Quotes from "Best Picture" Movies, 6 Quiz

Answer: Titanic

In this famous scene Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is holding Rose Bukater (played by Kate Winslet) standing with outstretched arms at the very front of Titanic. Rose says this quote to Jack. "Titanic" tells the historically-accurate saga of the luxurious White Star ocean liner that sank in 1912 on its maiden voyage, seen through the lives of two main fictional characters, Jack Dawson and Rose Bukater. "Titanic" won 11 Oscars in the 1998 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Song for "My Heart Will Go On." The only other movies to win 11 Oscars (as of March 2006) were "Ben-Hur" in the 1960 Academy Awards and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" in the 2004 Academy Awards.

Answer: Forrest Gump

In this scene Private Benjamin Buford 'Bubba' Blue (played by Mykelti Williamson) says this quote to Private Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks) when they are in the Army and are cleaning the barracks floor together. Bubba is trying to convince Forrest to come in with him as a partner in buying a shrimp boat when their Army service is up. "Forrest Gump" won six Oscars in the 1995 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Tom Hanks.

The movie follows the life of low-I.Q. Forrest as he interacts with some of the most important people and events in America from the late 1950s through the 1970s and his encounters with the love of his life, Jenny (played by Robin Wright).

Answer: My Fair Lady

In this scene Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle (played by Audrey Hepburn) has gone to the home of linguistics professor Henry Higgins (played by Rex Harrison) seeking lessons to improve her diction (she had previously encountered him in the street when she was selling flowers).

She wants to be a lady in a flower shop but "...they won't take me unless I can talk more genteel." However, his colleague Colonel Hugh Pickering (played by Wilfrid Hyde-White) asks "What about your boast that you could pass her off as a duchess at the Embassy ball, eh? I'll say you're the greatest teacher alive if you can make that good. I'll bet you all the expenses of the experiment that you can't do it." Then Higgins sizes up Eliza and says this quote.

When Higgins asks Eliza to say "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain," Eliza's first attempt sounds like, "The rine in spine sties minely in the pline." In the 1965 Academy Awards, "My Fair Lady" won eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Rex Harrison.

Answer: The Silence of the Lambs

In this scene FBI supervisor Jack Crawford (played by Scott Glenn) is asking FBI trainee Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster) if she will help in a current project. He starts off explaining it by asking, "Do you spook easily, Starling?" He would like Clarice to interview imprisoned cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter (played menacingly by Anthony Hopkins) in the hopes she can gain some insight into the thinking of a psychopath that will help the FBI catch a killer currently on the loose.

He gives her the advice, "You tell him nothing personal, Starling" and adds this quote. "The Silence of the Lambs" was only the third movie to win all five major Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay (as of March 2006).

The others were Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night" in 1934 and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in 1975.

Answer: Out of Africa

In this scene Danish Baroness and storyteller Karen Blixen (played by Meryl Streep) is remembering her good friend and lover, English adventurer Denys Finch-Hatton (played by Robert Redford). Denys had been killed at age 44 in an airplane crash. Karen had gone to Kenya, Africa to be with her Swedish husband Bror (played by Klaus Maria Brandauer), but it was a marriage of convenience and she grew to love Denys.

In the 1986 Academy Awards, "Out of Africa" won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. The majestic John Barry theme music won the Oscar for Best Music, Original Score (and is one of my favorites).

The role of Karen Blixen was originally offered to Audrey Hepburn. This is one of those movies that should be seen on a wide screen to be fully appreciated. Based on the true memoirs of Isak Dinesen.

Answer: The Godfather

After Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino) kills corrupt police Captain McCluskey (played by Sterling Hayden) and rival mob boss Sollozzo (played by Al Lettieri), he is sent by his family to live temporarily in Sicily, until the political heat in New York City dies down.

