And the Oscar Goes to... (1931) Quiz

Answer: Lawrence Grant

This ceremony was the only time that Lawrence Grant (1870-1952) ever hosted the Oscars. An English actor, Grant was known primarily for his supporting roles in such movies as "Bulldog Drummond" (1929), "A Tale of Two Cities" (1935), "Son of Frankenstein" (1939) and "The Living Ghost" (1942).

Answer: Lionel Barrymore

Lionel Barrymore (1878-1954) was part of a multi-generation family of actors. His parents, Georgiana Drew and Maurice Barrymore, were both actors, as were his younger siblings John and Ethyl. His brother John fathered John Drew and Diana Barrymore, which in turn means that Lionel is great-uncle to John Drew's daughter Drew Barrymore.

Answer: Marie Dressler

In Canada, Marie Dressler has left a legacy behind her. Her hometown of Cobourg, Ontario holds a vintage film festival every year in her name, and in June of 2008, Canada Post issued a stamp featuring Dressler as part of its "Canada in Hollywood" series.

Dressler appeared in over 40 films in her relatively short film career, and she also completed an autobiography before her death, entitled "The Life Story of an Ugly Duckling."

Answer: "The Dawn Patrol" (John Monk Saunders)

"The Dawn Patrol" (1930) starred Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as two flying aces struggling with the high rate of casualties among their ranks, and the seeming callousness of their leadership in sending out barely-trained pilots to almost certain death. The film was re-made in 1938 with Errol Flynn and David Niven in the same roles.

John Monk Saunders himself saw service during World War I, but as a flight instructor in Florida, never having the opportunity to serve overseas. Amongst his credits as a filmmaker were as a screenwriter on the Best Picture winning film "Wings" (1927).

Answer: Edna Ferber

One of the posters advertising "Cimarron" boasted that it was "Terrific as All Creation." The film followed Yancey Cravat and his family as they moved from Wichita, Kansas to Oklahoma as part of the government's opening of the territory for settlement. Richard Dix and Irene Dunne filled the roles of Yancey and his wife Sabra as they struggled to make a life for themselves.

Edna Ferber (1887-1968) wrote many novels and plays, and was also credited as a writer on various theatre-themed television shows, such as "The Stage Door" (1950) and "The Best of Broadway" (1954-55). She made her own acting debut in the Orson Welles radio production of her own novel "Show Boat," playing the role of Parthy Ann Hawks.

The gentleman who accepted the award for adapting Ferber's novel to the screen was Howard Estabrook (1884-1978), who had also been nominated the previous year for adapting "Street of Chance" (1930).

Answer: Paramount Publix Studio Sound Department

Paramount Pictures traces its origins to the Famous Players Film Company and founder Adolph Zukor (1873-1976). As such, it has been the oldest film production company in existence.

Answer: "Tabu" (Floyd Crosby)

"Tabu" (1931) chronicled the story of a pair of lovers on a South Seas island. Part I ("Paradise") had the couple forced to flee their island when the woman was chosen to be sacrificed as a holy maid to the gods. Part II ("Paradise Lost") showed them dealing with life on a colonized island and with the exploitation of the native peoples.

Answer: Scientific or Technical Awards

The Academy Award of Merit was presented to Electrical Research Products Inc., RCA-Photophone Inc., RKO Radio Pictures Inc. for noise reduction recording equipment, as well as to DuPont Film Manufacturing Corp., Eastman Kodak Co. for super-sensitive panchromatic film.

The Scientific and Engineering Award went to Fox Film Corp. for effective use of synchro-projection composite photography.

Technical Achievement Awards were given to Electrical Research Products Inc. for moving coil microphone transmitters, to RKO Radio Pictures Inc. for reflex type microphone concentrators, and to RCA-Photophone Inc. for ribbon microphone transmitters.

Answer: Skippy

"Skippy" (1931) was based on the comic strip of the same name by Percy Crosby that was published from 1923 until 1945.

The title role was played by Jackie Cooper, who also received a nomination for Best Actor for his role. In the film, Skippy tried to help his new friend Sooky, who lived in the local Shantytown. To keep Sooky's dog from being taken by the dogcatcher, Skippy and Sooky had three days to find a way to pay for a dog license.

Norman Tourog (1899-1981) directed over 140 films in his career, including nine that featured Elvis Presley. His win for Best Director at the age of 32 made him the youngest director to win the award, a record which stood until the end of the 20th century, and may continue to stand for years to come.

Answer: Cimarron

The huge budget for "Cimarron" took its toll on the film's revenue. The depression era had begun, and the producers of "Cimarron" lost money on the film, despite being a critical success.

The film followed Yancey Cravat and his family as they moved from Wichita, Kansas to Oklahoma as part of the 1888 Oklahoma land rush. Richard Dix and Irene Dunne filled the roles of Yancey and his wife Sabra as they struggled to make a life for themselves. Yancey became an important man in the community as they developed it, but later felt confined again and periodically headed further west to the Cherokee Strip, leaving Sabra behind to take up the slack, and she became significant in her own right.

A bit of trivia: "Cimarron" was one of only three westerns to win Best Picture in the 20th century, the other two being "Dances With Wolves" (1990) and "Unforgiven" (1992).