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25 Questions: Courtroom Dramas Multiple Choice Quiz | Movies

Here are some questions on movies about the law.

A multiple-choice quiz by chessart. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
chessart

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
756

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
14 / 25

Plays
1287

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. The 1957 Billy Wilder film 'Witness for the Prosecution' was full of plot twists and turns, having originally been written by which author? Hint

Erle Stanley Gardner

Agatha Christie

Raymond Chandler

Edward Albee

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Question 2 of 25

2. Who played the defense attorney who delayed his retirement to take on the case in 'Witness for the Prosecution'? Hint

Kirk Douglas

Charles Boyer

Tyrone Power

Charles Laughton

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Question 3 of 25

3. Who played the defendant's wife in 'Witness for the Prosecution'? Hint

Elsa Lanchester

Audrey Hepburn

Marlene Dietrich

Dorothy Lamour

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Question 4 of 25

4. The 1960 Stanley Kramer film 'Inherit the Wind' was largely faithful to the actual Scopes Monkey Trial,but which of the following was NOT based on actual fact? Hint

Both lead lawyers were from out of town.

The defendant was in jail during the trial.

The Governor interceded with the Judge to obtain a light sentence for the defendant.

Newspaper man H.L. Mencken was present at the trial.

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Question 5 of 25

5. Who played the character based on legendary defense lawyer Clarence Darrow in 'Inherit the Wind'? Hint

Humphrey Bogart

Edmund O'Brien

Clark Gable

Spencer Tracy

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Question 6 of 25

6. In 'Inherit the Wind', the Judge, played by Harry Morgan, showed his desire to be fair by doing what near the start of the trial? Hint

announcing he would allow expert witnesses to testify on the theory of evolution

allocating spectators' seats half and half to suporters of each side

granting an honorary Colonel title to defense counsel

requiring that the jurors be neutral on the issue of evolution

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Question 7 of 25

7. What hit TV show did a takeoff on 'Inherit the Wind'? Hint

Politically Incorrect

Ally McBeal

Seinfeld

The Practice

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Question 8 of 25

8. The 1961 Stanley Kramer film 'Judgment at Nuremberg' is based on which one of the 13 actual Nuremberg war crimes trials? Hint

the third one

the first one

the last one

the tenth one

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Question 9 of 25

9. Who are the defendants in 'Judgment at Nuremberg'? Hint

judges

concentration camp guards

soldiers

diplomats

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Question 10 of 25

10. What was the key evidence against the defendant played by Burt Lancaster in 'Judgment at Nuremberg'? Hint

refusing to renounce his membership in the Nazi party

a case in which he sentenced an elderly Jew to death for having sex with an Aryan woman

his off-the-bench activities in support of the war effort

his acceptance of a bribe to render pro-Nazi decisions

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Question 11 of 25

11. Which 'Judgment at Nuremberg' actor won the Oscar for best actor? Hint

Spencer Tracy, Judge

Richard Widmark, prosecutor

Burt Lancaster, defendant

Maximillian Schell, defense attonrey

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Question 12 of 25

12. The 1992 Jonathan Lynn film 'My Cousin Vinny' starred what actor as a law school graduate trying his first case? Hint

Dudley Moore

Tom Cruise

Joe Pesci

Matt Damon

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Question 13 of 25

13. Why did the defense lawyer call his girlfriend to the stand in 'My Cousin Vinny'? Hint

as a character witness for the defendants

to provide an alibi for the defendants, since they were together when the murder took place

to testify as an expert witness about cars

to verify that he was really a lawyer

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Question 14 of 25

14. In 'My Cousin Vinny', the defense lawyer attacks the credibility of a prosecution witness by pointing out the usual cooking time for what food? Hint

grits

pancakes

hominy

sausage

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Question 15 of 25

15. The 1979 Bruce Beresford film 'Breaker Morant' depicts three soldiers facing a Court martial for alleged atrocities committed during which war? Hint

Vietnam War

Crimean War

Boer War

Korean War

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Question 16 of 25

16. Soldiers from what country are made the scapegoats for the atrocities in 'Breaker Morant'? Hint

Ireland

Argentina

South Africa

Australia

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Question 17 of 25

17. The 1988 Fred Schepisi film 'A Cry in the Dark' is a true story which takes place in what country? Hint

Ireland

South Africa

Australia

Brazil

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Question 18 of 25

18. What does the Meryl Streep character claim happened in 'A Cry in the Dark'? Hint

'I was asleep.'

