Off The Shelf Trivia Quiz

Answer: The General

"The General" was directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, and starred Buster Keaton, Marion Mack and Glen Cavender.
Buster plays a train driver who tries to enlist in the Confederate army, but is turned down because his job is considered to be too important to the Confederate cause. As a result, his sweetheart (Marion Mack) spurns him, thinking that he is a coward.
His train is stolen, and his sweetheart kidnapped by Union spies. Buster gets them back, and in the process is responsible for defeating the Union army in battle. He is praised as a hero, and is given a commission in the Confederate army.
The film is based on a true story, and is historically accurate. Buster's timing with a sight gag has never, in my opinion, been equaled.

Answer: Duck Soup

"Duck Soup" was directed by Leo McCarey, and starred the four Marx Brothers, along with the marvelous Margaret Dumont ("Remember, we're fighting for this woman's honour, which is more than she ever did"), Louis Calhern and Raquel Torres.
It is considered by many nowadays as a satirical masterpiece, and is certainly the Brothers' most sustained piece of lunacy. There are a number of brilliant comedy routines, but the one that stands out is the superb mirror sequence.

Answer: The Lady Vanishes

"The Lady Vanishes" was based on a novel by Ethel Lina White, and co-starred May Whitty, Paul Lukas, Cecil Parker, Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford (playing Charters and Caldicott, who also feature in Carol Reed's "Night Train To Munich").
It turns out that Miss Froy is actually a British spy who has been kidnapped by villain Paul Lukas in order that he might find out the important information she is carrying back to Britain in the form of a musical code.

Answer: The 400 Blows

"The 400 Blows" was an international sensation that won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It was semi autobiographical, and is considered one of the most important films of the French New Wave.
Jean-Pierre Leaud played Antoine Doinel (in all five of the films in the series), and Albert Remy and Claire Maurier played his parents. There was also a brief, uncredited appearance by Jeanne Moreau as a street walker.
Antoine is a troubled young adolescent who is neglected by his wayward parents. He skips school, runs away from home, and becomes involved in petty crime, eventually ending up in a correctional school.
It's a film which I find very moving.

Answer: Ministry Of Fear

"Ministry Of Fear" was set in wartime London, and also starred Marjorie Reynolds (as the unsuspecting sister of the leader of the spy ring), Carl Esmond, Dan Duryea (who appeared in a number of Fritz Lang's films, always in a villainous role) and Hillary Brooke.

Answer: Angie Dickinson

"Rio Bravo" was directed by the great Howard Hawks (his second Western - the first was "Red River", also with John Wayne).
The sheriff of a small town arrests the brother of a corrupt cattle baron for murder. The cattle baron then lays siege to the town to try and force the sheriff into giving up his prisoner. Up against the murderous gang, Sheriff Chance can only rely on the help of a recovering drunk (Dean Martin, in a career best performance), a cool young gunslinger whose trail boss was also murdered by the cattle baron's men (Ricky Nelson) and a cantankerous old deputy with a lame leg (Walter Brennan).
Angie Dickinson, who played John Wayne's love interest in the film, was never considered a major star, but nonetheless was a competent and attractive actress. She is probably best known today for her role in "Rio Bravo", her starring role in the 1970's TV series "Police Woman" and her stunning performance in Brian De Palma's 1980 erotic thriller "Dressed To Kill".

Answer: A Prairie Home Companion

"A Prairie Home Companion" starred Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Virginia Madsen, Tommy Lee Jones and Lindsay Lohan.
The story line, such as it is, takes second place to the interplay between the characters. Highlights are Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly's duet on "Bad Jokes", Lindsay Lohan's new take on "Frankie And Johnny" and the finale with the whole cast joining together to sing "In The Sweet Bye And Bye".
It may not be Altman's best, but this sweet film is a lovely swansong.

Answer: A Face In The Crowd

"A Face In The Crowd" was adapted by Bud Schulberg from his short story, "The Arkansas Traveler". It co-starred Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa and Lee Remick (another stunning debut performance).
Andy Griffith plays a drifter who is discovered by a radio producer, played by Patricia Neal, in a local jail. She puts him onto her radio programme and his singing and folksy homilies make him popular with the local audience and lead to a show on regional television. Eventually, he gains national prominence with his own network television show, but as his influence increases he becomes more ruthless and corrupt.
Watching this film it's almost hard to believe that this is the same Andy Griffith who played the lovable sheriff of Mayberry.
Although the film had a mixed reception on its initial release, it is now considered to be a classic and is, if anything, even more relevant today with its timely warning of the often corrupting influence the media can have in shaping public opinion.

Answer: The History Boys

"The History Boys" was directed by Nicholas Hytner, and starred Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Stephen Campbell Moore, Dominic Cooper, Samuel Barnett, Russell Tovey, James Corden and Andrew Knott.
The entire cast of both the London and Broadway productions repeated their roles in the film.

Answer: Tell No One

"Tell No One" (French title "Ne Le Dis A Personne") stars Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze, Andre Dusollier, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Nathalie Baye and Gilles Lellouche.
It was Guillaume Canet's feature debut as a director, and won four Cesar Awards - the French equivalent of the Oscar - including Best Director and Best Actor for Francois Cluzet.
In adapting Harlan Coben's novel for the screen, several changes were made, including the identity of the killer. The author, in an interview, said that he thought the film's ending was better than his own original ending.
The film was a success both critically and commercially, and Guillaume Canet has since gone on to direct two further films - "Little White Lies" and "Blood Ties", both of which have starred his current partner Marion Cotillard.