Norma Shearer Trivia Quiz

Answer: Private Lives

"Private Lives", from 1931, also starred Robert Montgomery, Reginald Denny, Jean Hersholt and Una Merkel. Part screwball comedy, part drama, the film is based on a Noel Coward play, and was directed by Sidney Franklin. During the filming of the fight scene with Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery was accidentally knocked unconscious.

Answer: False

Norma played the role of Jan Ashe in "A Free Soul". The daughter of a defense attorney, who has a fine upstanding fiance, takes a walk on the wild side when she has an affair with one of her father's mobster clients. Clark Gable, Lionel Barrymore, Leslie Howard and James Gleason also star in "A Free Soul", from 1931.

Answer: The Divorcee

She was nominated for both "The Divorcee" and "Their Own Desire" at the 1930 Oscar awards, and won for "The Divorcee". Although Norma was married to Irving Thalberg, second in charge at MGM, she had to convince him that she was right for the role of Jerry Martin in "The Divorcee" before he would give her the part.

Answer: Chester Morris

Jerry (Norma) and Ted (Chester) are happily married, until Jerry finds out that Ted has been having an affair. He brushes it off, says it was nothing and doesn't understand why she's upset. While Ted is away, Jerry has a tryst of her own with their friend Don (Robert Montgomery). Jerry tells Ted about Don on his return, but Ted, not realizing the extent of his double standards, is outraged at what she has done.

They divorce and both seem to have the same goal of living life to the fullest, but they eventually realize that they are still in love and find their way back to each other.

The film also starred Conrad Nagel, Florence Eldridge and Judith Wood.

Answer: True

All three appeared in uncredited roles. Norma played a barn dancer, and Athole and Edith Shearer are listed as simply 'Extra'. "Way Down East", from 1920, starred Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmes, Lowell Sherman and Burr McIntosh. Norma was just beginning her career in 1920 and appeared in five films that year, only one of them not an uncredited bit part.

Answer: Irene Fellara

Irene and Harry Van (Clark Gable) meet in Omaha as both are touring the vaudeville circuit. A while later, Harry is in Europe touring with his all-girl review, Les Blondes. At an alpine resort, he encounters a millionaire (Edward Arnold), who is travelling with his mistress, a pretentious Russian countess, who seems very familiar to Harry. Harry, his girls, the countess and a variety of other people are detained at the resort on the eve of WWII.

As they see more of each other, Harry gets the countess to admit that she is really Irene.

The film, from 1939, also starred Charles Coburn, Joseph Schildkraut, Burgess Meredith, Laura Hope Crews, Skeets Gallagher and Virginia Grey. This is the only film where you will get to see Clark Gable sing and dance.

He performs "Puttin' on the Ritz" with Les Blondes, and does quite well.

Answer: Her Cardboard Lover

Consuelo hires Terry (Robert Taylor) to prevent her from running to her boyfriend, Tony (George Sanders), because he is no good for her. Terry does his job very well, which infuriates Consuelo, and Tony. Eventually Terry tries to convince Consuelo that he is the right man for her. "Her Cardboard Lover" was Norma Shearer's last film before she retired.

Answer: Riptide

Norma was nominated for Best Actress six times. She was nominated for "Their Own Desire", "The Divorcee", "A Free Soul", "The Barretts of Wimpole Street", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Marie Antoinette".

Answer: The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

From 1929, Norma's version of "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" also starred Basil Rathbone, Herbert Bunston, Hedda Hopper, George Barraud and Cyril Chadwick. A lady thief out to steal a valuable necklace from her hosts gets sidetracked by love. Joan's version was released in 1937, and also starred William Powell, Robert Montgomery, Frank Morgan, Benita Hume, Nigel Bruce and Jessie Ralph.

Answer: Billie Burke

When Mary Haines finds out that her husband is having an affair, she allows her gossipy friends to convince her to divorce him. The film was directed by George Cukor, and also starred Paulette Goddard, Rosalind Russell, Joan Crawford, Joan Fontaine, Mary Boland, Virginia Weidler, Ruth Hussey, Lucile Watson and Phyllis Povah. No men appear in the film, and even all of the animals used were female. Norma Shearer and Billie Burke did not appear in any films together although both were under contract to MGM.