Westerns and Gangster Films Trivia

1. Let us start with "The Duke" (John Wayne) and one of his roles as Col. Cord McNally. After the Civil War he searches for the traitors who caused the defeat of McNally's unit and the loss of a close friend. Can you name the movie?

From Quiz Actors and their Western Movies: Part 1

Answer: Rio Lobo

"Rio Lobo" (1970) starred John Wayne as Col. Cord McNally who, through contacts, hunts down the traitors. He eventually finds them and also gets involved in a town that is being bullied by outlaw elements. The film was directed by Howard Hawkes who had also directed "Rio Bravo" (1959) and "El Dorado" (1966) also starring John Wayne. In "The Searchers" (1956) his character is Ethan Edwards, in "Rio Bravo" (1959) he is John T. Chance and in "The Horse Soldiers" (1959) his character is Col. John Marlowe.

From Quiz Cinematic Cowboys

Answer: Sidney Poitier

Poitier already had some meaty roles under his belt when he made "Duel At Diablo", having starred in "Blackboard Jungle"(1955), "The Defiant Ones"(1958) and won an Oscar for his role in "Lilies Of The Field"(1963). Poitier co-starred in "Duel At Diablo" with James Garner and Dennis Weaver and would go on to make other westerns such as "Buck And The Preacher"(1972) which he also directed and in which his co- star was Harry Belafonte.

From Quiz Ape About Comedy Westerns

Answer: Chuck Connors

Taylor Barton and Colonel Ames were racing to see who could get to the mother lode of gold. Every so often an explosion shook the town as their men searched for gold. A man pretending to be gunslinger Swifty Morgan took money from both sides to drive the other one out of town. The real Swifty Morgan (Chuck Connors) challenged conman Latigo Smith (James Garner) to a showdown. Just as Swifty pulled out his gun to shoot, another explosion shook the town, causing Swifty to shoot himself in the foot.

From Quiz World of Westerns III

Answer: Lawman

The Hammond brothers returned to Austin, Texas after the Civil War. Neal (Rock Hudson) took over the family ranch and became a marshal. Dan (Robert Ryan) became a criminal and romanced the wife (Julie Adams) of a prominent figure (Raymond Burr). Neal had to choose between protecting his brother or protecting the terrorized ranchers from being attacked by Dan's gang of cattle rustlers.

From Quiz World of Westerns II

Answer: The Villain

Before playing Mr. Freeze in "Batman and Robin", Arnold Schwarzenegger played a classic Western good guy in "The Villain". Charming Jones (Ann-Margret) was being protected by Handsome Stranger (Arnold Schwarzenegger) while Cactus Jack (Kirk Douglas) attempted to rob her, wearing disguises and setting traps at various places. Of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger has starred in many famous movies over the years, including "Conan the Barbarian", "Terminator", and "Commando".

From Quiz World of Westerns I

Answer: Richard Harris

John Morgan (Richard Harris), a British aristocrat, became captured and enslaved by American Indians. Eventually he became a respected warrior. Richard Harris was an actor for many years, in movies such as "Camelot", "Orca", "Tarzan the Ape Man", and some of the "Harry Potter" movies.

From Quiz Westerns of the 1960s

Answer: Calvera

In the movie, seven gunmen are hired by the residents of a small village to protect them against Calvera and his bandits who constantly plunder the village. Calvera and the bandits are eventually killed and beaten by the gunmen of which only three of the seven survive the gun battle. Hilario ( Jorge Martinez de Hoyos) and Sotero (Rico Alaniz) are two of the farmers of the village, and Chico is played by Horst Buchholz, one of the seven gunmen. Eli Wallach (1915-2014) was an American film, television and stage actor whose career spanned from 1945-2014. His last film role was in 2010 at the age of 95 in the movie "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" starring Michael Douglas.

From Quiz Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?

