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Prison Films Trivia Quiz

Prisons often bring out the prurient interests of movie-goers as the prison is an arena of drama and conflict. Here are a few films that take different angles on the prison experience.

A multiple-choice quiz by Rehaberpro. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Rehaberpro

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
331,045

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
695

Last 3 plays: Guest 173 (8/10), Guest 207 (5/10), Guest 47 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Burt Lancaster played a prisoner who developed a hobby concerning birds in the film "Birdman of Alcatraz". At what prison did the hobby begin? Hint

Sing-Sing

Leavenworth

Alcatraz

Folsom

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Question 2 of 10

2. Lewis E. Lawes was warden of Sing-Sing Prison and published a non-fiction book called "20,000 Years in Sing Sing". In 1932 a fictionalized version of the book was made starring Spencer Tracy as the central prisoner. What famous actress played his sweetheart? Hint

Bette Davis

Greta Garbo

Joan Crawford

Kay Francis

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Question 3 of 10

3. "The Man in the Iron Mask" has been filmed numerous times, both silent and sound versions. Which one of these actors never played the Man in the Iron Mask? Hint

Leonardo DiCaprio

Richard Chamberlain

Douglas Fairbanks

Lon Chaney

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1971 at Stanford University there was a psychological study to see how participants asked to play the roles of prisoners and guards reacted. The result of the study, terminated after six days, were frightening. In Germany in 2001 a film was made based on this incident. What was the name of this film? Hint

Das Boot

Das Kriegspiel

Das Gott Ist Tot

Das Experiment

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the "Green Mile" (1999) Tom Hanks played a lead prison guard named Paul Edgecomb. A prisoner John Coffey showed uncanny ability to heal by the touching of hands. What actor played Coffey? Hint

Sandy Duncan

Renaldo Duncan

Robert Duncan

Michael Clark Duncan

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Question 6 of 10

6. In "We're No Angels"(1955) Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov played prisoners who escaped and befriended a struggling shop keeper and his family. From what famous prison had they escaped? Hint

Sing Sing

Folsom

Alcatraz

Devil's Island

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Question 7 of 10

7. "I Am A Fugitive From a Chain Gang" (1932) was honored with three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Sound Recording. What actor who was to be nominated six times for Best Actor received his first nomination for this film? Hint

George Raft

Pat O'Brien

Paul Muni

James Cagney

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Each Dawn I Die" (1939) was a prison vehicle for two actors famous for gangster and prison films. It was to be the only film that these two starred in together. Who were these two actors? Hint

Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney

Paul Muni and Edward G. Robinson

Edward G. Robinson and George Raft

James Cagney and George Raft

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Question 9 of 10

9. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman played characters who endured the rigors of Devil's Island in this 1973 film. The title is the French word for butterfly which is what? Hint

Criquet

Papillon

Bourban

Canchelat

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Question 10 of 10

10. Based on a real life incident, what is the name of the film in which Mel Gibson's character, a prisoner, escaped with the help of the warden's wife, played by Dianne Keaton, with whom he was having an affair? Hint

Mrs. Miniver

Mrs. Brown

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Soffell

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 08 2024 : Guest 173: 8/10
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 207: 5/10
Oct 10 2024 : Guest 47: 2/10
Oct 02 2024 : Guest 90: 5/10
Oct 02 2024 : Guest 136: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Burt Lancaster played a prisoner who developed a hobby concerning birds in the film "Birdman of Alcatraz". At what prison did the hobby begin?

Answer: Leavenworth

The film was the "Birdman of Alcatraz". It was based on fact but was romanticized to some extent. Robert Stroud did keep birds and study birds at Leavenworth, but was not allowed to keep them when he was transferred to Alcatraz. Three actors received Academy Award nominations: Lancaster, Telly Savalas, and Thelma Ritter, but none won. It also had a cinematography nomination.

Answer: Bette Davis

Lawes' book was based on his experiences as warden of Sing Sing Prison from 1920 to 1941. Lawes found Sing Sing a hornet's nest of corruption and cruelty. He was a strong advocate of prison reform. He found many deficiencies. The roster listed over 100 female prisoners; an actual count found barely 80.

Bette Davis was early in her career but made an impact in this film which was to lead her into better roles and several acting awards.

3. "The Man in the Iron Mask" has been filmed numerous times, both silent and sound versions. Which one of these actors never played the Man in the Iron Mask?

Answer: Lon Chaney

There are a number of legends and perhaps some facts about a man in an iron mask. Alexander Dumas examined these and concocted at novel which is a basis for most of the films. Two of these were animated films and one reversed sex and had a woman in a mask.

Question: if the man had to keep his mask on all the time, would he not have suffocated from beard growth?

Answer: Das Experiment

The experiment showed that that authority figures tended to become more controlling and abusive; the faux prisoners became more passive. The film expanded the story line but the lesson was similar.

5. In the "Green Mile" (1999) Tom Hanks played a lead prison guard named Paul Edgecomb. A prisoner John Coffey showed uncanny ability to heal by the touching of hands. What actor played Coffey?

Answer: Michael Clark Duncan

The film was based on a Stephen King novel that King issued in six parts - similar to Charles Dickens - in 1996. Notice that John Coffey's initials are JC (Jesus Christ?). Also note that in the film, Barry Pepper played Dean Stanton, a guard, and Harry Dean Stanton played a prisoner called Toot-Toot, perhaps an inside Hollywood joke.

Answer: Devil's Island

After seeing how corrupt the outside world was, they decided to return to the structure of the prison. The film was re-made in 1989 with Robert De Niro and Sean Penn but with only two convicts.

Answer: Paul Muni

Muni did win the Best Actor award in 1936 for the "Story of Louis Pasteur". Along with "20,000 Years in Sing Sing", this film promoted prison reform in the 1930s.

8. "Each Dawn I Die" (1939) was a prison vehicle for two actors famous for gangster and prison films. It was to be the only film that these two starred in together. Who were these two actors?

Answer: James Cagney and George Raft

There is some evidence that they may have appeared together in other films, but those were either cameos or uncredited performances. Cagney's character was 'set-up' and ended up in prison where he teamed with Raft's character.

9. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman played characters who endured the rigors of Devil's Island in this 1973 film. The title is the French word for butterfly which is what?

Answer: Papillon

"Papillon" was a commercial success but was only nominated for its musical score. The film varied somewhat from the book based on the biography of Henri Charri�re who is reported to be the only man to escape Devil's Island.

Answer: Mrs. Soffell

Jack and Ed Biddle were robbers who often used chloroform to subdue their victims. Mrs. Soffell (Dianne Keaton) read the Bible to the prisoners and so became acquainted with Jack Biddle and his brother (Mathew Modine). She helped them to escape and joined them in their flight.

Source: Author Rehaberpro

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