Take It To The Limit Trivia Quiz

Answer: A Streetcar Named Desire

The movie "A Streetcar Named Desire" was set in New Orleans, and featured the character Blanche Dubois, an aging Southern belle who has become dependent on her self-effacing sister, Stella. In the Broadway play, the character Blanche was played by actress Jessica Tandy, but in the movie Vivien Leigh was used.

The story dealt with domestic abuse, mental illness, homosexuality, suicide and perceived social classes. These topics for the most part were taboo in post WWII America. Elia Kazan was not put off by these topics and showcased them in his production.

He forced his audience to face ugly truths about themselves. The 1951 film adaptation differed from the play in order to meet Hays Code restrictions. This included the removal of all mention of homosexuality and a more sympathetic view of all the characters involved.

Answer: Gentleman's Agreement

"Gentleman's Agreement" was a controversial film which dealt with the unspoken topic of anti-Semitism. Gregory Peck starred as a journalist who goes undercover as a Jew in an effort to expose the blatant anti-Semitism that was rampant in the northeastern areas of the U.S. Elia Kazan won an Academy Award for Best Director and the film won for Best Picture.

In spite of being one of the highest grossing pictures of the year, the House on Un-American Activities Committee was upset with the film and forced some of the stars, and Kazan himself, to testify before them.

Answer: Racism

"Pinky" was the story of a young black woman who was light skinned enough to pass for white. While away from home and training to be a nurse she falls in love with a white doctor who knows nothing about her background. She must choose whether to live a lie as a white woman in relative comfort or deal with the truth.

The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, but was so controversial that it was actually banned in some of the southern areas of the U.S. Objections to the film included the showing of a white man in love with a black woman, and a white man kissing a black woman.

After being fined for showing the film, theater owner W.L. Gelling took his case to the Supreme Court stating that the movie was protected by the First Amendment, where his fine and conviction was overturned and the Court agreed that the film was protected by the First Amendment.

Answer: Fame

"A Face in the Crowd" tells the story of a lonesome hobo named Larry Rhodes, portrayed by Andy Griffith, and his quick rise to stardom and all the perceived advantages that go with it. He uses people for his own gain, unaware that they are doing the same thing to him.

His ego inflates and he starts suffering from a 'god complex'. He is cruel and arrogant to those around him, chasing off the few who really do care, as he becomes more wrapped up in his own self-importance. He self-destructs, losing his marriage, his newly found career and the public adoration he had become used to.

It is a lesson in how absolute power corrupts absolutely. The movie was released to mixed reviews, helped make a star of Andy Griffith, and has been rumored to have been inspired by radio and television star Arthur Godfrey.

Answer: On the Waterfront

Starring Marlon Brando and Karl Malden, "On the Waterfront" was based on a series of newspaper articles by Malcolm Johnson printed in the "New York Sun". Johnson won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for this series of articles on union corruption. Set on the waterfronts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the film is full of violence, extortion and racketeering.

The movie got rave reviews when it was released and was nominated for 12 Academy Awards. The film won eight Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director for Kazan.

Many consider this movie to be Kazan's masterpiece.

Answer: The name of a character

Baby Doll Meighan is a main character in this sexually charged movie directed by Elia Kazan. She is portrayed as an ignorant but lovely married woman who is still a virgin. She is shown sleeping in a crib, sucking her thumb, and wearing shorty nightgowns that are now known as baby doll nightgowns.

The movie also included alcoholism, domestic violence, and arson. The Roman Catholic church condemned the movie as indecent and it was banned in some countries such as Sweden due to what was perceived as unnecessary sexual content. Today's viewer might see the movie and wonder what all the fuss was about, but at that time the movie was extremely daring and overtly sexual.

Answer: True

"The Last Tycoon" (1976) was based on the last unfinished novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald which had the same name, as well as the last movie that Kazan directed. With an all-star cast that included Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Robert Mitchum and Tony Curtis, this movie explored the reality behind the world of film making.

It depicted the interactions between actors, scriptwriters, unions, and movie studio executives. The movie is set in the 1920s and 1930s - a period often considered to be the golden era of Hollywood.

It is a wonderful swan song for Kazan as it deals with unfinished ambitions and unattainable love.

Answer: James Dean

Based on the novel of the same name by John Steinbeck, "East of Eden" is basically the story of Cain and Abel set in early 20th century California. This is the only one of Dean's movies in which he played the lead role to be released in his lifetime. It is also the only one of these movies that James Dean saw in its entirety.

The movie focused on the rivalry between two brothers reaching manhood just before WWI. It delved into the generational conflict that is always a part of life. Critical reaction to the film was very positive and it won numerous awards. Elia Kazan was nominated, but did not win, the Academy Award for Directing.

Answer: William Inge

William Inge both wrote and appeared in this Oscar winning film. Director Elia Kazan directed a cast that included Warren Beatty, Natalie Wood and Sandy Dennis, in this story of unrequited love and mental illness. Set in 1928, the film explored the repercussions on the wealthy when they lost their fortunes in the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

It also explored the mental health care services available at the time for both the wealthy and the poor. William Inge won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay and also appeared briefly in the film as a Protestant minister.

Answer: True

"Boomerang!" is the true story of an innocent man falsely accused of murder in 1924. It is based on a murder which occurred in Bridgeport, Connecticut that has remained unsolved to this day. Arthur Kennedy portrayed John Waldron, a vagrant ex-soldier who after extensive questioning confesses to a crime he did not commit. Dana Andrews played the prosecuting attorney who goes against public opinion and works desperately to prove his chief suspect's innocence.

The movie explored how police incompetence and political aspirations can lead to the incarceration of an innocent man.