25 Great Films, Part 1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wuthering Heights

"Wuthering Heights" stars Merle Oberon as Cathy, the selfish girl who is in love with Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier), her father's stable boy. Cathy marries another man, a rich man, but always loves Heathcliff. Though they are never end up together, at the end of the film their ghosts walk together.
Vivien Leigh wanted the role of Cathy, but the producers chose Oberon instead. Though nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the film only won one, for Best Cinematography (black and white). William Wyler directed.
The novel "Wuthering Heights" was written by Emily Bronte.

Answer: East of Eden

"East of Eden", directed by Elia Kazan, was the first film to receive a posthumous acting nomination, for star James Dean. The film received four Oscar nominations, but only won one. Paul Newman screen tested to play the part of Cal's older brother Aron, but the role went to Richard Davalos.
"East of Eden" is about love of family and sibling rivalry. James Dean plays the main character, Cal, who is constantly trying to gain the love of his father (Raymond Massey). Cal also gains the affection of his brother's girlfriend, Abra (Julie Harris), causing more problems between the brothers.

Answer: The Philadelphia Story

"The Philadelphia Story" was directed by George Cukor. Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) is marrying George (John Howard), but finds herself confused after journalist Macaulay Connor (James Stewart) and ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) show up. In the end, Tracy must choose which man she wants to marry.
"The Philadelphia Story" won Best Actor and Best Screenplay.
"High Society" was a musical remake featuring Grace Kelley, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby in the parts of Hepburn, Stewart, and Grant, respectively.

Answer: Cinderella Man

"Cinderella Man", directed by Ron Howard, stars Russell Crowe as James Braddock, a boxer who fights to keep his family together. Before the outbreak of the Depression, Braddock and his wife live a very comfortable life, but after the crash of the stock market, James breaks his hand, and finds it difficult to fight. Braddock overcomes many trials to fulfill his dream.
Paul Giamatti, who plays James' best friend and manager, was nominated for his performance.

Answer: The Godfather, Part II

"The Godfather, Part II" is about Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the new boss of the Corleone crime family. The film chronicles Michael's growing power while flashing back to see how his father, Vito (played by Robert De Niro), made his way in America as a Sicilian immigrant.
"The Godfather" won Best Picture in 1972, and two years later, so did its sequel. Both films were directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starred Al Pacino as Michael Corleone. "The Godfather, Part II" was nominated for eleven Oscars, winning six. Robert De Niro won Best Supporting Actor for playing young Vito Corleone.

Answer: The Mask of Zorro

"The Mark of Zorro" was made in 1920 and again in 1940. "The Mask of Zorro", starring Antonio Banderas, came out in 1998, and also starred Catherine Zeta-Jones. Banderas plays Alejandro Murietta, a bandit trained by Zorro (Hopkins) to become his successor. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Elena, the daugther of Zorro and love of Alejandro. Alejandro is transformed by Zorro from a poor outlaw to a dashing aristocrat.

The main plot focuses on Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), who is planning to buy land from Mexico, using stolen gold. The film was nominated for two Oscars (Best Sound and Best Effects) but did not win either. Martin Campbell directed.

Answer: A Streetcar Named Desire

"A Streetcar Named Desire" is about Blanche Dubois, an insane woman who goes to live with her sister and her husband in the French quarter of New Orleans. Blanche is delusional, and irritates Stanley Kowalski (Brando), her sister's husband, who eventually abuses her at the price of his wife.
Vivien Leigh won Best Actress for her role as Blanche Dubois, Karl Malden took Best Supporting Actor for his part as Mitch, and Kim Hunter won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Stella (of the famous line, "Hey Stella!").
The film was nominated for Best Picture but lost to "An American in Paris", and Kazan lost Best Director to George Stevens for "A Place in the Sun".
Tennesee Williams wrote the famous play that focuses on the animalistic sexual tendencies of the main characters.

Answer: Gone with the Wind

Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) is the man who spoke those infamous words.
"Gone with the Wind" is the epic story of Scarlet O'Hara, a spoiled southern belle who goes through several husbands before finally finding the man she truly loves, only then it is too late. The film takes place during the American Civil War.
"Gone with the Wind" was nominated for thirteen Oscars and won eight, including Best Picture and Director. Vivien Leigh won Best Actress for her role as Scarlet O'Hara, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American woman to win an Oscar for her part as Mammy, beating co-star Olivia de Havilland. The four-hour long film is based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell. The film had several directors, but the Oscar went to Victor Fleming.

