Cryptic Movie Titles 3 Trivia Quiz

Answer: MacBeth

This is a hidden word clue: big (MAC BETH)any. The word 'inside' is the indicator.

Shakespeare's tale of the murder of King Duncan by the title character, and the latter's subsequent bloody, but ultimately futile, struggle to hold power in Scotland has been filmed many times. The 1948 version starred Orson Welles, who also directed. Duncan was played by Erskine Sanford, and Roddy McDowall played Malcolm.

Answer: Citizen Kane

Take a chair = sit
I, form of Buddhism = I, Zen
Walking stick = cane

This gives us Sit I Zen Cane. The words 'listen' and 'hear' indicate that the title 'sounds like' this, hence, Sit I Zen Cane = Citizen Kane.

The story of the life of newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane is told in flashback, as a reporter attempts to discover the meaning of Kane's dying word by interviewing those who knew him best. Orson Welles played Kane, and directed, and Joseph Cotten played his long-time associate and friend Jedidiah Leland.

Answer: Shenandoah

Upset indicates an anagram of 'Hans had one'.

Farmer Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) wants no part in the American Civil War for himself or his large family. When his youngest son (Phillip Alford) disappears, he leads the search for him, leaving one son at home with his pregnant wife to mind the farm. Charlie is soon forced to realise that the conflict will not leave his family untouched.

Answer: Fargo

Depart = Go
British flying service = Royal Air Force, initially = RAF, returns = FAR
Place 'go' after 'FAR' to arrive at 'Fargo'.

Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of the pregnant cop, Marge Gunderson, who works to track down the murderers after a kidnapping plot goes awry. William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi also starred.

Answer: The Dam Busters

This is a hidden word clue, indicated by the word 'inside': to (THE DAM BUSTER S)aid...

'The Dam Busters' (alternately known as 'The Dambusters' in the USA) told the true story of the RAF squadron formed in 1943 for the specific purpose of breaching the Ruhr Dams, and of Barnes Wallis' invention of the bouncing bomb used in the raid, which is the climax of the film. Richard Todd played Wing Commander Guy Gibson, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading the raid, and Michael Redgrave played Wallis.

Answer: The Aviator

'Twisted' indicates an anagram of 'Ai! over that'.

'The Aviator' tells the story of the early achievements of director, aviator and eccentric Howard Hughes, including scenes depicting the filming of 'Hell's Angels' and the later creation of the oversized flying boat, The Spruce Goose.
Leonardo DiCaprio starred as Hughes, and was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

Answer: Vera Drake

Rave around indicates an anagram of 'rave', giving us 'Vera'. Sir Francis alludes to the surname 'Drake'.

'Vera Drake' is the story of a loving wife and mother, who doubles as an illegal abortionist in England in the 1950s. Her secret activities ultimately lead to tragedy for her and her family. Imelda Staunton, who played the eponymous Vera, was Oscar-nominated for the role.

Answer: Backdraft

Dorsal implies 'back'. In the US, the selective service (for the armed forces) was called the 'draft'. Put them together for 'Backdraft'.

Russell and Baldwin play the firefighting McCafferty brothers in this action drama that explores their personal conflicts as well as the hunt for the perpetrator of a series of arson-murders.

Answer: Fort Apache

Mangled indicates an anagram of 'cheap for at', giving us 'Fort Apache'.

Henry Fonda plays the by-the-book commanding officer, Owen Thursday, who is at odds with his subordinate, yet more experienced Indian fighter, Captain Kirby Yorke, played by John Wayne. The action centres on the cavalry regiment's attempts to bring Cochise and his warriors under control. Shirley Temple and John Agar, who were married in real life at the time the film was made, supply the love interest.

Answer: Frankenstein

Sinatra suggests the name Frank.
The Spanish word for 'in' is 'en'.
A German beer mug is a 'stein'.
Frank+en+stein = 'Frankenstein'.

The 1931 version of 'Frankenstein' was directed by James Whale, and starred Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein, who creates a living being from dead body parts. This creation, played by Boris Karloff, becomes a monster when his 'father', Frankenstein, rejects him.