Hymns Sung in Oscar Nominated Hollywood Films - #2 Quiz

Answer: Unassuming housewife in England during WWII

'Mrs. Miniver' is based on the life of a housewife in rural England during the Second World War. The film was released in 1942, three years after the start of the global conflict. 'Mrs. Miniver' was directed by William Wyler and starred Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon.

"Based on the 1940 novel 'Mrs. Miniver' by Jan Struther, the film shows how the life of an unassuming British housewife in rural England is touched by World War II," Wikipedia states. "She sees her eldest son go to war, finds herself confronting a German pilot who has parachuted into her idyllic village while her husband is participating in the Dunkirk evacuation, and loses her daughter-in-law as a casualty."

'Mrs. Miniver' won six Academy Awards in 1943 including Best Picture while Greer Garson won for Best Actress and Teresa Wright for Best Supporting Actress.

'Children of the Heavenly King' was written by John Cennick in 1742. The hymn was sung twice in 'Mrs. Miniver' -- at the beginning and end.

Cennick was born De­cem­ber 12, 1718, in Read­ing, Eng­land, and served as an itin­er­ant evan­gel­ist. He was associated with John and Charles Wesley, the founders of the Methodist movement in England.

Here are the words to 'Children of the Heavenly King':

"Children of the heavenly King,
As ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Savior's worthy praise,
Glorious in His works and ways

We are traveling home to God,
In the way the fathers trod;
They are happy now, and we
Soon their happiness shall see.

O, ye banished seed, be glad!
Christ our Advocate is made;
Us to save, our flesh assumes-
Brother to our souls becomes.

Shout, ye little flock, and blest,
You on Jesus' throne shall rest:
There your seat is now prepared-
There your kingdom and reward.

Lift your eyes, ye sons of light,
Zion's city is in sight:
There our endless home shall be,
There our Lord we soon shall see.

Fear not, brethren; joyful stand
On the borders of your land;
Jesus Christ, your Father's Son,
Bids you undismayed go on.

Lord, obedient we would go,
Gladly leaving all below;
Only Thou our Leader be;
And we will still follow Thee."

Answer: 1940

The correct answer is 1940, the same year Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as prime minister of Great Britain and more than 335,000 British troops were evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. The 1940 Summer Olympics, originally scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan, were cancelled due to the outbreak of the Second World War.

'Our Town' is an adaptation of a play of the same name by Thornton Wilder. In addition to starring Martha Scott as Emily Webb and William Holden as George Gibbs, the cast also included Fay Bainter, Beulah Bondi, Thomas Mitchell, Guy Kibbee and Frank Craven.

The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including best picture. However, the film was up against tough competition and failed to win an Oscar. Some of the Oscar winning films in 1940 were 'The Philadelphia Story', 'Rebecca' and 'The Grapes of Wrath'. The year also included the premieres of the Walt Disney classics 'Pinocchio' and 'Fantasia'.

'Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid?' is a translation of a Greek hymn that is believed to go back to the Eighth Century. It was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1862.

Here are the words to 'Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid?'

"Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distressed?
'Come to Me,' saith One, 'and coming,
Be at rest.'

Hath He marks to lead me to Him,
If He be my Guide?
In His feet and hands are wound prints
And His side.

Hath He diadem, as monarch,
That His brow adorns?
Yes, a crown in very surety,
But of thorns.

If I find Him, if I follow,
What His guerdon here?
Many a sorrow, many a labor,
Many a tear.

If I still hold closely to Him,
What hath He at last?
Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordan passed.

If I ask Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
Not till earth and not till Heaven
Pass away.

Finding, following, keeping, struggling,
Is He sure to bless?
Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs,
Answer, 'Yes'!"

Answer: Places in the Heart

'Places in the Heart' was written and directed by Robert Benton and is about a widow in Texas during the Depression who wages an uphill battle to save the family farm. Playing a key role in helping the widow are a blind white man and an impoverished black man.

Sally Field won an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of the widow. (During her career, Field received two other Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, but came away empty handed.) 'Places in the Heart' also won an Academy Award for best original screen play. It was also nominated for an Oscar in five other categories.

C. Aus­tin Miles wrote the words and composed the music for 'In the Garden' in 1912.

Miles at­tende­d the Phil­a­del­phia Coll­ege of Phar­ma­cy and the Un­i­ver­si­ty of Penn­syl­van­ia. Nethymnal.net reports in 1892 he aban­don­ed his ca­reer as a phar­ma­cist and wrote his first Gos­pel song, 'Tis Je­sus' Voice'. Miles served as ed­i­tor and man­a­ger at Hall-Mack pub­lish­ers for thirty-seven years.

