Answer: Khartoum
Charlton Heston stars as British General Charles "Chinese" Gordon, who led the Egyptian troops during the siege of Khartoum, Sudan in 1884-1885. A Muslim warlord, calling himself the "Mahdi", raised the Sudanese tribesmen to throw off Egyptian rule and re-invigorate the Islamic world. Laurence Olivier, in heavy makeup, stars as the Mahdi.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1966
Answer: Zulu
Set during the 1879 Zulu War in Southern Africa, "Zulu" details the British defense of Rorke's Drift, a hospital and supply depot. In the battle, some 150 British soldiers held off a force of some 4,000 Zulu warriors. The film stars Michael Caine, Stanley Baker, Nigel Green, and Jack Hawkins.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1964
Answer: The Long Ships
Richard Widmark stars as Rolfe, a Viking with the gift of gab who talks other Vikings into stealing a ship built for the king and going in search of a golden bell. Sidney Poitier plays the Moorish king who also wants the bell.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1963
Answer: The Counterfeit Traitor
William Holden stars as an American born Swedish oilman, who agrees to spy on the Germans after a British intelligence officer (Hugh Griffith) threatens to destroy Holden's business if he refuses. Reluctant at first, Holden meets a religious German woman (Lilli Palmer) who reminds him of the difference between right and wrong.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1962
Answer: One Hundred and One Dalmatians
One of Disney's most popular films, "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" is the tale of a litter of 17 Dalmatian puppies who, along with 82 other pups found in pet shops, are set to be made into a fur coat for fashion maven Cruella De Vil. The film features the voices of Rod Taylor and Cate Bauer.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1961
Answer: Sink the Bismarck!
"Sink the Bismarck" is a dramatization of the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck by the British Royal Navy in the spring of 1941. The film stars Kenneth Moore, Dana Wynter, and Michael Hordern.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1960
Answer: 2001: A Space Odyssey
"2001: A Space Odyssey" is a story about strange alien monoliths that seem to hold the key to human evolution and contact with alien civilizations. Two American astronauts are sent on a mission to Jupiter to make contact with one of the monoliths when a computer malfunction costs one astronaut his life, while the other makes an amazing discovery. The film stars Kier Dullea and Gary Lockwood.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1968
Answer: Pollyanna
Pollyanna (Hayley Mills) comes to stay with her Aunt Polly (Jane Wyman). Pollyanna is very cheerful, and soon her cheerfulness spreads to the entire town except for Aunt Polly, who is angry that the town is holding a bazaar. She forbids Pollyanna to go, but Pollyanna sneaks out of her second-story window and goes against her aunt's wishes.
It was based on the 1913 novel of the same name by Eleanor H. Porter. Hayley Mills won the Academy Juvenile Award, which is informally called the Juvenile Oscar.
From Quiz: Movies From the 1960s that I Like
Answer: In the Heat of the Night
Sidney Poitier and Henry Belafonte had nearly been killed by the KKK in Mississippi, leading Poitier to insist the movie be filmed in the north. The majority of the filming took place around Sparta, Illinois. A few scenes were shot in Tennessee, where Poitier slept with a gun under his pillow for protection. The movie portrays the struggles and racism a northern black detective faced when working for a Mississippi sheriff.
From Quiz: 1960's American "Neo-Noir" Films
Answer: The Apartment
Baxter feels that by making this accommodation, he is seeking favor at his worksite but in fact he is being manipulated but at this point he has gone too far to take a stand. However, Jeff D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), the big boss, promises him a promotion if he will grant him exclusive use of his apartment. Sheldrake is noted for seducing young females with promises of divorcing his wife. Baxter has had a crush on Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), an elevator operator in the office building, but is crushed to find that she is the latest Sheldrake conquest. He is further highly disturbed when returning home he finds Fran in his bed from a drug overdose in a suicide attempt.
Fred MacMurray leaned toward good guy roles in films but he makes a sleazy heel in this one.
"The Apartment" had ten Oscar nominations, winning five. Billy Wilder went to the podium three times for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Lemmon, MacLaine, and Jack Kruschen received acting nominations. After over half a century still retains a Rotten Tomatoes 93% rating.
From Quiz: Great Comedy Films of the 1960s
Answer: Bernardo
In the ultimate fight with the bandits, four of the seven are killed. The three survivors were Chico, Chris and Vin. Bernardo O'Reilly was killed protecting some Mexican children that had befriended him.
