Nominated but no Oscar Trivia Quiz

Answer: Double Indemnity

The thriller "Double Indemnity" has become a classic in the film noir genre. It is based on a book by James Cain who drew inspiration from a real life murder. "Double Indemnity" was nominated for 7 Oscars: Best Motion Picture won by "Going My Way"; Best Actress (Barbara Stanwyck) won by Ingrid Bergman for "Gaslight"; Best Director won by Leo McCarey for "Going My Way"; Screenplay (Raymond Chandler and Billy Wilder) won by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett for "Going My Way"; Music Score (Miklós Rózsa) won by Max Steiner for "Since You Went Away"; Black and White Cinematography (John Seitz) won by Joseph LaShelle for "Laura" and Sound Recording (Loren Ryder) won by Edmund H. Hansen for "Wilson".

Answer: It's a Wonderful Life

George, the banker, contemplates life and comes to the conclusion that it would have been better if he was never been born. Clarence, the angel, grants his wish and shows George what the present would have been without him. George realizes that, despite all his shortcomings, his life was indeed wonderful. "It's a Wonderful Life" was nominated for 4 Oscars: Best Motion Picture won by "The Best Years of Our Lives"; Best Actor (James Stewart) won by Fredric March for "The Best Years of Our Lives"; Best Director (Frank Capra) won by William Wyler for "The Best Years of Our Lives" and Best Film Editing (William Hornbeck) won by Daniel Mandell also for "The Best Years of Our Lives".

Answer: Psycho

Hitchcock's "Psycho" is now a classic suspense film and the shower scene is one of the most celebrated pieces of cinema. In this psychological drama, Anthony Perkins portrays Norman Bates, a man who appears to be under the influence of his mother. "Psycho" was nominated in the following categories: Best Supporting Actress (Janet Leigh) won by Shirley Jones for "Elmer Gantry"; Best Director (Alfred Hitchcock) won by Billy Wilder for "The Apartment" and Best Cinematography, Black and White (John L. Russell) won by Freddie Francis for "Sons and Lovers"; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (Joseph Hurley, Robert Clatworthy, George Milo) won by Alexander Trauner and Edward G. Boyle for "The Apartment".

Answer: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Peter Sellers played three roles; group captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkim Muffley and Dr. Strangelove, in this black comedy about nuclear weapons. While Americans and Russians are trying to avert a nuclear, war a crazy general presses the button that unleashes the holocaust. "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" was nominated for: Best Picture won by Jack Warner's "My Fair Lady"; Best Actor (Peter Sellers) won by Rex Harrison for "My Fair Lady"; Best Director (Stanley Kubrick) won by George Cukor for "My Fair Lady" and Best Adapted Screenplay (Stanley Kubrick, Peter George and Terry Southern) won by Edward Anhalt for "Becket".

Answer: The Agony and the Ecstasy

"The Agony and the Ecstasy" is an account of Michelangelo's painting of the Cappella Sistina in the Vatican. Michelangelo is at odds with Pope Julius II, who commissioned the painting, because of the time that the painter takes to complete the assignment. Michelangelo, striving for perfection, destroys one after the other various designs leaving the Pope exasperated.

It was nominated in the following categories: Best Cinematography, Colour (Leon Shamroy) won by Freddie Young for "Doctor Zhivago"; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Colour (John DeCuir, Jack Martin Smith and Dario Simoni) won by John Box, Terence Marsh and Dario Simoni for "Doctor Zhivago"; Best Costume Design, Colour (Vittorio Nino Novarese) won by Phyllis Dalton for "Doctor Zhivago"; Best Sound (James Corcoran) won by James Corcoran and Fred Hynes for "The Sound of Music" and Best Original Score (Alex North) won by Maurice Jarre for "Doctor Zhivago".

