Summer of Darkness Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bogie and Bacall

This film, very loosely based on an Ernest Hemingway novel, was the first pairing of stars Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and was her film debut. And what a splash she made, both with audiences and Bogart. He was twice her age and married, but that didn't stand in their way.

They married, and spent the rest of his life together. They made several other films together. You may have read that a young Andy Williams dubbed Bacall's singing voice, but that isn't true - Bacall did her own singing.

Answer: Out of the Past

A former criminal, Mitchum, has started a new life in a small town, but his former boss, Douglas, just won't let him be. Mitchum is summoned by Douglas and during the drive to Tahoe, Mitchum reveals his past, in flashbacks, to his new girlfriend. A well-constructed but complicated plot follows. Can Mitchum's character ever return to his quiet life, after all the corruption and double crosses? It's great watching to find out.

Answer: Philip Marlowe

Philip Marlowe's first appearance was in 1939 in the short story "The Big Sleep" in a pulp magazine - the start of a brilliant career for Raymond Chandler. Marlowe's humble beginning later became a full length novel. The popular character appeared in many books and magazine stories, as well as many movies.

He was the subject of a TV series, "Philip Marlowe, Private Eye", starring Powers Booth. In movies, Marlowe was also portrayed by actors Dick Powell and James Garner, among others.

Answer: Key Largo

"Key Largo" was directed by noted director John Huston, who often worked with Humphrey Bogart. The film was based on a Maxwell Anderson play, and marked the fourth and last time Bogart and Bacall worked together. Robinson and Bogart had been in four previous films together, and again Robinson got top billing, although the film clearly belonged to Bogart. Claire Trevor played the girlfriend of Robinson's character, and won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance. You could feel her humiliation when she was made to sing a song for a drink.

Answer: The Lady from Shanghai

For this film, Orson Welles had his wife, Rita Hayworth, cut her signature long, sexy, wavy red hair and bleached it blonde. He did her no favors in doing that. She lost her "specialness". Thank goodness she didn't leave it that way. It isn't one of Welles best films, but it has a great culminating scene involving a maze of mirrors, at the end of which the real murderer is revealed.

It's worth watching just to get to that scene.

Answer: The Bribe

This film is not as well-known as some others in this quiz, but it has great elements - stars, setting, intrigue. I don't know where it fell short. Vincent Price is a fascinating character, as usual, as is John Hodiak. In spite of poor reviews, I find the film is top film noir watching, another instance of "don't pay attention to the critics".

Answer: Robert Ryan

If you like a bloody boxing match and a fighter who won't 'lay down', although repeatedly advised to do so during the fight, you'll love this film and Robert Ryan's touching performance. He portrays a man who won't abandon his morals, in spite of threats of bodily harm; a true hero.

It is just a little movie with not much plot, but the searing performance by the great actor Robert Ryan makes this a memorable film.

Answer: The Big Sleep

I cannot begin to tell the plot of this movie, yet it is fun to watch. And as I said, who cares about the plot? After its completion, it was put on the shelf, bowing to movies about WWII. Its release in 1946 saw many changes, many playing on the chemistry between Bogie and Bacall, like the 'racehorse' double entendre between the two.

Answer: D.O.A.

I won't reveal the ending, but this is a well-done favorite, and so good that you can watch it over and over. Great acting by the star and other character actors, such as the wonderful Neville Brand, who is always an outstanding and vicious 'bad-guy'.

Answer: Lawrence Tierney

Lawrence Tierney was outstanding in "Born to Kill" (1947), as were the terrific character actors Elisha Cook, Jr, and Claire Trevor. It is a true film noir, little known, but one of the best. A man commits a crime in Reno, then takes the train to San Francisco; he meets a wealthy woman, and jealousy and murders follow. Tierney was undoubtedly a rough character in his personal life, but still, his performances are valued.