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Quiz about Popular Songs from 30s 40s 50s Movies

Popular Songs from 30s, 40s & 50s Movies Quiz

How much do you know about some of the most famous popular songs from Hollywood's golden era?

A multiple-choice quiz by Plumbus. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Plumbus

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
178,828

Updated
Jan 24 24

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
11 / 20

Plays
1157

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 68 (6/20), Hayes1953 (9/20), Guest 155 (0/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. The 1935 movie, 'Gold Diggers', is probably more famous today for one of these songs, written by Warren and Dubin. Hint

We're in the Money

I Only Have Eyes For You

Chattanooga Choo Choo

Lullaby of Broadway

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Question 2 of 20

2. 'There's No Business Like Show Business' is one of the enduring anthems of Hollywood. In which movie did it appear on the silver screen? Hint

'Easter Parade'

'South Pacific'

'Annie Get Your Gun'

'An American in Paris'

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Question 3 of 20

3. '42nd Street' was a musical depiction of life behind the scenes of a Broadway show with an equally famous title song. It was one of the biggest movies of 1939.

True

False

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Question 4 of 20

4. 'Shall We Dance' (1937) is one of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers' biggest hits. It was written by which famous American composer? Hint

George Gershwin

Cole Porter

Jerome Kern

Irving Berlin

5. Gershwin's 1930 Broadway musical 'Girl Crazy', the source of such unforgettable songs as 'I Got Rhythm', 'Embraceable You' and 'Fascinating Rhythm', was first made as a film in 1932 but with none of Gershwin's music.

True

False

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Question 6 of 20

6. 'Jeepers Creepers', written by Warren and Mercer, was sung by Louis Armstrong in which 1939 movie?

Answer: (Two words - suggesting travel.)

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Question 7 of 20

7. 'Top Hat, White Tie and Tails' became Fred Astaire's signature tune. In which of his movies did he first perform it? Hint

'Top Hat'

'The Gay Divorcee'

'Flying Down To Rio'

'Shall We Dance'

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Question 8 of 20

8. 'The Road To Morocco' (1944) was one of the immensely successful comedies starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour with a famous title song. Which duo wrote it? Hint

Lerner & Loewe

Rodgers & Hammerstein

Van Heusen & Burke

Warren & Mercer

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Question 9 of 20

9. 'For Me and and My Gal' is famous as Busby Berkeley's 1942 musical with an equally famous title song. Berkeley based it on an earlier musical, 'Me and My Gal', written by which English composer? Hint

Noel Coward

Noel Gay

William Walton

Benjamin Britten

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Question 10 of 20

10. Max Steiner, the musical director of 'Casablanca' (1943), tried to remove the immortal song 'As Time Goes By' from the film.

True

False

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Question 11 of 20

11. 'Falling In Love Again' is the song most associated with which actress? Hint

Debbie Reynolds

Marlene Dietrich

Judy Garland

Doris Day

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Question 12 of 20

12. 'Our Love Affair' is the memorable love song from the 1940 Busby Berkeley musical, 'Strike Up The Band'. Who sings it in the film? Hint

Ruby Keeler

Shirley Ross

Betty Hutton

Judy Garland

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Question 13 of 20

13. Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas', performed by Bing Crosby, first appeared as the title song of the movie with the same name.

True

False

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Question 14 of 20

14. 'Singin' in the Rain' was performed in the Gene Kelly film of the same name in which year? Hint

1948

1952

1955

1957

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Question 15 of 20

15. 'A Couple of Swells' is one of the songs which Fred Astaire and Judy Garland perform together in 'Easter Parade'. It was the only movie in which they appeared together.

True

False

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Question 16 of 20

16. 'S'Wonderful' is one of George Gershwin's songs from a movie based on the title of which one of his famous orchestral pieces? Hint

Rhapsody In Blue

An American In Paris

Piano Concerto in F

Porgy and Bess

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Question 17 of 20

17. 'A Fine Romance' was first performed in the movie 'Swing Time'. It was written by Jerome Kern but who sang it in the film? Hint

Fred Astaire

Howard Keel

Dick Powell

Bing Crosby

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Question 18 of 20

18. 'Over The Rainbow' is probably the most famous song from 'The Wizard of Oz'. Who wrote the song? Hint

Harry Warren

Harold Arlen

Max Steiner

Jimmy Van Heusen

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Question 19 of 20

19. 'We Saw The Sea' is a song from which movie? Hint

'Singin' In The Rain'

'Follow the Fleet'

'South Pacific'

'On The Town'

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Question 20 of 20

20. 'Thanks For The Memory' was the signature tune of which comic actor? Hint

Bob Hope

Lou Costello

Bing Crosby

Danny Kay

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 24 2024 : Guest 68: 6/20
Apr 22 2024 : Hayes1953: 9/20
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 155: 0/20
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 31: 15/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The 1935 movie, 'Gold Diggers', is probably more famous today for one of these songs, written by Warren and Dubin.

