Crime and Law in Beantown Movies Quiz

Answer: Bernard Schwartz

Schwartz, of course, is Tony Curtis! He played Albert DeSalvo, accused of being the "Boston Strangler" in the early 60's. Ironically, though he confessed, no evidence linked him to the crimes. He was murdered in a Walpole mental institute. Richard Fleischer directed Curtis. (The others are Red Buttons, Robert Taylor and John Wayne.)

Answer: Six Bridges To Cross

Curtis had an early role in this 1955 version of the 1950 robbery of a Brink's armored car in Boston.

Answer: The Brink's Job

So used are we to see Falk as Lieutenant Columbo that we forget he made his film debut as a 30's mob hitman in "Murder, Inc." William Friedkin directed him, Peter Boyle, Paul Sorvino and Warren Oates in a comedically slanted version of the heist. "Big Stick-Up at Brink's" was the title of the Noel Behn book the film was based on.

Answer: Fuzz

Salvatore Lombino is equally known as "Ed McBain" and "Evan Hunter", and before he used both pen names on "Candyland" he adapted "Fuzz" as Hunter. His fictional Isola, home of the 87th Precinct, is based on New York, but for some reason the film was set in Boston. Burt Reynolds and Racquel Welch co-starred, with Yul Byrnner as the "Deaf Man", the 87's super-criminal foe. Ironically, "King's Ransom" was filmed in Japan by Akira Kurasawa as "High and Low"!

Answer: Thomas Crown

McQueen played the title character in "The Thomas Crown Affair", a Boston millionaire who plans for fun and pulls off a bank robbery. Faye Dunaway is the insurance investigator who wants to nab him, yet falls for him. The song "Windmils Of Your Mind" debuted here, won an Oscar and became a hit. Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo tanked in the remake.

Answer: Mystery Street

Montalban played a Harvard medical student who helps the Boston police to solve a baffling murder on Harvard campus. John Sturges would go on the 60's hits "The Great Escape" and "The Magnificent Seven".

Answer: The Friends of Eddie Coyle

Based on the novel by George V. Higgins, the film was lensed by Peter Yates. The gritty Boston locations contrasted with the San Fransisco vistas Yates used in "Bullitt". Mitchum is marked for death when he informs to the cops about a crime planned by his mob cronies.

Answer: Sidney Lumet

Woody, Marty and Spike all have set their films in the Big Apple, but it was Lumet (who debuted with the classic "Twelve Angry Men") who lensed Newman in one of his most powerful performances as a washed-up lawyer trying to redeem himself through a milion-dollar lawsuit. Lumet also directed "Network" and "Dog Day Afternoon", among others.

Answer: The Paper Chase

John Housemann, first a stage and screen producer, won the Oscar as tyrannical Harvard law professor Kingsfield, and repeated the role in the TV series. Ryan O'Neal studied law in "Love Story", "Coma" was the Robin Cook suspenser lensed by Michael Crichton and "Good Will Hunting" came long after the others. These three never made it onto the small sceen!

Answer: A Civil Action

Travolta played Jan Shlictman, the real-life subject of the Johnathan Harr bestseller, who takes on the chemical company accused of polluting Woburn waters and causing medical damage in children. But Travolta soon learns that, as the tagline put it, "justice has its price". He goes broke trying to fight the company and loses his law office.