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Quiz about Classic British Cinema  Powell and Pressburger
Quiz about Classic British Cinema  Powell and Pressburger

Classic British Cinema - Powell and Pressburger Quiz


This short quiz takes a general look at the lives and at a small number of the films of Powell and Pressburger. Although there may be one or two spoilers, I hope that these won't ruin your enjoyment of these films in the future!

A multiple-choice quiz by SisterSeagull. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
373,067
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
382
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: pughmv (10/10), Guest 51 (9/10), JanIQ (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Pressburger first came to Great Britain in the mid-1930s. On his arrival, which German sounding first name did he adopt? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. From which central European country, once the centre of a great empire, did Pressburger hail? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which name, relating to something that the English were renowned for in the past, did Powell and Pressburger adopt for their production company? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. One of the following art forms is the subject of the Powell and Pressburger adaptation of the fairy tale 'The Red Shoes'. Which art form? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The music of which composer was used in The Archers film production of 'The Tales of Hoffmann'? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which city in the south east of England was the setting for the Powell and Pressburger tale that was centred around an unusual crime? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What were the names of Michael Powell's two dogs that featured in a number of his films? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Deborah Kerr, in the role of Sister Clodagh, found herself in a school at an isolated location in Asia in which Powell and Pressburger production? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Starring John Gregson, Anthony Quayle and Peter Finch, this 1956 Powell and Pressburger production tells the story of the destruction of a German warship. What was the title of this film as it was released for British audiences? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. After Powell and Pressburger's film making relationship ended, their acrimonious split resulted in the pair never speaking to each other again?



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 11 2024 : pughmv: 10/10
Oct 05 2024 : Guest 51: 9/10
Oct 05 2024 : JanIQ: 8/10
Sep 12 2024 : Guest 104: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Pressburger first came to Great Britain in the mid-1930s. On his arrival, which German sounding first name did he adopt?

Answer: Emeric

The name Emeric has its origins in the German language and means leader or ruler. Imre József Pressburger was educated at both Prague and Stuttgart universities before beginning work as a journalist and author. He escaped persecution because of his Jewish heritage and settled in London in 1935.

It was in 1939 that Pressburger was introduced to British director Michael Powell with whom he would go on to produce some of the finest films of the period and, to many minds, some of the finest films ever made.
2. From which central European country, once the centre of a great empire, did Pressburger hail?

Answer: Hungary

Pressburger was born at Miskolc in what was then Austria-Hungary in December 1902. Today, the city of Miskolc now lies in the north eastern corner of Hungary proper and is that country's third largest city after Budapest and Debrecen.
3. Which name, relating to something that the English were renowned for in the past, did Powell and Pressburger adopt for their production company?

Answer: The Archers

Powell and Pressburger founded The Archers production company during 1943, an enterprise that finally came to an end during 1957. It has been said that Pressburger was merely Michael Powell's scriptwriter but this would be to pay him a great disservice.

Many of the films produced through their partnership were from original stories by Emeric Pressburger and, although Michael Powell did much of the directing of these films, Pressburger was responsible for the vast majority of the production and editing.

As an experienced and talented musician, Pressburger also took the lead in the selection and use of their film music.
4. One of the following art forms is the subject of the Powell and Pressburger adaptation of the fairy tale 'The Red Shoes'. Which art form?

Answer: Ballet

Taking its name from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, 'The Red Shoes' tells the tragic story of the relationships between the young and gifted ballerina Vicky Page, played by Moira Shearer, her composer lover Julian Craster and the Svengali-like leader of her dance troupe, Boris Lermontov, played by Marius Goring and Anton Walbrook respectively.

After developing feelings for Vicky Page, despite the fact that she and Julian Craster are married and in love, Lermontov's jealousy gets the better of him.

He belittles Craster's latest work, the ballet based on Andersen's fairy tale, and eventually refuses to stage any further productions in which Craster's work is featured. Lermontov's spiteful plotting eventually leads to the tragic death of his prima ballerina. During the making of this film, Michael Powell did not endear himself to either of his leading ballerinas; both Moira Shearer and Ludmilla Tchérina found working with him a 'terrible ordeal'.
5. The music of which composer was used in The Archers film production of 'The Tales of Hoffmann'?