Nethhymnal.net provides this quote from Miles: "It is as a writ­er of gos­pel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Mas­ter, whom I serve will­ing­ly al­though not as ef­fi­cient­ly as is my de­sire'."

Here are the words to 'In the Garden':

"I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

[Refrain]

I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

[Refrain]"

Answer: 1981

The correct answer is 1981. 'Chariots of Fire', starring Ben Cross and Ian Charleson, was one of the most popular films in the early 1980s.

"It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice," Wikipedia states.

Wikipedia goes on to state: "The film's title was inspired by the line, 'Bring me my chariot of fire,' from the William Blake poem adapted into the popular British hymn 'Jerusalem'; the hymn is heard at the end of the film. The original phrase 'chariots of fire' is from 2 Kings 2:11 and 6:17 in the Bible."

'Chariots of Fire' won four Academy Awards: For Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Costume Design and Best Original Score.

'Fight the Good Fight' was written by John S. B. Monsell. He was born March 2, 1811, at St Col­umb's, Lon­don­der­ry, Ire­land and died Ap­ril 9, 1875, at Guil­ford, Sur­rey, Eng­land. He was the son of the archdeacon of Londonderry.

Hymnary.org states Monsell died when he fell from the roof of his church while it was be­ing re­built. His eleven vol­umes of po­e­try en­com­pass al­most 300 hymns, the Website states.

Here are the words to 'Fight the Good Fight':

"Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right;
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God's good grace,
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize.

Cast care aside, upon thy Guide,
Lean, and His mercy will provide;
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its Life, and Christ its Love.

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,
He changeth not, and thou art dear.
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee."

Answer: A Welsh coal-mining family

'How Green Was My Valley' is a 1941 drama film directed by John Ford. The film, based on the 1939 Richard Llewellyn novel, was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck and scripted by Philip Dunne.

"The film tells of the Morgans, a close, hard-working Welsh mining family living in the heart of the South Wales Valleys in the 19th century," Wikipedia states. "The story chronicles the destruction of the environment in South Wales coalfields, and the loss of a way of life and its effects on the family. The fictional village in the film is based on Gilfach Goch; Llewellyn spent many summers there visiting his grandfather, and it served as the inspiration for the novel."

'How Green Was My Valley' features Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall. Wikipedia states it was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematography and Best Supporting Actor.

'Guide Me O Great Jehovah' was trans­lat­ed from Welsh to Eng­lish by Peter Williams in 1771.

It was sung in Eng­lish at the fun­er­al of Di­a­na, Prin­cess of Wales, in 1997.

Here are the words to 'Guide Me O Great Jehovah':

"Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
[or Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer...]
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

Lord, I trust Thy mighty power,
Wondrous are Thy works of old;
Thou deliver'st Thine from thralldom,
Who for naught themselves had sold:
Thou didst conquer, Thou didst conquer,
Sin, and Satan and the grave,
Sin, and Satan and the grave.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

Musing on my habitation,
Musing on my heav'nly home,
Fills my soul with holy longings:
Come, my Jesus, quickly come;
Vanity is all I see;
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Lord, I long to be with Thee!"

Answer: 1985

'The Trip to Bountiful' starring Geraldine Page who won an Oscar for Best Actress, was released in 1985. The movie was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The movie was adapted by Horton Foote from his television play of the same name.

Nethymnal provides this quote from Robert Lowry about the writing of the hymn 'Shall We Gather at the River': "One af­ter­noon in Ju­ly, 1864, when I was pas­tor at Han­son Place Bap­tist Church, Brook­lyn, the wea­ther was op­press­ive­ly hot, and I was ly­ing on a lounge in a state of phys­ic­al ex­haust­ion. My imag­in­a­tion be­gan to take it­self wings. Vi­sions of the fu­ture passed be­fore me with start­ling vi­vid­ness. The im­ag­ery of the apoc­a­lypse took the form of a ta­bleau. Bright­est of all were the throne, the heav­en­ly ri­ver, and the ga­ther­ing of the saints... I be­gan to won­der why the hymn writ­ers had said so much about the 'riv­er of death' and so lit­tle about the 'pure wa­ter of life, clear as crys­tal, pro­ceed­ing out of the throne of God and the Lamb'. As I mused, the words be­gan to con­struct them­selves. They came first as a quest­ion of Christ­ian in­quiry, 'Shall we ga­ther?' Then they broke in chor­us, 'Yes, we'll ga­ther.' On this quest­ion and an­swer the hymn de­vel­oped it­self. The mu­sic came with the hymn."

Here are the words to 'Shall We Gather At the River':

"Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain:
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.

[Refrain]

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

[Refrain]

At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Savior's face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.

[Refrain]

Soon we'll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Texas

'The Trip to Bountiful' was adapted by Horton Foote from his television play of the same name. Bountiful was a fictitious town in Texas.