Horst Buchholz played Chico, Eli Wallach played Calvera and James Coburn played Britt.
The movie was a western-style version of the 1954 Japanese film called "Seven Samurai". Yul Brynner played the lead role of Chris Adams with Steve McQueen as Vin.
From Quiz: Movies of the '60s - Part II
Answer: Marion Crane
Marion Crane steals $40,000 from her employer and decides to leave town. On a late rainy night she pulls into a remote lodging called the Bates Motel. It is here that she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Janet Leigh (1927 - 2004) was at one time married to Tony Curtis and they are the parents of the actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
Vera Miles played Lila Crane (Marion's sister). Caroline was played by Patricia Hitchcock (Alfred's natural daughter) and Melanie Daniels was played by Tippi Hedren but in another Hitchcock thriller "The Birds".
From Quiz: Movies of the '60s - Part I
Answer: Lawrence of Arabia
Directed by David Lean, "Lawrence of Arabia" tells the story of T.E. Lawrence and his adventures in the Middle East during World War I. Although O'Toole's performance was masterful, he lost the Best Actor Oscar to Gregory Peck for "To Kill a Mockingbird".
From Quiz: 1962 in Films
Answer: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
The term "angry young man" derived from the play "Look back in Anger" written by John Osborne and described a non-conformist, rebellious type of character as personified by Albert Finney in this movie.
This type of film was known as "kitchen sink" drama because it dealt with the everyday problems of average people.
From Quiz: Classic British Movies of the '60s
Answer: The Entertainer
Laurence Olivier played Archie Rice, who was desperately trying to revive his career on stage. His wife was an alcoholic and he was oblivious to his son fighting in Egypt. He carried out an affair with a young woman whose father financed his next show. It all backfired on Archie when the affair was discovered and the backing money withdrawn. His son was killed in action, but Archie was still fixated on reviving his career. As a last ditch attempt, he asked his father to come out of retirement, but the former stage star died on opening night.
From Quiz: British Films [1960s]
Answer: San Francisco
"Bullitt" was filmed in various locales around San Francisco and culminated at the San Francisco airport. One of the memorable chase scenes involved McQueen's character chasing two killers driving a Dodge Charger. The chase scenes actually involved two Mustangs loaned to the production company by Ford and modified specifically for the movie by racing driver Max Balchowsky. Other actors featured in the film were Robert Vaughn, Don Gordon and Jacqueline Bisset. The unique jazz and percussion musical score was done by Lalo Schifrin. The only Academy Award bestowed upon the film was for Best Film Editing.
From Quiz: One Word Title Movies of the Sixties
Answer: A Thousand Clowns
"A Thousand Clowns" is the uproarious movie, released in 1965-66, that starred Jason Robards Jr. as Murray Burns, a former kiddie show gag-writer that hated the rat race and left it to live on unemployment with his precocious nephew, Nick, also known as "Chevrolet", "Big Sam", "Raphael Sabatini", Theodore", "Dr. Morris Fishbein", etc. This character is played by Barry Gordon, of "Pressure Point" and the TV show "Fish". "Irving R. Feldman" is the deli owner that makes "the best pastrami sandwich on Earth".
Some of the funniest scenes you'll ever see in a comedy movie are in this film, like Murray faking being mortally wounded when he's accused of being "maladjusted", or when he explains why he got out of kiddie show production after he started using affirmative phrases like "Gosh-o-gollies, you betcha!" in everyday speech.
The scene with Nick, Sandra and Albert (the two social workers sent to investigate Nick's living arrangement) and a statuette of a hula dancer is absolutely priceless! The two social workers are engaged to each other, but Murray manages to charm the woman, (Barbara Harris) away from her anal-retentive fiancé, played by William Daniels.
The movie handles the dichotomy of nonconformity and responsibility evenhandedly, and is a howler to boot. If you can find this movie either in a video store or a film retrospective, by all means, see it!