Answer: Gene Autry

Gene Autry appeared in 97 feature movies in which his character was Gene Autry. In "Shooting High" released in 1940 Gene played the character Will Carson. Gene was equally famous for his songs. His recording of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" was, until the the late 1970s, second only to "White Christmas" as the all time best selling Christmas record. He also wrote and recorded many songs during his career, "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Back in The Saddle Again" being two of the more lasting. Gene is credited as writer of over 300 songs.

From Quiz What's in a Title? Crime Films Volume III

Answer: Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

The German title of the film is "Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler". Spieler can be translated as player, actor or gambler and no English term really gets the ambiguity. Dr. Mabuse does in fact appear as a gambling gentleman in his second disguise. His first is as a stock broker who rakes in pots of money by manipulating the market. The character Dr. Mabuse was invented by Norbert Jacques who wrote a series of novels revolving around him. Jacques also worked on the screenplay with Fritz Lang. "Dr. Mabuse the Gambler" is almost five hours long, although you'd never guess as it flies along. The range of technical tricks, twists and turns in the plot, and fabulous characters make it a true masterpiece.

From Quiz What's in a Title? Crime Films Volume II

Answer: The Musketeers of Pig Alley

Both the mugging and the rival gangs' shoot-out happen in Pig Alley and The Snapper Kid's mob are The Musketeers. In the alley scene which precedes the mugging, the alley looks remarkably like Hogarth's prints "Beer Street" and "Gin Lane" despite being New York in the early 20th century rather than London in the mid-1800s. D. W. Griffith's "The Musketeers of Pig Alley" is often mistakenly cited as the first ever gangster film. Despite not being the the first, its influence can be seen throughout the genre and throughout the ages. The longevity of the film is down to Griffith's eye for composition. The camera is obviously static, but he has the actors move in and out of the frame to create amazing dynamism. In the case of the shoot-out scene, this dynamism creates an unpleasant intimacy, tension and urgency.

From Quiz What's in a Title? Crime Films Volume I

Answer: The Black Hand

The letter is signed Black Hand. The note reads "Bewar (sic)! We are desparut (sic)! Mister Angelo we must have $1,000. Give it to us or we will take your Maria and blow up your shop. Black Hand." "The Black Hand" is thought to be the first ever gangster film still existent. It's just over ten minutes long, which is probably longer than the screenplay took to write. There are no acting credits, although research has revealed that the two main gangsters were played by Anthony O'Sullivan and Robert G. Vignola. The gangsters' hideout is obviously a stage set, as is Angelo's butcher's shop. However, the real gem of the film is the street scene when Maria is abducted. It was shot on location on New York's Seventh Avenue, possibly with hidden cameras. As a document to New York's history this scene is priceless, although it does jar with the staginess of the rest of the film.

From Quiz Classic Westerns

Answer: Destry Rides Again

"Destry Rides Again" was directed by George Marshall and, along with James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich, starred Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy and Una Merkel. The film is a mixture of suspense, romance, often hilarious comedy, music and gunplay. One of the highlights is a knock-down, drag-out brawl in the saloon, between Marlene Dietrich and Una Merkel, which is broken up when the sheriff throws a bucket of water over them. Dietrich had recently been declared box office poison by the Motion Picture Distributors of America. This film completely revitalized her career. (Interesting to note that others on that list were Katharine Hepburn, Fred Astaire and Joan Crawford.) A quote attributed to Lord Beaverbrook: "Marlene Dietrich standing on a bar in black net stockings, belting out 'See What the Boys In the Back Room Will Have', is a greater work of art than the Venus de Milo." I for one have no quarrel with that.

From Quiz A Trip to the Video Store

Answer: Mel Brooks

This hysterically funny, star-studded movie made fun of just about everything related to western movies, including race. Actor Cleavon Little stars as the first black sheriff of a small town that has been told it is going to be demolished so that the railroad can come through. The movie featured Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn, who were also featured in the Mel Brooks movie "Young Frankenstein" (1974). One of the most memorable scenes in the movie deals with farting from eating beans around a campfire. Mel Brooks' characteristic use of irreverent and somewhat scandalous humor led to the movie being nominated for three Academy Award nominations and was one of the 1970s' most popular westerns.