While there, he is smitten by local beauty Apollonia (played by Simonetta Stefanelli) and wants to arrange a meeting with her. One of his bodyguards, Fabrizio (played by Angelo Infanti), warns Michael to be careful and gives him advice with this quote. (Fabrizio later planted a bomb in Michael's car that didn't kill Michael but did kill Apollonia.) "The Godfather" follows the lives of a fictional American crime family, but many of the incidents and names in the story are eerily similar to incidents and names in real life. "The Godfather" won three Oscars in the 1973 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Marlon Brando won Best Actor in a Leading Role, but refused to accept the award. Al Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall were all nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, but none of them won the Oscar.

Answer: Schindler's List

"Schindler's List" tells the true story of Czech-born Oskar Schindler, who used Jewish labor during World War II in occupied Poland to start a factory. Although the Germans think his motivations are simply to make a profit with free labor, his motives really are human sympathy.

He is eventually able to save more than 1,000 Jews from death in the gas chambers. In this scene Oskar Schindler (played by Liam Neeson) is addressing a group of his Jewish factory workers at the end of the European part of World War II and says this quote to them.

Then he adds, "We've survived. Many of you have come up to me and thanked me. Thank yourselves. Thank your fearless Stern (played by Ben Kingsley), and others among you who worried about you and faced death at every moment. I am a member of the Nazi Party. I'm a munitions manufacturer. I'm a profiteer of slave labor. I am... a criminal.

At midnight, you'll be free and I'll be hunted. I shall remain with you until five minutes after midnight, after which time - and I hope you'll forgive me - I have to flee." In the 1994 Academy Awards, "Schindler's List" won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Both Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes were nominated for Oscars, but neither won.

Answer: Dances with Wolves

"Dances with Wolves" tells the story of U.S. Civil War veteran Lt. John Dunbar (played by Kevin Costner), who is stationed at a remote western U.S. army outpost. He eventually makes friends with some local Sioux Indians. He gradually gets to know them and they learn to accept him.

In this scene Lieutenant Dunbar has just participated in a buffalo hunt with the Indians, helped celebrate the success with feasting and storytelling, and is returning to the soldiers' fort. He makes this observation about them as a voiceover in the movie.

In the 1991 Academy Awards "Dances with Wolves" won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Graham Greene and Mary McDonnell were also nominated for awards but did not win.

Answer: Braveheart

In an effort to reduce Scotland's rebellion in the 13th century, England's tyrannical King Edward I (sometimes called Longshanks, played by Patrick McGoohan) introduces the detestable policy of prima noctae (letting his local administrators have first rights on a new bride's wedding night).

In this scene Lord Bottoms (played by Rupert Vansittart) appears at the wedding of Morrison (played by Tommy Flanagan) to claim his "right" with Morrison's bride (played by Julie Austin). Morrison later encounters Lord Bottoms again and says, "Do you remember me?" before he slits Lord Bottoms' throat.

This is the mostly true story of William Wallace, a commoner (one source says he was a Scottish lord) who unites 13th-century Scotland in its battle to overthrow English rule (although documented details are sketchy, at best).

In the 1996 Academy Awards, "Braveheart" won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson. Several major battle scenes in "Braveheart" had to be refilmed because some extras were seen wearing sunglasses and wristwatches.

Answer: Tom Jones

This hilarious movie tells the story of Tom Jones, a presumed bastard child who is raised as a gentleman in 18th century England. Jones (played as an adult by Albert Finney) is both charming and likeable, but seems unable to resist the advances of any attractive lady he meets.

In this scene Jones is teasingly talking to servant girl Molly (played by Diane Cilento) in the woods. In the 1964 Academy Awards, "Tom Jones" won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Albert Finney, Hugh Griffith, Diane Cilento, and Edith Evans all were nominated for awards but did not win.

In a surprising ending....(well, I won't spoil it for you in case you haven't seen it yet). "Tom Jones" is one of my all-time favorites (the version with Albert Finney, Susannah York, and Hugh Griffith).