The Tales of Hoffman Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mrs. Robinson

"The Graduate" shows us Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock. After graduation, Benjamin has not yet decided about his future. Mrs. Robinson is one of the guests at the graduation party, and she decides to try and seduce Benjamin Braddock.
The soundtrack for the movie was composed and sung by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, and included one of their greatest hits, "Mrs. Robinson".
"Mrs. Officer" is a song by Lil Wayne.
The group Kings of Convenience sang "Mrs. Cold".
"Ms. Jackson" finally is a song by the hip hop duo OutKast.

Answer: Arthur Penn

One of the key scenes in "Little Big Man" is of course the Battle at Little Big Horn (also known as Custer's Last Stand). Don't expect this scene to be historically accurate, for the native American survivors told different stories, and General Custer's troops were wiped out.
The character played by Dustin Hoffman, would have scouted the battlefield and surroundings for General Custer. But (according to the movie) Custer didn't believe a word Jack Crabb said, even when Jack warned the general about being far outnumbered.
Arthur Penn (1922-2010) was the director we're looking for. He started his career directing several TV series, including "The Gulf Playhouse", "Goodyear Television Playhouse" and "The Philco Playhouse". In fact this was one single series of televised theatre plays, named after the main sponsor for the season.
Penn's movie career includes "The Miracle Worker" (a biopic on the deaf and blind Helen Keller), "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Alice's Restaurant", all of which gained him a nomination for the Oscar as Best Director.
Dustin Hoffman never starred in any of the movies by the other directors mentioned here.

Answer: Carl Bernstein

"All the President's Men" tells how journalists Bob Woodward (played by Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein unravel a major scandal. Woodward has written an article on five people breaking and entering the office building where the Democratic Party has established their general headquarters. Woodward and Bernstein write some articles in the follow-up, and gradually they discover involvement of high placed Republican Party members - up to the White House.
Pulitzer (1847-1911) was a newspaper journalist, and is best known for the eponymous Prize for journalism.
Hearst (1863-1951) was a newspaper publisher, owner of a large chain of newspapers. He has inspired Orson Welles for the character of "Citizen Kane".
Joseph Heller (1923-1999) was a novelist, famous for his debut "Catch 22".

Answer: Laurence Olivier

Sir Laurence Olivier is the only British actor mentioned here. He played in about sixty movies, not including TV movies and TV series, and also in numerous theatre plays.
Steve McQueen played the title role in "Papillon", with Dustin Hoffman as his sidekick.
Jon Voight played opposite Dustin Hoffman in "Midnight Cowboy".
Michael Tolan had the role of James in the movie "John and Mary", where Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow played the title roles.

Answer: Meryl Streep

"Kramer vs. Kramer" concentrates on Ted Kramer and his son Billy (played by Justin Henry). Ted is a workaholic, and his wife Joanna has left the house and filed for divorce. Now Ted has to cope with the daily upbringing of his young son, as well as with the strain of divorce proceedings centred on the custody issue.
As there are in fact no leading roles for any of the actresses, Meryl Streep was considered to be only a supporting actress. That's why her first Oscar is the one for Best Supporting Actress, and not for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Streep started her movie career with a supporting role in "The Deer Hunter" (1978), which gained her a first Oscar nomination - one of many, for Streep is the first actress with more than twelve Oscar nominations. When she won her third Oscar in 2012 for "The Iron Lady", she had assembled no less than 17 Oscar nominations.
Susan George played Dustin Hoffman's wife in "Straw Dogs", a movie in which an American couple moves to the British countryside but doesn't blend in.
Sylvia Miles played a short part in "Midnight Cowboy", where Dustin Hoffman acts as an Italian pimp for a Texan would-be gigolo (played by Jon Voight).
Katharine Ross plays Elaine Robinson in "The Graduate". Dustin Hoffman's character (Ben Braddock) falls in love with Elaine after having been seduced by her mother.

Answer: Dorothy Michaels

At the beginning of the movie, we meet Michael Dorsey (played by Dustin Hoffman), an actor who has just lost his job. When he gets news that a TV station is still looking for someone to play a major part in a hospital series, Michael gambles and presents himself as Dorothy Michaels on the auditions.
Dorothy Michaels gets the job and becomes the biggest star in the TV series. Michael (playing Dorothy) meanwhile falls in love with one of his/her colleagues, Julie Nichols (a role of Jessica Lange).
When Dustin Hoffman plays Dorothy Michaels, he really behaves as a woman - something most cross dressing actors don't achieve.
Dorothy Lamour (1914-1996) was a real actress, best known for her movies with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was an American author, most famous for her novel "A Star Is Born".
Dorothy Perkins is the brand name of a British fashion company founded in 1909.

Answer: Rain Man

"Rain Man" premiered in 1988. The movie starts when Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise) finds out that his deceased father has left Charlie a car and a bed of roses, whilst the rest of the three million inheritance goes to a trust fund. Charlie inquires and finds out the trust fund has been set up for his elder brother Raymond, an autistic needing care. Charlie then fetches his brother in a scheme to get hold of the entire inheritance.

Answer: Robin Williams

"Hook" hit the theatres in 1991. The story involves Peter Banning, a corporate lawyer who once was Peter Pan. When Captain Hook kidnaps Peter's children, Banning reverts to his previous personality and goes after Captain Hook for the final showdown.
Robin Williams played Peter Banning, while Julia Roberts impersonated the fairy Tinkerbell.
Robin Williams started his career with some TV series, of which the most important is "Mork and Mindy". His movie career before "Hook" includes "The World According to Garp", "Good Morning Vietnam" and "Dead Poets Society".
Erroll Flynn (1909-1959) and Cary Grant (1904-1986) were already deceased when the movie "Hook" was shot. Peter Ustinov (1921-2004) never worked with Dustin Hoffman.

Answer: Albania

In this movie Dustin Hoffman plays the TV producer Stanley Motts, who will stage a fake invasion. Albania is a European country about which the average American has not much information, so it would do fine as a fake belligerent. After all, Albania was counted as a satellite of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Michael Belson is credited with the supporting role of the President.
Togo is situated in Africa, Mongolia in Asia, and Bolivia in South-America. So they clearly are no European countries.

Answer: Master Shifu

"Kung Fu Panda" is about a giant panda (voiced by Jack Black) who wants to learn martial arts. Although he's quite gluttonous, he turns out to be saviour of the valley.
Master Shifu is the red panda or raccoon who trained the Furious Five, allegedly the five best kung fu fighters in the country. Dustin Hoffman voiced Master Shifu.
Master Tigress (voiced by Angelina Jolie) and Master Viper (voiced by Lucy Liu) are two of the Furious Five. The other are male voices: Master Monkey (Jackie Chan), Master Mantis (Seth Rogen) and Master Crane (David Cross).
The Soothsayer is a Cashmere goat, only appearing in the second movie ("Kung Fu Panda 2", not quite the most original title for a sequel). Her words are voiced by Michelle Yeoh.