Nashville Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hal Phillip Walker

Hal Philip Walker is the candidate for the Replacement Party. He supposedly has won three primaries, and is campaigning to win the Tennessee primary. Most of the plot of "Nashville" centers around arranging a campaign rally for Walker, and the various musicians who are involved in the concert.
Walker's speeches are somewhat bizarre. His agenda includes eliminating farm subsidies, taxing churches, abolishing the electoral college, changing the national anthem and replacing lawyers in government. The voice of Walker was done by actor Thomas Hal Phillips.
Glen Allen Walken (John Goodman) was the Speaker of the House who briefly became president when Jed Bartlett stepped down on "The West Wing". Jack Stanton (John Travolta) is a presidential candidate based on Bill Clinton in "Primary Colors" (1998). Robert Rumson (Richard Dreyfus) was a Republican primary contender in "The American President" (1995).

Answer: 200 Years

"200 Years" is a patriotic ballad celebrating the bicentennial sung by Haven Hamilton (Henry Gibson). "We must be doing something right to last 200 years" is the chorus. Hamilton cites Bunker Hill, World Wars I and II and George Patton as examples of American heroism. Robert Altman had members of the cast write the songs they would be singing. "200 Years" was written by Gibson and Richard Baskin.
"Yes, I Do" is a tune praising Jesus that Linnea sings with the gospel choir near the start of the film. Lily Tomlin wrote it with Baskin.
"For the Sake of the Children" is performed by Henry Gibson later in the film. It is a classic country ballad about a man dumping his mistress. "Keep A-Goin'" is a Johnny Cash style song performed by Gibson at the Grand Ole Opry. Both were written by Baskin.
Richard Baskin can be seen in the film. He plays Frog, the piano player that Haven yells at for ruining the takes.

Answer: Lily Tomlin

Altman had originally intended the role of Linnea for Louise Fletcher, whose parents were deaf and who is fluent in sign language. The role went to Tomlin. Ironically, Tomlin turned down the role of Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975), which went to Fletcher, and for which Fletcher won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Linnea is married to Del Peese (Ned Beatty), the attorney who is helping to organize the concert. She eventually sleeps with folk singer Tom Frank.
Ronee Blakley made her film debut as county singer Barbara Jean. Karen Black was her rival, Connie White. And Barbara Harris was Winifred, an aspiring singer.
Both Tomlin and Ronee Blakley (Barbara Jean) were nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the Academy; they lost to Lee Grant.
At the Golden Globes, Tomlin, Blakley, Harris and Geraldine Chapin (Opal) were all nominated for Best Supporting Actress, the first time one film had provided four nominees.

Answer: I'm Easy

Carradine won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for "I'm Easy". It was the only Oscar win that "Nashville" had. The song was also a minor hit, reaching #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Keith Carradine wrote both the music and lyrics for "I'm Easy", "It Don't Worry Me" and "Honey". "It Don't Worry Me" is the closing song of the film, and is sung in the aftermath of the assassination.
Gary Busey, who was originally cast to play Tom, wrote "Since You've Gone" specifically for "Nashville" (1975). Carradine performs it with Allan Nicholls and Christina Raines.
The Exit/In was a real music bar in Nashville.

Answer: Howard K Smith

Howard K Smith (1914-2002) started his career at CBS with Edward R. Murrow before moving to ABC. He eventually served as anchor of "The ABC Evening News", a job he held during the filming of "Nashville" in the summer of 1974.
Smith gives a report on the Walker campaign right before the rally scene. He delivers the wonderfully strange line "Christmas has always smelled like oranges to me".
Sevareid was a reporter with CBS News for many years, and was also a close associate of Murrow. Walter Cronkite was one of the most beloved and respected journalists in television history, and was host of "The CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981. Harry Reasoner was a veteran journalist with CBS and one of the founders of "60 Minutes".

Answer: Elliott Gould

Elliott Gould makes a brief appearance as himself at the party at Haven Hamilton's (Henry Gibson's) home. Del (Ned Beatty) does not realize exactly how famous Gould is. One of Gould's claims to fame was being Barbra Streisand's first husband, a fact mentioned in "Nashville". Elliott Gould has made over 100 films, and was Monica and Ross' father on "Friends" (1994-2004).
For those who have not seen "M*A*S*H" (1970) - Elliott Gould was the original "Trapper John" McIntyre, Donald Sutherland was Hawkeye Pierce, Robert Duvall was Frank Burns, and Tom Skeritt was Duke Forrest.
This is not the only connection between "Nashville" (1975) and "M*A*S*H" (1970). David Arkin (Norman) was Sgt. Major Vollmer and Michael Murphy (John Triplette) was "Me Lai" Marston. That and the fact that both were directed by Altman.

Answer: Vanderbilt Hospital

Vanderbilt Hospital is part of the medical school at Vanderbilt University, which was founded by railroad millionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is part of the University Medical Center, which has been ranked as the best hospital in the southern United States.
The hospital is featured in several scenes of the film, as Barbara Jeanne (Ronee Blakley) is taken there after collapsing at the airport. She is released after a few days. She crosses paths with Mister Green (Keenan Wynn), whose wife, Esther, is on the same floor. Esther is not as fortunate - she dies in the hospital. Haven Hamilton mentions that Barbara Jean is staying at Vanderbilt during the concert at the Grand Ole Opry.
The other three answers are actual hospitals in the Nashville area.

Answer: Green

Sueleen's dress is green. Sueleen aspires to be a singer, but has one problem: she is almost completely tone-deaf and is a horrible singer. As her singing gets worse and worse, the men at the fundraiser call on her to "take it off"! Political consultant John Triplette tells Sueleen that if she agrees to strip, he will put her in the big concert. Desperate for fame, she agrees.
Sadly, Gwen Welles died of cancer in October 1993; she was only 42 years old.

Answer: The Parthenon

The Parthenon, located in Centennial Park, hosts the last scene of "Nashville". It is a full-sized reconstruction of the original temple in Athens, in recognition of Nashville being described as "The Athens of the South". It was built in 1897. The building contains a small art gallery and has hosted performances of plays by ancient Greeks such as Euripides and Sophocles.
There is a scene set at the Grand Ole Opry/Opryland. Both Henry Gibson and Karen Black sing there. The Grand Ole Opry began in 1925, and performed at Ryman Auditorium from 1943 to 1974. In March of 1974, the Opry moved to a new venue, and Altman shot his scenes at the new stage.
The Ryman Auditorium, the "Mother Church of Country Music" was built in 1892. Almost every important artist in the history of country music has performed there.
Tennessee's state capitol was built in 1859. President James Knox Polk is buried on the grounds of the capitol.

Answer: Kenny Frasier

Kenny Frasier (David Hayward), a violin player who is a renting a room from Mister Green, is seen in several earlier scenes obsessing about Barbara Jean. He attends the rally and when he realizes he has a gun, shoots Barbara Jean and wounds Haven. It is implied, but never overtly stated, that Barbara Jean was killed.
Private Kelly (Scott Glenn) is actually the one who tackles Kenny after he shoots. Wade Cooley (Robert DoQui) is a short-order cook and friend of Sueleen. Norman (David Arkin) is the chauffeur for the folk band Bill, Mary and Tom.
There are several foreshadows about assassination. Lady Pearl (Barbara Baxley) discusses the Kennedy brothers, and Opal (Geraldine Chaplin) offers a theory on the roots of political violence. A year later, Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro would create an even darker portrait of political assassination in "Taxi Driver".