And the Oscar Goes to... (April, 1930) Quiz

Answer: William C. deMille

William C. deMille hosted both the first (with Douglas Fairbanks) and second Academy Awards. These were the only times that he did, however. deMille's career as a playwright and filmmaker spanned from the turn of the century to the early 1930s. He founded the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts in 1929, and remained active there as a faculty member until his death in 1955.

Answer: All of these.

All three were true, and it is important to note that any nominee mentioned in the history books (and this quiz) is based on research done by AMPAS (The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) as to what films were being evaluated by the judges.

Another difference from the previous year: this time the winners were not announced before the awards ceremony.

Because of the eight months between the assessment period and the actual presentation, it was also announced that the third Academy Awards would take place in November.

Answer: In Old Arizona

"In Old Arizona" (1928) was the first major Western to use sound, and to be filmed out-of-doors (with sound) as well.

The film saw the Cisco Kid fall for local beauty Tonia, who double-crossed him in the end by cashing in on the reward together with Sergeant Dunn, dead or alive.

Warner Baxter helped establish the character of the singing cowboy with this role. Baxter's first credited movie roles were in 1921, and he remained an active actor until his last film in 1950, and his subsequent death from pneumonia in 1951.

Answer: Mary Pickford

Mary Pickford's birth name was Gladys Louise Smith, and she was born in Toronto, Ontario. During a stint on Broadway in 1907 in a supporting role (the William C. deMille play "The Warrens of Virginia"), producer David Belasco insisted that she assume the stage name Mary Pickford.

In "Coquette," Mary Pickford played Norma Besant, a young flirtatious woman who fell in love with a man whom her father did not approve of. The film was a tragedy almost in the Shakespearean style, as her own father shot the man she was in love with, then later took his own life in remorse.

Answer: "The Patriot" (Hanns Kräly)

Starring Emil Jannings, the Best Actor winner from the previous year, "The Patriot" (1928) was the only silent film to receive a nomination for Best Picture at the second Academy Awards, and the last silent film to be so nominated. Unfortunately, it counts among those films listed as 'lost films,' as only parts of it still exist - there is no known complete version of "The Patriot" in existence.

"The Patriot" was essentially the story of a cruel and brutal Czar who held Russia in his tyrannical grip, and those who conspired to overthrow him.

Answer: "White Shadows in the South Seas" (Clyde de Vinna)

"White Shadows in the South Seas" (1928) featured Monte Blue in the role of Dr. Matthew Lloyd, an alcoholic doctor who found himself at odds with those exploiting the native peoples of a Polynesian island. A silent film, it was distinguished by being the first MGM film to be released with a pre-recorded soundtrack.

Answer: "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (Cedric Gibbons)

"The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (1929) was released by MGM in both a silent and part-talkie versions, although only the silent version still exists today. This 1929 rendition of the film starred Lili Damita as La Perichole, with the role being reprised in 1944 by Lynn Bari and again in 2004 by Pilar López de Ayala.

The story examined the interactions of a number of people destined to die in the collapse of the bridge of San Luis Rey.

Answer: Frank Lloyd

Frank Lloyd was among the founders of AMPAS and served as its president from 1934-35. He received another Oscar win for 1933's "Cavalcade" and another nomination for 1935's "The Mutiny on the Bounty." Lloyd passed away in 1960, after a 40-year career in the film business.

Answer: Best Actress

"The Patriot" (1928) was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writing, and Best Art Direction, winning only in the category of Best Writing (Hanns Kräly).

"In Old Arizona" (1929) received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Writing, and Best Cinematography, taking the Oscar for Best Actor (Warner Baxter).

The Best Actress Award went to Mary Pickford for her role as Norma Besant in the drama "Coquette" (1929).

Answer: The Broadway Melody

In the tradition of the Academy Awards, the last question of the quiz is on the biggest award. Keeping in mind that this was only the second Academy Awards ceremony, "The Broadway Melody" (1929) has the distinction of being the first sound film to win Best Picture. It was also the highest-grossing film of 1929.

The movie featured Anita Page and Bessie Love as a vaudeville sister act trying to make their mark on Broadway while Charles King played the love interest who fell for them both in turn.