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Quiz about Big Bug Movies of the 50s Creation and Demise

Big Bug Movies of the 50s: Creation and Demise Quiz

The '50s sci-fi films are famous for oversized insects wreaking havoc. But how did they grow so big, and how were they defeated? Don't let it bug you - take the fun quiz!

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

Author
oscarguy

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
197,090

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
831

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Warner Brothers' giant ants in "Them!" gave the studio the largest grossing picture in 1954. The behemoth ants terrorize various residents of the desert, including a dazed little girl discovered wandering alone who, in her state of shock, can only utter or scream the word "them". Following the trail of the ants leads scientists and soldiers from the desert to the underground sewers of Los Angeles for a final encounter. All in all, "Them!" started the "big bug" trend that lasted throughout the 50s. What best describes the creation and demise of these huge insects? Hint

Ants eat growth chemicals in a lab, then are eliminated by military tanks.

Giant ants arrive from a distant planet aboard silver spaceships and eventually succumb to earth pollution.

The ants turn out to be in a child's dream about his ant farm which he quickly douses with DDT upon awakening.

Ants mutate to giant size size due to radiation and are eventually killed with poison gas and fire.

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of the most memorable "big bug" films of the 50s was "The Fly". Andre Delambre (David Hedison - sometimes Al Hedison) wound up with the head and hand of a housefly. Which of the following best describes how this happened and how the monster was destroyed? Hint

A teleportation experiment goes wrong and the monster/scientist is subsequently squashed in a hydraulic press.

A careless scientist swallows a fly then later is killed by frightened villagers.

A giant jungle fly bites an explorer who later, as a mutant, dies in quicksand.

A yachtsman sails through a swarm of flies then, through despondency, commits suicide.

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Question 3 of 10

3. One year after the success of "The Fly", a sequel followed entitled, "Return of the Fly", in which the son of the late scientist, Andre Delambre, resumes matter transmission experiments. Which of the following is NOT true of "Return of the Fly"? Hint

"Return of the Fly" involved a man mutated with a hand, foot, and head of a fly.

"Return of the Fly" was a black and white film.

Widow Helene is sent to an asylum when she once again begins ranting about flies.

Vincent Price reprised his role as the brother of the late Andre Delambre.

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1958, the world was treated to "The Monster from Green Hell" in which a cargo of wasps aboard an experimental rocket was exposed to radiation. The rocket came down in Africa with greatly enlarged wasps, of course. Their demise was brought about due to the giant wasps falling into which of the following? Hint

a volcano

the ocean

quicksand

a trap set by scientists

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Question 5 of 10

5. Spiders turned up regularly in 50's sci-fi movies. "Tarantula" was one of many, and one of the best. In this spider outing, the creature stampedes around the desert threatening scientists and citizens alike. Cars are flung and houses destroyed until finally the military is called in. In short, what combination best describes the creation and demise of this particular spider? Hint

special nutrients/napalm

x-rays/dynamite

radioactivity/electrocution

gypsy curse/insecticide

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Question 6 of 10

6. Bert I. Gordon hopped on the bandwagon with "Earth Vs. the Spider" (aka "The Spider"). Mature-looking teenagers, presumably of high school age, set out to investigate strange goings-on, such as the disappearance of one teen debutante's father. The teen scene is entirely in place, including using the spider as a tourist attraction of sorts. Also included is some lame and campy American-International rock and roll music. The gigantic spider seems to suddenly appear from a cave just outside of town. But the arachnid meets its fate impaled on which of the following? Hint

the hero's sword

a stalagmite

a Cadillac fin

an electric guitar

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Question 7 of 10

7. In "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957), Scott Carey (Grant Williams) finds himself seemingly inexplicably diminishing in size, right before the horrified and sympathetic eyes of his caring wife. Everyday life becomes a series of accommodations for Scott as he continues to become disproportionate to the world around him. In fact, Scott Carey battles not only a giant spider but a giant cat as well.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. An extremely large stinging bug emerges from a volcano in Mexico, after it defeats a series of overgrown creepy crawlers (giant worms with claws for example). The rampage is ruthless and incredible. Especially noteworthy is a scene showing a feeding frenzy on a trainload of passengers. The creature reigning supreme is eventually done in by an electrified harpoon shot at the creature in a sports stadium setting, resulting in an abrupt ending to this terrific 1957 "big bug" entry. What is the name of this flick? Hint

