Courtroom Dramas Quiz for Experts | Movies

Answer: Gregory Peck

When not crusading in the courtroom, Finch is the gentle father who teaches his children about prejudice and stereotypes. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning for Best Actor (Peck) Set Decoration, and Screen Play (Horton Foote). It was honored at the Cannes Film Festival (1963). The
American Film Institute named Atticus Finch the greatest hero in films edging out Indiana Jones and James Bond.

Answer: George C. Scott

Scott played the same part as Cobb but it was in the 1997 made for TV remake. The original was nominated for three Academy Awards but won none, however it won thirteen awards from other film societies. The play is popular with amateur acting groups as several of the roles can be played equally by women.

Answer: My Cousin Vinny

What could have been a so-so film was turned into a success by the performances of Marisa Tomei who earned an Academy Supporting Actress Award, Joe Pesci as the naive lawyer, and Fred Gwynne as the stern and uncompromising judge.

Answer: The Passion of Joan of Arc

Falconetti had made one movie about ten years before. Her concentration was on the French stage. Carl Dreyer was a difficult task-master. Allegedly she suffered an nervous collapse after the filming concluded. After that she switched from acting to direction. When WW2 came, she fled to Switzerland and then to Buenos Aires where she died in 1946. The film was based on the transcript of Joan of Arc's trial.

Even though she was a charismatic figure in battle, because she said she was guided by God, she was accused of heresy mainly for political motives. Found guilty, she was executed by being burned at the stake.


"The Messenger" was a 1999 film starring Milla Jovovich as Joan with a strong supporting cast of Dustin Hoffman,Faye Dunaway, and John Malkovich.

"Saint Joan"(1957) was George Bernard Shaw's interpretation and Graham Greene's screenplay directed by Otto Preminger with Jean Seberg in the title role.

Ingrid Bergman had an Academy Award nomination for her turn as Joan in "Joan of Arc" (1948).

Answer: Marlene Dietrich

The film had eight Academy Award nominations but won none. Charles Laughton was nominated for Lead Actor and his wife Elsa Lanchester for Best Supporting Role. It proved to be Tyrone Power's last complete picture. The film was based on a short story and play by Agatha Christie. Dietrich began her career in silent German films in the 1920s and became an international star with "The Blue Angel" (1930) and continued through 1978.

Answer: Shelley Winters

Interestingly, both Clift and Garland received Supporting Actor nominations even though they saw their roles more as a cause. Neither won. The film was a break-through role for William Shatner. Schell won the acting award even though he was fifth billed.

Answer: Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan

The film had several Academy nominations but won none. Gene Kelly was strong in a dramatic role rather than his typical song and dance. In 1925 the Scopes Trial was broadcast on the radio so all America was listening. Here from "Inherit the Wind" is an exchange between Tracy and March:

March: "We must not abandon faith! Faith is the most important thing!"
Tracy: "Then why did God plague us with the capacity to think? Mr. Brady, why do you deny the one thing that sets above the other animals? What other merit have we? The elephant is larger, the horse stronger and swifter, the butterfly more beautiful, the mosquito more prolific, even the sponge is more durable. Or does a sponge think?"
March: "I don't know. I'm a man, not a sponge!"
Tracy: "Do you think a sponge thinks?"
March: "If the Lord wishes a sponge to think, it thinks!"
Tracy: "Does a man have the same privilege as a sponge?"
March: "Of course!"
Tracy: [Gesturing towards the defendant) "Then this man wishes to have the same privilege of a sponge, he wishes to think!"

Answer: Humphrey Bogart

Fred MacMurray was the instigator of the rebellion and Van Johnson his naive conspirator. Queeg's character and leadership are certainly questionable but the real issue revolves around the issue of military organization and respect. Jose Ferrer defends the mutinying officers and destroys Queeg on the stand but detests their action.

The 1955 Academy Awards yielded seven nominations but no wins. Robert Francis in his first major role was to die in an auto accident a couple of years later. The film was based on Herman Wouk novel and was later adapted for the stage.

Answer: Anatomy of a Murder

Preminger chose to film the movie in the actually settings, including the tavern where the killing occurred. The Academy awarded seven nominations but no wins to the film. Duke Ellington composed the score and had a small cameo role. He used members of his own orchestra for the jazz-oriented score.

The film was based on author and Michigan Supreme Court judge John D. Voelker, writing under the pen name Robert Traver. It was based on an actual case he tried.

Answer: Miracle on 34th Street

Edmund Gwenn won Best Supporting Actor as Kris Kringle and the film also won for Best Story and Best Screenplay. It has become a Christmas classic. The trial establishes that there is a spirit of Christmas in spite of the commercialization of the holiday.