Little Black Project: Murky Movies Quiz

Answer: Ballet

Natalie Portman essayed the role of a ballet dancer named Nina in "Black Swan". The storyline was centered on an upcoming production of the famous ballet "Swan Lake" by the New York City Ballet. Fighting fierce competition for the lead part, Nina finds herself unraveling under the pressure. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards but ended up winning only one - Best Actress for Natalie Portman.

(Question provided by zorba_scank)

Answer: Horse

The 1994 adaptation of "Black Beauty" was the fifth time Anna Sewell's book was brought to "life". The story is told by "Beauty" (the horse, and main character) as he is bought and sold over the years to many people and for various reasons. While this question won't give away any spoilers, it's safe to say that the story has a happy ending.

(Question provided by Lones78)

Answer: Daniel Radcliffe

'The Woman in Black' is based on a novel of the same name by Susan Hill. Daniel Radcliffe plays the main character - a lawyer named Arthur Kipps - who suffers a terrifying experience in the village of Eel Marsh courtesy of a vengeful ghost (the titular Woman in Black) who is killing the village's children. Arthur attempts to investigate the mysterious events, but ends up alienating the suspicious locals and placing both himself and his young son in danger of becoming the evil ghost's latest victims.

Daniel Radcliffe played the eponymous hero in the 'Harry Potter's film series. Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright and Emma Watson played Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively.

(Question provided by Fifiona81)

Answer: Los Angeles

"The Black Dahlia" centres on two obsessed detectives investigating the 1947 unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, an aspiring actress whose mutilated body was found cut in half in Los Angeles. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film starred Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson and Mia Kirshner. Kirshner, originally hired to assist with readings during the auditions, was so impressive that she got the title role of Elizabeth Short.

(Question provided by pitegny)

Answer: The Black Cat

"The Black Cat" was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starred Boris Karloff (playing the architect Hjalmar Poelzig), Bela Lugosi (as Dr. Vitus Werdegast), David Manners (as Peter Alison) and Julie Bishop (as the newly-wed Joan Alison). When Joan was injured in a train accident, Dr. Werdegast took her and her spouse Peter to the house of the architect Hjalmar. Many violent and shocking scenes ensued, as the visitors became aware that Hjalmar was an active Satanist.
The title was derived form one of Poe's short stories, but the complicated plot diverged very much - although a black cat did have at least one important scene.

(Question provided by JanIQ)

Answer: Gill-Man

"Creature From the Black Lagoon" was filmed in black and white 3D in 1954. The monster costume (the Gill-man) was worn by two actors, one underwater, the other on land. Notably, Gill-Man debuted alongside Abbott and Costello on the Colgate Comedy Hour as a publicity ploy prior to release of the movie.

The story line deals with an expedition to a lagoon in the Amazon, prompted by the discovery of a fossilized webbed hand. The group hope to find evidence of links between land and sea mammals. A living descendant of the fossils stalks the party, killing a number of them, and becoming rather too interested in the female lead, played by Julia Adams. Eventually the Gill-man is driven off, with his bullet-punctured body sinking into his home lagoon. Two sequels were released: "Revenge of the Creature" and "the Creature Walks Among Us".

(Question provided by windrush)

Answer: They pass through the black hole unharmed.

After battling the deranged scientist Dr. Reinhardt and his menacing robot Maximilian, the Palomino's crew of five humans have been reduced to three with Durant killed by Maximilian and the craven reporter Harry Booth shot down with the Palomino. The remaining three, plus their robot V.I.N. CENT try to escape with a probe ship but find themselves on an unchangeable course into the black hole. The ship is not crushed but rather passes through the black hole, emerging from a white hole in an uncharted region of space.

(Question provided by WesleyCrusher)

Answer: Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is a well-known American actor and film producer. In "Meet Joe Black" the Joe Black character is Death, who has taken over the body of a young man tragically killed in a very recent accident. He makes a deal with Bill Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) to guide him around the modern world. From there the story unfolds. The movie was directed and produced by Martin Brest and is loosely based on the 1934 film "Death Takes a Holiday". Overall reviews were mixed.

(Question provided by em1958)

Answer: The Chronicles of Prydain

"The Chronicles of Prydain" are a series of children's novels based on Welsh mythology and written by Lloyd Alexander. The film focuses on Taran, a young and humble pig farmer as he attempts to prevent the Horned King from obtaining the titular black cauldron which will allow the Horned King to conquer the Earth. Taran is aided by Princess Eilonwy who is an enchantress and Gurgi a half human/half beast being.

Answer: T'Challa

T'Challa was Prince of Wakanda who assumes the throne after the death of his father. Wakanda is a reclusive kingdom in Africa but is technologically advanced. T'Challa power as king is challenged by a number of other people who want both the power and the riches of the kingdom. T'Challa struggles to maintain control and he must find a way to restore his inner warrior to become the Black Panther.