Quotes from Classic Movies of the 1960s Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Two British officers are comparing their emotions at the end of a bloody battle and realise that, for both of them, it has been their first taste of action. Do you remember the movie? "Fear certainly dries the throat, doesn't it? I was never so thirsty in my life!" "I could have drunk a river." "Was it like this for you? I mean, how did you feel the first time?" "How do you feel?" "I feel afraid and there's something more. I feel ashamed. There. You asked me and I told you. How was it your first time?" "Do you think I could stand this butcher's yard more than once?"

Answer: Zulu

"Zulu" 1964 was directed by Cy Enfield.

During the Zulu War of 1879, a lightly-manned British post is attacked by 4,000 Zulu warriors, who have recently massacred a larger British force at Isandhlwana. Rorke's Drift is commanded by Lt. John Chard (Stanley Baker) and Lt, Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine), whose force numbers a mere 150 men. During a period lasting two days, this small contingent repels successive waves of attacks by Zulu warriors.

Eventually, the Zulus depart and it appears that the battle is over. In this scene, Chard and Bromhead compare their thoughts, neither realising that the other also has had no previous battle experience. Chard is an engineer who had come to South Africa to build bridges.

2. In this comedy movie, a policeman is summarising the clues from a murder case to his subordinate, using a pointing stick and a blackboard to illustrate his ideas. Can you name the movie? "Listen to me, Hercule, and you will learn something. Now then, the facts in this case are: the body of the chauffeur was found in the bedroom of the second maid. Fact! Cause of death: four bullets in the chest. Fact! The bullets were fired at close range from a .25 caliber Beretta automatic. Fact! Maria Gambrelli was discovered with the murder weapon in her hand. Fact! The murder weapon was registered in the name of the deceased, Miguel Ostos, and was kept, mind you, in the glove compartment of the Ballon Rolls-Royce. Fact! Now then, members of the household staff have testified that Miguel Ostos beat... - - You fool! You have broken my pointing stick! I have nothing to point with now!"

Answer: A Shot in the Dark

"A Shot in the Dark" (1964) was directed by Blake Edwards, and starred Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau and Elke Sommer as Maria Gambrelli.

Maria Gambrelli is the prime suspect in a murder case. In this scene, midway through the movie, a pompous Inspector Clouseau is arrogantly outlining the clues to his assistant, Hercule (Graham Stark), but his blind obsession for Maria is affecting his judgement. In mid-sentence, his excessive use of the pointing stick results in its breaking into two pieces and, to save face, he immediately heaps the blame onto his hapless underling.

This is a very funny scene.

3. The scene is the White House, and the President is discussing a pressing matter with a Colonel from the Pentagon. President: "All right, Colonel. Let's sum it up, shall we? You're suggesting what?" Colonel: "I'm not sure, Mr. President: just some possibilities, what we call "capabilities" in military intelligence." President: " Have you got something against the English language, Colonel?" Colonel : "No, sir." President: "Then speak it plainly, if you will." Colonel: "I'm suggesting, Mr. President, there's a military plot to take over the government. This may occur some time this coming Sunday. " What's the movie?

Answer: Seven Days in May

"Seven Days in May" (1964) was directed by John Frankenheimer.

This is a fine, cold war, political drama. President Jordan Lyman (Frederic March) is unpopular with certain right-wing factions because of his peace treaty with the Russians. Strange occurrences at the Pentagon lead Colonel "Jiggs" Casey (Kirk Douglas) to suspect that his superior, General James Mattoon Scott (Burt Lancaster) and other top military men are planning a military coup to take over the Government. When General Scott invites the President to oversee military exercises on the following Sunday, in the absence of the press or other politicians, Casey decides it's time to act.

In this scene, a reluctant Casey goes to see the President to discuss his suspicions.

4. Here are some lines from an unusual 1960s movie. Can you name it? "Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you."

Answer: 2001 A Space Odyssey

"2001 A Space Odyssey" (1968) was directed by Stanley Kubrick.

This is an absorbing, thought-provoking Sci-Fi movie about a rocket ship heading for Jupiter. It boasts a most confusing ending which I shall not attempt to explain. Keir Dullea stars as Captain Dave Bowman.

The ship's onboard computer is known as HAL. HAL is able to converse with the crew (and play chess with them!)
In an earlier scene, HAL had lip-read the crew talking about the possibility of shutting down the computer system, which had triggered self-preservation instincts within HAL. It seems that HAL is more intelligent than his creators intended, taking on human traits such as suspicion and anger.

