FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about History at the Movies
Quiz about History at the Movies

History at the Movies Trivia Quiz


All the questions have to do with historical movies. Some are very easy and some are a little more difficult but all of these movies worth seeing. So good luck and have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by gywalgi. Estimated time: 9 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Movie Trivia
  6. »
  7. Something in Common
  8. »
  9. History in Movies

Author
gywalgi
Time
9 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
53,866
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
9 / 20
Plays
3038
Last 3 plays: james1947 (20/20), Guest 207 (9/20), 173Kraut (13/20).
- -
Question 1 of 20
1. Who was the first actor to play Henry VIII in a movie? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Vincent Price was specialized in horror movies, but in his early career he played many historical characters. In 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex' in 1939, he gave a wonderful performance as one of England's greatest aristocrats. Who did he portray? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. This beautiful and very talented british actress played many tragic characters such as Anne Boleyn, Isadora Duncan, Mary Stuart and Lady Alice More. Who is she? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. This movie about the French scientist Louis Pasteur won 3 Oscars in 1937. Who played the title character?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 5 of 20
5. We probably all remember Angus McFayden as Robert the Bruce in the unforgettable 'Braveheart'. Who played his father, the old Robert Bruce Sr? I'll give you a clue: this Scottish actor sadly died in 1999 in a car accident. Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. In 1941, the famous Laurence Olivier became Sir Horatio Nelson for the Alex Korda movie 'That Hamilton Woman'. Who played Lady Emma Hamilton? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. Many actors have played the Duke of Wellington but only one of them is Canadian. Need a little help? He was also Rommel in 'The Night Of The Generals' and Rudyard Kipling in 'The Man Who Would Be King'. Who is he?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 8 of 20
8. Before he portrayed the American artist Jackson Pollock ('Pollock' 2000), Ed Harris played a famous astronaut in the 1983 'Right Stuff'. Which one was it? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. Judi Dench won an Oscar in 1998 for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in 'Shakespeare In Love'. The preceeding year she played another queen in a wonderful but underestimated movie. Who was this queen? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. All of these actresses have played the Empress Alexandra, wife of Nicholas II the last tzar, except one of them. Which one is it? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. When Gary Oldman became Ludwig van Beethoven in 1994 for 'Immortal Beloved' it was his second real life character role whose name is associated with music. Who was the first one?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 12 of 20
12. Like Gabriel Byrne, his first movie was 'Excalibur' in 1980. Since then, he played many historical characters including a German businessman with a heart of gold, an Irish republican leader and a Scottish hero. Who is he?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 13 of 20
13. In 1955, Richard Burton played the thespian brother of a famous assassin in 'The Prince Of Players'. Which assassin am I talking about? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. In the movie 'Quiz Show' (1994), Paul Scofield played a Pulitzer-Prize winning poet. Who was it? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. In the 1970 movie 'Cromwell', Richard Harris was the title character, but who played the unfortunate King Charles I who lost his head in the struggle? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. Three of them once played Toulouse-Lautrec. Which one did not? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. Once nicknamed 'The Queen of TV Movies', this British actress played a very convincing Marie-Antoinette in 'The French Revolution' in 1989. Who is she?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 18 of 20
18. In the 1998 movie 'Love Is The Devil', Derek Jacobi played the British painter Francis Bacon. But who played his lover, George Dyer? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. After playing Henry VIII in 'A Man For All Seasons'(1966), this powerful British actor became Winston Churchill's father in 'Young Winston' (1972). Who is he?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 20 of 20
20. Glenda Jackson retired from acting in 1992 to enter politic but before, she played a very famous queen in an underestimated movie in 1971. Who was this great Queen?

Answer: (If I tell you Essex, would it help?)

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 25 2024 : james1947: 20/20
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 207: 9/20
Mar 24 2024 : 173Kraut: 13/20
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 107: 7/20
Feb 12 2024 : Guest 136: 15/20
Feb 03 2024 : Cinderella62: 12/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who was the first actor to play Henry VIII in a movie?

Answer: Arthur Bourchier

The South African Bourcier played Henry in a 1911 adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Camp was Henry in 'Hampton Court Palace' in 1926, Jennings played the role in 'Anna Boleyn' in 1920 and Laughton was the great king in 'The Private Life Of Henry VIII' in 1933.
2. Vincent Price was specialized in horror movies, but in his early career he played many historical characters. In 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex' in 1939, he gave a wonderful performance as one of England's greatest aristocrats. Who did he portray?

Answer: Sir Walter Raleigh

Essex was played by Errol Flynn, Cecil by Henry Daniell and Burghley by Henry Stephenson. Price also played the Duke of Clarence in 'Tower of London' (1939), King Charles II in 'Hudson's Bay' (1940) and Richelieu in 'The Three Musketeers' (1948). His elegance and finesse were truly remarkable and will always be remembered by movie lovers.
3. This beautiful and very talented british actress played many tragic characters such as Anne Boleyn, Isadora Duncan, Mary Stuart and Lady Alice More. Who is she?

Answer: Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave was Anne Boleyn in 'A Man For All Seasons' in 1966, in the 1988 version, she played Alice More (Charlton Heston was Thomas More). Wendy Hiller was Alice More in the 1966 film. Genevieve Bujold played Anne Boleyn opposite Richard Burton in 'Anne Of The Thousand Days'.
4. This movie about the French scientist Louis Pasteur won 3 Oscars in 1937. Who played the title character?

