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Quiz about Marvellous Movies of the 1930s
Quiz about Marvellous Movies of the 1930s

Marvellous Movies of the 1930s Quiz


There were some great films made following the advent of 'the talkies' at a time when people needed diversion and upliftment, after the end of WW1 through the great Depression, to the onset of WW2. This is about some of those 'talkie' films.

A multiple-choice quiz by DoveHouse. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
DoveHouse
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
344,053
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
706
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: daver852 (10/10), Guest 82 (10/10), Guest 23 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. In 1930, which lavish, early widescreen movie, directed by Raoul Walsh, gave a certain young actor his first role as leading man? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In 1931, which film, directed by Frank Capra, starred Jean Harlow atypically as an upper class socialite? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which movie, made in 1932, gave a young American five-times gold Olympic medal winner his big break in movies, and also starred a former professional cricketer?
The film was directed by W S Van Dyke.
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which movie, directed by Alexander Korda in 1933, gave a rather inaccurate account of this character, who obviously liked wedding cake, but disliked the Roman Catholic Church. It starred Charles Laughton and his real life wife, Elsa Lanchester. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This movie came out in 1934 and starred 'The King of Hollywood' in his usual suave, debonair, sophisticated, 'devil may care', adventurous persona. The leading lady was Claudette Colbert and the movie was directed by Frank Capra. Which movie was it? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This movie was directed by George Cukor and produced by David O Selznick and starred a large cast of big name actors, notably, WC Fields, Lionel Barrymore, Basil Rathbone, Maureen O'Sullivan and Freddie Bartholomew. It was based on a book by one of the world's most famous authors. What is the movie? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This film, produced in 1936 by MGM, glorified and followed the life story of one of the USA's best loved producers of theatrical revues. The film starred that great on-screen couple William Powell and Myrna Loy. What is the film? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This film, produced in 1937 by Walt Disney, was the first full length feature of its genre, and is loved by all ages. Which film is it? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This movie, produced in 1938, was directed by 'the Master of Suspense', Alfred Hitchcock. It had a mostly British cast including Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. What is the title of the film? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In 1939, this movie was directed by Ernst Lubitsch and proved to be the penultimate appearance for its renowned star. What is its title? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1930, which lavish, early widescreen movie, directed by Raoul Walsh, gave a certain young actor his first role as leading man?

Answer: The Big Trail

The young actor in question was John Wayne and the story centred round the pioneers who used 'The Oregon Trail' to travel to the west.
The movie was classified by the US Library of Congress as being 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant' enough to be selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry.
'Talkies' had been around since 1927 ('The Jazz Singer') so by 1930, soundtracks were clearer and less tinny, also directors were experimenting with various film formats, hence widescreen.
2. In 1931, which film, directed by Frank Capra, starred Jean Harlow atypically as an upper class socialite?

Answer: Platinum Blonde

Harlow was noted more for playing working class feisty girls, good-time girls or gangsters molls, so this film added to her range of artistic abilities and showed her at her best in romantic comedies, as an upper class girl used to getting her own way, but losing her chosen man in the end.
She was born in 1911 as Harlean Harlow Carpenter, in Kansas City. She died tragically at the age of 26, from undiagnosed renal failure, for which at the time, there was very little treatment.
3. Which movie, made in 1932, gave a young American five-times gold Olympic medal winner his big break in movies, and also starred a former professional cricketer? The film was directed by W S Van Dyke.

Answer: Tarzan the Ape Man

The film centred around 'Tarzan', an orphan who lost his parents in the jungle and was subsequently brought up by apes. He is discovered by the explorer, who then finds that Tarzan is actually of the British aristocracy. After a brief spell back in Britain, he decides to return to the jungle with his 'mate', Jane.
The Olympic medallist was Johnny Weissmuller, who had won gold medals for freestyle swimming and one bronze in the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games. He also won 52 US National Championships and set 67 world records, a rather impressive record even by today's standards. He was not the first actor to play Tarzan but even today is the best known one, although there have been many portrayals of Edgar Rice Burroughs' character over the years.
The explorer in the film was played by British actor C Aubrey Smith, who, prior to his acting career, was a professional fast bowler for the Sussex cricket team.
4. Which movie, directed by Alexander Korda in 1933, gave a rather inaccurate account of this character, who obviously liked wedding cake, but disliked the Roman Catholic Church. It starred Charles Laughton and his real life wife, Elsa Lanchester.