From Quiz: Sixties' Movies On Parade
Answer: True Grit
John Wayne won his only acting Oscar for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn, a U.S. Marshall hired to track down a killer. The film also stars Kim Darby as the victim's daughter and Glen Campbell as a Texas Ranger who is after the same man. The film was re-made in 2010.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1969
Answer: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken
Luther Heggs (Don Knotts) dreams of becoming a reporter and agrees to spend a night in a local home that is reputed to be haunted. Luther solves the mystery and gets the story and the girl in the end.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1966
Answer: In Harm's Way
"In Harm's Way" was directed by Otto Preminger and stars John Wayne as Rockwell Torrey, a Rear Admiral in charge of an operation that is short of men, supplies, and equipment. The film also stars Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, and Burgess Meredith.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1965
Answer: Dr. Strangelove
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, "Dr. Strangelove, or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb", is a black comedy showing the madness of the Cold War. Peter Sellers plays three roles, the President, Dr. Strangelove, and an RAF Major. The film also stars George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, and Slim Pickens.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1964
Answer: Papa's Delicate Condition
Based on the autobiography of silent film star Corinne Griffith, "Papa's Delicate Condition" is a family comedy about a father who gets into trouble whenever he gets into his "condition".
He angers his wife and older daughter, while amusing his youngest girl.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1963
Answer: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
James Stewart stars as an Eastern lawyer who moves West and learns a lesson from local outlaw Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin), that law and order comes from a gun barrel. He stands up to Valance and is credited with killing him, which leads to a bright political future.
The movie also features John Wayne, Vera Miles. and Edmund O'Brien.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1962
Answer: The Absent-Minded Professor
Fred MacMurray plays the title character in this Disney comedy. The professor invents a substance he calls "Flubber", which absorbs energy when struck. He misses his own wedding (for the third time) while demonstrating his invention, and tries to interest the government in purchasing his invention.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1961
Answer: Please Don't Eat the Daisies
David Niven and Doris Day star in this family comedy about a drama critic who moves his family from New York to a dilapidated country house. They manage to stay together despite remodeling headaches, Niven's rumored affair with an actress, and Day's disastrous production of a play for the local theater.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1960
Answer: The Secret War of Harry Frigg
Six Allied Brigadier Generals, British, French, and American, are captured by the Italians and housed in a villa. Private Harry Frigg, an American malcontent and escape artist, is sent in disguise as a Major General, outranking all of the prisoners, who haven't escaped because they are too rank-conscious to make one the leader and formulate a plan. Between having an affair with an Italian countess and the Germans moving the prisoners after Italy surrenders, Frigg manages to free the generals and get promoted. The film stars Paul Newman, Andrew Duggan, and Tom Bosley.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1968
Answer: West Side Story
"West Side Story" was a musical with music by Leonard Bernstein. Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics. The original Broadway musical that the movie was adapted from came out in 1957. It is based on "Romeo and Juliet", but instead of their parents being against Tony and Maria, the Jets and Sharks are against it. The Jets are white Americans, and the Sharks are Puerto Rican Americans. Tony (Richard Beymer) meets Maria (Natalie Wood) at a school dance. The Jets challenge the Sharks to a rumble at the dance, and Tony is a Jet, while Maria's brother Bernardo (George Chakiris) is a Shark.
From Quiz: Movies From the 1960s that I Like
Answer: Murder, Inc.
The movie dramatized the rise and fall of "Murder, Incorporated", a ruthless Brooklyn gang in the 1930s. A more fictionalized version of the same events was "The Enforcer", a 1951 film starring Humphrey Bogart.
From Quiz: 1960's American "Neo-Noir" Films
Answer: Spaghetti Western
Leone is famous in the genre because he is the one who gave it its style, the one who invented the spaghetti western; he set the pace and tone. He is the man who gave the us the gift of Clint Eastwood, starting with "A Fistful of Dollars".
From Quiz: Movies from the 1960s
Answer: Ron Howard
The plot is simple. Eddie wants to see his father happy again but does not want him to make a mistake. It boils down to Shirley Jones, Stella Stevens, or Dina Merrill. Who will Tom and Eddie chose? Vincente Minnelli directed.
The film had fair success but may seem dated. In 1969 it was recreated as a television sitcom and perhaps wore out its welcome. Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz starred. The delightful Miyoshi Umeki played the housekeeper.
Ron Howard cut his teeth in show business as Andy Griffith's son Opie. As an adult he became one of Hollywood's leading directors with such diverse films as "Cocoon" (1985), "Apollo 13" (1999), and "The Da Vinci Code" (2006).
From Quiz: Great Comedy Films of the 1960s
Answer: Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen (1908 - 2003) had an acting career that spanned over 70 years. He is probably best remembered for his TV roles as Jed Clampett in "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962-71) and as the title character in "Barnaby Jones" (1973 - 1980).