In this scene, towards the end of the movie, HAL says these softly spoken, but sinister, words to Dave, after the computer has already disposed of four crew members, leaving Dave as the sole survivor. Dave doesn't respond; but he knows he has to shut down HAL if he is to escape with his life.

5. In this scene from a fine Western movie, there's been a stagecoach hold-up, and the bad guys have scared away the horses, leaving the passengers to face a daunting walk back to town. This conversation occurs between one of the bad guys and the hero, who's just jumped up on the stagecoach to retrieve his rifle. "What are you doing up there?" "Getting my things". "You figuring on going some place?" "Why stay here?" "Just how far do you think you're gonna get?" "That's to find out." "Now how far did you say you were going to get?" "Oh, about as far as Delgado's." "What does that mean?" "Maybe if we all get thirsty, we'll go to Delgado's and get some mezcal."

Answer: Hombre

"Hombre" (1967) was directed by Martin Ritt.

In my view, this is THE finest western movie of the 1960s, but it remains a strangely under-rated work. The John Russell character is one of the great anti-heros of the Western genre, a man who refuses to conform, and who won't go out of his way to help his fellow passengers (until the movie's climax). Another bonus is Richard Boone's tremendous performance as the lead baddie (Cicero Grimes).

John Russell (Paul Newman) is a white man raised by the Apaches, whose sympathies are certainly not with the white folks, with whom he finds himself sharing a stagecoach. Cicero Grimes (Boone) and his gang hold up the stage, primarily to rob one the passengers (played by Frederic March), an Indian Agent who has embezzled funds meant for the starving Apaches at a reservation.

In a scene right at the beginning of the movie, Russell (looking like an Apache) and two Apache friends, visit a drinking den called Delgado's. Whilst Russell is in another room, the two Apaches are drinking mezcal when a bad guy, Lamar (David Canary), and another man, taunt and racially abuse them. In retaliation, Russell comes up behind Lamar and smashes a glass in his face. Later in the movie, Lamar reappears as one of Cicero Grimes' gang, and during the hold-up, thinks he recognises Russell but can't place where (because Russell no longer looks like an Apache). When the gang departs the site of the robbery, Russell jumps up to get his rifle, but then Lamar returns and sees him.

During the quoted conversation, Lamar steals one water bottle and puts a bullet hole in another. Russell stays calm until he can grab his rifle, then reminds Lamar about their fracas at Delgado's. Too late, Lamar realises where he had seen Russell, and is shot immediately thereafter.

6. There should be enough clues in this quote for you to guess the movie without any hints. "I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're going to do when you come in irritate me. You leave me little notes on my pillow. I told you 158 times I can't stand little notes on my pillow. "We're all out of cornflakes. F.U." Took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Ungar!"

Answer: The Odd Couple

"The Odd Couple" (1968) was directed by Gene Saks, and was based on the Broadway play by Neil Simon.

Any movie starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon has to be good, and this one is a riot! Felix Ungar (Lemmon) and Oscar Madison (Matthau) are exact opposites who find themslves sharing a house, and constantly getting on each other's nerves. Just for starters, Oscar is a slob whilst Felix is fastidiously tidy.

In this scene, Oscar and Felix are having a blazing row, and Oscar is describing to Felix how annoying he is! These words accurately describe their difficult relationship.

7. Imagine the scene. There's a car full of people motoring down the road. Two of the passengers have the following discussion, during which the mood inside the car changes suddenly from merriment to deadly seriousness. "Hey, what do you do, anyhow? " "I'm an undertaker." "Get them out of here!" Name the movie.

Answer: Bonnie and Clyde

"Bonnie and Clyde" (1967) was directed by Arthur Penn.

Set in the 1930s, the movie tells the story of two real-life bank robbers.

In this scene, midway through the movie, Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunnaway), Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty), Buck Barrow (Gene Hackman) and their cohort C.W. Moss (Michael J. Pollard), have kidnapped Eugene (Gene Wilder) and his girlfriend Velma. The kidnap was an impulsive action carried out mostly for fun, and the gang has no intention of hurting their captives. Indeed, after a while the captives join in the fun, drinking alcohol, eating burgers, laughing and joking as the car drives along. Unfortunately, Bonnie has a morbid fear of death, and when she finds out that Eugene is an undertaker, she immediately demands that the captives be ejected. Poor Eugene and Velma find themselves abandoned, after dark, in the middle of nowhere!

