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Interesting Movie Tidbits Trivia Quiz

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A multiple-choice quiz by chessart. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
chessart

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
73

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
4163

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The soundtrack in the 1949 film 'The Third Man' is played on what instrument? Hint

zither

clarinet

harp

sitar

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Question 2 of 10

2. At the start of the 1949 film 'DOA', Edmund O'Brien stumbles into a police station and announces 'I want to report a murder'. Who was the murder victim? Hint

his wife

himself

his landlord

his best customer

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which actors play the pair of compulsive gamblers so memorably depicted in Robert Altman's 1974 film 'California Split'? Hint

Walter Mathau and Jack Lemmon

Paul Newman and Robert Redford

Elliott Gould and George Segal

Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight

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Question 4 of 10

4. The 1973 film 'Badlands' depicts the real-life crime spree of whom? Hint

John Dillinger

Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate

Bonnie and Clyde

Al Capone

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Question 5 of 10

5. The American reporter played by Martin Sheen in 'Gandhi' represented what real-life journalist? Hint

Edward R. Murrow

Murray Kempton

William Shirer

Walter Lippmann

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 'Cool Hand Luke', what song does Luke sing and play on his banjo after being informed that his mother has died? Hint

Swanee River

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Plastic Jesus

How Great Thou Art

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Question 7 of 10

7. 'Mediocrities of the world, I absolve you' was said at the end of what film? Hint

Jesus Christ, Superstar

Gandhi

Amadeus

The Ten Commandments

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Question 8 of 10

8. The character played by James Earl Jones in 'Field of Dreams' is based on what American writer? Hint

Philip Roth

J. D. Salinger

Frederick Exley

Norman Mailer

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 'Amistad', what does the Spanish Minister tell President Martin Van Buren that he must control in order to rule? Hint

the Congress

the high seas

the South

the Courts

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which actress accepted a tidy sum of money to be a spokesperson for the National Beef Council, and then announced that she did not eat red meat? Hint

Cybill Shepherd

Cloris Leachman

Farrah Fawcett

Brigitte Bardot

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The soundtrack in the 1949 film 'The Third Man' is played on what instrument?

Answer: zither

Roger Ebert writes, 'Has there ever been a film where the music more perfectly suited the action than in Carol Reed's 'The Third Man'? The score was performed on a zither by Anton Karas, who was playing in a Vienna beerhouse one night when Reed heard him.

The sound is jaunty but without joy, like whistling in the dark. It sets the {tone;} the action begins like an undergraduate lark and then reveals vicious undertones.'

2. At the start of the 1949 film 'DOA', Edmund O'Brien stumbles into a police station and announces 'I want to report a murder'. Who was the murder victim?

Answer: himself

He discovered he had been poisoned, and spends the rest of the film trying to unravel the mystery of who did it and why.

3. Which actors play the pair of compulsive gamblers so memorably depicted in Robert Altman's 1974 film 'California Split'?

Answer: Elliott Gould and George Segal

Segal goes on a big winning streak at a casino, but out of superstition won't let Gould watch him and won't let Gould have any money so he can go gamble himself. When it's over, Segal looks at the huge pile of chips he's won and laments, 'There was no special feeling.'

4. The 1973 film 'Badlands' depicts the real-life crime spree of whom?

Answer: Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate

Memorable performances by Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.

5. The American reporter played by Martin Sheen in 'Gandhi' represented what real-life journalist?

Answer: William Shirer

Shirer reported on the Indian independence movement until the early '30's. He then went to Germany, and his reporting there resulted in his well-known book 'Rise and Fall of the Third Reich'.

6. In 'Cool Hand Luke', what song does Luke sing and play on his banjo after being informed that his mother has died?

Answer: Plastic Jesus

'Just a Closer Walk with Thee' was also in the {film;} it was played by another inmate during Luke's visit from his mother. During that visit Luke's brother handed him the banjo, and told Luke there was now no reason for him to come back.

7. 'Mediocrities of the world, I absolve you' was said at the end of what film?

Answer: Amadeus

Former Court composer Salieri absolves first the Priest, and then the others in the asylum at the end of 'Amadeus'. Well-deserved Acadamey Award to F. Murray Abraham for his memorable portrayal of the mediocre composer Salieri, who is consumed with his envy of the more talented Mozart.

8. The character played by James Earl Jones in 'Field of Dreams' is based on what American writer?

Answer: J. D. Salinger

Jones plays a writer who has been a recluse since his activist days during the '60's. The Kevin Costner character involves Jones in his quest, and Jones finally admits that yes, he really does love baseball!

9. In 'Amistad', what does the Spanish Minister tell President Martin Van Buren that he must control in order to rule?

Answer: the Courts

Illustrating the unique genius of the American system. In no other system are there three independent branches of government, leading to the Spanish Minister's inability to understand why the Amistad and its contents couldn't be immediately returned, in accordance with Van Buren's wishes.

10. Which actress accepted a tidy sum of money to be a spokesperson for the National Beef Council, and then announced that she did not eat red meat?

Answer: Cybill Shepherd

She did the same thing with Loreal, taking their money and then announcing she did not color her hair. Not much integrity there, in my opinion.

Source: Author chessart

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rj211 before going online.
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