"Although set in Houston, Texas (as was the original play), the movie was filmed by director Peter Masterson in Dallas," Wikipedia states.

Incidentally, there are two communities called Bountiful, according to Wikipedia. One community is in Utah and the other is in British Columbia.

'The Trip to Bountiful' starred Geraldine Page who won an Oscar for Best Actress. The movie was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Meanwhile, the hymn 'Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling' was written by Will L. Thomp­son in 1880.

Nethymnal.org provides this information about the famous hymn: "When the world-re­nowned lay preach­er, Dwight Ly­man Moody, lay on his death bed in his North­field, Mass­a­chu­setts, home, Will Thomp­son made a spe­cial vi­sit to in­quire as to his con­di­tion. The at­tend­ing phy­si­cian re­fused to ad­mit him to the sick­room, and Moody heard them talk­ing just out­side the bed­room door. Re­cog­niz­ing Thomp­son's voice, he called for him to come to his bed­side. Tak­ing the Ohio po­et-com­pos­er by the hand, the dy­ing evan­gel­ist said, 'Will, I would ra­ther have writ­ten 'Soft­ly and Ten­der­ly Je­sus is Call­ing' than an­y­thing I have been able to do in my whole life."

Here are the words to 'Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling':

"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain:
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

[Refrain]

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

[Refrain]

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Gary Cooper

'Sergeant York' was released in 1941 and is a biographical film about Alvin York, described by Wikipedia as "one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War I."

Wikipedia goes on to state: "York refused, several times, to authorize a film version of his life story, but finally yielded to persistent efforts in order to finance the creation of an interdenominational Bible school. The story that York insisted on Gary Cooper for the title role derives from the fact that producer Jesse L. Lasky recruited Cooper by writing a plea that he accept the role and then signed York's name to the telegram."

Cooper went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of York. The movie also won an Academy Award for best film editing. It was nominated in nine other categories, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (Walter Brennan).

The hymn 'Old Time Religion' was adapt­ed from an Af­ri­can-Amer­i­can spir­it­u­al by Charles D. Till­man, who first heard it at an 1889 camp meet­ing in Lex­ing­ton, South Car­o­li­na.

"Refrain:
'Tis the old time religion,
[or Give me that old time religion]
'Tis the old time religion,
'Tis the old time religion,
And it's good enough for me.

It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
It was good for our mothers.
And it's good enough for me.

[Refrain]

Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
Makes me love everybody.
And it's good enough for me.

[Refrain]

It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
It has saved our fathers.
And it's good enough for me.

[Refrain]

It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
It will do when I am dying.
And it's good enough for me.

[Refrain]

It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
It will take us all to heaven.
And it's good enough for me.

[Refrain]"

Answer: San Francisco

The correct answer is 'San Francisco', a West Coast city that was the scene of a disastrous earthquake in 1906.

'San Francisco' is a 1936 musical-drama directed by Woody Van Dyke, based on the earthquake that destroyed about 80 per cent of the city and killed 3,000 people. The film stars Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy

'San Francisco' was nominated for six Academy Awards and won for Best Sound Recording'.

'Nearer, My God, to Thee' was written by Sarah Flower Adams in 1841. Adams was born at Harlow, Essex, Great Britain on February 22, 1805 and died in London on August 14, 1848.

Here are the words to 'Nearer, My God, to Thee':

"Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to Thee.

[Refrain]

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

[Refrain]

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

[Refrain]

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

[Refrain]

There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Blessed Assurance

'Blessed Assurance' is the correct answer. For the record, the three other hymns were not written by Crosby. 'Amazing Grace' was written by John Newton, 'Victory in Jesus' was written by Eugene Monroe Bartlett and 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' by Sar­ah F. Adams. (Harriet Beecher Stowe is credited with writing the fifth verse of 'Amazing Grace' while William Johnson Fox is credited with writing the sixth verse of 'Nearer, My God, to Thee'.)

'Blessed Assurance' was sung in 'Places in the Heart' in 1984 and in 'The Trip to Bountiful' in 1985.

Fanny Crosby, although blind, wrote more than 8,000 hymns and was the undisputed queen of the hymn writers.

It never ceases to amaze me how entrenched Crosby's 'Blessed Assurance' has become in today's world.

For example, Funtrivia player and quiz writer Darksplash tells me the hymn has been adapted by his favorite team, Heart of Midlothian Football Club in Great Britain.

"We sing the refrain as, 'This is my story, this is my song/ Follow the Hearts, and you won't go wrong'," Darksplash says. "I have to force myself to use the 'correct' words when we sing the hymn in church."

Here are the words to 'Blessed Assurance':

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

[Refrain]

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

[Refrain]"