Ernest "Papa" Hemingway Movies Quiz

Answer: The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea" was cast as a film at least three times, in 1958, 1990 (a miniseries) and 1999. The 1958 version featured Spencer Tracy as the Old Man, a fisher called Santiago. The screenplay was adapted nearly word-for-word by Peter Viertel.

The film won Best Original Score, Best Color Cinematography, and Tracy was nominated for his performance. Hemingway's fourth wife Mary played a tourist. Despite his arguments with Tracy, Hemingway liked this film. Some critics said watching the Old Man, then a struggling marlin, Old Man, then marlin, was not good movie material.

The 1990 miniseries starred Anthony Quinn. The 1999 animated film won an Oscar for Animated Short Film, and many other awards.

Answer: Spain

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943) was an elaborate and grand film, set in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Hemingway chose a stoic Gary Cooper (Robert Jordan) to play an American who is set on blowing up a bridge. Ingrid Bergman (Maria) was Jordan's love interest, living in the hills with Gypsies who had rescued her.

The movie was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress. Katina Paxinous (Pilar) debuted as a strong female Gypsy, and won Best Supporting Actress.

The camera makes haunting use of shadow and bold close-up on war-torn faces. John Donne penned the title in 1624: "...and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee".

Answer: Ernest Hemingway

For this 1944 adaptation of Hemingway's "To Have and Have Not" director Howard Hawks hoped he and Hemingway could make this film together. Hemingway declined, so Hawks enlisted author William Faulkner and co-writer Jules Furthman. Humphrey Bogart and Walter Brennan starred, with Lauren Bacall making her film debut.

The movie was true to the first chapter of the novel, then varied extensively, such as moving the setting from Florida to France. Harry Morgan (Bogart) is a small boat owner (a "have not") who reluctantly transports French Resistance members, and falls in love with Slim (Bacall).

There are moody nautical scenes, and sharp dialogue. Bogart and Bacall fell in love on set, and married in 1945.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

"The Killers" (1964) featured future US President Ronald Reagan in his last film performance (as gangster Jack Browning). The story revolves around two hit men who kill Ole "the Swede" to take robbery loot they think he's hidden. "The Killers" 1946 adaptation started Ava Gardner, with Burt Lancaster (Ole "the Swede" Andreson) in his film debut, and William Conrad in his first credited role. John Huston and Richard Brooks co-wrote the play, though neither were credited.

This "significant" film was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. Only the first 20 minutes closely follow Hemingway's short story, but Hemingway said he was pleased.

Answer: False

"The Sun Also Rises" (1957) producer Darryl F. Zanuck signed first Jennifer Jones, then Ava Gardner, then Susan Hayward and finally Ava Gardner again (at Ernest Hemingway's insistence) to play the role of Lady Brett Ashley. Bette Davis was uninvolved. Tyrone Power played leading man Jake Barnes in this tale of disappointing romance and disillusioned writers. Though the bullfights, the running of the bulls and Errol Flynn's work as Mike Campbell were heralded, Hemingway walked out of his viewing, calling the film "pretty silly". Zanuck retorted that Hemingway should "read the book again" because the film was true to the novel. "The Sun Also Rises" became part of "The Ernest Hemingway Film Collection" (2007).

Answer: European war

In 1932 Frank Borzage directed "A Farewell to Arms" starring Helen Hayes, Gary Cooper and Adolphe Menjou in this adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's tragic WWI Italy tale about a US ambulance driver Frederick and the British nurse he loves, Catherine. The film won two Oscars and was nominated for two others, including Best Picture.

A later 1957 adaptation, the last film produced by David O. Selznick ("Gone with the Wind") starred Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones (married with Selznick in 1949). The film fell flat, decried by critics as tedious, overblown, overacted, wooden, and bloated.

A bright spot was Vittorio De Sica as Major Alessandro Rinaldi. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

Answer: George C. Scott

The great George C. Scott played the isolated and lonely sculptor Thomas Hudson in the movie adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's posthumous novel, "Islands in the Stream" (1977). Hudson lives a free-wheeling life on a beach of the Bahamas, having abandoned his first and second wives and his three sons. World War and a visit by his sons inspire him to become a better man, but fate intervenes.

The camera lingers on a fierce and beautiful ocean, and true to Hemingway, spoken words are sparse yet compelling. George C. Scott and director Franklin J. Schaffner had teamed before, making "Patton". Patton was called "old blood and guts".

Answer: Nick Adams

The character Nick Adams is the protagonist of a couple dozen short stories by Ernest Hemingway. The screenplay "Adventures of a Young Man" (1962) was written by A.E. Hotchner, pulling from a number of Hemingway's stories about Nick. The film was directed by Martin Ritt. Richard Beymer plays Nick, a restless lad who wants to see the world, has many adventures, and finds romance. Jessica Tandy, Eli Wallach, and Diane Baker were cast. Gary Cooper had a role but died before production began.

Hemingway wrote the opening and closing narration but stunned his cast by killing himself mid-production.

A very young Paul Newman was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Answer: The Snows of Kilimanjaro

"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (1952) starred Gregory Peck (Harry Street), Susan Hayward (Helen) and Ava Gardner (Cynthia Green) in this highly successful adaption of Hemingway's short story directed by Henry King. Gardner's character was invented for the movie, and the ending was changed. Harry Street is an embittered man who believes he is dying.

He reflects upon the many adventures in his life, and his failure as a writer and a romantic partner. The movie was nominated for two Oscars (Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Art Direction).

Some feared Gregory Peck was too "pretty" to play a believable Hemingway character - they wanted Bogart or Brando - but obviously they were wrong. Hemingway was quite disgusted with Hollywood's happy ending.

Answer: The Garden of Eden

"The Garden of Eden" (2008) was directed by John Irvin. Hemingway wrote some chapters and left notes before his death, so the novel was pulled together with significant editing by Tom Jenks (1986). The British actor Jack Huston played a former American WWI soldier turned writer (David Bourne), traveling in Europe with his new wife Catherine (Mena Suvari) and her beautiful girlfriend Marita (Italian model and actress Caterina Murino).

They are rich, happy and free until Catherine begins to unravel, taking on complicated and bewildering behavior. David is engrossed in a story he is trying to write about his father.