Best Picture Oscar Anagrams 1929/30-1939 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Welcome to this movie anagram quiz. Please note that the year for which a movie is awarded is the year before the presentation ceremony. For example the movie which won the Best Motion Picture Oscar of 2000 was presented with that Oscar in 2001. The years given are taken from the website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. And the first question is... "Close window seven, THEN WINDOW EIGHT. We don't want those Yankees in here!" Vivien Leigh might have said something like that in 1939's Best Picture Oscar winner. What movie was that?

Answer: Gone With The Wind

Based on Margaret Mitchell's book, "Gone With the Wind" starred Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. The story revolved around the O'Haras and how the Civil War affected them and those close to them. Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Oscar for her performance as Mammy, Scarlett's outspoken housemaid.

"Gone With The Wind" won eight Oscars, an Honorary Award, a Technical Achievement Award and was nominated for another five Oscars. Oscars won included Best Picture, Best Director (Victor Fleming), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Vivien Leigh), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Hattie McDaniel), Best Screenplay and three others.

R.D. Musgrave won a Technical Achievement Award for pioneering the use of coordinated equipment. William Cameron Menzies won an honorary outstanding achievement award for the use of colour to enhance the dramatic ambience for "Gone With the Wind".

2. He didn't take that MINOR ROLE. BARELY adequate for a member of a leading American acting family! He instead took a role as a grandfather in "You Can't Take It With You" which won 1938's Best Picture Oscar. Who was that actor?

Answer: Lionel Barrymore

"You Can't Take It With You" was about a culture clash. A wealthy, ambitious family met a poorer, eccentric family when they became connected by an engagement. The wealthy family was shown how to enjoy life rather than thinking only of money. Lionel Barrymore was on crutches for the movie due to arthritis. His illness was covered in the script by saying he had an accident sliding down a banister.

"You Can't Take It With You" was nominated for seven Oscars, winning two of them. Oscars won were for Best Picture and Best Director (Frank Capra). It was also nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Spring Byington) and three others.

3. 1937's Best Picture Oscar went to a biographical movie about a French writer. I don't know if there was a LITHE FEMALE FLOOZIE in the story though. What movie was that?

Answer: The Life of Emile Zola

"The Life of Emile Zola" depicted Zola's life from the early years when he shared an apartment with artist Paul Cezanne to his involvement in the Dreyfus scandal. Zola's defence of Dreyfus brought him public scorn and led to him moving to England for a time.

"The Life of Emile Zola" won three Oscars and was nominated for seven more. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Joseph Schildkraut) and Best Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Muni), Best Director (William Dieterle) and five more.

4. "We need sparkle! We need GLITZ. HER AGED FEET won't cope with these dance routines without some help!' said the dance show producer in this biographical movie. This movie won 1936's Best Picture Oscar with some spectacular dance routines. What movie was that?

Answer: The Great Ziegfeld

"The Great Ziegfeld" was the story of Florenz Ziegfeld, who became famous for his musical productions known as "follies". He was the son of a music professor but he yearned to produce vast musicals for the stage. His marriages, financial failures and successes played a part in the movie as did the dance extravaganzas he was famous for.

"The Great Ziegfeld" won three Oscars and was nominated for another four. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Luise Rainer) and Best Dance Direction. It was also nominated for Best Director (Robert Z. Leonard), Best Writing (Original Story) and two others.

5. Fletcher Christian watches the crew as THEY BUM NUTTY ONION sandwiches from the ship's cook. What movie might that scene have come from? It won 1935's Best Picture Oscar.

Answer: Mutiny on the Bounty

Charles Laughton played Captain Bligh, whose command of the Bounty was usurped by Fletcher Christian and others. The movie was based on the true story of the HMS Bounty which suffered a mutiny in 1789 in the Pacific Ocean near Tonga.

"Mutiny on the Bounty" only won one of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated, the Best Picture Oscar. Oscars for which it was nominated were Best Director (Frank Lloyd), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Clark Gable, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone were all nominated), Best Screenplay and two others.

6. The THINNING POET HEAPED praise upon Clark Gable's Oscar winning performance in 1934's Best Picture Oscar winning movie. What movie was that?

Answer: It Happened One Night

Clark Gable played Peter Warne, an unemployed reporter. Claudette Colbert played Ellie Andrews, the rebellious daughter of a wealthy man. She eloped with someone unsuitable for her but her father stopped the marriage from being consummated. Ellie ran away and met Peter on a bus. Ellie's father had a reward for anyone who could find her and Peter was tempted to hand her over but love intervened...

"It Happened One Night" won all five of the Oscars for which it was nominated. It won Best Picture, Best Director (Frank Capra), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Clark Gable), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Claudette Colbert) and Best Writing, Adaptation.

7. The affluent Marryot family might have CLAD A CAVE in luxurious fabric during this movie. Based on a Noel Coward play, this movie won the Best Picture Oscar for 1932/33. What movie was that?

Answer: Cavalcade

"Cavalcade" featured Jane and Robert Marryot, affluent Londoners. It revealed how events such as Queen Victoria's passing, the Titanic launch and sinking, and World War I affected their lives.

"Cavalcade" won three Oscars and was nominated for one more. Oscars won were for Best Picture, Best Director (Frank Lloyd) and Best Art Direction. It was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Diana Wynyard).

8. Characters in this movie were tied together with a LONG THREAD. Set in a Berlin establishment housing the likes of Greta Garbo, this movie won the 1931/32 Best Picture Oscar. What movie was that?

Answer: Grand Hotel

There was a Baron who was also a jewel thief, a Russian ballerina, an industrialist, a stenographer and an accountant staying at Berlin's Grand Hotel for various reasons. They all had their reasons for being there, some not so honourable, and one caused the death of another. As a long time resident said of the Grand Hotel, "... People come and go. Nothing ever happens."

Despite the stellar cast "Grand Hotel" was only nominated for one Oscar. It won 1931/32's Best Motion Picture Oscar. Stars of the movie included Greta Garbo, John and Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery and Joan Crawford.

9. New settlers tried to CRAM IRON pots and pans into covered wagons as they hoped for land in Oklahoma. Based on Edna Ferber's book, which movie won the Best Picture Oscar for 1930/31?

Answer: Cimarron

Husband and wife Yancy and Sabra Cravat took part in the Oklahoma Land Rush. They set up home in the fictional town of Osage, Oklahoma and established a newspaper. Around them Oklahoma changed due to the discovery of oil, criminals and disputes with Native Americans.

"Cimarron" won three Oscars and was nominated for four more. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Writing (Adaption) and Best Art Direction. It was also nominated for Best Director (Wesley Ruggles), Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Dix),
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Irene Dunne) and Best Cinematography.

10. Soldiers attended NORTHERN TOWN FETES after the war. Alas in the movie, which won 1929/30's Best Picture Oscar, there wasn't much joy to be had by the soldiers. It was the torrid story of soldiers' lives during World War I. What are the last four words in this movie's title which starts "All Quiet ..."?

Answer: On The Western Front

"All Quiet on the Western Front" told the tale of life and death in World War I. Disabling injuries, food shortages, rats, the deaths of friends and comrades, ailing family back home and doubts as to the motivations of the leaders are all confronted in this movie. The movie was based on the book of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque.

"All Quiet on the Western Front" won two Oscars. It won Best Picture and Best Director (Lewis Milestone). It was also nominated for Best Writing and Best Cinematography.

Source: Author Tizzabelle

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
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In this quiz I'll give you an anagram in capitalised letters. You rearrange the anagram to find the Best Picture Oscar winning movie for a given year or a person involved in the project. Bon chance!

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