From Quiz 21 Gun Salute

Answer: Cat Ballou

Lee Marvin won an Oscar for playing dual roles as Kid Shelleen, an alcoholic ex-gun fighter, and his twin brother Tim Strawn, a hired killer with a tin nose. The scene of Kid Shelleen sitting on his horse, with the both of them drunk, and leaning against a building fast asleep is unforgettable. Jane Fonda played the title role as a school marm seeking revenge for the murder of her father by Strawn. Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye are balladeers who sing the theme song thoughout this 1965 film that I rate as #10.

From Quiz Revisionist Westerns - 80s and 90s

Answer: Heaven's Gate

The Heaven's Gate cult was founded by Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles. Thirty-nine members of the group committed suicide on March 26, 1997 when the comet was at its brightest, because they believed the comet to be a sign that the Earth was about to be destroyed and they needed to go to the Next Level of existence. The movie "Heaven's Gate" was set during the Johnson County War in Wyoming, in the 1890s, a historical case where wealthy landowners hired gunmen to kill small landowners who they considered guilty of rustling. The conflict pitted the gunmen against a sheriff's posse sent to stop them and eventually ended with the intervention of the US Cavalry. The movie featured an all-star cast, including Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, Jeff Bridges, John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Masur, Terry O'Quinn, Mickey Rourke, and Willem Dafoe. The film was a colossal, critical and commercial failure, ruining the career of an Oscar winning director, Michael Cimino of "The Deer Hunter" fame, and causing the collapse of the United Arists movie studio. The movie is considered revisionist, not because the history upon which it was based is in dispute, but rather because it brought to light an ugly part of the history of the West. Wealthy landowners became vigilantes by hiring thugs to carry out their own brand of justice and by doing so became outlaws themselves.

From Quiz Ten Favorite Westerns

Answer: The Ringo Kid

Ford gave movie-goers their first glimpse of the spectacular scenery of Monument Valley, Utah, the locale of several other films. Thomas Mitchell, who played the drunken Doc Boone, appeared in another film released the same year, "Gone With the Wind".

From Quiz Glamorization of the Old West

Answer: Robert Taylor

Not a bad movie, nicely done by Taylor. Brian Donlevy as the good guy. Gene Lockhart as the villain.

From Quiz Classic Gangster Movies, Part 3

Answer: Jimmy the Saint & Jimmie the Saint & The Saint & Saint

The character considered becoming a priest in his youth, therefore the nickname. He manages to retain some sense of the priestly vocation, even as a criminal.

From Quiz Classic Gangster Movies, Part 2

Answer: Millers Crossing & Miller's Crossing

Practically ignored upon its release, this movie scrutinizes the entire tradition and conventions of the classic gangster movies, but goes beyond what 'nouvelle vague' film director and movie critic Francois Truffaut called an 'hommage.' Many, now consider it the most perfect film to be made by the Coen brothers.

From Quiz Classic Gangster Movies, Part 1

Answer: 'Little Caesar'

Released in 1930, this movie made Edward G. Robinson a star, but he was long typecast as a hard-boiled gangster type. Robinson was actually an art lover who was said to be terrified of guns.

From Quiz More from the Old West

Answer: Randolph Scott

His best role?

From Quiz Old Time Classic Westerns

Answer: Harry Morgan

It was a very young Col. Potter.

From Quiz Man With No Name Movies

Answer: Sergio Leone

An obscure director named Sergio Leone was given $200,000 and a load of leftover film stock and told to make a Western. With a script based on Akira Kurosawa's samurai epic 'Yojimbo', an American TV actor named Clint Eastwood, a music composer named Ennio Morricone, and a cameraman named Massimo Dallamano, Leone made 'Per un Pugno di Dollari -- A Fistful of Dollars'. This violent, cynical and visually stunning film introduced The Man With No Name, the anti-heroic gunslinger for whom money is the only motivation and the villains are merely obstacles to be removed. Leone's unique style, artistic camera angles, extension of time and raw, explosive violence presented a skewed view of the West, making his film different from any Western that had come before. Audiences loved it, and the Spaghetti Western took off like a bullet from a Colt .45. Michael Carreras produced a Spanish made movie called 'Savage Guns' (1961) starring Richard Basehart and Alex Nichol. Horst Wendlandt and director Harald Reinl teamed up to make 'The Treasure of Silver Lake' (1962) starring American actor Lex Barker and Frenchman Pierre Brice in the lead roles based on the frontier stories of German writer Karl May. Ricardo Blasco's made 'Gunfight at Red Sands' (1963) with Richard Harrison, who would eventually star in seventeen Spaghetti Westerns.

