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Quiz about Whats in a Title Horse Operas Part I
Quiz about Whats in a Title Horse Operas Part I

What's in a Title? Horse Operas Part I Quiz


Who can resist a good Western? I'll give a bit of plot, the director, and the year of ten Western films I'm fond of, you just pick the title. They are in chronological order (1903 - 2003).

A multiple-choice quiz by thula2. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
thula2
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
382,898
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
349
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
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Question 1 of 10
1. Bandits force a train to stop so they can get on board, blast open a safety box, rob the passengers and then escape on horseback. However, locals are alerted to what's going on and race after the crooks. Which 1903 film, directed by Edwin S. Porter, am I talking about? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Dagger-Tooth Dan switches identity with a harmless piano player. Everybody believes the weakling to be a dangerous outlaw to the extent that he believes it himself, but what will happen when he comes face to face with the real tough guy? Which 1918 short film, directed by Hal Roach and starring Harold Lloyd, am I talking about? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Illinoisan engineer Dave Brandon has a vision of laying a railroad right across America to the west coast. His pal Thomas Marsh is skeptical, but a man called Abraham Lincoln is keen. Brandon and his son set out to survey the land but Brandon Sr. is murdered out in the wilderness. However, as Brandon Jr. grows up, he never forgets his father's dream. Which 1924 film, directed by John Ford, am I talking about? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Lieutenant Colonel Yorke is set off kilter when his son turns up as a trooper at his base on the border between Texas and Mexico. Next his wife rolls in but his biggest problem is the Apaches who keep on attacking. Which 1950 film, directed by John Ford, am I talking about?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Tough-talking Vienna's saloon is barely tolerated by some decent townsfolk, partly because The Dancin' Kid and his gang are welcomed there. When The Dancin' Kid is accused of holding up the stage coach, the long-standing grudges manifest themselves in extreme violence. Which 1954 film, directed by Nicholas Ray, am I talking about? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Link Jones is on his way to Fort Worth with a bag of money to employ a teacher. When the train he's on gets held up in a robbery, not only does he lose the cash but has to deal with his past coming back to haunt him. Which 1958 film, directed by Anthony Mann, am I talking about? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Highly principled, revolutionary Professor Xantos is the only one who knows the combination of the San Bernardino bank safe. When unscrupulous Mexican, revolutionary General Mongo sends The Swede to free Xantos from jail, he assigns El Vasco the task of keeping an eye on things. However, loyalties can switch easily in such volatile circumstances. Which 1970 film, directed by Sergio Corbucci, am I talking about? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Cresta Lee is being escorted to Fort Reunion where her fiancé awaits her. The local Cheyenne have other plans and attack the convoy killing everybody but Lee and private Honus Gant. As the pair make their way to base camp on foot, Lee challenges many things the young rookie had taken for granted. Which 1970 film, directed by Ralph Nelson, am I talking about? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. A group of gold-panners are being bullied by a group of goons employed by Coy LaHood, owner of a large-scale mining company. When the hoodlums kill Megan Wheeler's pet dog, she appeals to the Lord and asks for a miracle, and sure enough, the Preacher rides into town. Which 1985 film, directed by Clint Eastwood, am I talking about? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. El Mariachi is hired by the CIA to kill General Marquez who has been hired to assassinate the President of Mexico. It all kicks off on Day of the Dead and when the dust settles, several scores have been settled. Which 2003 film, directed by Robert Rodriguez, am I talking about?
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Bandits force a train to stop so they can get on board, blast open a safety box, rob the passengers and then escape on horseback. However, locals are alerted to what's going on and race after the crooks. Which 1903 film, directed by Edwin S. Porter, am I talking about?

Answer: The Great Train Robbery

All the films are from 1903, and all have very prosaic titles. "The Cheese Mites" is almost enough to put one off one's Stilton. Almost.

"The Great Train Robbery" is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, Western film. Luckily, it has survived and can easily be accessed. Although its innovation might not be immediately obvious to the modern viewer, it clearly flows in a way other early films do not. In fact, the cinematic storytelling techniques trailblazing director Edwin S. Porter used aren't that different from what has come for decades since.

"The Great Train Robbery" has been visually cited countless times over the years, in particular the final shot of one the gang of robbers, played by Justus D. Barnes, shooting straight at the camera. I, like many people, was amazed when I first saw that and said to myself: "So that's where it comes from!".
2. Dagger-Tooth Dan switches identity with a harmless piano player. Everybody believes the weakling to be a dangerous outlaw to the extent that he believes it himself, but what will happen when he comes face to face with the real tough guy? Which 1918 short film, directed by Hal Roach and starring Harold Lloyd, am I talking about?

