Roddy McDowall Film Sampler Trivia Quiz

Answer: How Green Was My Valley

"How Green Was My Valley" was the story of the Morgans, a coalmining family in turn of the century Wales, and the changes the Industrial Revolution made in their lives and their beautiful village over the course of several years. Based on the novel by Richard Llewellyn, "How Green Was My Valley" won five Academy Awards in 1941: Best Director (John Ford), Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp as Mr. Morgan), Best Art/Set Direction, and Best Cinematography.

The large ensemble cast included Sarah Allgood as Mrs. Beth Morgan, Roddy McDowall as Huw Morgan, Maureen O'Hara as Angharad Morgan, and Walter Pidgeon as Mr. Gruffydd.

Answer: Lassie, Come Home

Set in Yorkshire, England, during World War II, the heartwarming 1943 film, "Lassie, Come Home", told the story of a devoted dog who would not be separated from the boy she loved even when moved hundreds of miles away. "Lassie, Come Home" was based on the novel by Eric Knight. Young Joe Carraclough was played by Roddy McDowall. Donald Crisp and Elsa Lanchester played his parents, and Elizabeth Taylor was Priscilla. Pal, a beautiful male collie, played film's first Lassie.

Answer: No

The lavish historical epic "Cleopatra' was the story of the love triangle between the beautiful Queen of the Nile and Rome's two most powerful men, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. The biggest story, though, was the romance between the movie's stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Roddy McDowall appeared as Caesar Augustus (Octavian). Rex Harrison received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Julius Caesar. "Cleopatra" won four Oscars: Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects.

Answer: The Greatest Story Ever Told

"The Greatest Story Ever Told" followed the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The cast included Max von Sydow as Jesus, Roddy McDowall as Matthew, David McCallum as Judas Iscariot, Angela Lansbury as Claudia, Dorothy McGuire as the Virgin Mary, Claude Rains as King Herod, Robert Blake as Simon, and John Wayne as a centurion at the crucifixion.

Answer: Cornelius

"Planet of the Apes" was a chilling tale of astronauts who ended up in a place where apes ran society and humans were their slaves. Charlton Heston was astronaut George Taylor and Roddy McDowall played Cornelius, his ape friend. The cast also included Kim Hunter as Zira and Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius.

The theme of apes vs. humans really caught fire with the audience and during the '70s and early '80s many theatrical and television sequels and a television series were produced, all of which featured Roddy MacDowall in various roles.

In 2001, Tim Burton's remake of the original "Planet of the Apes" was released.

Answer: The Poseidon Adventure

Everybody seems to enjoy disaster movies and one of the most popular was Irwin Allen's "Poseidon Adventure". It was the story of how a brave group of survivors tried to find a way out after their luxury cruise ship, Poseidon, capsized. A large and stellar cast included Gene Hackman, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, Ernest Borgnine, and Roddy McDowall appeared as Mr. Acres.

Answer: Legend of Hell House

In 1933 a house party of scientists and mediums stayed overnight at Hell House but only one survived--physical medium Benjamin Franklin Fisher. It was now twenty years later. Can Fisher and three others come out of Hell House alive and claim the $100,000.00 fee? "Legend of Hell House" starred Roddy McDowall as physical medium Benjamin Fischer, Pamela Franklin as psychic medium Florence Tanner, Clive Revil as physicist Lionel Barrett, and his wife Ann was played by Gayle Hunnicutt. (Although the film was made in 1973, it was set in December, 1953).

Answer: True

Roddy McDowall played Gregory Benson in Disney's 1965 comedy "That Darn Cat" with Hayley Mills and Dean Jones which was about a cat (D.C.) who helped solve a kidnapping. In Disney's 1978 comedy "The Cat From Outer Space", a cat from another planet needed help getting its spacecraft fixed so it could go back home.

The cast included Roddy McDowall as Mr. Stallwood, Ken Berry as Dr. Wilson, and Sandy Duncan as Dr. Barlett.

Answer: Peter Vincent

When Charley Brewster's girlfriend Amy and his buddy "Evil" found him sharpening stakes to use on his next door neighbor, they thought he had gone mental and hired Peter Vincent, star of a series of low-budget Vampire Slayer movies and late night horror movie show host, to go with them all to the neighbor's house to prove to Charley that he wasn't one of the Undead.

It all backfired when Mr. Vincent realized Charley was right in one of my favorite vampire films "Fright Night". Along with Roddy McDowall, the cast included William Ragsdale as Charley, Amanda Bearse as Amy, Stephen Geoffreys as "Evil", and Chris Sarandon as Undead Jerry Dandrige. Charley and Peter Vincent were reunited in the sequel "Fright Night 2" which was not nearly as popular as the original.

Answer: Mr. Soil

Roddy McDowall did the voice of Mr. Soil. Flick set out of bring back a bunch of warrior insects to help fight a gang of nasty grasshoppers but instead brought home a bunch of circus insects in the very popular computer animated film "A Bug's Life". Other voice talents included Phyllis Diller as the Queen, Dave Foley as Flick, Kevin Spacey as Hopper, and Denis Leary as Francis. "A Bug's Life" was Roddy McDowall's final project.

He passed away in 1998 at age 70. Roddy McDowall began acting in 1938 and was one of the few child stars who went on to have a very successful acting career as an adult.

Not only was he a very talented actor, but with his pleasant, distinctive voice, he was a popular voice talent. Perhaps you remember him as the voice of V.I.N.C.E.N.T in Disney's dark Sci-fI film "Black Hole". I hope you enjoyed this small sample of the movies and roles of Roddy McDowall.