Great Comedy Films of the 1980s Quiz

Answer: Ghostbusters

A screenplay was written for John Belushi to showcase his talents but he died before it could be filmed. Dan Aykroyd (who had an interest in the paranormal) and Harold Ramis modified the script for "Ghostbusters" (1984).

The plot concerns a group of parapsychologists who set up a firm dedicated to the eradication of ghosts, poltergeists, or anything that goes bump in the night. The film received a 97% freshness rating from Rotten Tomatoes, set box office records, and had two Academy Award nominations for Best Song and Special Effects.

There was a "Ghostbusters Two" (1989) and a remake with a female cast (2016).

Answer: Ben Stein

Ben Stein said "Bueller?" off camera with his flat monotone voice and got laughs so it was included in the film. Stein is a writer, lawyer, actor, and commentator on political and economic issues and at one time a speech writer for Richard Nixon. He has a long list of television and film appearances, mostly doing the monotone voice that could make any topic dull. He was a reoccurring character on "The Wonder Years" (1988-2003) and hosted his own quiz show "Win Ben Stein's Money" where he played a contestant.

Ferris Bueller, a high school student with a lust for life, executes an elaborate plan for playing hooky from school along with his friends as they explore John Hughes' idealized Chicago. In the space of a day they visit Wrigley Field, the Chicago Art Institute, the Mercantile Exchange, and view a parade - any one of which could be a full days venture - and end the experience by destroying a very expensive Ferrari GT sports car.

Initial reviews were positive but no means enthusiastic, earning an overall score of 81% from Rotten Tomatoes. But the film has since become a minor classic because of its youthful spirit.

Answer: Airplane!

Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and David Zucker were University of Wisconsin students who established a local improv group called "Kentucky Fried Theater" which later morphed into "Kentucky Fried Movie" (1977). Their 1980 venture "Airplane!" took a new path to comedy and developed a whole new film genre.

The plot was vaguely based on airplane disaster films of the past. Roger Ebert wrote ""Airplane!" is sophomoric, obvious, predictable, corny, and quite often very funny. And the reason it's funny is frequently because it's sophomoric, predictable... (and) corny."

"Airplane!" is what might be called a 'people' film as it wowed the audiences and captured the imagination of critics as well but was ignored by the powerful award bestowers. The collaborators said that the secret to the film's success was casting serious actors to play comedy roles such as Robert Stack, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, and Lloyd Bridges.

Answer: Walley World

This film is under the franchise of "National Lampoon", a defunct humor magazine since 1998. John Hughes developed the screenplay from a contribution he made to the magazine called "Vacation 58".

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants his family to have a 'perfect vacation' so he buys the ugliest station wagon in the world to drive to Walley World. Along the way their car is vandalized in East Saint Louis, they interact with shirt tail relations in Kansas, contribute to the demise of Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) and her dog Dinky, lose their credit cards and sundry other events. Finally arriving at Walley World, they find it closed for repairs. Clark goes berserk and waves a toy gun around demanding that the park be opened but is confronted by a SWAT team. At which time the park owner arrives, Roy Walley (Eddie Bracken), listens to their story, reopens the park, and gives the Griswolds a free pass for the day.

Answer: Jake and Elwood

It is a wonder that this film was completed. Dan Aykroyd was six months late with the script that had to be completely rewritten. Drug use was rampant on set causing delays. Car chases and crashes ran well over budget.

Jake Blues (John Belushi) gets out of prison and is picked up by his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) driving a used police car. After visiting the orphanage where they grew up, they feel they are on a mission from God to save it from its financial problems. The way to do this is to reorganize their old band and give the money they make to the orphanage. They then begin to look up and recruit the old band members. Mean while they are pursued by the police, a mysterious woman with bombs, and a group of Nazis. All leading to explosions, chases, and vehicular destruction.

If the film relied on this contrived plot, it might not had done so well. But the music saves it. Even after Belushi was gone, versions of the Blues Brothers Band continued to tour and show up at music festivals. Also, the appearance of many legendary blues artist from the past, such as James Brown, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker, were true enhancements.

There were no big awards for the film but it was very successful financially and with both critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes - 85%.