'My baby ran off.'

'My baby was kidnapped.'

'A dingo took my baby.'

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Question 19 of 25

19. The title of Stephen Spielberg's 1997 film 'Amistad' refers to what? Hint

the region of Africa where the Blacks were captured

a slave ship

the town in which the Blacks were put on trial

the African dialect spoken by the Blacks

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Question 20 of 25

20. Who won an Oscar nomination for his wonderful portrayal of ex-President John Quincy Adams, who joined the defense team to argue the case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 'Amistad'? Hint

Ray Walston

Jack Nicholson

Harrison Ford

Anthony Hopkins

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Question 21 of 25

21. The actual argument made by John Quincy Adams before the Supreme Court, depicted in 'Amistad', lasted how long? Hint

2 hours

15 minutes

over 8 hours

1 hour

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Question 22 of 25

22. Nigel Hawthorne played which U.S. President, who tried to wash his hands of the 'Amistad' situation by turning the Africans over to Spain? Hint

Millard Fillmore

Andrew Jackson

Martin Van Buren

John Tyler

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Question 23 of 25

23. What unethical tactic does the defense team use in the 1982 Sidney Lumet film 'The Verdict'? Hint

tapping the phone of plaintiff's counsel

breaking into plaintiff's counsel's law office

bribing several of the jurors

planting a spy in the plaintiff's counsel's camp

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Question 24 of 25

24. What unethical act is committed by the plantiff's lawyer, played by Paul Newman, in 'The Verdict'? Hint

He fails to inform his clients that his license to practice law is suspended.

He fails to adequately research the law in the case.

He fails to communicate a settlement offer to his clients.

He fails to appear in Court when ordered to by the Judge.

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Question 25 of 25

25. Courtroom dramas are particularly well suited for the stage. Which is the only one of the following films NOT to have originally been a stage play? Hint

Inherit the Wind

Anatomy of a Murder

Witness for the Prosecution

Breaker Morant

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The 1957 Billy Wilder film 'Witness for the Prosecution' was full of plot twists and turns, having originally been written by which author?

Answer: Agatha Christie

A number of Christie's novels and plays have been made into movies, with perhaps the most famous one being the 1974 film "Murder on the Orient Express."

2. Who played the defense attorney who delayed his retirement to take on the case in 'Witness for the Prosecution'?

Answer: Charles Laughton

In a memorable portayal which was rewarded with an Oscar nomination, Laughton plays a barrister who is instructed to take it easy in the wake of a near-fatal heart attack, but who can't resist the lure of getting back into the courtroom.

3. Who played the defendant's wife in 'Witness for the Prosecution'?

Answer: Marlene Dietrich

Dietrich was indeed memorable as the defendant's wife, but it was Elsa Lanchester (Laughton's real-life wife of 33 years until his death in 1962) who garnered an Oscar nomination as Laughton's exasperated nurse, who continually cautions him to take it easy, to no avail.

4. The 1960 Stanley Kramer film 'Inherit the Wind' was largely faithful to the actual Scopes Monkey Trial,but which of the following was NOT based on actual fact?

Answer: The defendant was in jail during the trial.

In actuality Mencken's newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, had posted bail for Scopes and he was not in custody during the trial.

5. Who played the character based on legendary defense lawyer Clarence Darrow in 'Inherit the Wind'?

Answer: Spencer Tracy

'I say that you cannot administer a wicked law impartially. You can only destroy, you can only punish. And I warn you, that a wicked law, like cholera, destroys everyone it touches, its upholders as well as its defiers.'

6. In 'Inherit the Wind', the Judge, played by Harry Morgan, showed his desire to be fair by doing what near the start of the trial?

Answer: granting an honorary Colonel title to defense counsel

Defense counsel complained that the prosecution was addressed as 'Colonel', so the Judge arranged for defense counsel to be granted the same honorary title to make things even. But the Judge did NOT allow the law itself to be put on trial, so the defendant's expert witnesses were not allowed to testify.

