More Classic Silent Films Trivia Quiz

Answer: She is killed by Jack the Ripper

Louise Brooks stars as Lulu and generates a highly charged sexuality on the screen. This was a German film directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst which was partly based on a previous film made in 1921.

Answer: The Ku Klux Klan

The film seems to glorify the Klan and endorse white supremacy. Surely there was no intent to be politically incorrect. The Klan used the film to show potential members how the Klan was able to be a white-hooded posse and go beyond ineffective legal protections.

The film would be considered today because of its scope to be a 'blockbuster'. Its failure on correctness issues does not deter the fact it was a break-through film of its time.

Answer: Most of the action was staged

Flaherty was working without a net. There were no guidelines for what constitutes a documentary. Therefore, the hunters used spears in the film when in reality they used guns; the family shown were not related. They did not die of starvation as the camera crew was right there. But it was a bold attempt to show the struggles of survival in a desolate land.

Answer: Rudolph Valentino

This film was made on a small budget, but it became the prototype 'chick flick'. Valentino became what we call today a 'pop icon'. Women flocked to his films. When Valentino wore a wrist watch rather than a pocket watch, sales of wrist watches increased.

He was once sued for bigamy. He died young at thirty-one of peritonitis after a gastric operation. It is estimated that 100,000 people tried to attend his funeral under near riot conditions. Reportedly there were suicides over the death. For years a rose was deposited at his grave by a mysterious someone.

Answer: Broncho Billy Anderson

Anderson made 148 short western movies and probably appeared in or produced another 300. In "The Great Train Robbery" he played three roles. The classic scene where a gun is shot directly into the camera was duplicated in Scorsese's "Goodfellas".

Answer: It was the only silent film to receive an Academy award as Best Picture

The Academy Awards came into being in 1928. Although "Wings" was cited as Best Picture, it shared the award with "Sunrise" (1927) which was awarded 'Most Artistic'. William Wellman, the director, and Richard Arlen, the actor, were both pilots during the war and bring a tone of realism to the dog fight scenes.

The film contains brief female and male nudity. Clara Bow was the female lead with Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen her suitors. Gary Cooper makes a brief appearance.

Answer: Jackie Coogan

Coogan's career as a child star came to a halt when he grew up. He became penniless and was supported by Chaplin in the 1930s as his parents had squandered his earnings on high living. During World War Two he was a glider pilot in combat areas. Modern audiences will remember him as Uncle Fester on the Adams Family sitcom. He died of a heart attack at 69.

Answer: Russian pogroms upon Jews in the 19th century

Griffith erected huge sets, had 3000 extras, and gathered around him talented people who would make marks for themselves later - such as Tod Browning and Anita Loos as writers and Lillian Gish and Douglas Fairbanks as actors. The musical score was composed for formal presentations.

The fourth story line that was omitted from the question were the circumstances that led in France to the Saint Bartholomew Day Massacre where Catholics took the lives of thousands of Protestants.

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Swanson got an Academy Award nomination and the film won Best Cinematography. The 1932 version, called "Rain", starred Joan Crawford and Walter Huston and got lukewarm reviews. The musical version, called "Miss Sadie Thompson" was mainly a showcase for Hayworth's return to the screen after a four year absence. Francine Everett was a star in what was called at the time Race Movies.

These were films made for Black audiences that white people did not generally see until the advent of the VCR. This time it was called "Dirty Gertie from Harlem" (1946) and was moved to the Caribbean.

Answer: King Vidor

Vidor's first silent movie was "Hurricane in Galveston" (1913) and his last major production was "Solomon and Sheba" (1959). He was the director of several acclaimed silent era films such as "The Big Parade" (1925) and "Show People" (1928). He made a smooth transition into the 'talkie' era and directed such films as "Our Daily Bread" (1934),"Stella Dallas" (1937), "Fountainhead" (1949), "Duel in the Sun" (1946), and "War and Peace" (1959)