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Quiz about A Dickens of a Film
Quiz about A Dickens of a Film

A Dickens of a Film Trivia Quiz


There have been many films based on the novels of Charles Dickens since the very first short adaptation, "The Death of Nancy Sykes," was shot in 1897. Here are a few questions on 'Dickens films' through the years.

A multiple-choice quiz by anagram2. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
anagram2
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
136,339
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
915
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The year is 1912 and Thomas Bentley is making a film of a Dickens novel at the Hepworth Studios at Walton-on-Thames. What is the name of this, the very first, feature film to be produced in the United Kingdom? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. It's the 17th December 1912 and a film called 'The Virtue of Rags' is released in America in time for Christmas. From which Dickens novel is this film adapted? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. A decade has passed. It's 1922 and H.B Parkinson is filming 'Bleak House'. I wonder if he could have predicted the long and distinguished career awaiting his leading lady. Who was the future Grand Dame of the British theatre who played Lady Dedlock in Mr. Parkinson's film? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. We are still in 1922 and the tagline: 'The greatest film triumph of the decade. A matchless cast of screen celebrities supporting Jackie in this, his finest achievement. Starring the greatest boy actor in the world' is tempting audiences into movie theatres to see which film?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. It's 1931, 4 years since we were amazed by the first 'talkie' and John Cromwell is directing 'Rich Man's Folly' for Paramount Pictures. Writers Grover Jones and Edward Paramore Jr adapted which Dickens novel for their screenplay?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. We've reached 1935 and director George Cukor's film 'David Copperfield' has been nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. I will always remember W.C. Fields' marvelous portrayal of Mr Micawber. It's difficult to imagine anyone other than Fields in this role but in fact another actor was originally cast. Who was he? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. It's 1936 and Oscar time again. For the second year running a film adaptation of a Dickens novel has been nominated in the Best Picture category. Although Ronald Colman was not nominated as Best Actor, many people believe he deserved the award for his splendid performance as Sidney Carton. What is the name of this film? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Another decade has passed and David Lean is directing 'Great Expectations'. In the opening sequence, set in a windswept graveyard, young orphan Pip meets the desperate escaped convict Magwitch. Anthony Wager is playing the young Pip but who is Magwitch? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The years are flying by. It's 1968 and we are treated to a musical version of 'Oliver Twist'. Lionel Bart's musical adaptation, 'Oliver' stars Mark Lester in the title role and Ron Moody as Fagin. But who portrays the fearsome Bill Sikes? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. And so we conclude our journey through time. The date is the 27 June 2003. Time for the premiere, in the UK, of another Charles Dickens adaptation. This time it's 'Nicholas Nickleby', directed by Douglas McGrath. You must have seen some of the film's advertising but do you remember its tagline? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The year is 1912 and Thomas Bentley is making a film of a Dickens novel at the Hepworth Studios at Walton-on-Thames. What is the name of this, the very first, feature film to be produced in the United Kingdom?

Answer: Oliver Twist

'Oliver Twist' was released in August 1912, just two months after Vitagraph's version in America which was the first US film release to last more than one hour. An ex-beauty queen, Ivy Millais, starred in the title role.
2. It's the 17th December 1912 and a film called 'The Virtue of Rags' is released in America in time for Christmas. From which Dickens novel is this film adapted?

Answer: A Christmas Carol

Francis X. Bushman stars in this early production, directed by Theodore Wharton. The film tells the story of a grouchy landlord who dismisses a kind hearted rent collector when he fails to collect the rent from an impoverished widow.
3. A decade has passed. It's 1922 and H.B Parkinson is filming 'Bleak House'. I wonder if he could have predicted the long and distinguished career awaiting his leading lady. Who was the future Grand Dame of the British theatre who played Lady Dedlock in Mr. Parkinson's film?

Answer: Sybil Thorndike

Born on the 24th October 1882, Sybil Thorndike was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1931. She died at the grand age of 93 in 1976.
4. We are still in 1922 and the tagline: 'The greatest film triumph of the decade. A matchless cast of screen celebrities supporting Jackie in this, his finest achievement. Starring the greatest boy actor in the world' is tempting audiences into movie theatres to see which film?

Answer: Oliver Twist

Jackie Coogan, born in 1914, was spotted by Charlie Chaplin at the age of 4, whilst performing on stage with his father. Chaplin instantly hired him and went on to make him his co-star in the memorable 1921 film 'The Kid'. One of the 'matchless cast of screen celebrities supporting Jackie' was the legendary Man of a Thousand Faces, Lon Chaney, playing Fagin.
5. It's 1931, 4 years since we were amazed by the first 'talkie' and John Cromwell is directing 'Rich Man's Folly' for Paramount Pictures. Writers Grover Jones and Edward Paramore Jr adapted which Dickens novel for their screenplay?

Answer: Dombey and Son

The full title of the novel is 'Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son'. It was originally published in instalments between 1847 and 1848 in London's "The Graphic" magazine.
6. We've reached 1935 and director George Cukor's film 'David Copperfield' has been nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. I will always remember W.C. Fields' marvelous portrayal of Mr Micawber. It's difficult to imagine anyone other than Fields in this role but in fact another actor was originally cast. Who was he?

Answer: Charles Laughton

Charles Laughton agonised over the character of Mr Micawber and had trouble remembering his lines. After only a few days shooting he resigned. Producer David O. Selznick's father, who was an immigrant, reputedly taught himself English by reading 'David Copperfield' to his children.
7. It's 1936 and Oscar time again. For the second year running a film adaptation of a Dickens novel has been nominated in the Best Picture category. Although Ronald Colman was not nominated as Best Actor, many people believe he deserved the award for his splendid performance as Sidney Carton. What is the name of this film?

Answer: A Tale of Two Cities

'A Tale of Two Cities' was also nominated in the Best Editing category but it won neither Oscar. The winner of the Best Film award in 1936 was 'Mutiny on the Bounty'.
8. Another decade has passed and David Lean is directing 'Great Expectations'. In the opening sequence, set in a windswept graveyard, young orphan Pip meets the desperate escaped convict Magwitch. Anthony Wager is playing the young Pip but who is Magwitch?

Answer: Finlay Currie

Finlay Currie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1878. He started out in show business as a musical performer, billed as "Harry Calvo, the double-voiced vocalist".
9. The years are flying by. It's 1968 and we are treated to a musical version of 'Oliver Twist'. Lionel Bart's musical adaptation, 'Oliver' stars Mark Lester in the title role and Ron Moody as Fagin. But who portrays the fearsome Bill Sikes?

Answer: Oliver Reed

Directed by Carol Reed, 'Oliver' was nominated for 12 Academy Awards. It won 6 including Best Film and Best Director. Oliver Reed was the nephew of the director.
10. And so we conclude our journey through time. The date is the 27 June 2003. Time for the premiere, in the UK, of another Charles Dickens adaptation. This time it's 'Nicholas Nickleby', directed by Douglas McGrath. You must have seen some of the film's advertising but do you remember its tagline?

Answer: Every family needs a hero.

Douglas McGrath also wrote the screenplay as well as directing 'Nicholas Nickleby'.
Source: Author anagram2

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