A Call to Arms (and Legs) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Animal Farm

"Animal Farm" (1945) is one of George Orwell's finest works, and the many adaptations of it are proof of its enduring appeal.

It has been turned into a theatre show several times, as well as being made into a film three times between 1954 and 2025.

There have been radio adaptations, a comic strip and in 2023, Russian composer Alexander Raskatov premiered an opera based on the book.

There is even a video game adaptation which was released to good reviews in 2020, in which (spoiler alert) Boxer doesn't have to die.

Answer: Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway's 1929 novel about an American serving as an ambulance driver in the Italian army during World War I was semi-autobiographical, as it drew heavily on his own experiences as an American Red Cross ambulance driver on the Italian front in World War I, where he fell in love with a nurse, as did the character of Frederic Henry in the book.

"A Farewell to Arms" (1929) was adapted for the silver screen, being made into a film in 1932, starring Gary Cooper and then again in 1957, starring Rock Hudson.

Answer: ZZ Top

ZZ Top were always more popular in USA than UK, but they did manage to have four UK top 20 hits, two of which were taken from their album, "Eliminator" (1983), these being "Gimme All Your Lovin'" (1983) and "Legs" (1984).

Answer: Dire Straits

"Brothers in Arms" (1985), was the title track from Dire Straits' album from the same year and was the fourth of five tracks released as a single.

The track was a top 20 hit in the UK, but it made a stronger impression in New Zealand, where it reached the top five on the Official Aotearoa Music Charts. The album went on to reach number one worldwide and became the first album to be certified ten-times platinum in the UK.

Answer: Nicolas Cage

"Longlegs" (2024) was one of the most acclaimed films of the year and finished the year as the highest-grossing independent film of 2024.

Cage earned excellent reviews from critics for his performance, being described as unhinged, intense and skin crawling, enough to get him nominated for a Saturn Award.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Sinatra found time in between recording some memorable tunes to do a fair bit of acting, of which the highlights were surely his Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955) and his Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in the classic, "From Here to Eternity" (1953).

He also found time to produce a total of seven films between 1956 and 1980, as well a directing "None but the Brave" (1965) which he also produced and starred in.

Answer: Frog's legs

The consumption of frog's legs in France started around the 12th century when frogs were classed as fish by monks, thereby allowing them to be eaten during Lent.

The practice soon spread and the dish became a popular meal for French peasants, and by the 17th century it was regarded as one of the national dishes of France.

Although France is seen by much of the world as the country for frog's legs, archaeological evidence would suggest that they were eaten in Britain as far back as 8,000 years ago and there is also evidence that the ancient Chinese as well as the Aztecs were fond of them.

Answer: Cardiff

Cardiff Arms Park opened in 1969 and can be found next to the Millennium Stadium and is primarily used for rugby union matches, having hosted games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and the Heineken Cup Finals of 1996 and 1997.

It has also hosted several music concerts including those by Tina Turner in 1996, U2 in 1987 and 1993 and the Rolling Stones in 1990.

Answer: Betty Grable

Grable began her movie career aged 12 in 1929, playing a chorus girl in "Happy Days" (1929) and would go on to star in over 40 films in the 1930s and 1940s, with her final film being "How to Be Very, Very Popular" (1955).

Her legs, which according to hosiery industry executives were of perfect proportions, were insured for $1 million as a publicity stunt by 20th Century-Fox and Grable herself once said, "I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them."

Answer: USA and USSR

SALT I took place in Helsinki, Finland, in 1969 and was deemed a success by both nations, resulting in an Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and hopes were high for SALT II, held in Vienna, Austria, in 1979.

Although agreement was reached, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1980, before the treaty could be ratified by the U.S. Senate, who then chose not to do so.

The Soviets chose to not ratify the treaty either, although both sides continued to respect it, even after it expired in 1985.