A Blaze of Glory Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lena Headey

"300" is an epic war film in the historical fantasy genre based on the comic series by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. King Leonidas leads 300 elite Spartans against 300,000 invading Persians at Thermopylae while his queen attempts to persuade the Spartan Council to send reinforcements to his aid. The impossibly outnumbered Spartans, using a narrow pass to their advantage, employ a military tactic known as "defeat in detail" (or "divide and conquer") to hold back the invaders and buy Sparta (and Greece) some time. Defeat in detail is a tactic used to engage a larger force by degrees rather than its entire strength.

Headey's strong female character was credited with attracting a large number of women to the film. Danish actress Connie Nielsen and Israeli Gal Gadot portrayed Queen Hippolyta and Diana Prince, respectively in "Wonder Woman" (2017). German actress Diane Kruger played Helen of Troy in the 2004 film, "Troy".

This question was eked out by Phoenix Rising member JCSon.

Answer: The Patriot

"The Patriot" (2000) is set during the American Revolution and tells the fictional story of how the war affected the Martin family. Benjamin Martin is a veteran of the French and Indian War who wants nothing to do with the Revolution but gets drawn into it when his oldest son (played by Heath Ledger) joins the colonist cause. Although fictional, the story remains true to the time period and the events of the American Revolution as seen in South Carolina. Mel played Benjamin Martin. The movie highlights the guerilla tactics used in the American South during the war in which a smaller force is able to keep a larger force engaged.

"Braveheart" (1995) is based on the historical character William Wallace and the First War of Scottish Independence. Although the movie's historical accuracy has been questioned, it still revolves around true historical characters and events. Mel played William Wallace and directed the movie. The movie features the historic Battles of Stirling Bridge and Falkirk in which the Scots were outnumbered both times. They won the first but lost the second.

"We Were Soldiers" (2002) is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young" by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Hal Moore and reporter Joseph L. Galloway. It tells the true story of the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between US forces and the North Vietnamese Army in the Vietnam War in late 1965. Mel played then Col. Hal Moore. The movie focuses on the famous Seventh Cavalry of Custer fame and Moore worries he has led his men into another ambush. But Moore and his men triumph, inflicting severe casualties on the NVA.

"Hacksaw Ridge" (2016) is based on the true story of Desmond Doss and his heroics during World War II in the Pacific. Although only a medic, Doss won the Congressional Medal of Honor for rescuing 75 soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge. Mel directed the movie. The climactic events of the movie take place during the Battle for Okinawa at a place called the Maeda Escarpment aka Hacksaw Ridge. The Marines are driven off the ridge by a massive and overwhelming Japanese counter-attack but eventually regain the lost ground with a counter-attack of their own.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619.

Answer: The Last Command

The Battle of the Alamo started on February 23, 1836 with General Santa Anna, and his 1500 or so Mexican troops besieged the Alamo Mission, trapping the Texan militia inside. After 13 days, on March 6, 1836, the Mexican army advanced on the Alamo and on the third assault, overthrew the defenders. Santa Anna ordered that no quarter be given and all the defenders of the Mission were killed, with minimal losses on the Mexican side.

In the 1955 version of these events, "The Last Command", Sterling Hayden is cast as Jim Bowie, while Richard Carlson and Arthur Hunnicutt play William Travis and Davy Crockett, respectively. J. Carrol Naish is the infamous General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. In "The Last Command", Santa Anna orders the raising of the red flag and the sounding of the Degüello (from the Spanish for 'throat-cutting'), both signifying that no prisoners would be taken.

This question was rallied by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.

Answer: The Satsuma Rebellion

"The Last Samurai" is a war film based on events during the westernisation of Japan in the late 1800s. In the movie, US Army Captain Algren (played by Tom Cruise) is sent to Japan to train the Imperial Japanese Army. He is caught by the rebel samurai army and eventually sympathises with their cause.

In the final battle of "The Last Samurai", rebel leader Katsumoto (played by Ken Watanabe), when faced with sure defeat, mounts a suicidal charge against opposing Imperial forces. He is grievously injured and chooses to perform seppuku (ritual suicide) with Algren's help. This scene is noteworthy because of the situation in which the main characters find themselves, the options they face, and the reaction of the opposing force who defied orders by ceasing fire and kneeling in respect for Katsumoto.

The events in the movie loosely mirror that of the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion by Saigo Takamori. Legend has it that in the Battle of Shiroyama the wounded Takamori also chose seppuku rather than surrender to the Imperial Army.

This question was waged by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing.

Answer: Éomer

"The Two Towers" is the second installment in Peter Jackson's high fantasy film trilogy based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Frodo and Sam meet the creature Gollum and continue their quest to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, the armies of Rohan are embattled at Helm's Deep, and Merry and Pippin bring the Ents to confront Saruman at Isengard.

In the film adaptation, King Théoden's nephew Éomer is exiled by Saruman's henchman, Wormtongue. He returns leading his éored (2,000 cavalry) at the height of the siege at Helm's Deep to turn the tide of the battle. Haldir leads a company of Lórien Elves in defense of the fortress. The King's son, Théodred, is killed before the Battle of Helm's Deep. Erkenbrand does not appear in the films, but in Tolkien's work, it is he who leads the reinforcements, albeit on foot.