All of these actors appeared in the movie with Martin Balsam as O.J. Berman (Holly's agent), George Peppard as Paul Varjak (Holly's neighbour) and Mickey Rooney as I.Y. Yunioshi.
From Quiz: Movies of the '60s - Part III
Answer: Russ Tamblyn
Russ Tamblyn (born 1934) has been acting in movies for over 65 years beginning in 1948 and was in the 2012 movie "Django Unchained". Richard Beymer played Tony Wyzek, the founder of the Jets and best friend of Riff. George Chakiris played Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks and older brother of Maria (Natalie Wood). Simon Oakland was Lieutenant Schrank, the neighbourhood police officer.
The musical had 11 Academy Award nominations, however, it won 10 included Best Supporting Actor and Actress (George Chakiris and Rita Moreno).
From Quiz: Movies of the '60s - Part I
Answer: The Miracle Worker
The movie tells the story of Helen Keller, blind and deaf since childhood, and her relationship with her tutor Anne Sullivan, played by Bancroft. Patty Duke won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Helen Keller.
From Quiz: 1962 in Films
Answer: Alfie talks directly to camera
"Alfie" is based on the novel and play written by Bill Naughton, and stars Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin and Vivien Merchant.
Alfie is a selfish, egocentric womaniser moving from woman to woman, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. There is a kind of poetic justice near the end of the film when he decides he'd like to settle down with the Shelley Winters character (an older, American lady), only to discover she's "dating" someone else. When he asks her what her new lover has that he doesn't have, she replies, "He's younger than you." Ouch!
From Quiz: Classic British Movies of the '60s, Take 2
Answer: Richard Burton
"Becket" concerned the friendship between Becket and King Henry II. When Becket gradually accepted religion as his primary allegiance over the king, King Henry II was forced to reconcile the change if he wished to remain friends with Becket. Donald Wolfit was cast as Bishop Folliot. John Gielgud portrayed King Louis VII of France and Peter O'Toole was King Henry II. Peter O'Toole reprized his role of Henry II in the 1968 film "The Lion in Winter" with Katherine Hepburn. When the play ran on Broadway Laurence Olivier was cast as Becket and Anthony Quinn played King Henry II.
Although "Becket" was nominated for several Academy Awards, only Edward Anhalt won for Best Screenplay. The screenplay was adapted from a play by Jean Anouilh titled "Becket or the Honour of God".
From Quiz: One Word Title Movies of the Sixties
Answer: The 10th Victim
"The 10th Victim" was adapted as a timely movie satire from a novel called "The 7th Victim" by Robert Sheckley. The plot revolves around a worldwide game of cat and mouse where people literally try to kill each other on an alternating hunter/victim basis, working their way up to a million dollar prize as the survivor of ten hunts.
Director Elio Petri took Marcello Mastroanni, Ursula Andress and Elsa Martinelli and managed to make an entertaining, low budgeted movie that believably portrayed a fanciful future in a humorous, satirical fashion. The jazz score, by Piero Piccioni, and sung by a woman named "Mina", is pure Fellini and very catchy.
From Quiz: Sixties' Movies On Parade
Answer: The Bridge at Remagen
This film is a dramatization of the American attempt to take an intact bridge over the Rhine River in March of 1945. The local German commander, with dwindling resources and SS death squads all around, tries to destroy the bridge before the Allies take it. The film stars George Segal and Robert Vaughn.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1969
Answer: Cast a Giant Shadow
Kirk Douglas stars as Colonel Mickey Marcus, an American lawyer and soldier of Jewish heritage. He is hired by the fledgling Israeli government to help train their army, and ends up taking an active role in the war once he decides that the Israelis are his people. John Wayne and Frank Sinatra also appear in cameo roles.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1966
Answer: The Fall of the Roman Empire
A sprawling epic film starring Stephen Boyd, Sophia Loren, Alec Guinness, James Mason, and Christopher Plummer, the movie tells the story of the succession of Commodus as Emperor after his father, Marcus Aurelius, is poisoned. Commodus is unfit to rule and is soon murdered, leaving the Senate to bicker over the next Emperor. This film was remade as "Gladiator" in 2000.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1964
Answer: The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock directed this tale of birds attacking the residents of Bodega Bay, California. For unknown reasons, birds of various species cooperate in attacks in people. The film stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, and Suzanne Pleshette.
From Quiz: Favorite Movies of 1963
