Classic British Movies of the '60s Quiz

Answer: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

The term "angry young man" derived from the play "Look back in Anger" written by John Osborne and described a non-conformist, rebellious type of character as personified by Albert Finney in this movie.

This type of film was known as "kitchen sink" drama because it dealt with the everyday problems of average people.

Answer: "Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts".

It was unusual to show warts 'n' all characteristics for the hero in those days but in this film Lawrence was shown to have sado-masochistic tendencies as well as being possibly gay (or at least "bi")! In this scene early in the movie a young Lawrence was bored with his desk job and showing off to his colleagues by allowing lit matches to burn his hand.

His colleagues assumed it was a trick but were taken aback when he explained that there wasn't a trick... he really did get burned! Perhaps it relieved his boredom.

Answer: Harry Palmer

It seems Harry Palmer was a bit naughty during the war! His petty thieving crimes ultimately came home to roost after the war resulting in his being blackmailed by MI5 into working for them or going to prison, hence his reluctance to co-operate with superiors and his anti-authoritarian attitudes.

The other two films in this trilogy were "Funeral In Berlin" (1966) and "Billion Dollar Brain" (1967).

Answer: Dirk Bogarde

The soldier had volunteered for service and was the last surviving member of his company therefore the movie audience is very much on his side as his bravery isn't in doubt, but the top brass argue that an example must be made of him to keep up morale. Dirk Bogarde puts up a fierce defence on his behalf but are the cards already stacked against them?

"King and Country" is an unusual war film in that it takes place almost exclusively in a courtroom.

Dirk Bogarde was born in 1921 and served in WWII. In his film career he can boast an impressive list of credentials having appeared in classics such as "The Servant" (1963), "Darling" (1965) and "Accident" (1967). In his later career he appeared in a few controversial "art-house" movies such as "The Night Porter" (1971) and "Death in Venice" (1974).

Answer: King Henry VIII and Thomas More

The story dealt with Henry VIII's attempts to get the church on his side to allow him to divorce his Queen, and the resistance to those plans from the head of the church, Thomas More. I don't want to give away the plot for those who have yet to see it but... suffice to say he later became Saint Thomas More. Oh well, I've given it away now.

Paul Scofield (Thomas More) was a famed Shakespearian actor whilst Robert Shaw (King Henry) went on to become famous in "The Sting" and as Quint the shark hunter in "Jaws".

Answer: Alan Bates

The children hid the man in their barn, brought him food and kept his presence a secret from the authorities until eventually someone let the cat out of the bag. The children in effect became his disciples and perhaps one of them could be Judas Iscariot...?

The movie was directed by Brian Forbes and was based on a book written by Hayley Mills' mother, and was later turned into an Andrew Lloyd-Webber stage musical.

Born in Derbyshire in 1934, Alan Bates began his career as a stage actor in London, then on Broadway. "Whistle Down the Wind" was only his third film role. Some would say his most famous role was as the repressed Englishman in "Zorba the Greek" (1964) opposite Anthony Quinn in the title role.

Answer: Homosexuality

I think Dirk Bogarde was a courageous actor who dared to play risque roles which might have led to box office suicide in those unenlightened times when the hero was meant to be macho and straight. Here he gave a very sensitive portrayal of a well-to-do and charismatic lawyer whose sexual tendencies were, at that time, a criminal offence, and who as a result found himself being blackmailed.

Answer: Rugby

Richard Harris won a Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his potrayal of (fictional) rugby player Frank Machin and his turbulent love life.

The movie is set in the rather grim landscapes of Northern England where Rugby is more popular than soccer.

Answer: Zulu

These two men were the officers in command of the station at Rorke's Drift and were played by Stanley Baker and Michael Caine respectively. "Zulu" is a great boy's-own adventure story set in South Africa during the Boer War and portrayed the real life events in 1879 when a small unit of British soldiers was besieged by thousands of Zulus, each side earning the others' respect by their bravery. Who can forget the scene where the Welsh baritone voices heroically sing "Men of Harlech" in competition with the Zulu warriors singing their own song, each side trying to intimidate and out-do the other?

Answer: Nude wresting match between the two male lead actors

This movie starring Alan Bates, Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson was based on a novel written by D H Lawrence.

Many critics have tried to argue why the nude wrestling match was necessary to the plot but, in my humble view, none has completely succeeded. My guess is that the two characters, who in fact were best friends, were actually trying to prove to each other their manliness, their fighting prowess, but then things went a bit too far. The scene unfolded inside a room on a carpet in front of a roaring fire and goes on for quite a long time. My guess is that Ken Russell knew that it would be good for publicity and would boost box office takings - which it certainly did.

Michael Caine turned down the role of Gerald which then went to Oliver Reed. Perhaps he didn't like the idea of wrestling another actor in the nude.

The orgy scene with nuns and priests was from another Ken Russell movie, "The Devils"

Glenda Jackson won a Best Actress award for her portrayal of Gudrun.