Scorpio

The Black Scorpion

Scorpio Rising

The Scorpion King

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Question 9 of 10

9. Here come more Bert I. Gordon see-through overgrown creatures! This time they are grasshoppers crawling over pictures of buildings. They are the result of ingested, treated grain. The formula scenario of scientists who are out to investigate the behavior of these insects provides the narration of this curious big bug film. The grasshoppers are eventually lured to their deaths in one of the Great Lakes. But which U.S. city do the grasshoppers almost demolish? Hint

Waukegan

Milwaukee

Sheboygan

Chicago

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Question 10 of 10

10. Actually released in February, 1960, Roger Corman's "The Wasp Woman" is irresistible, as the only female "big bug" entry to the quiz. This delightful film portrays Janice Starlin (Susan Cabot) as a woman concerned with her inevitable wrinkles. She pursues wasp serum as a cure to aging. She is temporarily successful, although with dreadful side effects. Which of the following best describes Janice's position in life? Hint

movie queen

queen of outer space

queen bee

cosmetic queen

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Ants mutate to giant size size due to radiation and are eventually killed with poison gas and fire.

Considered a 50's sci-fi pioneering classic, "Them!" sustains a certain intrigue, even after decades of high tech effects advancements.

Answer: A teleportation experiment goes wrong and the monster/scientist is subsequently squashed in a hydraulic press.

Sadly, it is Andre's own wife, Helene (Patricia Owens) who mercifully places her husband in the hydraulic press. Presumably, forensic investigation was not advanced enough in 1958 to determine insect blood from human blood (tongue in cheek here).

Answer: Widow Helene is sent to an asylum when she once again begins ranting about flies.

In this outing, the monster fly was created in the same manner as in "The Fly" (matter transmitter). Only this time it is intentionally done by a desperate criminal. Happily the son, played by Brett Halsey, is reassembled properly by going through the machine again. The movie opens at Helene's funeral. She died of the stress of the first experience, but she did not go to an asylum.

Answer: a volcano

Two aspects of this unusual black and white film are worth noting: the end sequence in some prints is tinted green, and the wasps in some scenes are animated by the stop-motion effects process.

Answer: special nutrients/napalm

"Tarantula" tells a straightforward story of a giant bug on a rampage. Special nutrients that make living things grow larger seem to work on lab animals, including a tarantula. The spider escapes and becomes as large as a city block. The air force pours napalm on the spider and it burns up.

Answer: a stalagmite

The spider is zapped with electrical current and then, in a final shot, is seen lifeless on the floor of the cave. The cave interiors were actually shot at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.

Answer: False

The cat and spider in this film are the acceptable size for their species. It is Scott Carey who shrank. Early in the film he is covered by a mysterious glittering mist that causes his diminishing size until he becomes part of the infinite. Scott is successful in his battle with the basement spider by impaling it on a sewing needle.

Answer: The Black Scorpion

One of the darker sci-fi entries of the 50s, "The Black Scorpion" features stop-motion sequences with creatures developed by Willis O'Brien (the animator on "King Kong", 1933) for a 1953 film never completed.

Answer: Chicago

This oft-maligned film is loads of fun, if you are so inclined. Since he used live insects, Gordon had his own problems during filming due to the mortality and activity level of grasshoppers. For instance, he had to warm them up with heaters and fans to get them to move during the shooting of the film.

The demise of the bugs in the film is brought about once the frequency for grasshopper mating calls is determined. The sound of this call is recorded and the giant grasshoppers are lured into Lake Michigan.

Answer: cosmetic queen

"The Wasp Woman" is a fun, short film originally released with "The Beast from Haunted Cave" as the co-feature. The personal life of Susan Cabot is worth noting since she was killed by her son. He was convicted of manslaughter. Susan also appeared in such films as "Son of Ali Baba" and "Flame of Araby".

Source: Author oscarguy

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