Classics from the '40s: Actors and Films Quiz

Answer: The Westerner

"The Westerner" is about a man who comes into the town of a hanging judge and befriends him, despite being opposed to his behavior. This collaboration between Cooper and Brennan won Brennan his then record breaking third Academy Award. Brennan's other two Oscars came from his performances in "Come and Get It" and "Kentucky". Cooper and Brennan would also collaborate together in "Sergeant York", "The Pride of the Yankees", and "Meet John Doe".

Answer: Ball of Fire

"Ball of Fire" is about a group of men who are trying to make a dictionary who meet a nightclub performer who agrees to help them out to hide from a mob boss. It gained Barbara Stanwyck an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film is number 92 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs List. "The Lady Eve" and "You Belong to Me" were her collaborations with Henry Fonda, and "Meet John Doe" and "Ball of Fire" were her collaborations with Gary Cooper.

Answer: Van Heflin, "Johnny Eager"

"Johnny Eager" is about the daughter of a District Attorney who is dating a man that the D.A. is attempting to put in prison. Van Heflin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, which would be the only award the film would win or be nominated for. Van Heflin can also be seen in "Shane", "Tennessee Johnson", and "A Woman Rebels".

Answer: The Song of Bernadette

"The Song of Bernadette" tells the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, who claimed to have seen 18 visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first Golden Globes chose this film as Best Picture, as well as Best Actress for Jennifer Jones (who subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Actress as well), and Best Director for Henry King.

Answer: None But the Lonely Heart

"None But the Lonely Heart" starred Cary Grant in his second Academy Award nominated portrayal. Ethel Barrymore won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film is about a man who returns home and realizes that his mother needs assistance in her life. He also deals with the woman who loves him and the woman he prefers to be around.

Answer: Ingrid Bergman

Both award shows picked "The Lost Weekend" for Best Picture, Billy Wilder for Best Director for "The Lost Weekend", and Ray Milland for Best Actor for "The Lost Weekend". The Golden Globes chose Ingrid Bergman for Best Actress for "The Bells of St. Mary", but the Academy Awards chose Joan Crawford for Best Actress for "Mildred Pierce".

Ingrid Bergman can also be seen in "Casablanca", "Gaslight", and "Notorious".

Answer: Larry Parks

Larry Parks can be seen in the sequel of "The Jolson Story", "Jolson Sings Again", and in John Huston's "Freud".

Answer: Best Supporting Actor

Gregory Peck was nominated for Best Actor, Dorothy McGuire was nominated for Best Actress, Anne Revere was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and Celeste Holm won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. John Garfield and Albert Dekker, the other two males in the main cast, were not nominated for any Academy Awards.

Answer: Best Adapted Screenplay

Laurence Olivier won Best Actor and Best Picture (he was a producer) for "Hamlet". Olivier was also nominated for Best Director. The film was not nominated for Best Screenplay.

Answer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz,"A Letter to Three Wives"

The Golden Globes thought the best director of 1949 was Robert Rossen, who directed "All the King's Men". Joseph L. Mankiewicz ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Director. Robert Rossen is also known for directing "The Hustler", "Body and Soul", and "The Sea Wolf". Joseph Mankiewicz is known for directing "All About Eve", "The Barefoot Contessa", and "Cleopatra".