Iconic Film Characters #2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Steve McQueen

"Bullitt" starring Steve McQueen as the title character was released in 1968 to immediate acclaim. The movie features an iconic car chase around San Francisco which although has been often copied has never been equaled or bettered. Frank Bullitt drives a 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback and the bad guys drive a Dodge Charger 440 Magnum. The film also stars Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Vaughn.
After standout performances in "The Magnificent Seven", "The Great Escape", The Cincinnati Kid", "The Getaway" and "The Thomas Crown Affair", Steve McQueen is best remembered for "Bullitt".

Answer: Cary Grant

"North by Northwest" - you know the movie where the man is running in a cornfield chased by a crop dusting plane. Mistaken for a spy who does not exist in reality, Cary Grant shines in this great Alfred Hitchcock thriller. Grant is ably supported by Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Leo G Carroll and Martin Landau. Oddly, Jessie Royce Landis who plays Cary's mother in the film was only eight years his senior.

Answer: Mel Gibson

Who could forget the exchange between Martin Riggs played by Mel Gibson and Roger Murtaugh played by Danny Glover in "Lethal Weapon". Murtaugh: "Have you ever met anybody you didn't kill?", Riggs: "Well I haven't killed you yet." This is one of many verbal exchanges in this humorous cop movie.

The movie was so successful it spawned three sequels and a television series. The lead players are capably supported by Mitchell Ryan and Gary Busey as the bad guys. Playing Danny Glover's wife in this film is veteran backup and solo singer from the 1960s Darlene Love.

Answer: Jack Nicholson

"You can't handle the truth," so said Col. Nathan R Jessep, played by Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men", starring Tom Cruise and Demi Moore with able assistance from Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Pollak. In a small but significant role is the great character actor J.T. Walsh and the film features very early appearances by Cuba Gooding Jr and Noah Wyle.

This star driven courtroom/court martial drama was a huge success when released in 1992.

Answer: Al Pacino

Al Pacino portrayed Tony Montana to such effect in "Scarface" that he became the prototype crazy drug baron model for all actors who followed. Al Pacino was brilliant in this film, which documents the rise and fall of a violent crime lord. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is equally good as his sister Gina. Michelle Pfeifer is a standout as Tony's wife, Elvira. Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, "Scarface" is considered a classic.

The movie is an updated remake of the 1932 movie of the same name which itself is a classic of its time.

Answer: Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy became the first man to win an Oscar for playing a living person when he played father Flanagan in "Boys Town". This Academy Award was the second win for Spencer Tracy who had won the previous year for his role in "Captains Courageous" thus becoming the first man to win back to back. Spencer went on to be nominated in total nine times, his last nomination coming in 1968 for "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner".

Answer: Sidney Poitier

"They Call Me Mr Tibbs," so says Sidney Poitier when asked by police chief Rod Steiger what he is called in Philadelphia, in the 1968 thriller "In the Heat of the Night". This racially driven murder mystery is set in the deep south in the fictional town of Sparta in the state of Mississippi. Also in the cast are Lee Grant and the underrated Warren Oates. Rod Steiger won an Academy Award for his role as the police chief Gillespie.

Answer: James Cagney

Cody Jarrett as played by James Cagney in "White Heat" is a psychopathic killer with a mother complex. Quite a combination for a 1949 movie, however James Cagney is believable in this complex role. His superb co-stars are Virginia Mayo as his wife, Edmond O'Brien as the undercover F.B.I. man, Steve Cochran as Cagney's rival for leadership of the gang, Fred Clark as the fence and as his mother, Margaret Wycherly. "Top of the World Ma."

Answer: Jackie Gleason

Jackie Gleason in a major performance brought the character Minnesota Fats to life in 1961's "The Hustler".
The film stars Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson, the character that eventually won Newman a well deserved Oscar in "The Color of Money" in 1987. Jackie Gleason only made a handful of films after the his success in television in the 1950s. He was notable for making his characters larger than life. Witness his unprincipled boxing manager Maish Rennick in "Requiem For A Heavyweight" or his turn as Buford T Justice in the "Smokey and the Bandit" trilogy.

Answer: Anthony Quinn

Since the release of "Zorba the Greek" in 1964 almost every party for over 30s at some time featured Zorba's dance. Anthony Quinn had already won two Academy Awards when this movie was released and he received a Best Actor nomination for his role as Zorba.

He helps the uptight Englishman Basil, superbly played by Alan Bates, to appreciate life. The cast also includes the wonderful Irene Papas and Russian actress Lila Kedrova who won an Oscar for her performance.