First Monday in October Trivia Quiz

Answer: The date on which the US Supreme Court convenes annually

The plot of the movie centres around the appointment to the US Supreme Court of the first female Associate Justice. The title of the movie refers to the day on which the US Supreme Court starts a new session following the traditional summer break. After having been moved around over the years, this date was first introduced in 1917 and is mandated by law. Each court is known by the name of its Chief Justice. In the movie it is the Crawford Court named after Chief Justice James Jefferson Crawford played by Barnard Hughes.

Answer: Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau and the role of the grumpy, 'don't suffer fools lightly', Associate Justice Daniel Snow were made for each other. Snow is the court's resident liberal and a veteran member of the bench. He believes that "telephones do not have a constitutional right to be answered" and is a passionate supporter of individual rights. It is believed that the character was modelled on Justice William O. Douglas who was appointed to the court in 1939 at the tender age of 40 and who is considered to be one of the court's greatest liberals. Matthau received a Golden Globes nomination in the category Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his portrayal of Snow.

This 'Snowism' delivered with spot-on comedic timing by Matthau is an example of a casting match made in heaven. "I've always been suspicious of neatness. If there is nothing on top of a man's desk, he probably shoved all the clutter in the drawers and if his drawers are empty, what the hell does he need a desk for?"

Answer: Stanley Moorhead

The movie opens with "CJ", Chief Justice Crawford, being informed of the death that day of Associate Justice Stanley Moorhead. This means that there is now a vacancy on the nine member court. There is much speculation as to who the President will nominate to replace him on the court. Justice Moorhead had left instructions asking that Dan Snow say a few words at his grave despite the fact that they were often on opposing sides of the arguments before the court.

As Snow so poignantly put it "you don't have to agree with a man in order to respect him".

Answer: Jill Clayburgh

Ruth Hagardorn Loomis is the a young conservative judge from Orange County, California, who is nominated by the President to fill the vacant position on the Supreme Court. She is the first woman to be so honoured. She is a recent widow who is, besides being staunchly conservative and fastidious, an advocate of big business. Upon her confirmation, she joins the court as the first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court causing some protocol consternation among the previously all male group.

Jill Clayburgh received a Golden Globes nomination in the category Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her portrayal of Loomis.

Answer: True

During the confirmation hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee Ruth Loomis is asked the question as to whether her decisions on the court would be influenced by the fact that she was a woman. Loomis replied that she certainly hoped so as "for nearly two hundred years this court has expressed men's opinions. Perhaps it's time for the majority of the population to have one voice in nine in the rulings of the Supreme Court".

An aside here to put the scene in its historical context. The movie had originally been scheduled for release in February 1982. However, on 7 July 1981, President Ronald Reagan announced the nomination of Sandra Day O'Connor for the vacant spot of Associate Justice to the Supreme Court; the first women to be nominated to the country's highest court. A quick reshuffle of dates was in order and the movie made its US debut on 21 August 1981. Exactly a month later on 21 September 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was confirmed as the first female Associate Justice by the Senate in a unanimous decision.

Answer: False

The plot of the movie actually revolves around the sparks that fly between Snow and Loomis, and leads to some the movie's greatest lines as the two square off against each other. The veteran liberal, known as "The Great Dissenter", versus the staunch conservative, the "Lysol Lady of Orange County" (to quote Snow), find themselves on the opposing sides of most arguments. Both are characters with strongly held views and there are some fiery exchanges between the two as they debate issues before the court.

However, as much as they disagree, they also develop a growing respect for each other and an unlikely friendship emerges during the movie.

Answer: The right to freedom of speech

The case of "State of Nebraska vs Herbert G. Maloney" revolves around the State of Nebraska's bid to have Maloney's film, "The Naked Nymphomaniac", barred on the grounds that it is knowingly obscene. Maloney's defence contends that is an educational piece and that it is permitted under the First Amendment.

The principle of free speech guaranteed by this amendment is the source of much debate out of court by Snow and Loomis who are on opposite sides of the argument. The case also offers a glimpse into court ethics when Justice Loomis wants Justice Snow to recuse himself because he refuses to watch the film on principle.

Answer: Suppression of a patent

Snow is attempting to get the case of Abbott vs Omnitech International placed on the court roster after it was sent up by a lower court. The case was brought by a group of minority shareholders who are trying to find out what has happened to the "Momentum Engine".

This is a new source of energy that can power vehicles without the use of petrol. The allegation is that Omnitech bought up all the patents issued on the Momentum Engine and then suppressed them. In a debate with Loomis about whether the case should be heard, he uses the analogy of Thomas Edison and the invention of the light bulb.

His argument is that the government awarded the patent to Edison, but that "the light belonged to everyone. No-one has the right to turn on the darkness".

Answer: The CEO of Omnitech International

Donald K. Richards is the CEO of Omnitech International, or so the records say. The mysterious thing is that Donald K. Richards has not been seen in public for almost a decade. Rather an unusual thing for the head of a huge conglomerate. During one of his heated, out of court debates with Loomis, Snow puts forward his idea that Donald K. Richards is dead and that Omnitech, for reasons known only to them, is "hiding behind a dead man" and that is being run by a "faceless cabal" who are unaccountable for their actions.

Answer: He hears that Loomis is going to resign from the court.

During his Omnitech debate with Loomis, Snow suffers chest pains and is taken to hospital. While he is there, Loomis, perturbed about Snow's theory that Donald Richards is dead, returns to Orange County. There she checks the storage facility used to house the records of the law practice she once shared with her late husband. She finds evidence that Donald Richards is indeed dead and that her husband was involved in the cover up. She feels that given the conflict of interest, she should resign her position on the court.

When Snow hears about her decision, he rushes out of the hospital to find her and talk her out of resigning. The movie ends with the pair of them going to the court building to reveal the truth and get the case on the docket. Of course, they are still squabbling!.