A River Runs Through It Trivia Quiz

Answer: Robert Redford

Redford's directorial debut was the film 'Ordinary People'. It captured the Oscar for Best Picture of 1980. However, Redford never really reached those heights again as a director. He narrated 'A River Runs Through It', as the older brother, Norman Maclean. Redford was nominated for this film by the Golden Globes, but did not win.

Answer: Blackfoot River

The Blackfoot is a snow fed river in western Montana. It is renowned for its fly fishing opportunities. Actual river scenes used in the movie were shot in the three rivers that are mentioned above as incorrect answers.

Answer: Cinematography

Phillippe Rousselot won the Oscar for Best Cinematography. This was his first Oscar. The other two nominations were for Screenplay and Musical Score. The filming of Paul Maclean strip casting his fly in epic lengths as the sun glints off water, fly, and fishing line are timeless imagery to both angler and movie aficionado.

Answer: Presbyterian

Tom Skerritt plays the role of John Maclean. He teaches his two sons the love of fly fishing, but through the lens of a strict moral and educational code of ethics. One lighthearted moment and quote from his character comes after a day of fishing with his adult sons.

They have all caught fish, but the father has caught, by far, the biggest trout. He exclaims, "The lord has blessed us all today... It is just that he has been particularly good to me." With a Cheshire grin, he walks off down river.

Answer: Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Cudlitz

Levitt played a young Norman Maclean, and Cudlitz played a boyhood friend of the Maclean brothers named Chub. Levitt has gone on to star in many films including 'Looper' and 'Inception'. Cudlitz most notably starred in 'The Walking Dead' series.

Answer: Dartmouth

Dartmouth is in the Ivy League, and is located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Norman came back home after being away for six years. Upon his return he did come to realize the gifts of family, faith, and the state of Montana, which he had forsaken. As Norman says in the movie, "The world is full of bastards. The number increases rapidly the further you get from Missoula, Montana."

Answer: "Oh, I'll never leave Montana, brother."

Paul Maclean has all he could ever hope and dream for in Montana. Unlike his older brother, Norman, Paul has no aspiration to see the world in all of its glory. His passion for fishing the riffles and holes of the Blackfoot River is all consuming.

Answer: a Polio shot scar

The film is set from approximately 1916-1930s. However, vaccinations for polio didn't start until 1955. Any of the other answers would be flubs as well. In fact, Craig Sheffer, as Norman, is seen with earring piercing holes in one scene.

Answer: beaten to death

Paul lives life vivaciously. He could've met his fate any of the ways described above. However, he is beaten to death because of gambling debts he has amassed. Their father gave a wonderful sermon with sage words about Paul's death: "Many times in our lives we look at a loved one in need of help.

It is true that we can seldom help those closest to us. We either don't know what part to give of ourselves, or the part we give is not wanted. So it is that those we live with and should know the best are the ones who most elude us."

Answer: "I am haunted by waters."

Personally I think "... and a river runs through it" would be the best line to end with. However, Redford narrates the entire final passage from the novel (which was written by the real life Norman Maclean). Beautifully written, it ends like this: "Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.

The river was cut by the world's great flood, and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."