A Tale of Two Johns Quiz | Something in Common

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. John Wayne's breakthrough role was in a John Ford film, "Stagecoach". What was his character's name?

Answer: Ringo Kid

John Wayne was Ringo Kid, a passenger on a stagecoach ride across dangerous territory at a time when Geronimo is on the warpath. A motley crew are assembled together on this trip, including the famous John Carradine, who also featured in Wayne's last film, "The Shootist". "Stagecoach" was made in 1939.

2. In John Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy", two of the films star Wayne playing the same character. In the first of these films, "Fort Apache", he is forced to deal with a commander (played by Henry Fonda) with whom he doesn't see eye to eye. In the last, "Rio Grande", he is placed in a pickle by the enlistment of his son in his own regiment. What is Wayne's character's name?

Answer: Kirby Yorke

Kirby Yorke is the name of the character in these two cavalry movies. Although whether he is really supposed to be the same person in both roles is never specified, it makes sense chronologically and characteristically for both people to be one and the same.

In "Fort Apache" there is no mention of his family, but in "Rio Grande" references to his past abound--including the arrival of his son and then his wife in his camp.

3. In "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon", which focuses on a lone cavalry outpost in the West, Ben Johnson plays the scout Sergeant Tyree. What is his catchphrase, often repeated but often proved wrong?

Answer: "That's not in my department."

When asked for input, Tyree frequently adds the disclaimer "Well, Sir, that's not in my department. But..." and goes on to give his opinion, which is always highly accurate. Tyree is an ex-Confederate soldier, and an excellent tracker, scout, and horseman. He also claims at one point: "I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't play cards."

4. "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" was the first of two times that Wayne prematurely aged himself to play an older man.

Answer: False

John Ford originally didn't want John Wayne to star in "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon", thinking him too young for the role, until he saw Wayne playing the aged Thomas Dunson in "Red River". Realizing the potential, he then signed Wayne on. The Duke later claimed that "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" was one of his favorite films to make--and no wonder! The fun and adventure never let up.

5. "Rio Grande" chronicles the stirrings of war along the Rio Grande and the attempt by a lone cavalry outpost to save its women and children. Captain St. Jacques, a subordinate of Wayne's character, is played by which highly-decorated WWII hero?

Answer: Peter J. Ortiz

Peter (Pierre) Ortiz played the one-eyed Captain St. Jacques. He served with the French Foreign Legion, the US Marines, and the OSS during World War II. He received two Navy Crosses for heroism, as well as other medals from France, Britain, and the USA. His acting career was never as successful, with most of his roles going uncredited.

6. Harry Carey, Jr. and Ben Johnson play Troopers Boone and Tyree in "Rio Grande". These laid-back youngsters only seem to care about what time the bell rings for lunch, but they demonstrate that they know their stuff--but how?

Answer: They give a trick-riding demonstration.

When Sgt-Major Quincannon asks Boone and Tyree if they'd like to try riding "Roman-style", or standing on the backs of two horses while riding over fences and other obstacles, they have only one answer..."Yo!" Ben Johnson was well-known for his trick-riding, having first been a rancher and then a stunt double for Hollywood. Harry Carey, Jr. learnt trick-riding on his father's ranch while young.

Their skills are more than evident in this classic scene.

7. In "Fort Apache", the cavalry goes back on its word to the Apache, leading to the death of which actor's character?

Answer: Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda's character, Lt-Col. Owen Thursday, dies with his troop in the battle that gave the story that the film was based on its name: "Massacre". For the rest of the characters, it is a somewhat happier ending.

8. John Agar and Shirley Temple played sweethearts in "Fort Apache".

Answer: True

They also married in real life, three years before "Fort Apache". This was before John Agar was an actor. They divorced in 1949, after the film, though they did parent a daughter together. Temple is better-known for having later married politician Charles Alden Black.

9. In "The Quiet Man", John Wayne plays Sean Thornton, and American ex-boxer who is coming back to the town of his birth in Ireland. He is accused of cowardice after he refuses to fight another man. Why did he do so?

Answer: He once killed a man in a boxing match.

Sean once killed a man who was younger than he and had a wife and children, and refused to fight again out of guilt, although the man's death was an accident. When his brother-in-law refuses to pay his wife Mary Kate's dowry, however, and he doesn't fight back, Mary Kate (played by Maureen O'Hara) accuses him of cowardice. Of course, this leads to the monumental donnybrook that is the climax of the film, because everyone knows the Duke ain't no coward!

10. "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is the story of the powerful Liberty Valance who terrorizes a Western town. But who DOES shoot Liberty Valance?

Answer: Tom Doniphon (John Wayne)

This is, of course, the main debate of the film. However, the puzzle is finally resolved at the end of the film as Stoddard tells the journalist to whom the majority of the film's story is dictated. Stoddard gets the credit for the shooting, but Doniphon was the shooter.

Source: Author lordprescott

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

A Tale of Two Johns Trivia Quiz

Director John Ford and actor John Wayne worked together on many memorable films. This quiz pays tribute to only a few of them! Can you answer all the questions about these Ford & Wayne movies?

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>