From Quiz Actors and their Western Movies: Part 1

Answer: Warlock

"Warlock" (1959) is the name of the city that hires Clay Blaisdell (Henry Fonda), a freelance marshal and his club-footed assistant Tom Morgan to rid the town of local cowboys that terrorize the town and its town folk. They eventually clean up the town with the help of the town deputy Johnny Cannon (Richard Widmark). Blaisedell and Morgan eventually fall out and Blaisedell wins the gunfight, killing Morgan. In "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968) Henry Fonda plays the ruthless gunman named Frank. In "The Ox-Bow Incident" (1942) he plays the role of Gil Carter who gets involved in a town lynching. In "My Name is Nobody" (1973), Henry Fonda plays Jack Beauregard, an aging gunfighter who wants to retire, yet is continually being challenged by young gunfighters who want to make a name for themselves.

From Quiz Cinematic Cowboys

Answer: Charles Bronson

Bronson had already starred in movies directed by western greats such as Sergio Leone, John Sturges and Robert Aldrich by the time he made this movie, directed by Michael Winner. With Winner, he would go on to make three in the series of five "Death Wish" movies in which he played Paul Kersey, a mild mannered architect who turns vigilante.

From Quiz Ape About Comedy Westerns

Answer: Harrison Ford

1979 was a busy year for Harrison Ford. "Star Wars" was re-released. He starred in the World War II movie "Force 10 From Navarone". He also appeared in the comedy Western "The Frisco Kid". Gene Wilder played a rabbi with a fluffy beard and a Torah scroll who had adventures on the way to San Francisco with Tommy Lillard (Harrison Ford), a soft-hearted bank robber who decided to help the innocent rabbi. They were chased by a posse along the way and fought off criminals and native Americans.

From Quiz World of Westerns III

Answer: Criminal

Jim Colt shot Bill for cheating at cards. Bill's friends (Aaron Spelling and Michael Ansara) threatened to tell the law on Jim unless Jim helped them rob a train. However, Jim's son, Johnny (Jeffrey Hunter) helped his father by robbing the train first, and then he joined the posse to find the robber.

From Quiz World of Westerns II

Answer: Walker

Ed Harris played as William Walker, who tried to help Vanderbilt take over Nicaragua in the 1800s in "Walker" (1987). Starting out as a normal Western involving a hired army trying to grab land, the movie became more odd as it progressed. Filmed during the real life Contra War, the story involved American multimillionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt (Peter Boyle) hiring Walker to secure rights to overland shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific by taking over the government of Nicaragua. There seemed to be comparisons between the past and present Nicaragua as anachronisms popped up, including people reading 1980s magazines, helicopters, lighters, automatic rifles, a car passing a horse carriage, etc. Of course, Ed Harris has appeared in various movies ("Stepmom", "The Right Stuff"). He played as Hank Blaine in "Creepshow".

From Quiz World of Westerns I

Answer: Dustin Hoffman

When he was a boy, Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman) and his older sister were captured by Native American Indians. When the boy grew up, he became friends with most of the tribe and married two sisters. Eventually he was "rescued" during a battle and taken to live with white people. He was drafted and involved in the Battle of the Little Big Horn, where his American Indian friends recognized him, and he rejoined the tribe. Dustin Hoffman has been in many movies, including "The Graduate", "Midnight Cowboy", "Tootsie", "Kramer vs. Kramer", "Wag the Dog", and "Meet the Fockers".

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:44 AM

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