U.K Golden Oldies (Film) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Whistle Down the Wind

This 1961 lyrical film is set in the north of England in a more innocent age. Some young children find a wanted murderer hiding in a barn and ask him who he is. The criminal, realising he's been spotted, emits an expletive, "Jesus Christ". The children take this literally and from then on go to great lengths to look after and protect him.

The idea sounds incredible in the modern age, but actually it's a beautifully directed, acted and most affecting film which is worth viewing even today.

Answer: The Man in the White Suit

In this Ealing studios comedy film Alec Guinness plays Sydney Stratton, a chemist who invents an indestructible suit that never gets dirty. It's white because the material won't take dye. Unions and mill owners alike are fearful of the consequences and all does not go smoothly for Sydney. At the end of the film there's a surprise for all parties.

Answer: Kind Hearts and Coronets

In an amazing tour de force, Alec Guinness plays all eight D'Ascoynes, both male and female, and Dennis Price is at his best as the scheming, witty, sardonic and seemingly heartless Mazzini. There's also a nice twist at the end.

Answer: Far from the Madding Crowd

Schlesinger directed some wonderful films, among them "Marathon Man", "A Kind of Loving", and "Midnight Cowboy". "Far from the Madding Crowd" was based on a book by Thomas Hardy and also starred Alan Bates, Peter Finch and Terence Stamp. Hardy's eccentric rural characters are wonderfully realised in this film and the music is brilliantly evocative.

Answer: Ken Loach

Ken Loach's films often portray working class people dealing with the problems that face them in their lives. He was also responsible for many influential British TV programmes such as "Cathy Come Home" and the 1964 police series "Z-Cars".

Answer: A music theme

The music theme in "Twisted Nerve" by Bernard Herrmann was also used in "Kill Bill Vol I" in the scene when Nurse Elle was on her way to murder Beatrix Kiddo with a syringe, while Kiddo was in a coma. "Twisted Nerve" is also the film title of a psychological thriller starring Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett.

It includes the "Twisted Nerve" theme which is whistled by Hywel Bennett as he stalks Hayley Mills. The same whistled theme appears in a Honda car advert and if you hear it on your computer, apparently it means you have been hacked by "Miss Filly".

Answer: Ian Carmichael

Ian Carmichael was a versatile and perhaps underrated comedic actor who often played an upright innocent in he midst of more cunning, ruthless and devious characters. In "Lucky Jim" he played Jim Dixon, a college lecturer not in tune with the expectations of his seniors.

In "Private's Progress" he plays student Stanley Windrush, called up into the army. He again plays Stanley Windrush in "I'm All Right Jack", a naive upper class man given an unskilled job in his uncle's factory.

Answer: Norman Wisdom

Norman Wisdom grew up in a care home. His best known character, Norman Pitkin, was a good hearted "underdog" character who frequently but unintentionally got himself into funny scrapes while working for his boss, Mr Grimsdale. He gained worldwide fame in many countries including Eastern Bloc countries.

His were the only Western films allowed to be shown in Albania under dictator Enver Hoxha.

Answer: Albert Finney

Albert Finney, an actor from the North of England, often played gritty working class rebel characters in film, but his first success came in the theatre in plays by Shakespeare.

Answer: Judi Dench and Helen Mirren

Judi Dench and Helen Mirren both won Oscars for playing Queens; Judi Dench for Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love" and Helen Mirren for Elizabeth II in "The Queen". Their careers started out in theatre where they were acclaimed for Shakespearean roles and they came into the film industry later in their lives. Both were granted the title "Dame" by Queen Elizabeth II for their acting achievements.