Answer: A Clockwork Orange

"A Clockwork Orange", adapted from a book by Antony Burgess, tells the story of Alex DeLarge who becomes, after being jailed for murder, part of an experiment that tries to reduce crime by induced aversion. The film was nominated for 4 awards: Best Picture won by Philip D' Antoni's "The French Connection"; Best Director (Stanley Kubrick) won by William Friedkin for "The French Connection";
Best Adapted Screenplay (Stanley Kubrick) won by Ernest Tidyman for "The French Connection" and Best Film Editing (Bill Butler) won by Gerald B. Greenberg for "The French Connection".

Answer: Taxi Driver

"Taxi Driver" is the story of ex-Marine Travis Bickle, who suffers from insomnia, is mentally disturbed and works as a night time taxi driver. He is attracted to campaign worker Betsy and tries to save an under-aged prostitute named Iris. The film was nominated for the following 4 awards: Best Picture (Michael Phillips, Julia Phillips) won by Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler for "Rocky"; Best Actor (Robert De Niro) won by Peter Finch for "Network"; Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster) won by Beatrice Straight for "Network" and Best Original Score (Bernard Herrmann) won by Jerry Goldsmith for "The Omen".

Answer: Blade Runner

"Blade Runner", based on a story by Philip K. Dick, is about the tracking down and destruction of four replicants that have managed to travel to Earth despite the ban. The film was nominated in 2 categories, Best Art Direction (Linda DeScenna, Lawrence G. Paull and David L. Snyde) won by Michael Seirton, Stuart Craig and Robert W. Laing for "Gandhi" and Best Visual Effects (Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer) won by Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren and Kenneth Smith for "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial".

Answer: The Colour Purple

Based on a book by Alice Walker, "The Colour Purple" is the story of Celie. It's a story of abuse, prejudice and debasement, spanning a period of 40 years. The film's 11 nominations were: Best Picture (Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Quincy Jones) won by Sydney Pollack for "Out of Africa"; Best Actress (Whoopi Goldberg) won by Geraldine Page for "The Trip to Bountiful"; Best Supporting Actress (Margaret Avery) won by Anjelica Huston for "Prizzi's Honour"; Best Adapted Screenplay (Menno Meyjes) won by Kurt Luedtke for "Out of Africa"; Best Cinematography (Allen Daviau) won by David Watkin for "Out of Africa"; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Linda DeScenna, J. Michael Riva and Robert W. Welch) won by Stephen Grimes and Josie MacAvin for "Out of Africa"; Best Costume Design (Aggie Guerard Rodgers) won by Emi Wada for "Ran"; Best Music, Original Song (Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, and Lionel Richie) won by Lionel Richie for "White Nights" and Best Music, Original Score (Quincy Jones, Jeremy Lubbock, Rod Temperton, Caiphus Semenya, Andraé Crouch, Chris Boardman, Jorge Calandrelli, Joel Rosenbaum, Fred Steiner, Jack Hayes, Jerry Hey and Randy Kerber) won by John Barry for "Out of Africa".

Answer: The Remains of the Day

"The Remains of the Day" is the story of a butler named Stevens and his wholehearted devotion to his employer, a devotion that, on reflection, he comes to regret. The film recounts the life of Steven whilst he was serving Lord Darlington for 34 years.

The film was nominated for the following Academy awards: Best Picture (Mike Nichols, John Calley, Ismail Merchant) won by Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen and Branko Lustig for "Schindler's List"; Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins) won by Tom Hanks for "Philadelphia"; Best Actress (Emma Thompson) won by Holly Hunter for "The Piano"; Best Director (James Ivory) won by Steven Spielberg for "Schindler's List"; Best Adapted Screenplay (Ruth Prawer Jhabvala) won by Steven Zaillian for "Schindler's List"; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Luciana Arrighi and Ian Whittaker) won by Ewa Braun and Allan Starski for "Schindler's List"; Best Costume Design (Jenny Beavan and John Bright) won by Gabriella Pescucci for "The Age of Innocence" and Best Music, Original Score (Richard Robbins) won by John Williams for "Schindler's List".