"Toga! Toga!" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Animal House

Who can forget this movie? The movie focuses on a fraternity, Delta Tau Chi, at a small liberal arts college and their battles against their enemy frat, Omega Theta Pi, and the college dean, Vernon Wormer. As soon as Dean Wormer tells the men of Delta Tau Chi that they are on "double secret probation", they decide that there is only one thing they can do - throw a toga party! The film sparked an outbreak of toga parties at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Here's a bit of extra trivia for you - the girl John Belushi (Bluto) is dancing with at the toga party was his wife in real life.

Answer: Marlon Brando

"Julius Caesar" won Brando his third of four consecutive Academy Award Best Actor nominations; he would win the following year for "On the Waterfront". The film was also nominated for Best Picture. Charlton Heston would reprise his role as Mark Antony in a 1970 version of "Julius Caesar." All in all, Brando would receive seven Best Actor nominations, winning for "On the Waterfront" in 1954, and "The Godfather" in 1972.

He also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for "A Dry White Season" in 1979.

Answer: Cleopatra

Originally allotted a budget of $2 million, this movie ended up costing $44 million; adjusted for inflation, it still ranks as one of the 20 most expensive films of all time. It follows the life of Cleopatra VII, the last Pharaoh of Egypt. Cleopatra was played by Elizabeth Taylor, and her lover, Mark Antony, by Richard Burton. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, although both were married at the time to other people, fell in love on the set, and began their legendary relationship. Taylor was paid a cool $1 million for her services. "Caesar and Cleopatra", a 1945 movie starring Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh, was based on George Bernard Shaw's play, not Shakespeare's.

Answer: Quo Vadis

Set in Rome during the reign of the emperor Nero, this movie has something for everyone: handsome leading man; beautiful leading lady; wicked and degenerate Romans; orgies; Christians being thrown to the lions, and even a happy ending. "Quo Vadis" tells the story of a Roman general, Marcus Vinicius, played by Robert Taylor, who falls in love with a Christian girl, Lydia, played by Deborah Kerr. Nero burns Rome, and then blames the Christians for the fire. Lydia is sentenced to die in the arena, but is saved by her faithful slave, Ursus.

While it was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it failed to win any. Leo Genn and Peter Ustinov are usually singled out for their superb performances in this film, but my vote goes to Patricia Laffan, who played Poppaea, Nero's beautiful and deliciously evil wife, who liked to walk around with her pet leopards on a leash.

Answer: Charlton Heston

This movie had a superb cast, all of whom delivered memorable performances. It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, and won 11 a record that wasn't tied until "Titanic" (1997) and "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003). Charlton Heston was not the first choice for the title role; Burt Lancaster, Paul Newman and Marlon Brando were all offered the part, but turned it down.

Heston won the Academy Award for Best Actor for "Ben-Hur". He also starred in a number of other memorable films, such as "The Ten Commandments" and "Planet of the Apes". Charlton Heston was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003, and died in 2008.

Answer: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

The movie and the play are based on the comedies of the Roman playwright Plautus. It is notable as the last film appearance of the great comedian, Buster Keaton. The plot centers around the efforts of the slave, Pseudolus, to gain his freedom. It has lots of broad, bawdy, slapstick humor and some very pretty girls, including a brief appearance by the legendary Ingrid Pitt.

Answer: Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert's family came to the United States when she was three years old. She began her acting career as a stage actress, but in 1928 signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. One of her first starring roles was in "The Sign of the Cross", in which she played Poppaea, the wife of the emperor Nero.

A famous scene shows her bathing in what was supposed to be asses' milk. Actually, it was powdered milk, and it quickly soured under the hot studio lights, and smelled terrible. In 1934, she played Cleopatra opposite Warren William as Julius Caesar, and Henry Wilcoxon as Mark Antony. Today she is probably best remembered for her Academy Award winning performance in "It Happened One Night" opposite Clark Gable.

She would receive two more nominations for Best Actress for her film career, and win a Tony Award for her work on Broadway. Before she died in 1996 at age 92, Colbert had appeared in over 60 films, 19 Broadway plays, and numerous television productions.

Answer: Gladiator

"Gladiator" begins with the dying emperor, Marcus Aurelius, deciding to leave the Empire to his general, Maximus Decimus Meridius, instead of his son, Commodus. Commodus kills his father, and seizes power, then orders Maximus and his family killed. Maximus escapes death, but is sold into slavery and eventually becomes a gladiator, and gets his revenge by killing Commodus in the arena.

Although many of the characters in the movie are based upon real people, the events are pure fiction. Sadly, "Gladiator" was the final screen appearance of the great actor, Oliver Reed, who died during filming.

The movie was dedicated to his memory. In addition to Best Picture, "Gladiator" won Academy Awards for Best Actor, Visual Effects, Costume Design, and Sound.

Answer: The Robe

The film focuses on a Roman military tribune who commands the troops that crucify Jesus. Marcellus Gallio (played by Burton) eventually becomes a Christian, in part, because of Christ's robe, which he won in a dice game. Thirty-five year old Richard Boone (of "Have Gun Will Travel" fame) plays Pontius Pilate. This movie doesn't have a lot of "happy" parts (including the ending) but it endures nonetheless.

Answer: Life of Brian

"Life of Brian," also known as "Monty Python's Life of Brian", tells the story of Brian Cohen, who is mistaken for the Messiah in ancient Judea. He joins the People's Front of Judea, is captured by the Romans, and crucified. It was written by the famous comedy group, and directed by one of its members, Terry Jones. Very controversial, at the time of its release it was given an X rating in the UK, and totally banned in Ireland and Norway.

It also sparked widespread demonstrations in the United States. Members of Monty Python gave numerous interviews saying that the movie was not intended to be blasphemous, but rather a satire of organized religion.

Despite the controversy, the film was very successful at the box office, and today is considered one of the best comedies of all time.