The Last Picture Show Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Shootist

In 1964 Wayne was struck with lung cancer. He lost a lung and some ribs but was pronounced cancer free in 1969. However, it was not until 1976 that he played J.B.Books, a legendary gunfighter dying of cancer. He simply wanted to die with dignity but forces around him wanted to exploit his final days to their advantage. Fledgling gunfighters, newspaper reporters, and even an old girl friend tried to get a piece of the action.

Wayne has remained an icon of the man of rugged action. He has been honored for both his film work and his outspoken political views. Those who see him only as an action star might want to see "Red River" (1948), one of his best acting performances.

My favorite John Wayne quote: When asked if women should work outside the home, Wayne said, "That's fine. As long as they get home in time to fix supper"

Answer: Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Shirley Temple made "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" in 1938. In "A Kiss for Corliss" she played a girl with a teenage crush on an older man. "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" was a sequel to Clifton Webb's "Sitting Pretty" and featured Belvedere returning to college where he meets a pretty journalism major (Shirley). In "The Story of Seabiscuit" she played the niece of horse trainer Barry Fitzgerald. The fourth film she appeared in 1949 was "Adventure in Baltimore" set in 1905 with Shirley as a young suffragette. She co-starred with John Agar with whom she feel in love at 15 and married at 17.

The public did not seem to cotton to Shirley Temple as an adult as they did to such child stars as Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, and Natalie Wood. She retired from films in 1950. Later she was to have a successful children's program on television from 1958-1961. After her divorce from Agar, she remarried and devoted her life to public service, serving as ambassador to Czechoslovakia, Ghana, and the United Nations.

Answer: Walk, Don' t Run

Unfortunately, "Walk, Don't Run" did not have the kind of success that "More the Merrier" had. But it was a pleasant romantic comedy with able performances by Grant, Samantha Eggar, and Jim Hutton. The Web site "Rotten Tomatoes" gave it an 80% rating, which is a high compliment from that site. One reviewer said it was sweet--not sappy.

Grant was selected as the Number One movie star of all time by "Premiere Magazine" in 2005. He worked in his retirement years for Fabergé, helping to promote their products. He toured with a one-man show he called "A Conversation with Cary Grant". It was on a tour in Davenport, Iowa that he died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Answer: The Flintstones (1994)

"The Flintstones" was a TV cartoon brought to life. "Rotten Tomatoes" site gave it a 22% rating. It is incredible the talent that was thrown into the film. John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Elizabeth Perkins, Kyle MacLachlan, Rosie O'Donnell, and Halle Berry were the prime characters with Taylor as Pearl Slaghoople, Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law. Although hated by the critics, it grossed over 340 million, repaying its 46 million cost.

From the early 1980s, most of Taylor's work was on television, appearing in various episodes, made-for-tv movies, and mini-series. Most of us will remember her as the determined 12 year old in "National Velvet"(1944) or as smoldering sexy Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"(1958), thus giving males of a certain age two chances to nourish a crush.

Answer: Witness for the Prosecution

Power was comfortable in a variety of roles: musicals "The Eddy Duchin Story" (1956), "Alexander's Rag Time Band"(1937); costume dramas "The Prince of Foxes"(1949) "The Mark of Zorro (1940)"; dramas "Witness for the Prosecution"(1959), "Nightmare Alley"(1947); and westerns "Jesse James"(1938) "Pony Soldier"(1952).

In "Witness for the Persecution" Power played Leonard Vole, accused of murder and defended by attorney Charles Laughton. The film garnered six Academy Award nominations including acting nominations for Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. Billy Wilder was nominated for Direction, also wrote the screenplay. Power's final film is regarded as one of the best of courtroom dramas so it was a fitting finale to his career.

Answer: Hollywood or Bust

They always seemed like a mismatched pair. Martin, the laid-back epitome of cool and Lewis, a hyper-active clown. They took their night club act about as far as it could go in films and television. Martin began to tire of his romantic leads and the media attention lavished on Lewis. In retrospect, the split aided both careers as Dean Martin appeared a many dramatic films and had a highly successful television show. Lewis continued his clown persona, particularly appreciated by French audiences.

"Hollywood or Bust" was a 'road' movie. A local crooner and a movie nerd win an automobile in a contest and set off for Hollywood. As usual, Dean gets the girl, Jerry gets the dog.

Answer: Giant

James Dean brought teenage angst to an art form in both "East of Eden" (1955) and "Rebel Without a Cause"(1955). In "Giant"(1956) he had the opportunity to play a character who ages as the film unfolds to discount future type casting. In spite of his short film career, he received two Oscar nominations posthumously.

In the passing years Dean has achieved not only iconic status status but cult status as well. He has symbolized disaffected youth for decades. His posters still sell.

Answer: Two-Faced Woman

"Two-Faced Woman" is a light weight romantic comedy concerning a ski instructor (Melvyn Douglas) and a fashion designer (Garbo) who marry and then must adjust to marriage and living in New York.

Garbo was the main object of the paparazzi of the time. Photographers rallied at a potential Garbo sighting. In reality, Garbo hid in plain sight, often taking long walks with friends in New York, wearing a hat and sun glasses. She contemplated returning to the screen in an Italian project of "Remembrance of Things Past" but the project never got off the ground. She had some eccentricities and was a fine art collector. She died in New York in 1990.

Answer: Ragtime

E.L. Doctorow's novel, "Ragtime", came to the screen in 1981. After Cagney had suffered a stroke and was making recovery, he accepted an offer from Milos Forman for a small but pivotal role in "Ragtime" as a police inspector. Cagney had a hard time with lines and cues but was held in awe by the other cast members. Cagney died of a heart attack in 1986. Ronald Reagan delivered the eulogy.

Answer: The Misfits

Also, Montgomery Clift, third star of the film, was to make only three more films. Gable died at 59 on November 16, 1960 from a complications of a heart attack. It is alleged his heart attack was caused by physical stress during the filming of "The Misfits". He was also under stress for long delays during the filming much due to Monroe's issues. He was not in top physical shape, had gained weight, and was a three pack a day smoker.

Monroe's death was officially labeled a suicide due to "acute barbiturate poisoning." All kinds of conspiracy theories abound regarding her death. It is known that illness, personal problems, and unreliability made her a difficult person.