Tolkien purists will know that the battle is more properly called the Battle of the Hornburg. "Helm's Deep" actually refers to the ravine behind the Hornburg fortress. The depiction of this battle was named in 2007 by CNN Entertainment as one of the best movie battle scenes of all time.

This question was mustered up by Phoenix Rising member JCSon.

Answer: Battle of the Nek

This futile battle was ostensibly designed to remove the Turkish army from their entrenched position. The ANZAC forces, made up of volunteers from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, India, Pacific Islands and others, fought to dislodge the Turks from the place known as Baby 700.

In the Peter Weir movie, Mark Lee and Mel Gibson join the ANZACs and are sent to Mideast. In a ludicrous situation, the troops, under British command, were instructed to attack the Turkish position. The entire first wave of 150 men was cut down by machine gun fire in minutes. Due to communications being cut, the (conflicting) messages from the command centre were delayed or not received at all; one General wanted to cancel the attack on Nek, while another insisted the ANZACs continue the charge at all costs.

The Gallipoli campaign has become known as an icon of Australia's coming of age, and in spite of the horrific, bungled and unnecessary events there, symbolises Australia's growing nationhood.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.

Answer: James Stewart

A young and idealistic Jefferson Smith is appointed to a senator-ship by his governor. Because of his naivety he is seen as one who could be easily manipulated. Smith has a dream to set up a National Boys camp, but his bill is going to come into conflict with a graft scheme run by the powerful Jim Taylor (Edward Arnold). When Taylor fails to corrupt Smith, he sets out to destroy him and rigs up a plot that embroils the young senator in a scandal. Smith's first thought is to run but then he would not be able to clear his name. Clarissa Saunders (Jean Arthur), whom Smith has affections for, convinces him to launch a filibuster (sometimes called "talking a bill to death"). This would serve to delay both the appropriations bill that Taylor is looking to push through and the Senate vote to expel Smith. In the process it would provide him with the opportunity to clear his name. Smith then sets himself to talk non-stop for twenty-four hours.

"Mr Smith Goes to Washington" was directed by Frank Capra and it has been cited as one of the best Hollywood films of all time. The American Film Institute listed it at number 26 in its 2007 edition of "100 Movies". The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards but had the misfortune of having to compete with both "Gone With the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz". It would win one Oscar, for Best Writing/Original Story.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Tank

"Fury" is about tank warfare in the last days of WWII as the Allies got closer to Berlin. Collier's tank crew had been sent, with other tanks, to guard a vital crossroads in the allies' supply chain. The problem was all the other tanks had been knocked out and Fury, Collier's crew's tank, was disabled and could not move. In the finale which was a shootout between the tank and an entire German battalion, Collier's crew fought to the death with only one crew member surviving.

"Fury" was considered a critical and commercial success and today viewed as one of the best depictions of WWII.

The question was created by Phoenix Rising member 1nn1.

Answer: None of them do

This one qualified as a "last stand" because there was something of a "Mexican stand-off" here. Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) is an undercover cop who is bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound. Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) is also in the building but he's hiding under a set of stairs. Joe has his gun pointed at Mr. Orange and is set to kill him. Mr. White, who does not believe that Mr. Orange is a cop takes aim at Joe. Nice Guy Eddie is Joe's son and he doesn't like the way Mr. White is pointing the gun at his father and takes a bead on Mr White. This is a scene that draws heavily on Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966). Four shots ring out and three men fall down. Joe and Eddie are dead. Mr White is on the floor but still moving. He doesn't see Mr. Pink sneak out from his hiding place, grab the stolen diamonds and flee. Mr. White cradles the dying Mr. Orange who confesses that he is a police officer. Mr. White places his gun against Mr. Orange's head. As the screen blacks out and we hear police storm the building, order White to drop his gun and then a gunshot rings out.

The story shows us the prelude and the aftermath of a botched diamond heist by eight men and it is told in a series of flashbacks and leaps forward. The actual robbery is not shown. Yes, there is a mistake in the film - in the scene above, four gunshots ring out but you only see three fired - which director Quentin Tarantino claimed he was aware of but left it there deliberately. Mr. Nice Guy's squib went off early and he falls. The scene should have shown Mr. White shooting Joe, turning and shooting Eddie. As Eddie had already fallen Mr. White went to ground too, leaving the viewers with a mystery.

This question was shot up by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Butch the boxer picked up his girlfriend on a stolen chopper motorcycle.

In this movie, Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) are two thugs who work for Marcellus Wallace who needs a case (with unknown contents) recovered and a boxing match fixed. Butch (Bruce Willis), a boxer, reneges on throwing the match, goes back to his apartment to find Vincent there, the latter being sent by Wallace to kill Butch for not throwing the fight. Butch kills Vincent and escapes eventually, stealing Zed's chopper and picking up his girlfriend and leaving for Knoxville. ("Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead"). This could only be the last scene as all the other options included Vincent who is very much alive in each scene.

This movie resurrected John Travolta's career, made Quentin Tarantino a household name and made put Film Noir back on the movie-making agenda once again.

The question was created by Phoenix Rising member 1nn1.