Friendly Persuasion Trivia Quiz

Answer: Indiana

The establishing opening scene shows a peaceful farm and pond. The caption is "Southern Indiana 1862". Also, at the County Fair there is a sign alluding to Jennings County which is is southeastern Indiana.

Answer: Emily

Jess and Eliza Birdwell (Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire) have three children: Joshua (Anthony Perkins), who is almost a grown man, middle daughter, Mattie (Phyllis Love), and youngest son, Little Jess (Richard Eyer). Joshua is anxious to prove his manhood, but still has a few boyish tendencies. Mattie is becoming interested in boys and has a crush on the neighbor's son, Gard Jordan. Little Jess is a full of mischief and is prone to blurting out embarrassing statements at inappropriate times.

Answer: Samantha

Samantha seems to have it in for Little Jess and is always trying to nip him, which forces Little Jess to sneak around the farm trying to avoid the aggressive goose. Samantha is almost used for food later in the film when Confederate soldiers raid the Birdwell farm.

Answer: Pat Boone

Also known as "Thee I Love", the theme from "Friendly Persuasion" became a big hit for Boone after the movie's release. It was composed by Paul Francis Webster and Dimitri Tiomkin. It was nominated for an Academy Award but lost to "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" that year (1957).

Answer: Marjorie Main

Mrs. Hudspeth is a widow living with three teenage daughters, Opal, Ruby and Pearl ("Gems, every one o' them"). The girls go crazy over Josh when Jess and Josh visit the Hudspeth farm on business. Marjorie Main was perhaps best known for portraying the character Ma Kettle in a series of movies in the 1940s and '50s.

Answer: selling orchard stock

Just like a door-to-door salesman of today, the business of raising and selling orchard stock necessitated Jess having to travel to other farms, sometimes even out-of-state. He would have to leave his wife and children alone during dangerous times.

Answer: an organ

Jess is persuaded by his friend and neighbor, Sam Jordan (Robert Middleton), to buy an organ when they see one at the County Fair. The purveyor of musical instruments is Professor Quigley (Walter Catlett). When it is delivered, it causes some consternation between Jess and Eliza. Eliza, who is the spiritual leader of the local Quaker meeting, goes to live in the barn when the organ is brought into the house.

However, Jess is able to use his "persuasion" to smooth over the spat. A compromise is reached and the organ is moved to the attic.

Answer: yes

Sam Jordan, the neighbor of the Birdwells, is shot by a Confederate sniper (Richard Garland) and dies in Jess's arms. The sniper also wounds Jess but does not kill him. Jess used this opportunity to "persuade" the sniper to non-violence. Also, Josh is wounded, but not killed, in a skirmish with Confederates. Gardner Jordan (Mark Richman), Sam's son, also receives a minor wound in a battle, but recovers quickly and returns to duty.

Answer: Billy Goat

Billy Goat (Ivan Rasputin) is a wrestler who challenges other men to wrestle him for money. Josh's friend, Caleb (John Smith), likes the idea of a physical challenge, but during the bout, Caleb's Quaker belief in non-violence starts to make him feel guilty and he quits.

Other men who have wagered on Caleb feel cheated and one starts a dust-up with him and Josh. Jess steps in, and "persuades" the hot-head to cool down by dunking him in a handy barrel of water.

Answer: a broom

When Eliza sees the soldier trying to wring the goose's neck, she grabs the nearest thing she could - a broom resting on the front porch - and beats the soldier until he lets go of the bird. At the end of the film, the broom is used for a little comedy relief as Jess hands the broom to Eliza and salutes her, acknowledging her fortitude.