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Silent Running Trivia Quiz

This gem of a movie showcased the talents of many people who would later become famous, and displayed an ecological reverence unmatched by any science-fiction movie I have seen. Perhaps this quiz will inspire you to rent the video!

A multiple-choice quiz by crisw. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
crisw

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
35,332

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
518

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. "Silent Running" is at base an ecology film and a moral drama. The film features an array of giant greenhouses which hold the last remaining vestiges of nonhuman life from Earth. Why are they there? Hint

Earth itself has been destroyed

All nonhuman life on Earth has been destroyed

An experimental space station project

A dream of a wealthy investor

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who starred in the movie as Freeman Lowell, the scientist whose mission is to care for the plants? Hint

Bruce Dern

Richard Dreyfus

James Kahn

Keir Dullea

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Question 3 of 15

3. This movie takes place aboard the spacecraft 'Valley Forge', one of a number of crafts which hold the greenhouses. Where were these scenes filmed? Hint

On the set of '2001'

Aboard an aircraft carrier

In an abandoned factory

In a botanical garden in Los Angeles

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Question 4 of 15

4. The 26-foot model of the Valley Forge used in special-effects shots was made from, among other things, 650 what? Hint

Items from a junkyard

Cuckoo-clock mechanisms

Army tank model sets

Sets of Tinkertoys

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Question 5 of 15

5. The droids in this movie have been seen as forerunners of R2-D2. Although they start as mindless drones, Lowell programs the droids to play cards, perform surgery, and tend to the plants. What were the names of the trio of droids? Hint

Huey, Dewey and Louie

Winken, Blinken and Nod

A, B and C

Tree, Leaf and Stem

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Question 6 of 15

6. What was unusual about the actors who played the droids, controlling them from inside? Hint

They were trained monkeys

They were dwarfs

They were amputees

They were children

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Question 7 of 15

7. In the movie, the forest begins to wither and die, and Lowell researches the cause. What did Lowell find was killing his plants? Hint

Radiation poisoning

Lack of water

Genetic deterioration

Lack of sunlight

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Question 8 of 15

8. What orders do Lowell and his companions receive from Earth? Hint

Replant the Earth

Destroy the forests

Take the forests to Mars for colonization

Meet an alien civilization and show them the forests

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Question 9 of 15

9. Why does Lowell kill his three shipmates? Hint

They are killing the animals in the dome for fun

They are planning to destroy the forests

They are hurting the droids

All the deaths were accidental

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Question 10 of 15

10. Why is this movie called 'Silent Running'? Hint

Because Lowell doesn't speak in the movie

Because the forests are so quiet

Because Lowell is running away

Because the ship becomes silent

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Question 11 of 15

11. Who is the final caretaker of the forests? Hint

Leaf

Nod

Dewey

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Question 12 of 15

12. This movie features a wonderful classical score as well as two songs, one of them called 'Silent Running.' Who wrote and sang the poignant 'Rejoice In The Sun', which featured lyrics such as 'Tell them it's not too late. Cultivate, one by one. Tell them to harvest and rejoice, in the sun'? Hint

Joan Baez

Bob Dylan

Joni Mitchell

Country Joe McDonald

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Question 13 of 15

13. One of the movie's writers went on to a career of fame in writing TV dramas, including 'Hill Street Blues' and 'L.A. Law.' Who is he? Hint

Michael Cimini

Steven Bochco

Stanley Kubrick

Michael Crichton

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Question 14 of 15

14. Three writers worked on this movie. The same trio of writers produced one other Oscar-winning film. What was it? Hint

The Deer Hunter

Ordinary People

Kramer vs. Kramer

Terms of Endearment

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Question 15 of 15

15. This film was directed by Douglas Trumbull, who learned special effects from Stanley Kubrick while working on '2001: A Space Odyssey.' What is another film on which Trumbull was responsible for special effects? Hint

The Matrix

E.T

Mission to Mars

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: All nonhuman life on Earth has been destroyed

The life has been destroyed by nuclear fallout.

2. Who starred in the movie as Freeman Lowell, the scientist whose mission is to care for the plants?

Answer: Bruce Dern

Dern has appeared in many movies; one of the most famous being 'All the Pretty Horses.' His portrayal of the sensitive, mad Freeman Lowell is ranked by many as one of his best.

3. This movie takes place aboard the spacecraft 'Valley Forge', one of a number of crafts which hold the greenhouses. Where were these scenes filmed?

Answer: Aboard an aircraft carrier

The aircraft carrier was actually named 'Valley Forge.' It had been decommissioned. It was repainted and refurbished for the filming, and was scrapped when the filming was done.

4. The 26-foot model of the Valley Forge used in special-effects shots was made from, among other things, 650 what?

Answer: Army tank model sets

In these pre-"Star Wars" days, such a set was quite impressive.

Answer: Huey, Dewey and Louie

Louie is lost fairly early in the film after falling from the outside of the ship while trying to repair it.

6. What was unusual about the actors who played the droids, controlling them from inside?

Answer: They were amputees

Four different actors worked inside the droids.

7. In the movie, the forest begins to wither and die, and Lowell researches the cause. What did Lowell find was killing his plants?

Answer: Lack of sunlight

It has been so long since plants grew on Earth that their need for sunlight is not common knowledge.

8. What orders do Lowell and his companions receive from Earth?

Answer: Destroy the forests

This is the crux of the movie. Lowell cannot destroy what he loves, and sets out to save the last forest as the others are being blown up around him.

9. Why does Lowell kill his three shipmates?

Answer: They are planning to destroy the forests

Lowell's shipmates are following the orders to destroy the forests. After killing them, Lowell reprograms the ship to head into deep space.

10. Why is this movie called 'Silent Running'?

Answer: Because the ship becomes silent

From the 'Silent Running' home page-'Badly injured, he blasts his ship into a lonely orbit in which, he hopes, he will never be found, whilst sending distress signals claiming a ghastly mishap causing massive explosions on board have killed the other crew members. Cutting the engines, drifting into deep space, Lowell silences all radio communications from the ship, going into what submariners term 'silent running'. '

11. Who is the final caretaker of the forests?

Answer: Dewey

I won't give too much away if you haven't seen the movie- but the ultimate scene of Dewey tending to the forests is guaranteed to inspire some strong emotions.

Answer: Joan Baez

Baez also sang several other songs for this film.

13. One of the movie's writers went on to a career of fame in writing TV dramas, including 'Hill Street Blues' and 'L.A. Law.' Who is he?

Answer: Steven Bochco

"Silent Running" is an early indication of his strong script-writing abilities.

14. Three writers worked on this movie. The same trio of writers produced one other Oscar-winning film. What was it?

Answer: The Deer Hunter

The writers were Steven Bochco, Michael Cimini and Deric Washburn.

Answer: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

He also worked on "Star Trek", "BladeRunner" and many others.

Source: Author crisw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rj211 before going online.
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