Oscar and the Oldest Profession Quiz

Answer: Midnight Cowboy

"Midnight Cowboy" garnered the X rating because of a controversial scene involving homosexual contact in a movie theater. This movie's rating was changed to R two years later. Also, within a few years, adult movies (such as "Deep Throat" and "Behind the Green Door") had taken over the X rating, prompting the major studios to shy away from it. "Midnight Cowboy" also won Oscars for Best Director (John Schlesinger) and Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as two nominations for Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight).

It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Sylvia Miles) and Best Editing.

Answer: 976-BABE

Before there were "900" numbers, there were "976" numbers. The concept was basically the same (dial up and be charged a certain amount per minute), only it was more localized.
While Julia Roberts' nomination was the only one for "Pretty Woman", she had previously been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in "Steel Magnolias" (1989). She would take Oscar home later, when she won Best Actress for "Erin Brockovich" (2000).

Answer: Shirley Jones

That's right, Mrs. Partridge herself! In "Elmer Gantry" (1960), Lulu Bains (Jones) was more than just a wayward soul who happened upon a minister named Elmer Gantry (Burt Lancaster).
Also nominated for Best Picture and Best Music (Dramatic or Comedy Score), "Elmer Gantry" won Oscars for Best Actor (Lancaster) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Shirley Jones' role as Lulu was the only one for which she received an Oscar nomination.

Answer: Jodie Foster

Unlike most child stars, Jodie Foster didn't wait until adulthood to break out into adult roles. In this movie, Foster's character, Iris Steensma, forms a bonding relationship with the film's title character, one Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro). Travis is a Vietnam War veteran whose life has been turned upside-down on the streets of New York, to the point that he feels he is the only one who is capable of ridding the city of the filth and crime that permeates it. "Taxi Driver" (1976) did not receive any Oscars, but it did have four nominations.

It was also up for Best Actor (De Niro), Best Picture, and Best Original Score. Jodie Foster went on to receive three more nominations, of which two she won. She picked up Best Actress twice, for "The Accused" (1988) and "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991).

Answer: Nebraska

Sheriff Daggett, whose reputation is less than stellar, makes this remark to English Bob (Richard Harris) after stating the rumors of his demise were slightly exaggerated. As someone who lives in Nebraska, may I just say that it ain't all that bad here... :)
"Unforgiven" (1992) won four Oscars, including two for Clint Eastwood (as producer and director), Best Supporting Actor (Hackman), and Best Editing. It was also nominated for Best Actor (Eastwood), Best Art Direction/Set Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Original Screenplay.

Answer: Elisabeth Shue

As a good friend of mine would say, this movie is "not an upper." Nicolas Cage plays Ben Sanderson, a man who goes to Vegas to drink himself to death. While there, he meets Sera (Shue), a prostitute who befriends him and promises not to interfere with his plans to kill himself with booze. At the start of the 68th Academy Awards ceremony in 1996, host Whoopi Goldberg noted that "Mira Sorvino played a hooker, Elisabeth Shue played a hooker, [and] Sharon Stone played a hooker." All three women were nominated for Oscars that year. Of those three, it was Mira Sorvino who took home Oscar gold as Best Supporting Actress for "Mighty Aphrodite".

As for Best Actress, that award went to Susan Sarandon for "Dead Man Walking" (and she played a nun!).

Answer: Veronica Lake

Kim Basinger's resemblance to Ms. Lake was quite striking, especially when her hair fell down one side of her face, blocking one eye (a Veronica Lake trademark). In one short and very funny scene, Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) encounters gangster Johnny Stompanato with a woman in a lounge.

He tells the woman to get lost, saying "A hooker cut like Lana Turner is still a hooker." Just then, his partner, Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) says "She is Lana Turner." By the way, Mr. Stompanato and Ms. Turner were a couple until his death in 1958, when he was killed by Cheryl Crane, Lana Turner's daughter (it's kind of complicated). "L.A. Confidential" received nine Oscar nominations for 1997, but managed to only take home two: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress (Kim Basinger).

It was a strong contender for Best Picture, but I guess you could say that it "missed the boat" (as "Titanic" took that award, among others).

Answer: Florida

Aileen Wuornos was executed in Florida in 2002, for the murder of seven men, including one police officer. Through it all, she had protested her innocence, claiming that each killing was in self-defense when her johns got too rough with her. "Monster" is an attempt at examining how she turned to murder. South Africa native Charlize Theron's tranformation into Aileen Wuornos was (for lack of a better word) amazing.

She gained nearly 30 pounds, shaved her eyebrows, put on color contact lenses, and all but stopped washing her hair! Add a little makeup to make her look like she had been abused in the past, and BINGO! -- It's Aileen Wuornos! It should be noted that Charlize Theron took home nearly every award for which she received a nomination for this performance, including (but not limited to) a Golden Globe, an Independent Spirit, and an Oscar.

Answer: Elizabeth Taylor

Dame Elizabeth Taylor received the Best Actress Award for "BUtterfield 8" (1960); she would later win a second Oscar.
It would seem the Academy opened up to sexuality in 1960, with Oscars also going to "Elmer Gantry" (Best Actor Burt Lancaster and Best Supporting Actress Shirley Jones) and "The Apartment" (Best Picture and Best Director Billy Wilder).

Answer: Cat

Holly never gives the cat a name because she doesn't believe that anyone (even her cat) stays around in her life long enough to warrant her remembering names.
Nominated for five Academy Awards, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" took home two from the music categories, including Best Song ("Moon River"). The three other nominations were Best Actress (Audrey Hepburn), Best Art Direction/Set Direction (Color), and Best Adapted Screenplay.