...On a Role Trivia Quiz

Answer: Boo Radley

Actor Robert Duvall made his film debut in the wonderful 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird". He played the part of Boo Radley, an outcast in his community and a prisoner in his own home. Jem and Scout see him as scary and potentially harmful. As it turns out, Boo was a quiet, warm, sensitive man who carved toys and left them for the children to find.

He even wound up saving the kids when they were attacked by the truly violent and evil Mr. Ewell. It is said that his character, Boo Radley, represents 'the mockingbird'.

Answer: Luke Jackson

"Cool Hand Luke" (1967) is one of my favorite films. Paul Newman's portrayal of the rebellious Luke Jackson is a masterpiece. Luke is incarcerated for cutting the heads off parking meters one night while under the influence of alcohol. For his 'crime' he is sentenced to two years on a Florida prison farm.

The sadistic warden is played to perfection by Strother Martin, whose famous line was "What we have here is a failure to communicate". Luke refuses to play by the rules and becomes a hero to the other prisoners.

Answer: Travis Bickle

If you haven't met Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" (1976), you are missing out on one of the screens best characters. "You talkin' to me?"; yes, I am talking to you! Travis Bickle was an honorably discharged US Marine who fought in the Vietnam War. He winds up becoming a taxi driver on the 'mean streets' of New York City; he is a lonely, troubled insomniac who drives the streets at night. Bickle becomes protective of a young prostitute, and infatuated with a political campaign worker who rebuffs him.

His thoughts become more and more violent and lead to killings. This is De Niro and Scorsese at their best!

Answer: Diana Christensen

What? You thought I would give you Bonnie Parker? Faye Dunaway is Diana Christensen in the award winning movie "Network" from 1976. She plays a power-hungry TV executive programmer, opposite veteran UBS news anchor Howard Beale. Beale finds out he is being 'put out to pasture' and goes on the air ranting and threatening to shoot himself.

When this results in a huge ratings boost for the show, instead of getting Beale help for his deteriorating mental state, Christensen seizes this as an opportunity to advance her career.

She creates programs which involve suicides, executions and terrorist bombings. Satire or the future?

Answer: Stella Dallas

"Stella Dallas" (1937) is one of those old time tear jerkers that seems out-dated by today's standards, despite the excellent performances. Barbara Stanwyck plays Stella, from the poor side of town. She marries a rich man, has a child (IN wedlock, I might add) and then gets a divorce - shameful! She sacrifices her love to allow her ex-husband to raise the daughter (Laurel) so the daughter can have a better life.

The last scene: Stella standing outside on a curb in the pouring rain, watching her daughter's wedding, with both sadness and relief.

Answer: Dana Barrett

If you've ever seen "Alien" with Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, well, forget it. Dana Barrett in the supernatural comedy "Ghostbusters" (1984) is no 'Ellen Ripley' but, after all, no one is! Dana Barrett (Sigourney) is a cello player with a major New York symphony orchestra who is involved romantically with a 'ghostbuster' i.e., Peter Venkman.

She discovers a demonic entity in her refrigerator (ZUUL) and becomes possessed, although she still looks quite good (except for that perm)! Enter the 'ghostbusters' to save Dana and the city.

Answer: Norman Thayer Jr.

Henry Fonda's last film role was as Norman Thayer Jr., a retired, cranky, semi-senile university professor in "On Golden Pond" (1981). It takes place in New England in the summertime at their cottage on the lake, i.e., Golden Pond. Katherine Hepburn plays Norman's loving wife Ethel, while real life daughter Jane Fonda plays their daughter Chelsea.

Despite emotional problems with her father, Chelsea leaves her stepson-to-be with her parents. When she returns with her now-husband, things have changed.

Answer: Bree Daniel

Jane Fonda is an enigma - from "Barbarella" to "Monster-in-Law", from 'Hanoi Jane' to fitness mogul. Her first Academy Award win was for Best Actress in the 1971 movie "Klute". Jane played Bree Daniel, a New York City call girl who becomes involved in the disappearance of a business executive. Enter Detective John Klute who is assigned to follow Bree but, guess what?, becomes emotionally involved with her. Then we find that someone is trying to kill Bree, and she and Klute must find out who it is before the killer succeeds.

Answer: Bud Stamper

Since Warren Beatty has been making movies for over 50 years, I had so many choices, but I went back to the beginning, i.e., after his TV role as Milton Armitage on "Dobie Gillis". Beatty's film debut was in 1961 in "Splendor in the Grass". He played Bud Stamper, a teenager from a prominent family who is the high school sweetheart of Deanie Loomis (Natalie Wood). Now you have to realize that it is Kansas (anymore) and the year is 1928. "Good girls" only had one option, i.e., sexual repression. Bud "fools around" with other girls and Deanie, heartbroken, goes mad, tries to commit suicide and is institutionalized.

Answer: Matt Drayton

After an amazing career, which included back-to-back Oscars, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967) was Spencer Tracy's final film. In this comedy-drama, he played Matt Drayton opposite his real life love, Katherine Hepburn as his wife, Christina. The Draytons are wealthy 'liberals' from San Francisco whose beliefs are tested when their daughter and her fiance come to visit. The fiance is black doctor John Prentice (played by Sidney Poitier). Meanwhile, Prentice's parents also come to dinner and happen to be vehemently opposed to the relationship.