Answer: Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman's range includes the young college graduate in "The Graduate" (1967), an aging native American in "Little Big Man" (1970), an autistic man in "Rain Man" (1988), and a burned-out salesman in "Death of a Salesman" (1985), a made for television movie.

Hoffman plays an unemployed talented actor, partly because of his temperament, who at last finds work playing a 40-ish female on a television soap opera. The character becomes a media sensation but not without issues. His relationship to his girl friend Sandy (Teri Garr) deteriorates, he develops a crush on his co-star Julie (Jessica Lange), has to fend off cast member John Van Horn (George Gaynes), and is proposed marriage by Julie's father (Charles Durning).

The film garnered ten Academy Award nominations but won only for Jessica Lange as Supporting Actress, although she had to compete with Teri Garr for that award. It had an 89% Rotten Tomato rating.

Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead) made a career of drag roles, Travolta played Edna Turnblad in the 2007 remake of "Hairspray", and Robin Williams did "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993).

Answer: Steve Martin and John Candy

Martin plays Neal Page, an impatient, pessimistic, cynical, bad-tempered and selfish business executive; Candy is Del Griffith, an optimistic, good-natured, talkative, friendly, clumsy shower curtain ring salesman. Their plane scheduled for an hour and forty-five minute flight to Chicago is diverted to Wichita that causes a three day struggle to get there. The train is next but it breaks down near a corn field in Missouri. The rental car burns up due to Del's carelessness. They try to pool their resources but they are robbed. During all the calamities, Martin displays little patience with Candy. But through all it all there is a subtle bonding between the two.

Critics praised John Hughes for the film as it was not about teenage angst as were his forte in previous films. "PT&A" got 94% positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, standup comedian, writer, producer and musician. John Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian who rose to fame as a member of the "Second City" inprov group.

Answer: A fake orgasm

Harry (Billy Crystal) having lunch with Sally says he can tell when a woman is faking an orgasm. Sally disagrees and to prove her point, she vividly, and while fully clothed, fakes one as other diners watch. It took several hours to get the scene just right and believable. The line was actually spoken by Estelle Reiner, director Rob Reiner's mother.

Forced to share a car when they first meet, Harry and Sally spend a good deal of time arguing and debating life and relationships. They meet casually or accidentally in the next few years as they mature and broaden their experiences. Their moods develop to respect, to affection, to love. Nora Ephron based her Oscar nominated screenplay on her own experiences and that of her friends and acquaintances. It got an 89% freshness tag from Rotten Tomatoes and is often ranked high on lists of romantic comedies.

Answer: Macaulay Culkin

Although Buck is able to win over Miles and six year old Maizy (Gaby Hoffmann), 15 year old Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly) is less impressed and defiant in her attitude. This battle of wills culminates when Buck rescues Mia from an underage drinking party and exposes her boyfriend as the jerk he is. Meanwhile Buck must deal with his girlfriend Chanice (Amy Madigan) who wants him to take more responsibility for his life.

Since I have watched and enjoyed this film so much, I was surprised by Rotten Tomatoes freshness score of 64%. Two television sitcoms were developed for the Uncle Buck character but both were unsuccessful.

A year later Macaulay Culkin made his blockbuster hit "Home Alone".

Answer: A Christmas Story

I first became acquainted with Jean Shepherd because of his nostalgic short stories in "Playboy Magazine" that I read for the excellent fiction and articles. Others, I understand, had more prurient interests but that I can not verify. Shepherd eventually compiled them into a collection called "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" (1966). From these emerged the screenplay for "A Christmas Story".

Ralphie wants nothing more than a Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas even though he is warned by his teacher and a department store Santa that "you'll shoot your eye out". Other images include the ugliest table lamp in the world, scene of a naïve boy sticking his tongue on a frozen flagpole, dogs that eat Christmas dinner, the taste of Lifeboy soap, a disappointing decoder ring, and a furnace with a mind of its own.

Critics treated it lightly when it was first released but it has grown in stature. There are television channels that will run "A Christmas Story" back-to-back 24 hours near Christmas time. Rotten Tomatoes currently ranks it 89% fresh.