Answer: Paul Muni

Muni won the best actor award with this role.
5. We probably all remember Angus McFayden as Robert the Bruce in the unforgettable 'Braveheart'. Who played his father, the old Robert Bruce Sr? I'll give you a clue: this Scottish actor sadly died in 1999 in a car accident.

Answer: Ian Bannen

Cox played Wallace's (Mel Gibson) uncle. Fun fact: he was the first Hannibal Lecter in 'Manhunter'. Hanly was the Prince Edward and O'Hara was the Irish warrior who talked to God.
6. In 1941, the famous Laurence Olivier became Sir Horatio Nelson for the Alex Korda movie 'That Hamilton Woman'. Who played Lady Emma Hamilton?

Answer: Vivien Leigh

Gladys Cooper was Lady Nelson in this movie. Jackson was Lady Hamilton to Peter Finch's Nelson in 'Bequest The Nation' in 1975 'and Griffith played the same character in the 1929 movie 'Divine Lady'.
7. Many actors have played the Duke of Wellington but only one of them is Canadian. Need a little help? He was also Rommel in 'The Night Of The Generals' and Rudyard Kipling in 'The Man Who Would Be King'. Who is he?

Answer: Christopher Plummer

Born in 1929 in Toronto, Ontario, he is mostly known for his portrayal of 'Papa' von Trapp in 'The Sound Of Music'.
8. Before he portrayed the American artist Jackson Pollock ('Pollock' 2000), Ed Harris played a famous astronaut in the 1983 'Right Stuff'. Which one was it?

Answer: John Glenn

Sam Shepard played Yeager, Scott Glenn was Alan Shepard and Fred Ward played the unfortunate Gus Grissom.
9. Judi Dench won an Oscar in 1998 for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in 'Shakespeare In Love'. The preceeding year she played another queen in a wonderful but underestimated movie. Who was this queen?

Answer: Queen Victoria

The movie was 'Mrs. Brown' and she really deserved the Oscar for it. What a terrific actress!
10. All of these actresses have played the Empress Alexandra, wife of Nicholas II the last tzar, except one of them. Which one is it?

Answer: Maggie Smith

Suzman in 'Nicholas and Alexandra' in 1971. Barrymore in 'Rasputin and the Empress' in 1932. Scacchi in 'Rasputin' in 1996.
11. When Gary Oldman became Ludwig van Beethoven in 1994 for 'Immortal Beloved' it was his second real life character role whose name is associated with music. Who was the first one?

Answer: Sid Vicious

I know, I know, some people will say it's not music.... By the way, the movie was 'Sid And Nancy' (1986).
12. Like Gabriel Byrne, his first movie was 'Excalibur' in 1980. Since then, he played many historical characters including a German businessman with a heart of gold, an Irish republican leader and a Scottish hero. Who is he?

Answer: Liam Neeson

He was Oskar Schindler in 'Schindler's List' (1993), Michael Collins in 1996 and Rob Roy in 1995.
13. In 1955, Richard Burton played the thespian brother of a famous assassin in 'The Prince Of Players'. Which assassin am I talking about?

Answer: John Wilkes Booth

Booth, Lincoln's murderer, had a brother who was a famous stage actor. Guiteau, Princip and Czolgosz killed respectively: President Garfield, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and President McKinley.
14. In the movie 'Quiz Show' (1994), Paul Scofield played a Pulitzer-Prize winning poet. Who was it?

Answer: Mark van Doren

My favorite Van Doren (1894-1972) poem is 'After the Drough'. I recommend it.
15. In the 1970 movie 'Cromwell', Richard Harris was the title character, but who played the unfortunate King Charles I who lost his head in the struggle?

Answer: Alec Guinness

Paterson, Miller and Clyde also played Charles I respectively in: 'The Return of the Musketeers' in 1989, 'The Vicar of Bray' in 1937 and 'By the Sword Divided' in 1983.
16. Three of them once played Toulouse-Lautrec. Which one did not?

Answer: Gerard Depardieu

Depardieu doesn't really have the body to play the diminutive French painter... Ferrer ('Moulin Rouge' 1952). Leguizamo ('Moulin Rouge' 2001) Royer ('Lautrec' 1998).
17. Once nicknamed 'The Queen of TV Movies', this British actress played a very convincing Marie-Antoinette in 'The French Revolution' in 1989. Who is she?

Answer: Jane Seymour

Her real name is Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg.
18. In the 1998 movie 'Love Is The Devil', Derek Jacobi played the British painter Francis Bacon. But who played his lover, George Dyer?

Answer: Daniel Craig

Remember the sadistic Sergent Botha in 'The Power of One'?
19. After playing Henry VIII in 'A Man For All Seasons'(1966), this powerful British actor became Winston Churchill's father in 'Young Winston' (1972). Who is he?

Answer: Robert Shaw

Born in 1927, he died of a heart attack in 1978. He is best remembered for his role of Quint in 'Jaws' (1975).
20. Glenda Jackson retired from acting in 1992 to enter politic but before, she played a very famous queen in an underestimated movie in 1971. Who was this great Queen?

Answer: Elizabeth I

The movie was 'Mary Queen Of Scots'.
Source: Author gywalgi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us