Howard Hawks: A Man and His Movies Quiz

Answer: Howard Hughes

"Scarface" was a film-noir movie that focused on gang warfare and police attempts to bring the disorder under control. Based on a novel by Armitage Trail, this movie was the basis for the 1983 film of the same name. In this movie, the battle is between the Irish and the Italians, who are both attempting to take control of the seedy underworld of Chicago.

This dark movie features the car chases, and gun battles usually seen in this movie genre. The story is thought to be loosely based on the life of Al Capone.

This movie is a classic example of some of the movies produced by Howard Hughes. It was a big budget film and dealt with a controversial topic. Hughes was an innovative producer, and this movie had production delays because censors felt that Hughes and Hawks and included too much explicit violence.

Some of Hughes' other films that earned him this reputation included "Hell's Angels" (1930), and "The Outlaw" (1943).

Answer: Kirk Douglas

Based on a novel by A.B. Guthrie Jr., "The Big Sky" was released by RKO Pictures in 1952. This western drama featured Kirk Douglas in the lead role of cowboy Jim Deakins. The movie centers around the perilous fur trade in the old west. Hawks makes use of beautiful backgrounds, and lots of scenes which take place on river rapids.

While not one of his biggest hits, it is a very classic example of his work. It was also one of the first movies to show romance between frontiersman and Native American woman as acceptable. Kirk Douglas was 36 when he made this movie, and his natural good looks and strong physique were featured prominently.

His sharp features and dimpled chin, plus strong acting skills lead to a 50 year career playing tough guy roles such as "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) and "Champion" (1949). "The Big Sky" was the only film in which Hawks and Douglas collaborated.

Answer: I Was a Male War Bride

"I Was a Male War Bride" (1949) was a comedy movie featuring Ann Sheridan as an American nurse who marries a Frenchman played by Cary Grant. The movie portrays the maneuvers performed by the two so that Grant's character may enter the U.S. In real life it was much easier for a male soldier to bring home a European bride than it was for a female soldier/nurse to bring home a European husband.

After endlessly explaining their situation, the two resort to having Grant dress as a woman (not very believably) in order to get him into the country.

Answer: An African safari adventure-drama

Filmed in Tanganyika in 1962, "Hatari!" was one of Hawks more unique films. It followed a group of men hunting wild animals in Africa, that were to be brought back for display at zoos. The name of the movie is derived from Swahili, and means danger. This movie features beautiful backgrounds and lots of wild animal film footage.

This movie featured John Wayne and Red Buttons, and music by the great Henry Mancini.

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Howard Hawks wrote, produced, and directed this movie starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur in the leading roles. It was also the first major role for soon-to-be Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth. The movie is based around the dangerous profession of mountain flying, and Hawks does use a couple of real-life incidents that he witnessed, in the movie.

The movie features many aerobatic stunts that led to it being a cult classic for those who love early aviation films. Rita Hayworth went on to a long career in Hollywood, starring in a variety of movie types.

Her skills as a dancer led to her being one of the few women to have danced on screen with both Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Sadly her career was shortened by ill health, including alcoholism and Alzheimer's disease.

Answer: Alcoholism and Withdraw

Robert Mitchum convincingly plays J.P. Harrah, a small town sheriff who has fallen into the bottle after suffering a broken heart. His old friend Cole Thornton (John Wayne) comes to town on a mission to help a rancher protect his family and land from a rival.

These two lead a nice cast that included Ed Asner, Arthur Hunnicutt, and a young James Caan, this movie is a classic western featuring honor, and loyalty in a winning battle over greed and avarice. In the film Mitchum's character is shown shaking and vomiting as he experiences delirium tremems (the D.T.s) when he quits drinking.

There is a scene where Mitchum sits in a large washtub taking a hot bath with lye soap at the insistence of his friends. His yearning for "just one more drink" and his struggle to resist are an important byline in the movie.

In the end he wins the battle of the bottle and the battle to save the rancher.

Answer: True

Nominated for nine Academy Awards, many consider "Sergeant York" (1941) to be one of Howard Hawks finest films. It is a biographical film based on the life of Alvin C. York, one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War I. Gary Cooper was at his finest portraying this Medal of Honor winner and was the recipient of the Best Actor award at the 14th Academy Awards. York, who had refused to have a movie made about himself, finally relented and gave all his proceeds into the creation of a bible school.

Answer: Ernest Hemingway

This was the first film to feature Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall together. It was based on Ernest Hemingway's novel of the same name, and is set in the Caribbean island of Martinique. The movie looks at the French Resistance and their attempts to smuggle people on and off island. One of the most interesting characters in the film is Cricket, a hard drinking piano player at the hotel bar.

He is played by American composer and pianist Hoagy Carmichael. Some critics were quick to note that there were many major differences between the novel and the movie, and they were correct.

In spite of the fact that Hawks told Hemingway, to his face, that he thought the novel was awful, they worked together on this film. Many of Hemingway's other novels were made into film including "For Whom the Bell Toll's" in 1943 and "A Farewell to Arms" in 1932.

Answer: Paleontologist

This film was tailored, to a degree, for Katherine Hepburn who is the eccentric owner of Baby, her pet leopard. Cary Grant reluctantly took the other lead role of an intellectual paleontologist, after numerous other leading men turned it down. The movie is a love story between two very different people and the animals in their lives.

This movie was difficult to make, went way over budget, and was complicated by the fact that Grant was terrified of the leopard. One of the most significant scenes in the movie involved Cary Grant wearing a fancy woman's negligee.

When he is asked why is wearing it he replies "Because I just went gay all of a sudden!" and jumps in the air. It is believed that this may be the first time this term was used as a slang for homosexuality, in a major motion picture.

Answer: Rio Lobo

Featuring John Wayne and Jack Elam, "Rio Lobo" (1970) was Hawks last movie. It is considered by some critics to be the third in a Western-themed trilogy that featured an honest sheriff protecting his town from outlaws. The other two movies were "Rio Bravo" (1959), and "El Dorado" (1966). All three films featured Hollywood icon John Wayne in the lead role.

As he often did, Hawks filmed this movie in Panavision so that he could make the most out of background and show more details. In this classic hero conquers villain story line, the town comes to the aid of the sheriff when he is in need and the town is saved.