Strike Up The Band Trivia Quiz

Answer: Neil Diamond

The 1927 version of "The Jazz Singer" is generally accepted to be the first talking movie and the first American musical film. Al Jolson performed six songs in it. There have been several remakes. In 1952 there was a version with Danny Thomas and Peggy Lee, and in 1959 there was a made for television version with Jerry Lewis. The Neil Diamond version of 1980 was not very successful as a movie, but the soundtrack album achieved multi platinum sales.
"America", "Love on the Rocks" and "Hello Again" were all released as singles from the album.

Neil Diamond is better known as a singer/songwriter than actor. He started as a songwriter in the famous Brill Building where he composed several songs that were hits for other people, among them "I'm a Believer" for The Monkees. His early concerts as a singer saw him as an opening act for people such as Herman's Hermits and The Who. Solo success came in the 1970s with "Sweet Caroline" and "Cracklin Rosie", and he has remained popular ever since.

Answer: Alexander's Ragtime Band

The Irving Berlin song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was written in 1911 and was a popular and familiar tune to cinema audiences, who would have heard it on the radio and in dance halls and theatres. In 1937 Irving Berlin wrote a musical about a boy who alienates his upper class family by opting for a career in jazz and ragtime rather than serious music.

It starred Tyrone Power and Ethel Merman. Whilst other musicals of the era are often seen on television this one seems to have disappeared into the mists of time, rarely being seen these days. "Easter Parade" was written in 1933, and, as was common at the time, was used in several musicals.

As well as "Alexander's Ragtime Band" it also appeared in "Holiday Inn" (1942) and of course the Judy Garland movie of the same name.

Answer: Rose-Marie

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy were both stars in their own right. Both were signed by MGM, and putting them together in films proved to be very successful box office. "Rose-Marie" (1936) is possibly their best known film. The duet from it "Indian Love Call", sold over a million copies. The other side of the record was "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" from "Naughty Marietta"(1935), another of their films. Although they both did many solo projects they often came together for films, and others include "Girl of the Golden West" (1938) and "Maytime" (1937).

Set mainly in Canada, "Rose-Marie" is the tale of a singer, her criminal brother, and the Mountie who is out to capture him. She falls in love with him, and he with her, but he still does his job and arrests her brother. They part, but eventually there is a happy ending.

Answer: Easter Parade

Made in 1938 "Easter Parade" paired Fred Astaire with Judy Garland. He was not originally cast in the film, Gene Kelly was supposed to do it, but he was ill and Fred Astaire stepped in. The Astaire/Garland duet of "A Couple of Swells" is one of the highlights of the film. All the songs were by Irving Berlin. The film was a great success and plans were made to pair the two together again in "The Barkleys of Broadway", but Judy Garland withdrew and her part was taken by Astaire's normal partner, Ginger Rogers. The title song "Easter Parade" also appeared in "Holiday Inn" (1942).

"Easter Parade" is a typical feel good musical of the time. Let down by his dance partner Fred Astaire tells her he can make a star out of the next dancer he sees, who just happens to be Judy Garland. He turns her into a copy of his old partner. They become a success and also fall in love with each other, but neither will tell the other. Eventually all is resolved and he proposes to her during the annual Easter Parade.

Answer: Damon Runyan

Damon Runyan started his career on newspapers. For ten years he was a sports reporter for the "New York American". He also wrote short stories about the night life of New York, in particular the gamblers, would be gangsters, hustlers and other characters of the Prohibition era.

These stories were made into "Guys and Dolls". Frank Loesser wrote the music and lyrics and Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows the book. It premiered on Broadway in 1950 and was turned into a film starring Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in 1955. Songs such as "If I Were A Bell", "Luck Be A Lady" and "Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat" ensured it was a success both on stage and in the cinema. Over the years there have been several stage revivals, but Sinatra's portrayal of Nathan Detroit has never been bettered.

Answer: The Pyjama Game

"The Pyjama Game" was a successful Broadway musical and in 1957 was made into a film starring Doris Day. It centres around a labour dispute at a garment production factory where the workers want a seven and a half cent pay rise. Probably the best known song from it is the tango, "Hernando's Hideaway", which has been recorded by many artists including Ella Fitzgerald and Johnny Ray.

As a film "The Pyjama Game" seems to have gone into the forgotten gems category, although it has retained popularity as a stage production with school and amateur dramatic groups The musical itself did have a successful 2006 Broadway revival, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival.

Answer: Kismet

Starring Howard Keel, Ann Blyth and Vic Damone, "Kismet" is set in old Baghdad and tells the tale of a missing son, a curse, several would be marriages, mixed up love affairs and a happy ever after ending, all in the course of one day. Based on music by Alexander Borodin with lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, the film contains "Baubles Bangles and Beads", "And This Is My Beloved" and "Stranger in Paradise". "Stranger in "Paradise" was the first hit record in the UK for Tony Bennett.

Answer: West Side Story

"West Side Story" broke the mould. Starring George Chakiris, Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn it is the story of two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, and tensions between the Puerto Rican and white communities in New York. With songs such as "Tonight", "America", "Somewhere" and "Maria" the film won ten Academy Awards, and is widely regarded as one of the best musical films ever made. Music was by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and the story is based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".

Answer: Petula Clark

"Finian's Rainbow" (1968) also starred Tommy Steele. Astaire played an Irishman who stole a crock of gold from a leprechaun and buried it near Fort Knox, in the belief that the proximity to gold would make his gold multiply. Petula Clark was his sceptical daughter, and Tommy Steele the leprechaun who needed to retrieve his gold before he turned into a human. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola the film is based on a 1947 stage musical of the same name. Petula Clark confessed to being nervous at the thought of dancing with Fred Astaire. He, in turn, said he was nervous at the thought of singing with her. The film was not a box office or critical success. Tommy Steele's performance in particular attracted a lot of criticism, being described as "manic" and "irritating".

Petula Clark started acting and singing as a child. Her career started on BBC radio during World War 2. In the 1950s she was building an international singing career, especially in France, where her records were very popular. She had also made several films including the popular "Huggetts" series. By the time Finian's Rainbow came along she was a global singing star with hits such as "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway".

Answer: Moulin Rouge

Starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor "Moulin Rouge" is set in the Montmartre area of Paris and centres around the famous nightclub. At the centre of the story is a love triangle that is eventually resolved by tragedy. Rather than use music from the era the Director, Baz Luhrmann, used more modern, well known songs. "Nature Boy", "Children of the Revolution" and "Lady Marmalade" being just some of them.

The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, making it the first musical film to be nominated for ten years.

It also had six Golden Globe nominations.