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Classic British Comedy Films Trivia Quiz

The post-war years saw many British comedy films that have become cinema classics. How well do you remember these ones, and can you spot the common link between them in the last question? There is also a link between the wrong answers of each question.

A multiple-choice quiz by dericpw. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
dericpw

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
194,887

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1181

Last 3 plays: Guest 2 (9/10), pughmv (10/10), Guest 112 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In which film does Duke Louis Mazzini, played by Dennis Price, murder his entire family, all of whom are played by Sir Alec Guinness, in order to inherit his title and fortune? Hint

Penny Points To Paradise

Murder By Death

The Mouse That Roared

Kind Hearts And Coronets

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In this film a group of schoolboys uncover a gang of criminals who are using a children's comic to plot their crimes. When the police refuse to believe them, the children track down the gang on their own. Hint

Good Morning Boys

Convict 99

Boys Will Be Boys

Hue And Cry

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. In "Passport To Pimlico" the detonation of an unexploded bomb in post-blitz London leads to the discovery of hidden treasure and a claim to English soil by which French Duchy? Hint

Burgundy

Brittany

Normandy

Bordeux

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In which film do a mild mannered bank clerk and a souvenir manufacturer plan to steal gold bullion from The Bank of England and smuggle it to France, melted down as miniature Eiffel Tower statues? Hint

One Wild Oat

On The Fiddle

The Lavender Hill Mob

The Co-Optimists

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In this film a group of villagers get together to run their own railway, when the branch line through their village is threatened with closure. This leads to confrontation with the local bus company. Hint

The Fast Lady

The Titfield Thunderbolt

The Iron Petticoat

The Lady Says No

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In which film does a mild mannered scientist invent a cloth that is 'unbreakable' and repels dirt? Hint

The Odd Man Out

The Man In The White Suit

The Third Man

The Man Between

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In this film a descendant of a long line of ships' captains suffers too much from sea sickness to actually go to sea. Instead he buys a pleasure pier which he declares as a ship when the local council try to demolish it. Hint

Barnacle Bill

Mister Roberts

Girls At Sea

Out To Sea

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In which film do a group of Hebridean Islanders steal the contents of a beached cargo ship before the Customs Officers and Home Guard can arrive to confiscate it? Hint

Band Wagon

Whisky Galore!

Beyond Our Ken

The Men From The Ministry

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In which classic comedy does Mrs. Wilberforce foil the plans of Professor Marcus and his gang of criminals in getting away with the cash from a train heist? Hint

The Lady Killers

I Confess

The Lady Vanishes

Young And Innocent

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. At which famous studios were all these classic comedies made?

Answer: (South West London)

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Dec 15 2024 : Guest 2: 9/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which film does Duke Louis Mazzini, played by Dennis Price, murder his entire family, all of whom are played by Sir Alec Guinness, in order to inherit his title and fortune?

Answer: Kind Hearts And Coronets

Alec Guinness plays eight parts, representing, in effect, the entire D'Ascoyne family. These roles included: Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne; General Rufus D'Ascoyne; Admiral Lord Horatio D'Ascoyne; Ascoyne D'Ascoyne; Rev Lord Henry D'Ascoyne; Henry D'Ascoyne; Ethelred D'Ascoyne; Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne.
The other films all star Peter Sellers.

Answer: Hue And Cry

Although not the first Ealing comedy, "Hue And Cry" (1946), is considered the first of the post War comedies which set the tone for Ealing Studios.
The other films all star Will Hay in his famous school master character.

3. In "Passport To Pimlico" the detonation of an unexploded bomb in post-blitz London leads to the discovery of hidden treasure and a claim to English soil by which French Duchy?

Answer: Burgundy

The explosion uncovers an underground vault, which not only contains treasure, but a medieval document that seeds the Borough of Pimlico to the Duchy of Burgundy. The film reflects on Britain's 'finest hour' war spirit. The stubbornness of the British character is reflected in the line, "We always were English and we always will be English, and it's just because we are English that we're sticking up for our right to be Burgundian!"
The other answers are all regions in France.

Answer: The Lavender Hill Mob

"The Lavender Hill Mob" was one of the most successful of the Ealing comedies and teamed Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Sid James and Alfie Bass under the direction of Charles Crichton. It also introduced a then unheard of Audrey Hepburn in a walk-on part. Sadly she was not recognised as star material.
The other films listed all feature Stanley Holloway.

Answer: The Titfield Thunderbolt

"The Titfield Thunderbolt" was the first of the Ealing comedies to be shot in colour. It had only moderate success and marked the beginning of the end for Ealing comedies.
The other films all feature James Robertson Justice.

6. In which film does a mild mannered scientist invent a cloth that is 'unbreakable' and repels dirt?

Answer: The Man In The White Suit

In "The Man In The White Suit" the invention of the cloth causes factory management and unions to unite to stop it from ever being put into production. The film is a reflection on a society where progress is stifled by conservatism and traditionalism.
The other titles are all post War British dramas directed by Carol Reed.

Answer: Barnacle Bill

This is one of the later Ealing comedies which starred Alec Guinness as William Horatio Ambrose and six of his ancestors.
The other films are all nautical comedies starring Jack Lemmon.

8. In which film do a group of Hebridean Islanders steal the contents of a beached cargo ship before the Customs Officers and Home Guard can arrive to confiscate it?

Answer: Whisky Galore!

"Whisky Galore!" was written as a novel by Compton Mackenzie. It was based on the true story of the "SS Politician" which was wrecked in 1941 near the Hebridean islands of Eriskay and South Uist. Islanders 'liberated' some 7,000 cases of whiskey from the 22,000 case total cargo before the ship sank.
The other answers are classic British radio comedy shows.

9. In which classic comedy does Mrs. Wilberforce foil the plans of Professor Marcus and his gang of criminals in getting away with the cash from a train heist?

Answer: The Lady Killers

Released in 1955 this was the last of the 'great' Ealing comedies. Alistair Simm was originally cast as Professor Marcus but the role gave Alec Guinness one of his best comic performances. This was Peter Sellers' first major film role and teamed him with Herbert Lom. The two would go on to star together in a number of "Pink Panther" films.
The other films were all directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

10. At which famous studios were all these classic comedies made?

Answer: Ealing Studios

Ealing Studios released comedies before and during the war, but the classic Ealing comedy era began in 1949 with the release of "Passport to Pimlico", "Whisky Galore!" and "Kind Hearts And Coronets".

Source: Author dericpw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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