An Aussie Film Extra In London Quiz

Answer: The Adventures of Barry McKenzie

Barry McKenzie originally featured in a Private Eye Cartoon, created by Barry Humphries. In 1972 the cartoon was translated into a film starring Barry Crocker, which followed his adventures in the Australian enclave in London's Earl's Court, nicknamed Kangaroo Valley. Featuring a lot of drunkenness and vomiting, alongside hilarious stereotypes of both the Australians and Brits, it has become a cult movie. Brits were introduced to a lot of Australian slang such as 'pointing Percy at porcelain', and probably the most famous one, the Technicolor Yawn - otherwise known as throwing up.

Answer: Notting Hill

The romantic comedy 'Notting Hill' stars Julia Roberts as film star Anna Scott, and Hugh Grant as William Thacker, the owner of a Notting Hill book shop who falls in love with her. There are plenty of 'aaaaah' moments for the romantics among us, and some very nice shots of London. My favourite part is where she tells him 'The fame thing isn't really real, you know. I'm also just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her'.
Not a dry eye anywhere.
The screenplay was by Richard Curtis, and the film was the highest grossing British film of that year. It won a BAFTA, the British Comedy Award and a Brit Award for the soundtrack.

Answer: Love, Actually

"Love, Actually" (2003) is a romantic comedy about the sometimes rocky path of love. It is a series of ten interconnected stories that all end up in Heathrow airport. The all star cast includes Hugh Grant and Colin Firth (of "Bridget Jones Diary" fame), Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy and features a brief appearance by Rowan Atkinson. While one character in the film travels to America in search of love, he returns to Heathrow for the final scene.

While the film was nominated for several awards, and actors Bill Nighy and Emma Thompson both won several supporting awards, it failed to score any Oscar nominations.

(Question compiled by leith90)

Answer: 84 Charing Cross Road

Starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins this very gentle, 1987 film is based on a book by Helene Hanff. It consists of a series of letters between herself and the chief buyer at a London antiquarian bookstore. Starting with an enquiry regarding rare books she could not trace in America the letters trace a deep and evolving friendship. Sadly the two never met, Frank Dole died before Helene Hanff was able to visit London.

Answer: The Krays

Starring real life brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, this 1990 film charts the life of notorious gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray. It starts with their childhood in the East End of the 1930s and follows their rise to infamy through their criminal activities. It does not shirk from showing some of the violence they were noted for. Convicted of murder, the Kray twins were sentenced to 30 years in prison. Ronnie died in Broadmoor in 1995. Reggie was released in 2000 on health grounds and died three weeks later of cancer.

At the time of the film the Kemp brothers were better known for being part of Spandau Ballet. Martin Kemp has gone on to appear in various films and television series. The best known of these is his portrayal of Steve Owen in "Eastenders".

Answer: The Prestige

Robert "The Great Danton" Angier (Jackman) and Alfred "the Professor" Borden (Christian Bale) are colleagues in magic who have a falling out after Angier's wife (Piper Perabo) dies during a trick. From then on they are bitter rivals, always trying to outdo the other, and neither are above resorting to sabotage. In the end, Borden is convicted of killing Angier and sent to prison. But Angier doesn't die, not then at least.

"The Prestige" (2006) was nominated for Oscars in the categories of Best Achievement in Art Direction and Cinematography, but failed to win either.


(Question compiled by leith90)

Answer: The Lavender Hill Mob

"The Lavender Hill Mob" tells the story of Henry Holland (Alec Guinness), a mild-mannered bank clerk who has, for years, been planning the perfect robbery. By chance a new resident, Alfred Pendlebury (Stanley Holloway), comes to live at his boarding house. Alfred owns a foundry and together they decide to steal the gold bullion, make it into Eiffel Towers and ship it to France, pretending that they are exporting souvenirs to be sold in Paris. Things go wrong when the owner of the kiosk that sells the souvenirs accidentally sells six of them to English schoolgirls instead of holding them for the bank robbers. Madness ensues as Holland and Pedlebury try to get them back. I won't tell the rest of this story in case you haven't seen it.

"Lavender Hill" is named after a street in Battersea, a district in South London. Other well-known actors who appeared in it were Sidney James and Audrey Hepburn. This classic film has been digitally remastered and re-released in UK cinemas in 2011.

Answer: From Hell

"From Hell" (2001) is the story of Inspector Frederick Abbeline's hunt for the killer that the newspapers named Jack the Ripper. The Inspector's investigations lead him to the conclusion that the killings were done by the Dr William Gull, a physician to the royal family.

His reason for killing the women is that Albert Sickert, who is really Prince Edward, had married a Catholic, Annie Crook and had a child with her. This child, Alice, would supposedly have had a claim to the British throne. The witnesses to the marriage become Dr Gull's victims.

This preposterous solution to the famous mystery of the identity of Jack the Ripper is somewhat entertaining and the settings for the story are well done but it is of little historical value.

Answer: Mrs Henderson Presents

Starring Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins as Mrs Henderson and theatre manager Vivian Van Damm this film was released in 2005. It also featured "Pop Idol" winner Will Young in his first film role. It charts part of the history of the Windmill Theatre, the first theatre in London to have nude performers.

The laws of the time meant that the only way this could be allowed was for the performers not to move. They were then considered to be art, as they were the equivalent of nude statues.

Answer: Alfie

Originally made in 1966, with Michael Caine in the lead role, the film broke new ground, with Michael Caine speaking directly to camera rather than to another cast member. It was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Song. The title song was a hit for Cilla Black.

In 2004 the film was re-made with Jude Law in the lead role, but it bombed at the box office and collected mixed reviews.