His co-star in this movie, Maureen O'Hara, was brought to the U.S. by Laughton to star in this picture (he had seen her in Great Britain), and she said in a TCM interview that he had a great speaking voice and diction, and that it was a shame he had few speaking lines in this film. As someone in the film said, "he can speak, but he won't". The character was also deaf from the huge bells of Notre Dame (he was the bellringer).

Some have said that this film was timely, as they drew a parallel between the treatment of Gypsies in the movie with oppression of Jews in the Europe of 1939.

Answer: Cary Grant

This movie is surprisingly light-hearted, due to the camaraderie of the three stars. The movie, at the festival, was introduced by special and sound effects men Ben Burtt and Craig Barron, who took us (by film) to the actual locations
in N. California and showed how it was made to look like India, and also showed home movies taken by the stars at the location. It was a very interesting presentation.

Cary Grant was perfect as the wise-cracking prankster who would often get the other two in hot water, and set in motion the events of the exciting conclusion. The hero of the conclusion was Gunga Din himself, who was hero of the Rudyard Kipling poem, "Gunga Din", the poem upon which the movie was loosely based.

Answer: The swimming pool

Not the best movies are shown there, but it is a beautiful place to spend a balmy evening, with palm trees and other landscaping adding to the enjoyment.
Just don't have a glass of wine in the swimming pool bar, a small glass cost me $18.00!

Answer: Earthquake

"Earthquake" (1974) used new technologies to make it real for theater patrons of the 1970s. One new technology was Sensurround, which used special speakers to create a low bass that seemed to shake seats, and in a few cases, induce nosebleeds.

Richard Roundtree (best known for "Shaft") gave an excellent interview before the film. He's still as handsome as ever. When we were walking out, he was walking behind us, and I stopped to speak to him; he was a very gracious man.

Answer: The Diary of Anne Frank

"The Diary of Anne Frank" was based on Anne Frank's actual diaries, and was first a Broadway hit. Director George Stevens adapted the diaries and Broadway show for the acclaimed movie. Anne's father, Otto Frank, survived the concentration camp to which the family was sent after they were discovered, and was a consultant on the film.

His duties included coaching members of the cast, to add to the film's authenticity.

Answer: Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif was an interesting actor, not only for his ultra-handsome looks and acting ability, but also the fact that he was Egyptian, unusual in Hollywood.
In addition to the two stars mentioned, the story was enhanced by two complex villains, played by Rod Steiger and Tom Courtenay.

The movie was based on the novel by Boris Pasternak and was banned in the Soviet Union. That country sometimes tried to hide unflattering history from the people.

Answer: Buster Keaton

This was one of Buster's greatest comedies, and included perhaps the riskiest
pieces of slapstick: a cyclone blows an actual house wall over on Buster with an open window where he is standing. The director and half the crew walked off, they didn't want to watch the stunt which could have killed Buster if something went wrong. Buster was an excellent acrobat and dancer in addition to being a creative genius.

The screening was accompanied by a live orchestra playing a score composed and conducted by Maestro Carl Davis.