Answer: Two-Gun Gussie

The title refers to the character played by Harold Lloyd, i.e. the hapless piano player. The switch of identities is entirely casual: Dagger-Tooth Dan finds himself in the bar where Gussie works. Standing at the bar is the local sheriff, Whooping-Cough Charlie. The sheriff has left on the bar two letters with photos attached. One is a warning about one of the toughest guys around: Dagger-Tooth. The other is a request from Gussie's father to hand over a cheque to his son Gussie. Dagger-Tooth simply switches the photos and you have the comedy ready to go. However, what makes the comedy is that Gussie takes on the persona rather than extricating himself.

At this point in his career, Harold Lloyd (and Hal Roach) had developed the "Glasses" character to a certain extent but he was still rough around the edges and not as completely innocuous as he would later become.
3. Illinoisan engineer Dave Brandon has a vision of laying a railroad right across America to the west coast. His pal Thomas Marsh is skeptical, but a man called Abraham Lincoln is keen. Brandon and his son set out to survey the land but Brandon Sr. is murdered out in the wilderness. However, as Brandon Jr. grows up, he never forgets his father's dream. Which 1924 film, directed by John Ford, am I talking about?

Answer: The Iron Horse

The title clearly refers to the common name for trains in the early days.

"The Iron Horse" is a fascinating film for many reasons. The starting point for the film's production seems to have been film producer/studio founder William Fox's research into Abraham Lincoln. What he came across was evidence of how important a figure Lincoln had been in the building of railroads, especially from a legal point of view, and there the idea for a film formed.

Indeed, one of "The Iron Horse"'s charms is how many figures from American history pop up. We have Lincoln both before and after his election to presidency, "Buffalo Bill" Cody, "Wild Bill" Hickok, and also many of the Chinese labourers who had actually built the railroads, here playing extras building the railroads.
4. Lieutenant Colonel Yorke is set off kilter when his son turns up as a trooper at his base on the border between Texas and Mexico. Next his wife rolls in but his biggest problem is the Apaches who keep on attacking. Which 1950 film, directed by John Ford, am I talking about?

Answer: Rio Grande

The title of "Rio Grande" refers to the river which represents the boundary between where the American troops can chase the Apaches and where they can't, i.e. Mexico. When the Apaches kidnap the American soldiers' children, General Sheridan makes a decision which could turn out to be a political hot potato and allows Yorke to cross the Rio Grande and attack the Apaches.

"Rio Grande" is a fantastic Ford/Wayne Western in which there are all sorts of sub-texts about the American Civil War and American demographics. Although the Apaches are a vital part of the plot, they are really reduced to an unquestionably baddy role.

The question of military duty, and specifically the conflict it can create with personal matters, is very interesting. Also fascinating is the tense relationship between the inimitable John Wayne as Yorke and the gorgeous Maureen O'Hara as his wife.
5. Tough-talking Vienna's saloon is barely tolerated by some decent townsfolk, partly because The Dancin' Kid and his gang are welcomed there. When The Dancin' Kid is accused of holding up the stage coach, the long-standing grudges manifest themselves in extreme violence. Which 1954 film, directed by Nicholas Ray, am I talking about?

Answer: Johnny Guitar

The title refers to one of Vienna's old flames, Johnny Logan, who conveniently rolls into town around the time of the trouble. He used to be a gunslinger but has since hung up his holster and picked up a guitar, at least ostensibly.

"Johnny Guitar" seems to be a very simple story about female jealousy and small-town conservatism, but actually there is a lot more going on. On the surface, the anti-Vienna campaign is being led by Emma Small because she is in love with The Dancin' Kid, who is in turn in love with Vienna. Vienna is supposed to be in love with Johnny Guitar. It has been claimed that these two feisty female characters are actually lesbians attracted to one another. Both are certainly anything but typically submissive females, and furthermore the whole tension is between them. Practically all the male characters in the film are childish, insipid, or simple.

Another reading of the film is as a direct criticism of McCarthyism, and a general condemnation of vigilantism.

Whatever the case, it's a superb, albeit odd, film. Joan Crawford is frightening as Vienna, and Mercedes McCambridge is equally scary as the conniving Emma. The whole thing is jarring at times, which actually helps create the tension leading up to the terrifying violence. It had its critics on its release but has since become one of the key revisionist Westerns and a favourite amongst auteur filmmakers.
6. Link Jones is on his way to Fort Worth with a bag of money to employ a teacher. When the train he's on gets held up in a robbery, not only does he lose the cash but has to deal with his past coming back to haunt him. Which 1958 film, directed by Anthony Mann, am I talking about?

Answer: Man of the West

The title "Man of the West" refers to the rather vague answers Link Jones gives when asked where he's from. He changes his story a couple of times giving the audience the prior knowledge that not everything is completely kosher about him.

Link Jones was played impeccably by Gary Cooper. At fifty-seven Cooper was said to be old for the part by some, in particular since his foster father Dock Tobin was played by Lee J. Cobb who was ten years his junior. I beg to differ and argue that if anything it is Cobb's dodgy make-up and overacting which lets the film down a little. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic Western which dares break some of the rules and push things a little further.

