Silent Films of the 1910s Trivia Quiz

Answer: U.S. Civil War

The 16 minute film was directed by D. W. Griffith for the Biograph Company. It tells of a confederate soldier (Henry Walthall) during the U.S. Civil War who runs from the war in fear. To preserve the family honor, the soldier's sister (Dorothy West) fights in his place until she is killed in battle. The siblings' mother (Grace Henderson) then keeps her son hidden closed shutters to hide the family's shame.

The picture shows sections of blue and gray, which were the official colors of the Union and Confederate uniforms during the U.S. Civil War.

Answer: The Divine Comedy

"L'Inferno" (The Inferno) was based on the first part of Dante's "The Divine Comedy". Salvatore Papa starred as Dante with Arturo Pirovano as Virgil. Francesco Betillini, Adolfo Padovan, and Giuseppe DiLeguoro directed the film. Scenes set in Hell were later used in US films made in the 1930s and 1940s. The film lasted for 68 minutes.

The picture shows a pitchfork that the devil, associated with Hell or the Inferno, might use.

Answer: Cleopatra (of Egypt)

The 1912 film "Cleopatra" ran for 88 minutes and was made on a $45,000 budget, spent on lavish sets and costumes. The film shows the romance between Cleopatra (Helen Gardner) and both Marc Antony (Charles Sindelar) and a Greek slave. When the film was re-released in 1918, two intertitle cards were cut. The film was directed by Charles L. Gaskill.

The picture shows pyramid shapes which should suggest Egypt.

Answer: Sinking Ship

Directed by August Blom, "Atlantis" ran for 113 minutes. The movie tells the story of a doctor who travels to the United States searching for a cure for his wife, when the ocean liner on which he is travelling sinks. The film drew criticism for portraying this only a year after the Titanic sank. However, the movie was actually based on a novel published before the Titanic disaster.

The picture has a blue background for the ocean with Morse Code for SOS that a ship like the Titanic might have sent as a message.

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

Although not the very first film in which Chaplin appeared, it was the first where he used his guise as the Little Tramp. (Another film with the Little Tramp had been filmed first, but was not released until after this one.) The movie was filmed during an actual auto race. Chaplin portrayed a man who interfered with the race, annoying drivers and spectators alike.

The picture shows a "face" with a toothbrush mustache and a derby cap, both associated with the Little Tramp.

Answer: Der Golem

"Der Golem" was directed by Paul Wegener and Henrik Galeen, who also portrayed the golem and the man who unearthed him, respectively. An antiques dealer (Galeen) brings the golem home to act as a servant. An ill-fated attempt to court the man's daughter leads to violence. While it is uncertain if the film exists in full, archives do hold sections of the 60 minute film.

The picture shows a grayish cube and a gray colored human shape suggesting the golem and the clay from which it was made.

Answer: Sherlock Holmes

"The Valley of Fear" was a Sherlock Holmes short novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1915. Directed by Alexander Butler, the film starred Harry Saintsbury as the detective and Arthur Cullin as Dr. Watson. Previous to this film, Saintsbury had played Sherlock Holmes over 1,000 times on the stage. The film, which is believed to be lost, ran for about seven reels or 108 minutes.

The picture shows a magnifying glass which Sherlock Holmes might use when looking for clues.

Answer: John Ford

In addition to directing the film, Ford was co-writer of the screenplay and also portrayed main character Jack Dayton. Elsie Thornton and Peter Gerard also starred in the film. "The Tornado" featured a group of robbers who capture a woman, who is rescued by an unarmed man. The film, later described by Ford as a "bunch of stunts", ran about 30 minutes, and is considered a lost film.

The picture shows an automobile, such as might have been designed by Henry Ford (no relation).

Answer: Bela Lugosi

Alfréd Deésy directed this film which starred Bela Lugosi and Annie Góth. Lugosi may be best known for starring as the vampire count in "Dracula" (1931). The film was based on a play by Ferenc Herczeg. This status of this film has been unknown since its initial screenings in 1917.

The picture shows the shadow of a bat (vampire bat?).

Answer: John Barrymore

Although Ethel, Maurice, and Lionel were all part of the Barrymore acting family, it was John who starred in "The Test of Honor", now considered a lost film. John Barrymore starred as Martin Wingrave, who was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Once out, he seeks his revenge against a former girlfriend (Marcia Manon) and another man (Robert Schable) who framed him for the crime.

The picture shows a stylized outhouse which contains a simple toilet. A slang word for a toilet or bathroom is the "john".