Answer: Lullaby of Broadway

Starring Dick Powell and Adolphe Menjou, 'Gold Diggers' was a romantic comedy about the staging of a charity show at a hotel.

2. 'There's No Business Like Show Business' is one of the enduring anthems of Hollywood. In which movie did it appear on the silver screen?

Answer: 'Annie Get Your Gun'

Written by Irving Berlin, originally for his hit Broadway musical. Betty Hutton, who played the lead opposite Howard Keel, was a late replacement for Judy Garland when she fell ill.

3. '42nd Street' was a musical depiction of life behind the scenes of a Broadway show with an equally famous title song. It was one of the biggest movies of 1939.

Answer: False

'42nd Street' was a big hit in 1933 - not 1939. Written by the collaboration of Warren and Dubin and starring Dick Powell.

4. 'Shall We Dance' (1937) is one of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers' biggest hits. It was written by which famous American composer?

Answer: George Gershwin

The title song was sung by Fred Astaire, who famously almost failed an early screen test at which the damning verdict was "Can't act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little."

Answer: true

This was rectified in a new adaptation in 1943, starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.

6. 'Jeepers Creepers', written by Warren and Mercer, was sung by Louis Armstrong in which 1939 movie?

Answer: Going Places

'Going Places' told the story of a sports equipment salesman who pretends to be a famous jockey in an attempt to find high society buyers.

7. 'Top Hat, White Tie and Tails' became Fred Astaire's signature tune. In which of his movies did he first perform it?

Answer: 'Top Hat'

'Top Hat' was a massive hit for Irving Berlin in 1935. Berlin came to America from Russia when he was four years old. He was forced to find work from the age of 8 following the death of his father. He taught himself to play the piano and went on to write over 1,500 songs.

8. 'The Road To Morocco' (1944) was one of the immensely successful comedies starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour with a famous title song. Which duo wrote it?

Answer: Van Heusen & Burke

The plots for the road movies were essentially the same: lovable con man and his sidekick are on the run and encounter a beautiful damsel in distress who they both fall for and fight over.

Answer: Noel Gay

'For Me and My Gal' starred Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.

10. Max Steiner, the musical director of 'Casablanca' (1943), tried to remove the immortal song 'As Time Goes By' from the film.

Answer: True

Steiner initially tried to remove the song from the film because he hadn't been the one who had written it.

11. 'Falling In Love Again' is the song most associated with which actress?

Answer: Marlene Dietrich

It was featured in 'Blue Angel', the movie that made Dietrich an internationally famous actress.

12. 'Our Love Affair' is the memorable love song from the 1940 Busby Berkeley musical, 'Strike Up The Band'. Who sings it in the film?

Answer: Judy Garland

'Strike Up The Band was another of the successful eight collaborations of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.

13. Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas', performed by Bing Crosby, first appeared as the title song of the movie with the same name.

Answer: False

The song 'White Christmas' first appeared in 'Holiday Inn' in 1942. Bing Crosby's original recording sold 25 million copies and, to date, an estimated 150 miilion copies by other artists have been sold .

14. 'Singin' in the Rain' was performed in the Gene Kelly film of the same name in which year?

Answer: 1952

It was Gene Kelly's most famous film, best remembered for his inspired performance of the title number.

15. 'A Couple of Swells' is one of the songs which Fred Astaire and Judy Garland perform together in 'Easter Parade'. It was the only movie in which they appeared together.

Answer: true

In 'Easter Parade' Astaire plays a dancer whose partner quits the act, but fortunately he is able to find a more than adequate replacement in Garland. Astaire and Garland both performed in an earlier musical review-style production, 'Ziegfield Follies', but they were in separate scenes and did not appear together in this particular movie.

16. 'S'Wonderful' is one of George Gershwin's songs from a movie based on the title of which one of his famous orchestral pieces?

Answer: An American In Paris

'An American in Paris' (1951) starred Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. It's about a G.I. who stays in Paris after WW2 to become an artist and falls in love with a local girl.

17. 'A Fine Romance' was first performed in the movie 'Swing Time'. It was written by Jerome Kern but who sang it in the film?

Answer: Fred Astaire

'Swing Time' came out in 1936. Jerome Kern enjoyed his first success in 1915 with 'Very Good, Eddie'. He died in 1945.

18. 'Over The Rainbow' is probably the most famous song from 'The Wizard of Oz'. Who wrote the song?

Answer: Harold Arlen

'Over The Rainbow' won the Oscar for best song in 1939.

19. 'We Saw The Sea' is a song from which movie?

Answer: 'Follow the Fleet'

Written by Irving Berlin in 1936, 'Follow the Fleet' starred Astaire and Rogers for the fifth time.

20. 'Thanks For The Memory' was the signature tune of which comic actor?

Answer: Bob Hope

'Thanks For The Memory' featured in the last of the four 'Big Broadcast' films in 1938. Hope duetted it with Shirley Ross.

Source: Author Plumbus

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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