7. What hit TV show did a takeoff on 'Inherit the Wind'?

Answer: Seinfeld

The last episode, in which the 4 Seinfeld characters were tried for violation of the Good Samaritan law, was an Inherit the Wind takeoff.

8. The 1961 Stanley Kramer film 'Judgment at Nuremberg' is based on which one of the 13 actual Nuremberg war crimes trials?

Answer: the third one

9. Who are the defendants in 'Judgment at Nuremberg'?

Answer: judges

Four Nazi Judges are put on trial. Three are Nazi thugs, but the fourth, played by Burt Lancaster, was different. He was a respected jurist who had detested Hitler and the Nazis, yet he enforced the harsh anti-Jewish laws just the same, and was convicted at the Nuremberg trial.

10. What was the key evidence against the defendant played by Burt Lancaster in 'Judgment at Nuremberg'?

Answer: a case in which he sentenced an elderly Jew to death for having sex with an Aryan woman

11. Which 'Judgment at Nuremberg' actor won the Oscar for best actor?

Answer: Maximillian Schell, defense attonrey

Spencer Tracy was also nominated for best actor, and Montgomery Clift was nominated for best supporting actor.

12. The 1992 Jonathan Lynn film 'My Cousin Vinny' starred what actor as a law school graduate trying his first case?

Answer: Joe Pesci

13. Why did the defense lawyer call his girlfriend to the stand in 'My Cousin Vinny'?

Answer: to testify as an expert witness about cars

The two of them had just had a fight, and the hostility was evident in the courtroom, causing the Judge to ask "Do you two know each other?" When Pesci explained that they did, the Judge says, "Well, that would explain the hostility." Marisa Tomei's wonderful performance as the girlfriend earned her a much-deserved Oscar for best supporting actress.

14. In 'My Cousin Vinny', the defense lawyer attacks the credibility of a prosecution witness by pointing out the usual cooking time for what food?

Answer: grits

15. The 1979 Bruce Beresford film 'Breaker Morant' depicts three soldiers facing a Court martial for alleged atrocities committed during which war?

Answer: Boer War

The film, a true story, makes a powerful anti-war statement, showing the ambiguities of war and the 'just following orders' justification.

16. Soldiers from what country are made the scapegoats for the atrocities in 'Breaker Morant'?

Answer: Australia

17. The 1988 Fred Schepisi film 'A Cry in the Dark' is a true story which takes place in what country?

Answer: Australia

18. What does the Meryl Streep character claim happened in 'A Cry in the Dark'?

Answer: 'A dingo took my baby.'

19. The title of Stephen Spielberg's 1997 film 'Amistad' refers to what?

Answer: a slave ship

20. Who won an Oscar nomination for his wonderful portrayal of ex-President John Quincy Adams, who joined the defense team to argue the case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 'Amistad'?

Answer: Anthony Hopkins

21. The actual argument made by John Quincy Adams before the Supreme Court, depicted in 'Amistad', lasted how long?

Answer: over 8 hours

Even at that Adams did not finish his argument; he writes in his diary that he 'closed somewhat abruptly, leaving almost entirely untouched the review of the case of the Antelope, which I had intended and for which I was prepared'.

22. Nigel Hawthorne played which U.S. President, who tried to wash his hands of the 'Amistad' situation by turning the Africans over to Spain?

Answer: Martin Van Buren

Van Buren wanted to placate the South as well as keep good relations with Spain. But he should be given credit for allowing the case to run its course in the Court system.

23. What unethical tactic does the defense team use in the 1982 Sidney Lumet film 'The Verdict'?

Answer: planting a spy in the plaintiff's counsel's camp

24. What unethical act is committed by the plantiff's lawyer, played by Paul Newman, in 'The Verdict'?

Answer: He fails to communicate a settlement offer to his clients.

It is this sort of flaw that ruins this movie for me. The film is supposed to be about the redemption of the Paul Newman character, but what value is redemption if it is accomplished at the expense of the obligation to one's clients?

25. Courtroom dramas are particularly well suited for the stage. Which is the only one of the following films NOT to have originally been a stage play?

Answer: Anatomy of a Murder

'Anatomy of a Murder' was based on the novel by Robert Traver, not on a stage play.

Source: Author chessart

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