Movie Biographies Trivia Quiz

Answer: George M. Cohan

This 1942 musical directed by Michael Curtiz was an enjoyable journey of Cohan's credits. Cagney's real sister, Jeanne portrayed Cohan's sister Josie. Walter Huston portrayed his father. Frances Langford had one scene as a singer.

Answer: Gus Kahn

Michael Curtiz also directed this film co-starring Doris Day as Grace Kahn and Frank Lovejoy as another songwriter, Walter Donaldson. I'm not sure how true the film is but the music is wonderful.

Answer: John Barrymore

Diana Barrymore (Dorothy Malone's role) wrote this book with Gerold Frank about her famous father and his trials and tribulations with his stardom and the bottle.

Answer: Grover Cleveland Alexander

Alexander played for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1930s. He was a talented pitcher until he was stricken with a strange brain disorder that looks like he's a drunk. Doris Day co-stars in this Hollywood biography.

Answer: Joe E. Lewis

This movie is about Joe E. Lewis, who started in show business as a singer but became a comedian because his vocal chords were cut by gangsters. Sinatra does a good acting job but sings beautifully in the beginning of the movie. Jeanne Crain, Eddie Albert and Mitzi Gaynor co-star in this 1957 film. Sophie Tucker appears as herself.

Answer: Lou Gehrig

In this 1942 movie, both Babe Ruth and Bill Dickey appear as themselves. Also announcer, Bill Stern. The famous final farewell at Yankee Stadium is done very well and very heart-wrenching.

Answer: Jerome Kern

This was an MGM galaxy of stars including June Allyson, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Tony Martin, Lena Horne and many others. A very young and thin Frank Sinatra ends the movie with his rendition of "Old Man River". I don't know how much is true or how much is Hollywood but the music is wonderful.

Answer: Grace Moore

Grace Moore was an internationally famous star of the Metropolitan Opera as well as a Ziegfeld and Hollywood performer. She died in a plane crash in 1947. Quite a loss of talent at a young age.

Answer: Billie Holiday

This 1972 film about the troubled yet very talented Billie Holiday is very well done by Ross. Isabel Sanford ("The Jeffersons" TV series) plays a very small part as a madame.

Answer: Fannie Brice

"Funny Girl" is about her life before and with Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif). The second movie chronicles her life with Billy Rose (James Caan).

Answer: Dizzy Dean

Dan Dailey, more known for his dancing roles, portrays this famous pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Harmon Jones appears as himself in the movie and Richard Crenna is his brother, Paul.

Answer: Jake LaMotta

This 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese dipicts LaMotta as a violent man both in and out of the boxing ring. LaMotta did participate in writing the film. He was the middleweight champion of the world.

Answer: Marjorie Lawrence

This 1955 film dipicts the life of Australian-born Marjorie Lawrence who contracts polio at the height of her career. The film shows her trials and tribulations combating the disease and her partial recovery. Roger Moore (James Bond) plays her brother, Cyril and Glenn Ford plays her husband.

Answer: Cole Porter

This Hollywood scenario is so miscast and pure Hollywood story. However, the music is beautiful. Monty Woolley plays himself and Jane Wyman and Alexis Smith both co-star.

Answer: Joan Crawford

Christina Crawford, played by Diana Scarwid, writes about her life with the famous movie star and how she was "abused". This mother/daughter relationship inspired other children of famous parents to write expose' books.

Answer: Pearl White

This 1947 film tells of the life of Pearl White, famous for the cliff-hanging serials of the silent film era.

Answer: Rocky Graziano

Another middleweight champion, Rocky Graziano was involved with gangsters and that relationship hurt him as a prizefighter. This story was written by Graziano, so there should be some truth to it. Sal Mineo (Romolo) does a fine acting job in a small role.

Answer: Red Nichols

This 1959 film is a delightful film about Red Nichols, a fine musician who at the height of his career, is cursed with a polio-stricken daughter (Tuesday Weld) and is forced to work as a laborer in order to take care of her. Good Danny Kaye material and wonderful music.

Answer: Jane Froman

This Hollywood-style film made in 1952 also co-stars David Wayne, Rory Calhoun and a wonderful Thelma Ritter. Jane Froman's voice in used in the movie.

Answer: George Gershwin

This 1945 film is based on Gershwin's short life. Oscar Levant (playing wonderful piano pieces), Paul Whiteman and Al Jolson all appear as themselves in the film. Joan Leslie and Alexis Smith both co-star. The music is worthwhile to watch the movie.