"A Star Is Born" (1954), Part 1 Trivia Quiz | Movies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who produced the film, and what's the name of the production company?

Answer: Sid Luft, Transcona Enterprises

Producer Luft married Garland, after her first marriage to Vincente Minnelli ended. This film was the only one done by Transcona, and distributed by Warners Bros. Hughes, Hawks and British director-producer Guest ("Penny Princess") had nothing to do with it.

2. Who wrote the screenplay?

Answer: Moss Hart

Hecht, Odets and Anderson ("Tea and Sympathy") are known for other projects. Renowned playwright Hart, best known in Hollywood for scripting "Gentlemen's Agreement" and "Hans Christian Andersen", updated the original script by Robert Carson, Alan Campbell and Dorothy Parker. Hart's autobiography "Act One" is a classic.

3. What's the name of the charity benefit that opens the film?

Answer: Night of the Stars

An announcer at the event pompously intones "...Hollywood always takes care of its own." Yeah, right, just look what happens to Norman Maine! (James Mason, stereotyped as the elegant villian, gives a powerhouse performance as the washed-up, drunk ex-star.)

4. What Shakespearean play does Norman quote in his drunken spree at the benefit?

Answer: Richard III

Norman tipsily cries "A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" the famous line from "Richard III". A rodeo act is playing on stage after all, and Norman mounts one of the steeds. Fortunately, Garland's Esther Blodgett saves his bacon when he crashes her act. Later Norman soberly quotes "Once more, into the breach, dear friends", from "Henry V", to Esther.

5. Who played the gum-chewing pianist of the orchestra Esther sang for?

Answer: Tom Noonan

Noonan was Danny McGuire, the pianist who's against Esther's quitting the Glen Williams orchestra when she is persuaded by Norman that she's a great singer, and should try Hollywood. Later, when Esther mourns Norman's suicide and refuses to go to a benefit, Noonan rips into her for her self-pity, and harangues her that she's Norman's only legacy.

A far cry from his rich wimp in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"! Levant acted in other films, Wilson is known for "Caasablanca" (and be grateful I didn't include Liberace instead of the late, great Borge!)

6. Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin wrote all the film's songs.

Answer: False

Leonard Gershe wrote the "Born In A Trunk" number for Esther's debut film. He also scripted Donen's "Funny Face", which used many George and Ira Gershwin standards, and the stage play "Butterflies Are Free". And Esther sings that old Gershwin classic "Swanee"!

7. When Norman tries to convince Esther she's a great singer he quotes a real-life stage actress from the past. Name her.

Answer: Ellen Terry

Ellen Terry was a great stage star of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Norman quotes her definition of star quality as "that little something extra" to apply to Esther's singing. (Of course Garland always had it!) Berhardt and Le Gallienne never said it, neither did Bette Davis' character from "All About Eve"!

8. We all know the real name of Garland's character is Esther Victoria Blodgett (she becomes Vicki Lester), but what is the real name of Norman Maine?

Answer: Ernest Sidney Gubbins

Morrison, of course, is John Wayne, Birnbaum is George Burns and Beedle is William Holden. Changing stars' real names to something more glamorous is nothing new (and Garland should know, she was born Frances Ethel Gumm!).

9. What does Esther do to help her think or relax?

Answer: wash her hair

Roll ball bearings in her hand? You knew it from Catain Queeg in Wouk's "Caine Mutiny", didn't you?

10. What job does Esther take after quitting the band that allows her to sing?

Answer: a TV shampoo ad

Esther's always washing her hair, so naturally she lands a gig singing for a TV marionette for "Trinidad Cononut Oil Shampoo", one of the funniest bits in the film! While she's not a singing waitress, she does work as a drive-in waitress in one of the restored cut scenes. And Garland did a catoon voice-over in real life: Mewsette in the 60's cartoon "Gay Purr-ee".

11. What held up Norman from finding a movie job for Esther?

Answer: a bout of flu after a shoot

Norman got the flu after he got soaked while doing a pirate movie on location. Esther thought Norman stood her up, but Norman was determined to find her and set things straight.

12. What was the name of the apartment building Esther first stayed at?

Answer: Oleander Arms

Esther was dropped off there after she saved Norman's sozzled bacon at the benefit. Later, after she left, Norman remembered the hotel's name was that of a flower, and when discovering the name, snapped to the landlady, "I bet you never saw an oleander in your life!"

13. What's the name of the hotel where Norman finally finds Esther?

Answer: Lancaster

Norman finally locates Esther at the two-story Lancaster while she dries her hair on the roof.

14. What's the body part that three makeup artists at the Niles studio agree is Esther's worst?

Answer: nose

Starting with the nose, the three men give Esther such a horrendous makeup job that Norman laughs hysterically! Fortunately, he gives Esther a more natural job in his dressing room.

15. In one of her first movie jobs, what body part of Esther's is she supposed to show?

Answer: hand

It's a scene on a train in winter and Esther is ordered only to show her right hand with a kerchief in it to wave to an off-screen lover, not her face. Not a great start to a career...Part 2 of the quiz to follow shortly!

Source: Author tjoebigham

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

"A Star Is Born" (1954), Part 1 Quiz

This is the first part of a quiz on one of the all-time Hollywood classics. George Cukor's musical remake is superior to the 1937 original, and the wretched Streisand version. Judy Garland would never again have a plum movie like this!

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