Can You Name These Classic Movies? Quiz

Answer: West Side Story

"West Side Story" (1961) is widely considered to be one of the all-time great movie musicals. It stars Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. Audrey Hepburn and Warren Beatty, among many others, were considered for the lead roles. George Chakiris and Rita Moreno won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and the film also won for Best Picture.

The music is superb, "Tonight, Tonight" and "Maria" are among the many unforgettable songs. The musical score was composed by Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sondheim. I recommend this movie to everyone.

Answer: Casablanca

"Casablanca" stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid. The plot also deals with a battle of wits between Blaine and the authorities, and the plight of refugees fleeing from the Nazis. "Play it, Sam", "Here's looking at you, kid" (a line improvised by Bogart) and "Round up the usual suspects" are all famous lines from the movie's dialogue. "Casablanca" won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director (Michael Curtiz).

It is almost always at the top of every list of all-time great films.

The cast features many wonderful character actors, including Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.

Answer: Lawrence of Arabia

Peter O'Toole stars as T.E. Lawrence, and Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn and Alec Guinness play Arab chieftains involved in the struggle known as the "Arab Revolt". There are no speaking roles for women in the film, which runs well over three hours. "Lawrence of Arabia" contains one of the most admired scenes in movie history, showing the immensity of the desert Lawrence crosses.

It was filmed in the Sahara desert and in Spain. Marlon Brando was considered early on for the title role of T.E. Lawrence. "Lawrence of Arabia" won Oscars for Best Picture and for David Lean as Best Director (1962).

Answer: The Godfather

This complicated film depicts the Corleone's family life as well as their criminal activities. Marlon Brando plays the Godfather, and Al Pacino is Michael, his son and heir to the family business. Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman were also considered for the part of Michael Corleone. Marlon Brando won an Oscar for his performance as Vito Corleone.

The marvelous cast includes James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and John Cazale. I really love this movie, I think it's brilliant. I've seen it dozens of times.

The sequel, "Godfather II", is just as good as the original movie, in my opinion.

Answer: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

This film stars Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher, and both won Oscars for their performances. The film is based on a fine novel by Ken Kesey, who worked as an attendant in a mental hospital while he wrote the book. The totally convincing supporting cast includes Danny DeVito, Brad Dourif and Will Sampson.

Some extras were actual mental patients. Milos Forman won an Oscar for Best Director, and "Cuckoo's Nest" also won for Best Picture. This movie is funny and moving, and I loved Jack Nicholson's performance.

Answer: Pulp Fiction

This is the film that revived John Travolta's career, and he is great in it. Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and Bruce Willis are in the excellent cast. The role of Jules was specifically written for Samuel L. Jackson, who gives another terrific performance.

The dialogue between Travolta and Jackson is hilarious, in my opinion. Although Jackson, Travolta, Thurman and Tarantino (Best Director) were nominated for Oscars, the only actual winner for the film was an award for Best Screenplay (1994). This film is probably not to everyone's taste. I loved it.

Answer: The Deer Hunter

This film stars Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken and John Savage as the three who go to Vietnam. John Cazale (Stanley) was ill with cancer when the movie was filmed, and died soon afterward. He was a terrific actor, and was only 42 when he died. Meryl Streep gives a beautiful performance as well. Streep and Cazale fell in love and became engaged during the filming of "Deer Hunter", and she put her career on hold to care for him until he died. "The Deer Hunter" won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director (Michael Cimino) and a well-deserved Oscar went to the great Christopher Walken for Best Supporting Actor.

This is another of my all time favorites. In my opinion, it's one of the great anti-war movies. The scene at the end of the movie, where everyone gathers at the bar, and they all sing "God Bless America", is very moving.

The film also contains some disturbing and graphic Russian Roulette scenes.

Answer: Vertigo

This 1958 film is included on almost every list of all-time great movies. It stars James Stewart, Kim Novak and Barbara Bel Geddes. Hitchcock's first choice for the role that went to Kim Novak was Vera Miles, who appeared in "Psycho". This is a complex film, with many plot twists. The director makes his customary cameo appearance about eleven minutes into the film.

Answer: All About Eve

"All About Eve" stars the magnificent Bette Davis, with Anne Baxter as Eve, and George Sanders as the theater critic who sees right through her. The supporting cast is wonderful, including Celeste Holm, Barbara Bates, Thelma Ritter, Hugh Marlowe and Marilyn Monroe. Claudette Colbert was considered for the role of Margo Channing.

It's difficult to imagine anyone else in the part Bette Davis played. She was nominated for an Oscar, but didn't win. The 1950 film picked up Oscars for George Sanders for Supporting Actor, and also Best Picture and Best Director (Joseph Mankiewicz).

Answer: Raging Bull

Robert DeNiro plays Jake LaMotta, and gained 60 pounds to play him as an older man. The transformation is amazing. Cathy Moriarty plays LaMotta's wife, in a fine performance, and Joe Pesci plays Jake's brother. The movie was filmed in black and white.

The domestic violence scenes between DeNiro and Moriarty are very realistic and shocking. DeNiro won the Best Actor Oscar (1980) for his performance in this extraordinary movie.