Best Picture Oscar Anagrams 1940-1949 Quiz

Answer: Broderick Crawford

Broderick Crawford played Willie Stark, a small town politician and lawyer who made his way to the Governor's mansion. The only way to power was to adopt the corrupt practices he previously railed against but Willie found that not everyone's soul could be purchased.

"All the King's Men" won three Oscars and was nominated for another four. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Broderick Crawford) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Mercedes McCambridge).

It was also nominated for Best Director (Robert Rossen), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John Ireland), Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing.

Answer: Hamlet

"Hamlet" was Sir Laurence Olivier's adaptation of the Shakespeare play. He also starred in this production. Sir Laurence was the first person to direct himself to an Oscar winning performance. The second was Roberto Begnini, who directed himself to a Best Actor Oscar for "Life is Beautiful" in 1998.

"Hamlet" won four of the seven Oscars for which it was nominated. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Sir Laurence Olivier) and two others.

It was also nominated for Best Director (Sir Laurence Olivier), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Jean Simmons) and Best Music.

Answer: Celeste Holm

Gregory Peck portrayed a widowed journalist newly arrived in New York City with his young son and mother. He investigated anti-Semitism and the community's attitudes to Jews by impersonating a Jew at the suggestion of a magazine editor. He was surprised to find that many people had anti-Semitic feelings despite having espoused liberal opinions. Celeste Holm played a fashion editor and potential love interest for Gregory Peck's character.

"Gentleman's Agreement" was nominated for eight Oscars, winning three of them. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Director (Elia Kazan) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Celeste Holm).

It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gregory Peck), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Dorothy McGuire), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Anne Revere), Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing.

Answer: Years of Our Lives

"The Best Years of our Lives" told the tale of three war veterans who returned to their homes in Boone City. Fred was tormented by recurrent nightmares about his combat experiences. Al was drinking far too much and was possibly an alcoholic. Homer (Harold Russell) lost both hands in an explosion. All three had to rebuild their lives and families.

The Academy gave Harold Russell an honorary award - "For bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in "The Best Years of Our Lives"." He was indeed a veteran who lost both hands in an explosion while making a training film. He didn't need prosthetics to play the role as he'd been fitted with hooks. When he received the award for Best Supporting Actor he became the first person to receive two Oscars for the same role.

"The Best Years of Our Lives" won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Fredric March), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Harold Russell), Best Director (William Wyler), Best Screenplay and two others. It was also nominated for Best Sound.

Answer: The Lost Weekend

Ray Milland played Don Birnam, a writer whose life was being destroyed by his alcoholism. His attempts to conquer it failed until one weekend when he went on a binge. Flashbacks told the story of the last six years of his life and the lows to which he had sunk.

"The Lost Weekend" won four Oscars and was nominated for three more. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Ray Milland), Best Director (Billy Wilder) and Best Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Music.

Answer: Going My Way

Father O'Malley, played by Bing Crosby, turned up at St Dominic's to be the new curate. St Dominic's was in one of the poorer areas of New York City. As he bonded with the children and other parishioners, the current priest began to realise it's perhaps time to retire.

"Going My Way" won seven of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated. Oscars won included Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Bing Crosby), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Barry Fitzgerald), Best Director (Leo McCarey) and three others. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Barry Fitzgerald), Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.

No, you're not seeing things. Barry Fitzgerald was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. The Academy has changed the rules so this situation can't occur again.

Answer: Casablanca

Humphrey Bogart was Rick who was in love with Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). She disappeared from his life without explanation, leaving him bitter. Ilsa had left when she found her husband Laszlo hadn't died at the hands of the Nazis. He was alive and had escaped from a prison camp. They turned up in Rick's bar in Casablanca looking for a way to America as they hoped to continue fighting the war. Old feelings were rekindled, the Nazis were chasing Ilsa and Laszlo...

"Casablanca" won three of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Curtiz) and Best Screenplay. Nominations included Best Actor (Humphrey Bogart), Best Supporting Actor (Claude Rains) and three others.

Answer: Greer Garson

Greer Garson starred as Mrs. Kay Miniver and Walter Pidgeon played her husband, Clem. They lived in a village outside London. Their oldest son was a pilot in the Royal Air Force. The war came to the Minivers when a German pilot was found in the family garden. Kay calmed the pilot and handed him over to the police. Tragedy came to the family when one of them was killed in an air raid.

"Mrs. Miniver" won six Oscars and was nominated for six more. Oscars won included Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Greer Garson), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Teresa Wright), Best Director (William Wyler) and two others.

It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Walter Pidgeon), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Henry Travers), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Dame May Whitty) and three others.

Answer: How Green Was My Valley

The story of the Morgan family was told via the reminiscences of Huw Morgan. Huw watched his beloved family go through the trials and tribulations of the mining industry, doomed love, a near drowning and a fatal accident.

"How Green Was My Valley" won five Oscars of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated. Oscars won were Best Picture, Best Director (John Ford), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Donald Crisp) and two others. "How Green Was My Valley" was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Sara Allgood), Best Screenplay and three others.

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

"Rebecca" was a movie in which the title character had already died. Rebecca's husband and now widow Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) married again after a whirlwind romance. His new bride was troubled by her husband's temper, the enduring mystery of Rebecca's disappearance and the house keeper's attempts to preserve Rebecca's memory in the house.

"Rebecca" won only two of the 11 Oscars for which it was nominated. Oscars won were for Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Alfred Hitchcock received the first of five Oscar nominations for his work on "Rebecca".

"Rebecca" was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Laurence Olivier), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Joan Fontaine), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Judith Anderson), Best Director (Alfred Hitchcock), Best Screenplay and four others.