Crossing Over Trivia Quiz

Answer: Buck Henry

Buck Henry played the part of the angelic escort trying to save Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton from a painful death in the 1978 movie "Heaven Can Wait". James Mason also starred as Mr. Jordan. Warren Beatty was Joe in a cast that included Julie Christie, Jack Warden, Charles Grodin, and Dyan Cannon.

Henry's most recognized work was probably the television series "Get Smart", in which he shared the writing and creator credits with Mel Brooks. He has screenplay writing credits for several well known movies including "The Graduate" and "Catch-22", in each of which he also makes an appearance on screen.

He has been a frequent host of "Saturday Night Live", the first time in the tenth episode of the first season, January 17th, 1976. In 1978, Peter Sellers was seen in "Revenge of the Pink Panther" and Dudley Moore shared the credits with Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn in the romantic comedy "Foul Play".

Answer: Beetlejuice

"Beetlejuice" is a Tim Burton film featuring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, and Winona Ryder. Following a car crash, Baldwin and Davis are initially a little confused about their current state of being, (deceased). Given a little time and a good handbook you can adjust to almost anything, but can they adjust to the new owners of their home and the changes that will bring? Apparently scaring away the living is not as easy as it might seem for new ghosts.

While seeking help with their problem, the Afterlife Receptionist (Patrice Martinez) makes a comment which suggests she would have a different job had she not taken her own life. Otho (Glenn Shadiv) says, after spending some time looking over the "Handbook for the Recently Deceased", that people who commit suicide become civil servants in the afterlife. Also from 1988, "Scrooged" starred Bill Murray in a retelling of "A Christmas Carol". 1984's "Ghostbusters" was another Murray feature fighting ghostly metropolitan attacks with Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

In 1992, Sam Raimi brought us "Army of Darkness", in which Bruce Campbell had to fight the living dead in order to get back home.

Answer: Defending Your Life

"Defending Your Life" is an Albert Brooks film starring Brooks as Daniel Miller and also featuring Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, and Buck Henry. In this film the recently deceased attend a familiar looking court and are given the task of proving their courage in life, in order to determine if they will move on or be sent back for another reincarnation.

This exchange takes place in a Judgment City nightclub. Daniel jokes that he cannot leave early because the comedian is his father. Interestingly, Albert Brook's father, Harry Parke, was a comedian who literally died on stage at the Friar's Club. With a theme that involves reincarnation, it is no surprise to see a guest appearance by Shirley MacLaine as herself. Who else would you expect to run into at The Past Lives Pavilion?

Answer: Topper

"Topper" stars Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as the Kerbys, and Roland Young as Cosmo Topper. The recently deceased Kerbys must do a good deed in order to gain entrance to heaven, so they make Cosmo their project. Mrs. Topper is played by Billie Burke, better known as the good witch Glinda from "The Wizard of Oz". "The Lady Vanishes" is a 1938 Alfred Hitchcock film. "The Thin Man", from 1934, is the first of the "Thin Man" series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" is from 1939 and stars Robert Donat and Greer Garson.

Answer: The Meaning of Life

"The Meaning of Life" is a comedy by the British troop Monty Python, as they take a humorous and often silly look at the various stages of life. In the skit about death, a group of Americans die after eating salmon mousse. After being introduced to the group, ("It's a Mr. Death, dear.

He's here about the reaping."), the Grim Reaper delivers this quote to express his feelings about Americans. Bonus question - do you know the only character to appear in all of the Python features, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", "The Meaning of Life", and "The Life of Brian"? The answer - God.

Answer: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore

In the remake of this film in 2000, with Elizabeth Hurley as the devil making a deal with Brendan Fraser as Elliott Richards, the names of the devil's dogs in the beach scene are Dudley and Peter, in reference to Moore and Cook, who also wrote the original. The two actors had a long relationship. During the 60s, in Cook's Soho London club the Establishment, Moore's jazz trio played in the basement. On January 24th, 1976, they co-hosted "Saturday Night Live". Cook passed away in 1995, aged 57. Moore and Martin Lewis performed a memorial show in Los Angeles in 1996 in honor of what would have been Cook's 58th birthday. Dudley Moore passed away in 2002 at the age of 66.

Answer: James Earl Jones

The movie "Field of Dreams" was based on the book "Shoeless Joe", by W.P. Kinsella. At the cryptic urging of disembodied voices, Ray Kinsella abandons his corn crop in favor of a baseball field. Interestingly, the working title of the book was "The Kidnapping of J.D. Salinger".

The character Terence Mann was originally the reclusive author of "Catcher in the Rye", J.D. Salinger. After making a career of famously avoiding publicity, he was equally eager to avoid being used in this fictional story. James Earl Jones is an accomplished and prolific actor, but is probably best known for his voice. That voice may be most often recognized as Darth Vader from the original "Star Wars" movies. Children might recognize the voice of Mufasa from "The Lion King".

Answer: Julie Hagerty

Julie Hagerty is probably best known for her 1980 role in "Airplane!", her movie debut, and the sequel, "Airplane II". You can also find her in Woody Allen's "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" and Albert Brooks "Lost in America". In "High Spirits", Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D'Angelo play the couple Jack Crawford and Sharon Brogan Crawford. Liam Neeson was cast as Martin Brogan. Also featured in this movie were Daryl Hannah, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher, and Martin Ferrero.

Answer: Dogma

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes star in "Dogma" as Jay and Silent Bob in a cast which also includes Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, Linda Fiorentino, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek and George Carlin. It takes a large cast to save God and all of creation.

The demon Azrael (Lee) orchestrates a plan centered on the rededication of a church and a Papal sanction of forgiveness. Young hoodlums attack God on a New Jersey boardwalk. The 13th apostle (Rock) falls from the sky. Two prophets (Smith and Mewes), who are actually stoners and small time drug dealers, help save the day.

There are a lot of laughs in this Kevin Smith comedy. But, I have a lot of trouble accepting the idea of Alanis Morissette as God.

Answer: Scoop

Scarlett Johansson is the young journalist, tipped off by a reporter who wants a scoop so badly that he cheats the Grim Reaper in order to provide clues. Hugh Jackman is both the love interest for Johansson and the primary murder suspect. Is he guilty, or is the ghost dead wrong? All of the answer choices are Woody Allen films. "Manhattan Murder Mystery" was released in 1993 and featured Diane Keaton, Alan Alda, and Anjelica Huston. "Bullets Over Broadway" is a 1994 movie with Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Tilly, Mary-Louise Parker, Jack Warden, Rob Reiner, and Tracey Ullman. "Mighty Aphrodite" is from 1995 and starred Mira Sorvino, David Ogden Stiers, Helena Bonham Carter, Paul Giamatti, and Jack Warden.