On its release, these factors clearly hindered its reception but over time its reputation has really blossomed. It has some very dark moments in terms of what is happening but also how the characters are forced to behave, and the truths they have to face.
7. Highly principled, revolutionary Professor Xantos is the only one who knows the combination of the San Bernardino bank safe. When unscrupulous Mexican, revolutionary General Mongo sends The Swede to free Xantos from jail, he assigns El Vasco the task of keeping an eye on things. However, loyalties can switch easily in such volatile circumstances. Which 1970 film, directed by Sergio Corbucci, am I talking about?

Answer: Compañeros

The title "Compañeros" refers to the idea of an unlikely partnership between the characters The Swede, played by Franco Nero, and El Vasco, played by Tomas Milian, which runs through the film. At the end, The Swede shouts out the Spanish title "Vamos a Matar, Compañeros" as he rejoins El Vasco.

The two actors were huge stars of Spaghetti Westerns. Although Nero is widely recognized as such, Milian is largely forgotten unfortunately. To my mind, Milian makes the film with his comedy idiosyncrasies. Having said that, Nero is fabulous, as are Fernando Rey as Xandos, and Jack Palance as a nasty character in a sub-plot.

Whichever way you look at it, "Compañeros" is a great slice of fun in the best Zapata Western tradition.
8. Cresta Lee is being escorted to Fort Reunion where her fiancé awaits her. The local Cheyenne have other plans and attack the convoy killing everybody but Lee and private Honus Gant. As the pair make their way to base camp on foot, Lee challenges many things the young rookie had taken for granted. Which 1970 film, directed by Ralph Nelson, am I talking about?

Answer: Soldier Blue

The title "Soldier Blue" comes from the mocking moniker Lee bestows upon poor Honus Grant. Lee is played by Candice Bergen and Grant by Peter Strauss and much of the film centres on the strained rapport between the two of them. It takes her a while to take the naive and somewhat awkward soldier seriously, but he does manage to impress her as time goes on. Things begin to change a little when they encounter Isaac Q. Cumber, an extremely creepy character played by Donald Pleasence. By the film's climax which depicts the infamous Sand Creek massacre, "Soldier Blue" is anything but jejune.

"Soldier Blue" caused quite a stir on its release. It was hugely popular outside the USA, but was a bit close to the bone. The graphic violence, ranging from decapitation, to rape, to human trophy gathering, was not only a grim reminder of what was going on in Vietnam but also shockingly realistic and explicit for 1970.
9. A group of gold-panners are being bullied by a group of goons employed by Coy LaHood, owner of a large-scale mining company. When the hoodlums kill Megan Wheeler's pet dog, she appeals to the Lord and asks for a miracle, and sure enough, the Preacher rides into town. Which 1985 film, directed by Clint Eastwood, am I talking about?

Answer: Pale Rider

"Pale Rider" was the third film which could be classified as a Western in which Clint Eastwood starred as well as directed. This time the character becomes known as the Preacher although the character never actually gives any name. The theme of Man with No Name came directly from Eastwood's role in the classic Sergio Leone-directed so-called "Dollars Trilogy" (1964 - 1966), which in turn had taken the idea from Akira Kurosawa-directed "Yojimbo" (1961).

In "Pale Rider" Eastwood forfeits subtlety for clarity and he has the teenager Megan reading from the Book of "Revelation" as the Preacher rides into the miners' settlement. Further religious references are sprinkled throughout the film.

In my opinion, too many of Eastwood's otherwise brilliant films suffer from his tendency to play lead characters whose superhuman prowess turns them into comic book super heroes. Although the Preacher does fall into that trap, the fact that he's clearly sign-posted as being supernatural makes it easier to swallow.
10. El Mariachi is hired by the CIA to kill General Marquez who has been hired to assassinate the President of Mexico. It all kicks off on Day of the Dead and when the dust settles, several scores have been settled. Which 2003 film, directed by Robert Rodriguez, am I talking about?

Answer: Once Upon a Time in Mexico

"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" was preceded by "El Mariachi" (1992) and "Desperado" (1995) in what is known as Robert Rodriguez's "Mexico Trilogy". Antonio Banderas played El Mariachi in both this one and its immediate predecessor. The title is a clear tribute to Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West", although Rodriguez has said that he saw it as the "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" of his trilogy.

Right from the start it's a highly entertaining film which doesn't take itself too seriously but never drifts into parody. For the Western aficionado, it's littered with homages and references. To my mind, the only weak point is Johnny Depp's portrayal of the CIA agent Sheldon Sands. Whilst all the other actors humbly fit into the genre of the film, Depp just can't help being Johnny Depp.

I apologise for including a film which doesn't feature a single horse in a quiz about horse operas, but I couldn't leave this one out on a technicality.
Source: Author thula2

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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