Stone Fever Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vietnam War

"Born on the Fourth of July" (1989) was based on the autobiographical novel of the same name written by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. This multi-award winning film tried to show the gritty reality of the Vietnam conflict through the eyes of those who were there.

It also explored the failure of the U.S. to provide for their soldiers who were gravely injured in the fight for freedom. The author, who became a quadriplegic during his tour of duty, also explored how others treat those who have been gravely injured. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the havoc it can wreak, was part of the storyline.

There were many who considered this movie, upon its release, to be the quintessential war movie of its generation.

Answer: The Doors

"The Doors" (1991) was a biographical film about Jim Morrison and his group, The Doors. It starred actor Val Kilmer in the lead role, and made use of the group's music. While the film was considered a success, those who actually knew Morrison and worked with him claimed the movie was not historically accurate.

It also depicted Morrison as a drug addicted, alcoholic, womanizing letch. There was no doubt that much of this was true, but others criticized the film for not exploring the musical genius the Morrison may have been.

Answer: The attacks on the World Trade Center

"World Trade Center", released in 2006, was about the September 11 attacks on the U.S. With an all-star cast, the film was a dramatized version of the events of that day in New York City. It was told through the eyes of Port Authority police officers and Stone made sure to interview the police and firemen who worked this horrific scene.

Although Stone was known for including conspiracy theories in his many of his previous movies, this movie avoided that topic. Instead, it focused on the heroic actions of those who answered the call, some at the cost of their own lives.

Answer: Heaven and Earth

"Heaven and Earth" (1993) was the third movie in Stone's trilogy about the Vietnam War, in which he had been involved when he was young. This movie was the semi-autobiographical story of a Vietnamese girl, Le Ly Hayslip, who became a woman while war raged around her.

It dealt with her rape at the hands of the Vietcong and the subsequent rejection leveled at her by her fellow villagers. She later married an American Marine and moved to the U.S. It chronicled the effects of the war on her and her husband, who grew increasingly violent in his attempts to escape his memories.

Answer: Talk Radio

"Talk Radio" (1988) was a drama that was very loosely based on the life of talk radio host Alan Berg who, in 1984, was murdered by a white supremacist group known as 'The Order'. Actor Eric Bogosian and Oliver Stone wrote the movie and Bogosian starred in the lead role. Bogosian played a Jewish attorney with very liberal views who hosts a radio talk show espousing his ideas. Because of his desire to talk on the radio, his marriage ends, and he learns to live with constant death threats. Most of the movie took place inside a radio station in Texas.

Answer: Year of the Dragon

"Year of the Dragon" (1985) was co-written by Cimino and Oliver Stone, who adapted it from Robert Daley's novel of the same name. This crime drama explored the rise of a youth through the underground world of Chinese organized crime and the veteran cop who was determined to stop him. Criticized by some for its overt violence, this movie was loved by others who felt that it did not romanticize the gang lifestyle.

It caused an uproar with the Asian-American population, who felt it displayed their culture in a negative light.

In spite of the reaction in America, the movie was a big hit in many parts of the Far East.

Answer: Woody Harrelson

Directed by Stone and loosely based on a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, "Natural Born Killers" created a media circus when it was released in 1994. Starring Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis in the leading roles of two serial killers in love and on a killing spree, this movie is undoubtedly one of the most controversial movies of all time. Very openly violent, the film according to Stone was a reflection of American society's infatuation with serial killers.

He did not attempt to tone down the bloodlust of the movie, causing it to be banned in Ireland for many years. Also, many were bothered by the ending, which I will not ruin for those who have not seen the movie.

This movie also showcased the acting skills of Woody Harrelson, who had been most well-known for his comedic acting on the television series "Cheers" from 1985-1993. Harrelson has had a long acting career on both television and the movies, where he has played a huge variety of characters.

As an interesting note, Harrelson's father was convicted of assassinating a federal judge in 1979 and another man in 1968.

Answer: Turkey

"Midnight Express" was based on the true story of Billy Hayes and his subsequent incarceration in a Turkish prison after getting caught smuggling hashish out of the country. The physical and mental torture that went on in Turkish jails was graphically laid out for the watcher.

After five years of hell, Hayes managed to escape and made it to Greece. The movie's title is prison slang for an escape. This movie is often shown to students and new service men going to foreign countries to emphasize that prison in the U.S. is nothing like a Turkish prison.

Answer: The Hand

"The Hand" (1981), which was based on Marc Brandell's novel "The Lizard's Tail", was one of Stone's earlier movies. Actor Michael Caine played a cartoonist who loses his drawing hand in a motor vehicle accident, and the severed hand is never found. While trying to recover from this tragedy, Caine's character becomes involved in many strange occurrences including the murder of his friends.

The watcher wonders if he is losing his mind and then finds out that the hand has taken on a life of its own and is responsible for the many incidents that others thought the cartoonist was responsible for.

It did not do very well, even with an Academy Award winning actor in the lead role.

Answer: Greystone Park

In 2012, Oliver Stone played himself in the movie "Greystone Park", which was directed by his son, Sean Stone. The movie came about after a visit to a real life abandoned psychiatric hospital in New Jersey. During this visit, the director and a friend of his, Alexander Wraith, experienced contact with tortured souls that were still trapped inside the building.

This movie is about their experience.