Answer: Casablanca

"Casablanca" is about Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), an American saloon owner in Casablanca during WWII. Everything is running fine for him, until one night, two letters of transit to Portugal are thrust into his care. The police are searching for the letters, which were stolen off two murdered German carriers. The same evening, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), Rick's old girlfriend, enters his cafe with a famous underground Nazi fighter, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid).
Although nominated for eight Oscars, this film won three: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. "Casablanca" was voted the second greatest American film of all time by the American Film Institute in 1997, and the third greatest when AFI redid their list in 2007.
Michael Curtiz won Best Director.
A tear-jerking romance, "Casablanca" was voted the number one romance movie by the AFI.

Answer: It's a Wonderful Life

James Stewart, in the greatest performance of his career, stars as George Bailey. Donna Reed plays his wife Mary, Thomas Mitchell plays Uncle Billy, and Lionel Barrymore plays the villain, Mr. Potter.
"It's a Wonderful Life" tells the tale of George Bailey, from his youth to adulthood. When George runs into a very difficult time, he wishes he were never born, and is given the opportunity to see what his town would have been like without him.
Nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, the film won none. "The Best Years of Our Lives" swept the Oscars that year. The American Film Institute voted this film the most inspiring movie of all time. The final scene can make anyone's eyes water. Frank Capra directed.

Answer: Bringing Up Baby

Cary Grant plays Dr. David Huxley, a paleontologist who somehow gets caught up in the life of Susan Vance (Hepburn). Together they deal with dinosaur bones, a dog named George, and a leopard named Baby. Huxley, who was supposed to be getting married, ends up spending a weekend with Susan, who falls in love with him.
The screwball comedy was not nominated for any awards, but it receives more recognition now than it did when it first came out. Howard Hawks directed.

Answer: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

"Dead Man's Chest" (2006) and "At World's End" (2007) are two sequels. Johnny Depp was nominated for his performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. Orlando Bloom stars as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa.
"The Curse of the Black Pearl" is the supernatural story of Jack Sparrow, captain of the Black Pearl, who has lost his ship in a mutiny. The crew of the Pearl is cursed. Sparrow sets off with Will Turner to recapture the Black Pearl and rescue Will's love, Elizabeth Swann (daughter of the island's governor).
The film was based, not on a book, but off of a ride at Disney World. The Oscars it was nominated for were: Best Actor, Makeup, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects.

Answer: The Empire Strikes Back

"The Empire Strikes Back" came out in 1980, three years after the original "A New Hope". While this film acts as a go-between from "A New Hope" to "Return of the Jedi", many "Star Wars" fans feel that this is in fact the best of the six films. Mark Hamill stars as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.
This "Star Wars" movie focuses on Luke's training as a Jedi, and the revenge of the Dark Side against the Rebellion. At the end of the film, Han Solo is frozen in carbonite and sold to Jabba the Hutt, a slug-like creature to whom Han owes money.
"The Empire Strikes Back" won the Oscar for Best Sound, but was also nominated for Best Music and Best Art Direction. Irvin Kershner directed.

Answer: The Last Crusade

The film, which came out in 1989, was nominated for three Oscars: Best Effects, Music, and Sound, and won for Effects. Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones, Sean Connery as his father, Henry Jones, Denholm Elliot as friend Dr. Marcus Brody, and Alison Doody as the beautiful Dr. Elsa Schneider.
Indy rescues his father, who has been kidnapped, and teams up with Elsa Schneider, who is supposedly a colleague of the elder Jones. Indy eventually solves the mystery of the Grail and meets the ancient knight who had been guarding the sacred cup.
Steven Spielberg directed.

Answer: Raiders of the Lost Ark

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981) was the first Indy film. Karen Allen co-stars as ex-girlfriend Marion Ravenwood, who reappears in the latest film, "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". Indiana Jones is, as usual, fighting the Nazis, this time searching for the lost Ark of the Covenant.

Indiana initially does not believe in the Ark's powers, but changes his mind when the powers of the Ark kill all of the Nazis who wish to use it for their own benefit. Steven Spielberg directed.