Classic Roles in Classic Movies Quiz

Answer: Bette Davis

Bette Davis plays Margo Channing in "All About Eve", a 1950 movie that also starred Anne Baxter and George Sanders. Margot is a famous, but aging, actress, who is threatened by her youthful understudy. "All About Eve" won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Bette Davis was nominated for Best Actress, but lost to Judy Holliday, who won for her role in "Born Yesterday". Davis delivered one of her most famous lines in this film: "Fasten your seat-belts.

It's going to be a bumpy night."

Answer: Gene Tierney

"Laura" is a 1944 film, starring Gene Tierney as the title character, a successful advertising executive who is killed by a shotgun blast to the face. Dana Andrews plays the detective investigating her murder. I can't say too much more about the film without giving away its plot.

The film also stars Clifton Webb and Vincent Price; the latter said it was his favorite of all the movies he appeared in. Gene Tierney is usually regarded as one Hollywood's most beautiful stars, but she led a tragic life, one filled with mental illness, suicide attempts, failed relationships, and the birth of a severely disabled child.

She died in 1991 at age 70.

Answer: John Wayne

No, it wasn't a western! John Wayne plays Sean Thornton, an Irish-American boxer, in director John Ford's 1952 classic, "The Quiet Man". After killing an opponent in the ring, Thornton returns to his ancestral home in Ireland, where he falls in love with the beautiful, but hot-tempered, Mary Kate Danaher, played by Maureen O'Hara.

Unfortunately, his romantic plans are squashed by Mary Kate's brother, Red Will Danaher, played by Victor McLaglen. The movie was filmed on location in Ireland, and four of Wayne's children have small parts in it. "The Quiet Man" was both a popular and critical success, and won Ford his fourth Oscar for Best Director.

Answer: Victor McLaglen

Victor McLaglen won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Gypo Nolan in John Ford's 1935 film, "The Informer". Set during the during the Irish War of Independence, the movie tells the story of the somewhat simple-minded Nolan, who informs on a former Irish Republican Army comrade in return for the reward British authorities have put on the man's head. Victor McLaglen (1886 - 1959) led an interesting life, battling Jack Johnson in a heavyweight boxing match, touring with a circus, and fighting with the British Army in WWI before taking up acting.

In addition to his Oscar in "The Informer", McLaglen was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Red Will Danaher in "The Quiet Man". Although he was often cast as an Irish character, McLaglen was actually born in London.

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

"Some Like It Hot" is a very funny 1959 movie starring starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis. It was directed by Billy Wilder. Lemmon and Curtis play musicians who accidentally witness a mob killing in 1920s Chicago. Fleeing gangsters who are intent on killing them, they disguise themselves as women, and join an all-female band. Monroe plays the band's singer, Sugar Kane.

This movie was Marilyn's last really commercially successful movie, and, despite many problems during filming, she turned in one of her most memorable performances. "Some Like It Hot" was one of the first films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

"From Here to Eternity" is a 1953 film based on James Jones' novel of the same name. It is about the lives of soldiers based in Hawaii during the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sinatra plays Private Angelo Maggio, who is tormented by Sergeant "Fatso" Judson, played by Ernest Borgnine. Sinatra won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance, and the movie is often given credit for reviving his career.

There is a persistent legend that Sinatra got the role of Angelo Maggio because of his Mafia connections, although the story has been denied by almost everyone associated with the film.

Answer: Susan Hayward

"I Want to Live!" is a 1958 film based on the true story of convicted murderer Barbara Graham, who is played by Susan Hayward. Hayward won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Graham; it was the fourth time she had been nominated for the award. Barbara Graham was convicted of beating an elderly widow to death during a robbery attempt.

The film is sympathetic towards Graham, and the impression given is that she may have been innocent of the crime with which she was charged. Today, most people believe she was actually guilty. Hayward died of brain cancer in 1975.

It is thought she may have contracted the disease by being exposed to radioactive fallout while filming "The Conqueror" near a nuclear weapons testing site.

Answer: Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck plays Phyllis Dietrichson in Billy Wilder's 1944 masterpiece, "Double Indemnity". It also stars Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson. Dietrichson is a thoroughly evil woman who seduces MacMurray's character, and talks him into murdering her husband in order to collect his life insurance.

It was one of the best performances of her long and distinguished career, and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress (she lost to Ingrid Bergman for "Gaslight"). "Double Indemnity" appears on many critics' lists as one of the best motion pictures of all time.

Answer: Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart is on record as saying Frank Capra's 1946 classic, "It's a Wonderful Life", was his favorite among all the films he made. In it, he plays George Bailey, manager of a small Building and Loan in Bedford Falls, New York. As a young man, George has plans to go exploring and see the world, but his ambitions are always frustrated, and he never leaves Bedford Falls.

After his uncle misplaces $8000 in the Building and Loan's funds, he has thoughts of committing suicide, but is rescued by an angel, who shows him what a difference he has made in the lives of the people around him.

Although it was nominated for six Academy Awards, the movie was not a success when released, and actually lost money at the box office. With the advent of television, however, it became a popular Christmas film, and continues to be shown every holiday season.

Answer: Errol Flynn

Mike Campbell, in the 1957 film "The Sun Also Rises", was Errol Flynn's last really notable screen appearance. Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway, the film is about a group of American expatriates living in 1920s Europe. It received mixed reviews, but Flynn's performance as the drunken, irresponsible Mike Campbell received almost universal praise - many people remarked that Flynn was really playing himself. Flynn's drinking and womanizing were legendary.

Although "The Sun Also Rises" briefly revived his career, he died only two years after its release at the age of 50.

His last words are said to have been: "I've had a hell of a lot of fun, and I've enjoyed every minute of it."