The Insider Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lowell Bergman had a sack over his head during the interview.

The opening scene set the rather dark mood that permeated most of the movie. Lowell Bergman, with a sack over his head, was taken to a heavily guarded and secretive area to conduct his interview with the sheikh. The next scene showed some of the sheikh's interview with Mike Wallace, during which his organization's possible terrorist activities were discussed.

Answer: He had poor communication skills.

Wigand's exit interview ended up being very volatile. His boss, Thomas Sandefur, cited "poor communication skills" as the reason for his dismissal. During the dismissal, Sanderfur reminded (and in essence threatened) Wigand of his confidentiality agreement with the company.

Answer: Mississippi

Ironically, Mississippi was one of the leading states for lawsuits brought against the tobacco industry. During Wigand's deposition he stated that nicotine and cigarettes were addictive and that the tobacco companies were aware of the addictive properties.

Answer: The Seven Dwarves

Wigand told Lowell Bergman about how the Seven Dwarves lied under oath about the addictive effects of cigarettes and nicotine.

Answer: One of his daughters was kidnapped.

The pressures and threats that were experienced by his family likely placed a major impact on Wigand's wife's decision to leave him. The movie seemed to imply that certain members of the FBI or police force were aiding Brown and Williamson's threats against Wigand.

Answer: High school teacher

During one of his and Bergman's meetings, after Wigand had begun teaching, Bergman commented on how it appeared that Wigand seemed to really be doing something he enjoyed. Wigand became a chemistry teacher and in 1996 he was awarded with the Teacher of the Year Award in Kentucky.

Answer: Wigand being forced to pay the IRS $26,000 in back-taxes after being subject to an audit.

Luckily for Wigand, Bergman supplied the "Wall Street Journal" with sources that helped refute the ones that were trying to discredit Wigand's reputation. The "Journal" was planning on running a feature on Wigand's lack of character but instead devoted the piece to an attack on Brown and Williamson, claiming it was "the worst kind of an organized smear campaign against a whistle-blower".

Answer: CBS was aiding Wigand in breaking his confidentiality agreement and thus CBS could be sued by Brown and Williamson.

Bergman felt that at least Mike Wallace would be on his side to push allowing Wigand's interview to be a part of the show. However, Wallace told Bergman that he had to protect his legacy and did not want to be the one responsible for allowing CBS to be sued and bought out by a tobacco giant.

After the Wall Street Journal helped clear Wigand's name, CBS aired a "60 Minutes" show that included Wigand's interview.

Answer: Correspondent for the PBS series "Frontline" and a faculty member at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley.

Knowing this, an earlier line in the movie, spoken by Christopher Plummer (as Mike Wallace), becomes more humorous. When discussing his decision to not risk CBS being sued and possibly bought out, Mike Wallace said "I don't plan to spend the end of my days wandering in the wilderness of National Public Radio."

Answer: Joan Allen - Liane Wigand

The role of Liane Wigand was played by Diane Verona. Although "The Insider" garnered seven Academy Award nominations (best picture, best director, best actor - Russell Crowe, best cinematography, best editing, best sound, best writing - screenplay based on material previously produced or published), it did not win any.