8. This narration is spoken at the very end of my favourite movie of the 1960s. Can you name it? "I was to think of these days many times...of Jem, and Dill, and Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson, and Atticus. He would be in Jem's room all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning".

Answer: To Kill a Mockingbird

"To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962) was directed by Robert Mulligan, and was based on the autobiographical novel by Harper Lee.

Set in the Deep South in the early 1930s, the movie is about an attorney, Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck), defending an innocent black man, Tom Robinson (Brock Peters), against a charge of rape. The main accusers are white - Mayella Violet Ewell and her bitter, racist father, Bob Ewell.

Actually, the above story just forms the backdrop to the real story which is about children growing up and discovering the world, both its good and its bad. The movie is narrated by Atticus' young daughter Scout (Mary Badham), hence we see the story unfolding from her perspective, as she interacts with her brother, Jem, and friend, Dill.

Boo Radley (Robert Duvall) is a strange man who all the local kids fear, believing him to be an ogre chained up in a cellar. Late in the movie, we discover that Boo is a harmless, child-like man, who comes to the children's rescue when they're attacked by Bob Ewell.

My favourite scene is when Atticus loses the rape case (despite all the evidence to the contrary), and the lower court empties except for a rueful Atticus alone with his thoughts. The upper gallery, full of the town's black population (plus Jem and Scout), stays seated in silence; then, as Atticus departs the courtroom, the upper gallery respectfully rises to its collective feet, and a man whispers to Scout and Jem: "Stand up, your father's passing". Whenever I watch that scene, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up too.

9. In this scene, there are three people: an older man, a younger man and a young woman. This conversation between the two men, with regard to the young woman, are the very last lines spoken at the end of which classic movie? "Can you play the balalaika?" "Can she play? She's an artist!" "Who taught you?" "Nobody taught her!" "Ah, then it's a gift."

Answer: Doctor Zhivago

"Doctor Zhivago" (1965) was directed by David Lean, based on the novel written by Boris Pasternak.

Set against the background of the Russian Revolution, the movie depicts the doomed love affair between poet Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and Lara (Julie Christie), the story being relayed in flashback. The movie starts at a dam project in Russia as we see the couple's daughter Tonya (Rita Tushingham), one of the dam workers, meeting her older relative for the first time, General Yevgraf Zhivago (Alec Guinness). Tonya never knew her father and was separated fom her mother as a child, so Yevgraf tells her about the love affair between Yuri and Lara, both of whom are now deceased.

At the end of the movie, we return to the dam project, and see the same two characters. In this scene, Tonya's boyfriend joins them and, as the two young people leave, Yevgraf notices that Tonya is carrying a musical instrument, a balalaika, and he asks her about it. Amidst all the tragedy life goes on, and it's heartwarming to realise that Yuri and Lara's offspring is imbued with some of their creative talent.

10. Can you recall the classic movie in which this rather hostile conversation takes place between two police officers? "What did you hit him with?" "Hit whom?" "WHOM? Are you a northern boy? What's a northern boy doing down here?"

Answer: In the Heat of the Night

"In the Heat of the Night" (1967) was directed by Norman Jewison.

Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), a sophisticated black police officer from Philadelphia, has been visiting his mother in Mississippi when he's arrested on suspicion of murder. The arresting officer, Sam Wood (Warren Oates) finds Virgil at the train station, and hauls him into the local police station for interrogation by Police Chief Gillespie (Rod Steiger).

In this scene, Gillespie is convinced that Virgil is the killer. He hasn't yet realised that Virgil is a police officer, and can't understand how a black man could have such excellent use of grammar!

Later, Vigil is released, but is then seconded to the local police to help them with the murder investigation, because he's a homicide expert. Virgil is a fish out of water in this strange environment, having to contend with racial hostility from both the local white populace and fellow police officers.

11. In this scene, an exasperated father is talking to his wayward son. "You don't care about people. Oh, you got all that charm going for you. And it makes the youngsters want to be like you. That's the shame of it because you don't value anything. You don't respect nothing. You keep no check on your appetites at all. You live just for yourself. And that makes you not fit to live with". Name the movie.

Answer: Hud

Hud (1963) was directed by Martin Ritt.

Hud Bannon (Paul Newman) lives on a cattle ranch with his father Homer (Melvyn Douglas), his naive young nephew Lon (Brandon De Wilde), and the hired housekeeper Alma (Patricia Neal). Hud is a selfish, hard drinking womaniser with a chip on his shoulder, whose contemptuous treatment of other people alienates him from his family.

