A Role, a Film, and an Actor Trivia Quiz

Answer: Adrien Brody

"The Pianist", directed by Roman Polanski, is based on the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman's survival of WWII. Adrien Brody (born 1973) played the title role. Mr Brody sold his apartment and car, turned off his phone service, broke up with his girlfriend, and went on "starvation" diet. All this in order to know the feeling of loss so that he could play his part perfectly. Mr Brody's sacrifices weren't for nothing, because he won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2003! Other stars are Frank Finlay, Ed Stoppard, and Maureen Lipman.

Answer: Leonard Frey

"The Fiddler on the Roof" is a fictional tale of Jews living in Russia and their persecution. This film includes, behind the persecution, some information about the Jewish traditions involving marriage, holidays, and family. "Fiddler" centers around a peasant named Tevye, his wife, and his five daughters (Tzeitel, Hodel, Chavah, Sprintze, and Belka). Leonard Frey's character, Motel, marries the oldest daughter Tzeitel. Other stars are Chaim Topol, Norma Crane, and Rosalind Harris.

Leonard Frey (1938-1988) was an American actor. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Motel Kumzoil, in 1971.

Answer: Daniel Craig

"Defiance" is about four Jewish brothers: Tuvia, Zus, Asael, and Aron, who saved themselves and many other Jews during the Holocaust. They became partisans and hid in the woods, nearly getting caught several times. Other stars are Jamie Bell and Liev Schreiber.

Daniel Craig (born 1968) is an English actor best known for his roles as James Bond from 2006 to 2021.

Answer: Liam Neeson

"Schindler's List" is based on the true story of German businessman Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,000 Jews in the Holocaust. Other stars are Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes.

Liam Neeson (born 1952) is an Irish actor. He was nominated Best Actor for his role as Oskar Schindler.

Answer: Louis de Funes

"The Mad Adventures of 'Rabbi' Jacob" is about a racist Frenchman (Victor Pivert) and Muslim terrorist (Mohamed Larbi Slimane) who have to go in disguise as two Orthodox Jewish rabbis in order to escape their enemies. Other stars are Claude Giraud and Suzy Delair.

Louis de Funes (1914-1983) was a French actor.

Answer: Joe Pesci

"My Cousin Vinny" is about two students, Bill and Stan, who get falsely accused of murder. The death penalty seems to be their fate, until Bill's lawyer cousin Vinny steps in! Other stars are Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield, and Marisa Tomei.

Joe Pesci (born 1943) is an American actor and musician. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1991 for his role in the film "Goodfellas".

Answer: Yuri Nikulin

"The Diamond Arm" is a Russian comedy in which an unlucky Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov gets his arm broken. A band of smugglers mistake Gorbunkov for one of their mates, and hide precious gems inside his cast. When the smugglers find out the mistake, they keep trying to knock out Gorbunkov and recover the gems. Other stars are Andrei Mironov and Anatoli Papanov.

Yuri Nikulin (1921-1997) was a Russian actor and clown. He won the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1973 and Hero of Socialist Labor in 1990.

Answer: Aleksandr Demyanenko

"Kidnapping, Caucasian Style" is a Russian comedy. The funny plot is centered around the old custom of bride-kidnapping. Comrade Saakhov is in love with beautiful Nina, and he makes a bargain of marriage with her uncle. Nina and Shurik have a deep friendship, and Nina's uncle tricks Shurik into helping him kidnap Nina. Shurik finds out he was deceived and makes plans to rescue her. Other stars are Natalya Varley and Vladimir Etush.

Aleksandr Demyanenko (1937-1999) was a Russian actor. In 1991, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.

Answer: Oleg Menshikov

"The Barber of Siberia" is a Russian drama film. It tells the tale of romance and tragedy between a handsome cadet Andrei Tolstoy and beautiful American, Jane McCracken. Their courtship is flourishing, but General Radlov butts in and becomes Tolstoi's rival. Radlov gets Tolstoi arrested and sent to Siberia under false accusations and exaggeration of an attack Tolstoi did. Neither man marries Jane.

Oleg Menshikov (born 1960) is a Russian actor and director. Menshikov has won, among multiple awards, a Laurence Olivier Award and a Nika Award.

Answer: Gene Wilder

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is based on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl. Five children, each with their own flaws, find golden tickets which enable them to visit the candy factory owned by Willy Wonka. There's Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teevee, and Charlie Bucket. One by one, each (except Charlie) get eliminated as a result of their various character flaws. Willy Wonka bequeaths the factory to Charlie.

Gene Wilder (1933-2016) was of Russian-Jewish descent, and his birth name was Jerome Silberman. For his role as Willy Wonka, Wilder was nominated for a Golden Globe award.