Legendary Film Directors Trivia Quiz

Answer: Swimming to Cambodia

Brian de Palma was born in New Jersey, USA. He studied physics at Columbia University in New York. While there he began making short films. His big break came with the making of the film "Carrie" (1976) which was based on the novel by Stephen King.
"Swimming to Cambodia" (1987), was directed by Jonathan Demme. It consisted of an hour and a half of monologue about the making of the film "The Killing Fields" (1984) and what was taking place in the country of Cambodia at the time that the film was being made.

Answer: George Cukor

George Cukor was born in New York City in 1899. He made training and propaganda films for the US Army during World War II. He directed stars such as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, and Audrey and Katherine Hepburn. He won an Oscar for the movie "My Fair Lady". He was also fired from both "Gone With the Wind" (1939) and "The Wizard of Oz" (1939).

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was born in London, England in 1899. He was best known for his psychological thrillers, and for his use of perspective and shadow. For example, in the movie "The Birds" (1963) much of the film seems to be shot from a bird's eye view. He directed over 50 films. His first American film, "Rebecca" (1940), won the academy award for best picture in 1940. He received the American Film Industry Life Achievement Award in 1979.

Answer: Akira Kurosawa

Akiro Kurosawa was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1910. He trained as a painter and made story boards for his films. He entered the film industry in 1936. His film "Seven Samurai" , was remade in America as the "Magnificent Seven" in 1960 . His film "Yojimbo" (1961 in Japan) was remade as "A Fistful of Dollars" in 1964.

Answer: Ingmar Bergman

Ingmar Bergman was born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1918. His father was a Lutheran minister and his mother was a nurse.
"Scenes From a Marriage" was a mini series in Sweden before a pared down script became a movie in 1974. His films usually have a gloomy atmosphere and show the gloomier or dark side of life.
The rock band, Van Halen", paid tribute to him in the song, "The Seventh Seal", which appeared on the album, "Balance" .

Answer: John Ford

John Ford was the 10th of 11 children. His father was a saloon keeper and alderman. Although known for his Westerns, he was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine in the USA.
Many of his movies starred John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, and Maureen O'Hara.
He was the first recipient of the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award in 1973.

Answer: Frederico Fellini

Federico Fellini was born in Rimini, Italy in 1920. Much of his film imagery contained dream sequences, fantasy, and autobiographical memories. Often his films had a disjointed feel about them. This has led to the creation of the term "felliniesque" to describe pictures of the same kind.

Answer: Fritz Lang

Fritz Lang was born in Vienna, Austria in 1890. His films depicted the struggles of the average man. His movie "Metropolis" set the stage for future science fiction movies that showed a future of great progress but at the expense of individuality and personal freedom.
He emigrated to America in 1935. While in America, he directed such films as "Ranchos Notorious" (1952) and "Fury" (1936). The latter starred Spencer Tracy and showed a frightening glimpse into mob violence.

Answer: Cecil B. DeMille

Cecil B. DeMille was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts in 1881. He was known for his large scale productions of biblical epics. He started his career on Broadway but later entered the film industry. Always an innovator; he took advantage of the newer technology and remade earlier films.
His film "The Greatest Show on Earth" won the academy award for best picture in 1953.

Answer: Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola was born in Detroit, Michigan I 1939. As a boy, he suffered from polio. He attended Hofstra University in New York and UCLA in California. While attending Hofstra he met James Caan whom he would later cast as Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather" (1972).
The release of " The Godfather" was followed by "The Godfather Part II" (1980) and "The Godfather Part III" (1990).