The Last Emperor Trivia Quiz

Answer: He tries to commit suicide.

Pu Yi locks himself up in a restroom and slits his wrists. He is rescued by the governor of the detention centre. The movie then flashes back to Peking in 1908, when Pu Yi was brought to the Forbidden City to be crowned emperor of China, aged only three.

Answer: He has to drink a bowl of ink.

Outside the walls of the Forbidden City Chinese society has changed profoundly. The empire has collapsed and is replaced by a republic. Pu Yi is kept totally unaware of this until his brother spills the beans. Inside the Forbidden City an elaborate charade is played every day, to pretend as if China is still ruled by an emperor.

Answer: Wear spectacles

Poor Pu Yi is kept a virtual prisoner inside the Forbidden City. Even when his mother dies he is not allowed to see her. In a desperate attempt to see more of the outside world Pu Yi climbs the roofs of the city, slips and falls. His tutor Mr Johnston climbs onto the roof to help him.

It is there Johnston becomes aware that Pu Yi has a problem with his eyesight. An eye-doctor is brought to the Forbidden City who advises Pu Yi to wear spectacles, if not he could become blind. Even then the wives of the former emperors don't allow him to wear spectacles. Mr Johnston threatens to resign if Pu Yi doesn't get spectacles.

He also threatens to reveal the corruption of the Lord Chamberlain in the Chinese newspapers. All of a sudden Pu Yi is allowed to wear spectacles.

Answer: A box containing their private parts

When Pu Yi grows older he starts to take charge. He appoints a new Lord Chamberlain and demands a detailed inventory of the storerooms. The next night the storerooms are on fire. The eunuchs are accused of having started the fire to prevent the emperor from finding out how much has been stolen. Pu Yi decides to expel all the eunuchs (over 1,000) from the Forbidden City.

When they leave they carry a box containing their 'organs'. Whatever their crime, they cannot be withheld the right to be buried as whole men.

Answer: Henry

After he's thrown out of the Forbidden City Pu Yi goes to live in Tientsin where he calls himself Henry and leads the life of a playboy. He lives and dresses as a Westerner and spends his money on Western luxury articles such as cars, pianos, watches and chewing gum.

His first wife Wan Jung calls herself Elizabeth. His secondary consort Wen Hsiu, however, feels neglected and leaves him, much to Pu Yi's chagrin.

Answer: She eats the flowers.

Wan Jung realizes Pu Yi is just a puppet of the Japanese who are the real rulers of Manchukuo (former Chinese province Manchuria). She's depressed about the situation she finds herself in and starts eating the flowers laid on the table as decoration. Pu Yi is happy about being emperor again and doesn't seem to realize he's being manipulated, or at least doesn't want to acknowledge it. Wan Jung says Mr Amakasu is the most powerful man in Manchukuo.

Then she sarcastically toasts "10,000 years to His Majesty, the emperor".

Answer: Chang, the driver

Pu Yi stopped having intimate relations with his wife because she's become an opium addict. Wan Jung becomes pregnant from 'a Manchurian' to have an heir for Pu Yi. Mr Amakasu reveals that the father is Chang, the driver. The Japanese shoot Chang and kill the infant minutes after it is born. Wan Jung is driven off to a clinic.

When Pu Yi runs after the ambulance that is taking Wan Jung away the gates close and Pu Yi is not allowed to leave. He now realizes he's once again a prisoner in a gilded cage.

Answer: Water tap

A toothpaste prisoner needs to be squeezed now and then or else he forgets to keep confessing. A water tap prisoner needs one good, hard twist before he starts and then everything comes pouring out.

In prison Pu Yi has to write down his life story and confess his crimes. He's accused of being a traitor, a collaborator and a counter-revolutionary. He is separated from his brother and put on a schedule of serving lunch, cleaning the toilets and sweeping the floor, rather humiliating tasks for a former emperor. After serving 10 years in prison Pu Yi is considered 'remoulded through labour and ideological education' and released.

Answer: The governor of the detention centre

The former governor is publicly humiliated and paraded on the streets wearing a pointy hat. When Pu Yi sees him in the parade he sticks up for him, saying he's a good teacher and a good man. To no avail, red guards brutally push Pu Yi aside.

Answer: Gardener

Pu Yi started his life as the emperor of China and ended it as a humble gardener. Talk about a downward career path. Shortly before he dies Pu Yi buys a ticket to visit the Forbidden City as a tourist. There he sits on his former throne one more time.

When the son of an employee says he's not allowed to sit there Pu Yi tells him he used to be the Emperor of China. The little boy doesn't seem to believe him.