Far From the Madding Crowd Trivia Quiz

Answer: Thomas Hardy

The novel was Hardy's fourth, published in 1874, and his first success. Its popularity enabled him to give up work and concentrate on his writing, which included poetry. The book was adapted for the screen by Frederic Raphael, who also wrote the screenplay for 'Daisy Miller' (1974) which was based on a book by Henry James.

Other screenplays by Raphael include 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999) and 'Coast to Coast' (2003), which was an adaptation of his own novel.

Answer: Everdene

Bathsheba Everdene is a beautiful young woman, used to attracting the attention of men. During the course of the film, she becomes involved with three different men, causing heartbreak and trouble at various stages for all three of them. Julie Christie was one of the symbols of the 'swinging sixties' in the UK, and her film roles had already included Liz in 'Billy Liar' (1963) and Lara in 'Dr. Zhivago' (1965).

Answer: Alan Bates

Gabriel Oak is the first of Bathsheba's suitors and is as strong and dependable as his name suggests. Alan Bates was one of the best known British actors of the 1960s with an abundance of roles to his credit. He appeared in 'Women in Love' (1969) with Oliver Reed and 'Zorba the Greek' with Anthony Quinn in 1964.

His final acting role was in the television series 'Spartacus', in which he played the role of Antonius Agrippa. The show did not appear on the small screen until 2004, after Bates himself had died in late 2003.

Answer: Dog drives them over cliff.

Oak has managed to scrape together enough money to rent a farm, and has been making a success of his life. Unfortunately, during a storm an inexperienced sheepdog breaks free and rounds up all the sheep before driving them over a cliff to their death on the beach below. Oak sells all he has to clear his debts, and goes to various markets to offer himself for hire as a shepherd. Having helped to put out a fire on a farm he was passing, he is offered work by the owner.

This turns out to be Bathsheba, who has inherited it from her uncle.

Answer: A Valentine card

Bathsheba is piqued because Farmer Boldwood has taken little notice of her, which is something she is unused to. Encouraged by her servant, Liddy, she sends him a Valentine card with the words 'marry me' on it. Although she means it as a joke, Boldwood takes it seriously and proposes to her. Oak rebukes her for playing with Boldwood's affections, and she dismisses him as her shepherd.

She soon has cause to regret her decision, as her sheep start dying from bloat, forcing her to swallow her pride and re-employ Oak.

Answer: Peter Finch

All the actors listed were born in 1916, but only Finch has British connections. He was born in London before eventually ending up in Australia due to various family complications. His portrayal of the repressed Boldwood and his late in life discovery of passion is one of many highlights in the film. Finch is well known as being the first posthumous recipient of an Academy Award for Best Actor, which was given for his role in 'Network' (1976). Finch had died at the relatively early age of sixty following a heart attack.

His other films include 'A Town Like Alice' (1956) and 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' (1971) among many others.

Answer: Soldier

Portrayed by Terence Stamp, 'Frank' Troy captivates Bathsheba, particularly when he displays his swordmanship skills. The couple gets married in secret, dashing the hopes of Farmer Boldwood, who offers Troy a bribe to leave Bathsheba alone, only to discover that he is too late. Oak has also expressed his reservations, and Bathsheba soon discovers that her new husband has little interest in farming.

His gambling and drinking cause her financial problems, and she soon regrets her haste.

Answer: She went to the wrong church.

Troy had been involved with Fanny, who was Bathsheba's former servant. He arranged to marry her and was waiting, in uniform, at the garrison church for Fanny's arrival. Fanny, in the meantime, had gone to the wrong church and realised her mistake too late.

Despite her attempts to explain, Troy cannot forgive the humiliation she has caused him. We later discover that Fanny is pregnant with Troy's child, which leads to her death in childbirth. This prompts Troy to declare Fanny as his true love and fake his death by drowning, leaving Bathsheba to pick up the pieces of her life.

Answer: America

Gabriel has remained the one steady and trustworthy man in Bathsheba's life. She has been left a widow after Troy's reappearance, and death at the hands of a distraught Boldwood. Boldwood's fate is the only major change from the book to the film, as he is reprieved from hanging in the novel but not in the film version. Oak has decided to leave to avoid the gossip that he and Bathsheba will now marry, but agrees to stay when she begs him not to go.

Answer: John Schlesinger

Schlesinger had already worked with Julie Christie on 'Darling' and 'Billy Liar' (1963) and with Alan Bates on 'A Kind of Loving' (1964). 'Far From the Madding Crowd' was something rather different from Schlesinger's grittier films. His move to Hollywood led to 'Midnight Cowboy', which won him a Best Director Oscar, as well as scooping the Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay awards. Schlesinger died in California in 2003.