Movie Musical Characters Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Pajama Game

"The Pajama Game" is about union workers fighting for a 7-1/2 cent raise at a pajama factory. Doris Day sparkles in her role as Babe Williams, union leader at the Sleeptite Pajama Factory, who finds love with Sid, the new boss. Vernon Hines is the manager of the sewing floor and a good friend of Babe's. Carol Haney, who plays Gladys, the secretary, is an incredibly talented dancer, and the incomparable Bob Fosse was the choreographer.

The song "Hernando's Hideaway" is quite famous - although I think most people don't realize it comes from here!

Answer: Oklahoma!

"Oklahoma!" tells the story of farmers and ranchers living in the Oklahoma Territory before it became a state. Aunt Eller is the matriarch of a farm and Jud Fry is her troubled handyman. Ado Annie is a girl who just "Can't Say No" to the handsome young men in town, and Ike Skidmore is a wealthy farm owner.

This grand musical - which was actually filmed in Arizona - was choreographed by Agnes DeMille.

Answer: Damn Yankees!

In "Damn Yankees," middle-aged Joe Boyd makes a deal with the devil to become Joe Hardy, young new prospect for the Washington Senators. Benny Van Buren manages the hapless Senators and Gloria Thorpe is the smart reporter who comes to Spring Training to report on "'Shoeless' Joe From Hannibal, MO." I can't decide who steals the movie more - Gwen Verdon, as the devil's servant Lola, or Ray Walston, old Lucifer himself (disguised as Mr. Applegate).

This musical is another fine example of classic Fosse choreography, with Bob appearing himself in the number "Who Takes the Pain?"

Answer: Fame

This movie, inspired by the studies of students at New York's High School for the Performing Arts, has a fabulous soundtrack, complete with the catchy "Hot Lunch" and the poignant "Out Here On My Own," performed by a young Irene Cara. Montgomery and Doris were theatre students, and Mr. Shorofsky was head of the classical music faculty.

Many actors went on to perform their roles in the TV show based on the movie, including Debbie Allen as Lydia Grant, Lee Curreri as piano talent Bruno, and Gene Anthony Ray as dancer Leroy.

Answer: Grease

"Grease" tells of the adventures of American teenagers in the early 1960s. Vince Fontaine is the star of an American Bandstand type show, Coach Calhoun gets Danny on the track team, Cha Cha is a dancer from St. Bernadette's who attends Rydell High's prom, and Patty Simcox is the cheerleader, class secretary, and prom committee chair. I tried to pick a few more obscure characters - any musical fan would have recognized Sandy, Danny, Kenickie and Rizzo immediately.

This musical was a favorite of many in the '70s, and kids of all ages continue to love it today.

Answer: Singin' in the Rain

"Singin' in the Rain" is a lighthearted look at the problems Hollywood studios had during the advent of talking pictures. This is my favorite movie of all time. Gene Kelly is a total babe. His character falls in love with Kathy Seldon, studio ingenue. R.F. Simpson is the studio head and Zelda is an actress. Donald O'Connor steals the show with his hilarious character Cosmo Brown and that famous number, "Make 'em Laugh." Jean Hagen's turn as the dimwitted diva Lina Lamont is wonderful. "An' I caaaaaaaaaaan't stan'em!"

Answer: Annie

Punjab and Asp are the exotic assistants of Daddy Warbucks in this movie about the adventures of a young orphan. Grace is Warbucks' secretary. Aileen Quinn, who was appearing in the Broadway production of Annie as "Swing Orphan" (able to fill any part on occasion of illness), was chosen out of more than 8,000 girls to play the part of Annie on the Silver Screen in 1982. Carol Burnett was brilliant as the pathetic Miss Hannigan, and Tim Curry played her sneaky brother Rooster.

Answer: Bugsy Malone

This underrated movie stars Scott Baio, Jodie Foster, and a cast of young English kids playing mobsters in 1920's USA. It sports a fun soundtrack by Paul Williams and a hilarious pie fight at the end. Fat Sam owns a speakeasy where Blousie is a singer and Tallulah is the star. Dandy Dan is Fat Sam's enemy.

Answer: On the Town

"On the Town" tells the story of three sailors (Gabey, Chip, and Ozzie) on leave for "just one day" with their girls (Miss Turntiles is one of them) in NYC. "The Simpsons" spoofed the catchy song "New York, New York" with Bart and Milhouse singing "Springfield, Springfield" while on a big sugar rush from an all-syrup Squishy. "The Simpsons" version was complete with a sailor on leave looking for New York.

Answer: Guys and Dolls

This movie is about saints and sinners in 1940's New York. General Cartwright, Arvide, and Sarah are all missionaries trying to save the souls of gamblers like Harry the Horse. I think this musical has the most consistently good music throughout. Each song is catchy and memorable, especially "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," "Fugue for Tinhorns," "Adeleide's Lament," and "Luck Be a Lady." Frank Sinatra played good old, reliable Nathan Detroit, and Marlon Brando sang and danced as bad-boy heartbreaker Skye Masterson.

Answer: Finian's Rainbow

This fable about the ridiculousness of racism starred Fred Astaire as an Irishman who comes with his daughter to a southern USA town for mysterious reasons. Woody and his sister Susan live in the town, Og is the leprechaun who chases after Finian, and the Senator is the racist politician who gets a taste of his own medicine.

This movie, one of Astaire's last feature films, was directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1968. Astaire may have moved a bit slower in this film (he was 69!) but he was still smooth and elegant, a dancer and leading man of true genius.

Answer: Rocky Horror Picture Show

This cult classic features an over-the-top performance by Tim Curry as Frank N. Furter, the "Sweet Transvestite" whose castle innocent nerds Brad and Janet stumble into after having car trouble. Richard O'Brien, who played Riff Raff, the butler, also wrote the play on which the movie is based. Eddie is a rocker and resident of the castle whose fate is most unpleasant.

Answer: The Music Man

"The Music Man" tells the story of a conniving traveling salesman and his attempts to scam the residents of an Iowa town. Ethel is a townswoman and friend of the mayor's wife, Charlie is a salesman who tries to expose the con man, Tommy is a young ruffian dating the mayor's daughter, and Amaryllis is a little girl in town. Robert Preston gives an incredible performance in this wonderful movie.

He is charming, conniving, sneaky, and lovable all at the same time. Hermione Gingold is very funny as Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn, the mayor's wife.

Answer: The Wizard of Oz

This classic tale of a girl who rides a tornado to a wonderful land "Over the Rainbow" has appealed to children and adults alike since its release in 1939. Judy Garland is beautiful and perfect as Dorothy Gale. Hunk, Zeke, and Hickory are workers on her Uncle Henry's farm.

The special effects, state-of-the-art at the time, are still remarkable today. I am glad this is an old movie because today, they would have CGI'd the flying monkeys and that just would not have been as scary.

Answer: An American in Paris

"An American in Paris" tells the story of a young artist, Jerry Mulligan, who stays in France to paint after the war. Milo is the rich American woman who wants to sponsor him, Adam Cook is his piano player friend, Lise is the girl he falls in love with, and Henri is her fiance. The final ballet, choreographed by Gene Kelly and Carol Haney, is performed to George Gershwin's wonderful symphonic poem that shares a title with the movie. This movie won 6 Oscars, including best Picture, but was not nominated for any acting awards. Vincente Minelli was nominated for best Director, but that prize went to George Stevens for "A Place in the Sun."

I hope you liked this quiz! Thanks for playing! :)