Homer Bannon, a decent, principled man, is appalled at his son's callous and reckless ways, and his negative influence over the young Lon. Homer runs the ranch in an autocratic manner, but begins to crumble when a deadly disease affects the cattle. Hud is itching to take over the reins from his father, and sees his chance when government men arrive to shoot the diseased cattle.

This early scene nicely illustrates the relationship between father and errant son.

Brandon De Wilde is perhaps best known for playing Joey Starrett, the young boy in "Shane" (1953).

12. Can you guess the movie from this conversation between the two main characters? "Gets down to what it's all about, doesn't it? Making the wrong move at the right time." "Is that what it's all about?" "Like life, I guess. You're good, kid, but as long as I'm around you're second best. You might as well learn to live with it."

Answer: The Cincinnati Kid

"The Cincinati Kid" (1965) was directed by Norman Jewison.

Up-and-coming poker player, the Cincinatti Kid (Steve McQueen), goes up against veteran Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) in this absorbing drama about winners and losers.

In this scene at the end of the movie, the two characters have just finished a marathon Stud Poker game, the Kid's full house having lost to Lancey's (very unlikely!) straight flush. The Kid is psychologically shattered, a broken man having lost everything. Lancey wastes no time in telling him about the pecking order.

13. Two cowboys are discussing ethics. Which movie? "He gave his word." "He gave his word to a railroad." "It's his word." "That ain't what counts! It's who you give it TO."

Answer: The Wild Bunch

"The Wild Bunch" (1969) was directed by Sam Peckinpah.

This is a violent, but thoughtful, western. A railroad company, too often the target of an outlaw gang ("The Wild Bunch"), hires bounty hunters to pursue them, led by an ex-member of the gang.

Gang leader, Pike Bishop (William Holden), and his number two, Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine), are discussing their old friend Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan), who was once a valued member of the gang, but who is now working for the railroad, helping to hunt down his old buddies. Bishop sympathises with Thornton because Thornton had been captured by the lawmen and forced to switch sides, or else go to prison. Bishop understands that to give your word to someone means you must keep to the bargain, however Dutch holds a different view, arguing that it all depends on who you give your word to!

14. In this scene, a prison officer is talking to an inmate: "You're going to get used to wearing them chains after a while. Don't you never stop listening to them clinking, because they're going to remind you of what I've been saying. It's for your own good." "I wish you'd stop being so good to me, captain." For sure, this attempt at sarcasm is not well received by the officer! Name the movie.

Answer: Cool Hand Luke

"Cool Hand Luke" (1967) was directed by Stuart Rosenberg.

Set in the 1930s, Luke (Paul Newman) is jailed for cutting the heads off parking meters whilst under the influence of alcohol, and is sent to work on a chain gang. However he refuses to conform, tries several times to escape, and in doing so becomes a hero to the other inmates, in particular Dragline (George Kennedy).

In this scene, late in the movie, Luke has just been recaptured after his latest escape attempt and, in full view of the other prisoners, is fitted with ankle chains. Even now, Luke still cannot rein in his fierce dislike of authority, and utters a sarcastic retort to the Captain (Strother Martin).

The Captain flies into a rage, striking Luke with his stick. Then comes the famous "What we have here is a failure to communicate" speech - but I didn't use that quote in my quiz question because it would have been too easy!

15. In which 1960's movie do we hear these lines? "Kid, Kid, what a time to fall off the wagon. Look at your eyes." "What's wrong with my eyes?" "Well they're red, bloodshot." "You ought to see 'em from my side!"

Answer: Cat Ballou

"Cat Ballou" (1965) was directed by Elliott Silverstein.

A very funny Western with a great comedy performance by Lee Marvin, playing two characters.

Cat Ballou (Jane Fonda) seeks to hire the meanest, toughest gunslinger in the west to confront the railroad company that is behind the murder of her father. She sends for Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin) but is horrified to discover that he's become a useless drunkard.

The railroad's own gunman is Tim Strawn (also played by Lee Marvin, with a metal nose).

In this funny scene, Kid Shelleen is drunk again and his friend is trying to help him.

Source: Author Charlie58

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

I'll give you a quote or a snatch of conversation, and all you have to do is name the movie. To make it more interesting, don't expect to see the most obvious quotes - that would be too easy.

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