Movie Musicals Trivia Quiz

Answer: My Fair Lady

Rex Harrison did a marvelous job as Henry Higgins, the speech professor. Some very memorable songs came from this Lerner and Loewe musical. Do you remember "The Rain in Spain" and "On The Street Where You Live"? How about the song "I Could Have Danced All Night"? The movie ending is a bit ambiguous. Higgins and Eliza fall in love but do they really get back together? It's left open for the viewer to interpret.

Answer: Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

The imaginative choreography of Michael Kidd and the energetic dance numbers make the movie memorable. I personally don't think the songs are as memorable. Saul Chaplin scored the music with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The script is based on the short story "The Sobbin' Women" by Stephen Vincent Benét.

Answer: Finian's Rainbow

Astaire plays Finian, who arrives in the U.S. from Ireland with his daughter and a stolen pot of gold. Og, a leprechaun, follows them in order to take back the stolen treasure before he is turned into a human. Add a scheming U.S. Senator with his own agenda, top it all off with romance, and what do you get - family-friendly musical.

Answer: The King and I

The musical premiered on Broadway in 1951. In the film, Deborah Kerr played the role of Anna and Yul Brynner played the role of King Mongkut, a role he originated on stage. He received both a Tony Award and an Academy Award for playing the same role, a role that he totally owned.

Answer: The Music Man

Despite the fact that he didn't have much vocal experience, I can't imagine anyone but Robert Preston playing the role of Harold Hill. He played the same role in the Broadway play which earned five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Meredith Willson composed the music and wrote the lyrics. Willson also co-wrote the story based on his own childhood experiences growing up in Iowa.

Answer: Mamma Mia

Set on a Greek island with a marvelous cast that includes Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Amanda Seyfried, this musical is joyous and just plain fun. It is based on the stage musical written by Catherine Johnson with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, members of the band ABBA.

Answer: Brigadoon

When "Brigadoon" opened on Broadway it was met with favorable reviews. Much of the film's success came from the beautiful songs, elegant choreography, and expert dancing skills of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. There isn't much that can beat the romantic notion that a man can fall so deeply in love that he's willing to give up everything to be with the woman he loves, even if it's for only one day out of a hundred years.

Answer: Annie

"Annie" is based on a book by Thomas Meehan, which in turn is based on Harold Gray's comic strip "Little Orphan Annie." When the red-headed orphan escapes from an orphanage, she finds her way to the mansion of mega rich Daddy Warbucks. Hot on their trail is an unscrupulous couple pretending to be Annie's parents. With the help of the President of the United States, Daddy Warbucks eventually adopts Annie and all live happily ever after.

Answer: Hello Dolly

The plot to the story dates back to 1835. After three incarnations it became the stage play that opened in 1964 with Carol Channing in the role of Dolly Levi. While Dolly takes it upon herself to play matchmaker for others, she is ultimately after one thing - snaring wealthy bachelor Horace Vandergelder. Playing matchmaker to herself, Dolly gets her man in the end.

Answer: Sweet Charity

Fellini's screenplay depicted Charity as a prostitute. When the Broadway play was adapted to a film in 1969, Charity became a taxi dancer, or paid dance partner. In the film, Shirley MacLaine starred as Charity and John McMartin reprised his Broadway role of Oscar Lindquist. The movie ends on a bittersweet note and begs the question: will Charity Hope Valentine ever find true love?