Answer: The Private Life of Henry Vlll

The film was shot in England with Charles Laughton portraying Henry throughout his life, from his coronation to his death and through all his marriages and troubles with the Catholic Church. He won an Academy Award for Best Leading Man.
He was also noted for his portrayal of Quasimodo in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1939) and as Captain Bligh in 'The Mutiny on the Bounty' (1935)
Laughton was adept at many character portrayals in various genres of film, from serious drama to light comedy.
5. This movie came out in 1934 and starred 'The King of Hollywood' in his usual suave, debonair, sophisticated, 'devil may care', adventurous persona. The leading lady was Claudette Colbert and the movie was directed by Frank Capra. Which movie was it?

Answer: It Happened One Night

Claudette Colbert won an Academy Award for Best Leading Lady for this movie and her co-star, Clark Gable, won an Academy Award for Best Leading Man; hardly surprising really as their characters really sparked off one another. She starred as a 'poor little rich girl' trying to escape from the life that is mapped out for her - being an heiress.

She is helped by a man who appears to be a 'free spirit', but is actually a reporter who sees a good story in it if he helps her. Of course, they end up falling in love! The movie also won Best Director, Best Film and Best Writing Adaptation Academy Awards.
6. This movie was directed by George Cukor and produced by David O Selznick and starred a large cast of big name actors, notably, WC Fields, Lionel Barrymore, Basil Rathbone, Maureen O'Sullivan and Freddie Bartholomew. It was based on a book by one of the world's most famous authors. What is the movie?

Answer: David Copperfield

The movie was based on Charles Dickens' 'David Copperfield'. Although it did not stick religiously to the book, missing out some parts of Copperfield's life, nevertheless it was a great screen adaptation.
The movie is a semi-autobiographical story of a young boy sent away to live in various schools and with distant relatives, meeting up with many of life's unfairnesses on the way. However, he manages to triumph over all these as he matures and makes good.
Although the film was nominated for three Academy Awards (Best Film, Best Film Editing and Best Assistant Director), it failed to win any of these.
7. This film, produced in 1936 by MGM, glorified and followed the life story of one of the USA's best loved producers of theatrical revues. The film starred that great on-screen couple William Powell and Myrna Loy. What is the film?

Answer: The Great Ziegfeld

'The Great Ziegfeld' won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Dance Direction as well as being nominated for, but failing to achieve, Best Art Direction, Best Direction, Film Editing and Writing, Original Screenplay.
William Powell and Myrna Loy starred in 14 successful films together, often portraying a married couple.
The film follows the life of Lorenz Ziegfeld, showing his rivalry with another revue producer, Billings, one that continued almost all their professional lives. It highlights the roller coaster pattern to Ziegfeld's financial status, as he makes and loses money on various shows and also in his private life.
8. This film, produced in 1937 by Walt Disney, was the first full length feature of its genre, and is loved by all ages. Which film is it?

Answer: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

'Snow White' came originally from the imagination of the Brothers Grimm, in Germany, although several other European countries had a similar story in their folk tales. It is about a young girl, pursued by a wicked queen (her step-mother), who seeks refuge and friendship with seven mining dwarves.
It is the first full length feature cartoon/animation from the studios of Walt Disney and even now, after several decades, it is still one of his most famous films, beloved by all age groups.
It has been nominated by AFI as the greatest American animated film of all time.
It was also the only animated film in the AFI top 100 list, ranking at number 34.
9. This movie, produced in 1938, was directed by 'the Master of Suspense', Alfred Hitchcock. It had a mostly British cast including Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. What is the title of the film?

Answer: The Lady Vanishes

The movie was one of the many excellent productions brought out by Hitchcock. It was named Film of the Year' by the New York Times and Hitchcock received the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Direction. The film is set in pre-war Europe and centres on a rich young American woman, who makes the acquaintance of an elderly lady when their train is prevented from travelling further overnight due to harsh weather conditions.

The passengers are put up in a small hotel overnight, then continue their journey the next day.

However, the elderly lady seems to have disappeared and nobody can remember seeing her!
10. In 1939, this movie was directed by Ernst Lubitsch and proved to be the penultimate appearance for its renowned star. What is its title?

Answer: Ninotchka

The star concerned was Greta Garbo and the film was her first, and only, role in light comedy. In fact, the billboards carried the blurb 'Garbo Laughs!' on them.
The film is about one of the oldest plots going, that of the 'eternal triangle' with Garbo acting as envoy for a Russian Grand Duchess, whose chosen beau is interested in Garbo. She is sent to find the person who is supposedly buying the Duchess' jewels and who is late. Meanwhile, whilst in Paris, she makes the acquaintance of Melvyn Douglas, and is fascinated by him.
She was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award, but of course lost out to Vivien Leigh in 'Gone With the Wind'.
Her final film was 'The Two Faced Woman' in 1941, after which she retired and went into seclusion.
Source: Author DoveHouse

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