And the Oscar Goes to... (1932) Quiz

Answer: Conrad Nagel

Conrad Nagel (1897-1970) was born in Iowa to parents who were both musicians, and encouraged him in his self-expression from a young age. He was among those who founded the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 1927. In his career, Nagel earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame three times - once each for Motion Pictures, Radio, and Television.

Answer: Frederic March and Wallace Beery

After the vote, there was only one vote separating Beery and March, so the award was granted to both of them.

Frederic March (1897-1975) won the Oscar for his role as the title character in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931), based on the 1886 classic by Robert Louis Stevenson. March began his life as Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel, and started his working life as a banker. After undergoing surgery for his appendix, he changed the direction of his life, going into acting, and taking a shortened form of his mother's maiden name (Marcher) as a stage name.

Wallace Beery (1885-1949) was one of those who well and truly ran away to the join the circus, joining the Ringling Brothers Circus at age 16 as an elephant trainer. Moving to New York, he found his way as a singer, and eventually to Broadway. Nominated once prior to this win for his role in "The Big House" (1930), Beery made his box office breakthrough starring opposite Marie Dressler in "Min and Bill" (1930).

Answer: Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes (1900-1993) had a distinguished career that spanned nearly 70 years. She began her acting career as a child actress, and "The Sin of Madelon Claudet" was her first role in a sound film. She is one of only 12 people in the 20th century that has won each an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, AND Tony award.

In addition to the awards for her performances, she was also awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1986.

Answer: The Champ

"The Champ" (1931) starred Wallace Beery in the title role, along with child star Jackie Cooper, who was vaulted into the limelight with this role. The movie picked up mixed reviews upon its release, but it has stood the test of time with more critical acclaim over the years.

The film was remade in 1952 starring Red Skelton as "The Clown" with a comedian in the main role instead of a boxer, and then again in 1979 with the original title with Jon Voight.

Answer: The Music Box

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy worked together for the first time on the film "The Lucky Dog" (1921), a few years after which they began turning out shorts together. Altogether they appeared in 106 films together: 40 short sound films; 32 short silent films; 23 full-length feature films, and 11 other films where they made cameo or guest appearances.

"The Music Box" (1932) follows the pair as they must deliver a player piano up an incredibly long flight of stairs, and the antics that ensue.

Answer: Transatlantic

"Transatlantic" (1931) is a comedy film that follows a number of passengers and their travails as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic Ocean. The film starred Edmund Lowe, Lois Moran, John Halliday, Greta Nissen, Myrna Loy, Jean Hersholt, Earle Fox, and Billy Bevan.

Gordon Wiles (1902-1950) worked in film as a director and art director from the late 1920s until his death in 1950. "Transatlantic" was the first film Wiles was credited with being the art director for.

Answer: Shanghai Express

"Shanghai Express" (1932) was the fourth film (of seven) that teamed up director Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich. Known for its chiaroscuro cinematography (marked by intense contrasts between light and dark), the film takes place in 1931 China in the middle of a civil war. Traveling on an express train from Beiping to Shanghai, Doc Harvey (Clive Brook) learns of a courtesan named Shanghai Lily on the train. Unbeknownst to him, she is none other than his former lover who he had left five years previously.

Lee Games (1898-1978) accepted the Oscar for Best Cinematography for his work on the film. Over his long career, Games received four nominations for an Academy Award, but he only won the one time.

Answer: Frank Borzage

Frank Borzage (1894-1962) was born in Utah, one of 14 children born to his parents Luigi and Maria (eight survived childhood). In 1912 Borzage found work in Hollywood as an actor, and he made his first film as a director in 1915 entitled "The Pitch o'Chance." He remained very active in the film industry until his death in 1962, with over 100 directing credits to his name.

"Bad Girl" starred James Dunn and Sally Eilers. 'Good' man meets 'bad' girl, and against all odds they begin a romance. But can they get past the fears, misconceptions and broken promises to make it work?

Answer: Walt Disney

Walt Disney received the award specifically for the creation of Mickey Mouse.

"Parade of the Award Nominees" featured a processsion of caricatured nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress. The parade was led by Mickey Mouse (wearing green pants!), and included other Disney characters such as Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Clarabelle Cow. Incidentally, this was the first animation that featured Mickey in color! The short was not released to the general public until it was included as part of Mickey Mouse's compilations sets.

Answer: Grand Hotel

"Grand Hotel" (1932) was adapted from the 1930 stage play of the same name that was itself adapted from a 1929 novel by Vicki Baum entitled "Menschen im Hotel." The film contains the quoted line made famous by Greta Garbo, "I want to be alone."

With a cast that included such big-name actors as Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, and Lewis Stone, it is a wonder that the film did not garner more nominations. The story takes place at a posh hotel in Berlin, where a resident note that things are "always the same. People come--people go, nothing ever happens." This time around, a lot does happen, as various hotel guests meet and clash in a terrific tale.