Answer: Jacques Offenbach

Incredibly popular during the latter decades of the 19th century, German born Frenchman Jacques Offenbach was lauded for his music and his operettas. Unfortunately, Offenbach passed away just four months before 'Les contes d'Hoffmann' was due to be premiered in February 1881.

The opera tells the story of Hoffmann, a poet, and his adventures in pursuit of his three loves. These are later revealed to be different facets of Stella, a singer of Hoffmann's acquaintance. The film interpretation of the tale by Powell and Pressburger has also been lauded by modern day directors such as Martin Scorsese and Cecil B. DeMille. Perhaps the most famous piece from the opera is the barcarolle, 'Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour' which British players will recognise as the music used to advertise Bailey's Irish Cream, a mixture of whiskey and cream, during the 1980s.
6. Which city in the south east of England was the setting for the Powell and Pressburger tale that was centred around an unusual crime?

Answer: Canterbury

It was fitting that this great film should be set in Canterbury as this was the city in which Michael Powell was born, during September 1905, and where he spent much of his youth. 'A Canterbury Tale', inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's great work, is set in the south east of England during the war years and examines the relationships between the local British population and the US soldiers stationed there and the changes through which British society was going through at that time. Somewhat strangely, the crime in question involves the throwing of glue into the hair of the local girls, the justification for this being to distract the local girls from the US servicemen in England at the time whilst their own husbands and boyfriends were away fighting in other theatres of war. Also of interest in this film production is the fact that the US Army sergeant was played by an actual serving member of the US armed forces. Sergeant John Sweet was selected to play the role of Sergeant Bob Johnson by Powell and Pressburger personally.

Much of the film was shot in Canterbury itself and the devastation from the aftermath of what became known as the Baedeker Raids can still be seen.
7. What were the names of Michael Powell's two dogs that featured in a number of his films?

Answer: Erik and Spangle

Michael Powell's pets, Erik and Spangle, were a couple of golden cocker spaniels. The pair featured in a small number of Powell and Pressburger's films which include 'Contraband' and 'A Matter of Life and Death' produced and released in 1940 and 1946 respectively. Michael Powell took the name Spangle from a joke remark made in a Jean Harlow film. Alas, poor Erik; it was never revealed from where his name was taken.
8. Deborah Kerr, in the role of Sister Clodagh, found herself in a school at an isolated location in Asia in which Powell and Pressburger production?

Answer: Black Narcissus

It was the opinion of Michael Powell himself that 'Black Narcissus' was the most erotic film that he had ever made. 'Black Narcissus' is a beautiful film having, for its day, some excellent and award winning special and cinematographic effects. It tells an intense and emotional story of a group of nuns in an isolated convent school high in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The film, which starred Deborah Kerr and Flora Robson in major roles, came as something of a shock to the cinema going public of the time; they were not used to seeing such vibrant colour on screen.

In the version of the film that was released in the United States, some were also concerned over the portrayal of scenes in flashback of Sister Clodagh's life back in Ireland before she became a nun, so much so, that they were edited out.
9. Starring John Gregson, Anthony Quayle and Peter Finch, this 1956 Powell and Pressburger production tells the story of the destruction of a German warship. What was the title of this film as it was released for British audiences?

Answer: The Battle of the River Plate

This film was released in the United States under the title 'The Pursuit of the Graf Spee' and follows the events that took place near the Uruguayan capital Montevideo between the 13th and 17th of December 1939 . The vessel used to represent the Graf Spee was a US Navy cruiser, the USS Salem.

There appear to be a number of continuity errors in the film but these were beyond the control of Powell and Pressburger. The US Navy would not permit the display of any Nazi insignia aboard their vessels and so, in those scenes where the German naval ensign was raised, these were filmed on board Royal Navy vessels. Disappointingly, 'The Battle of the River Plate' was the penultimate film production by The Archers.

After the release of 'Ill Met by Moonlight' in 1957, Powell and Pressburger dissolved their partnership.
10. After Powell and Pressburger's film making relationship ended, their acrimonious split resulted in the pair never speaking to each other again?

Answer: False

Nothing could be further from the truth. After their working relationship came to an amicable end, Powell and Pressburger remained devoted friends until the death of Pressburger in 1988. Michael Powell passed away in 1990.
Source: Author SisterSeagull

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