Classic Romantic Comedies on the Silver Screen Quiz

Answer: She was blind.

Being destitute and homeless, he (Charlie Chaplin) buys a flower from the flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) not realizing at the time that she is blind. She mistakes him for a wealthy person. Charlie befriends a millionaire (Harry Meyers) who gives him $1,000, which he gives to the girl for surgery to recover her sight.

He is then jailed, because it is assumed he stole the money from the millionaire. On his release from jail, the flower girl still mistakes the tramp for a millionaire but only realizes her mistake once her sight is restored.

Answer: It Happened One Night

"It Happened One Night" was the first movie to win all five major Academy Awards, including awards for both Gable (Best Actor) and Colbert (Best Actress). The story revolves around Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert), a spoiled heiress and a reporter, Peter Warne (Clark Gable), a recently fired newspaper reporter looking for a story. Ellie plans to marry a pilot, "King" Westley (Jameson Thomas) which is against her parents' wishes, as they believe he is only after her fortune. She is traveling to meet Westley when she meets Peter Warne, who recognizes her and wants an exclusive story. After a number of adventures with Peter while trying to reach Westley, she finally realizes that she is really in love with Peter.

In "Private Worlds" (1935), Claudette Colbert starred with Charles Boyer and then with Joseph Cotton in "Since You Went Away" (1944). Clark Gable starred with Myrna Loy in "Manhattan Melodrama" (1934).

Answer: The Philadelphia Story

"The Philadelphia Story" starred Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor). The movie won two Academy awards from six nominations. The story is about a divorced wealthy socialite, Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), who is about to marry the rich George Kettredge (John Howard). Her former husband, C.K.Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), arranges for a magazine reporter, Macaulay "Mike" Connor (James Stewart), to cover the wedding. Tracy gets drunk the night before the wedding and swims with Mike in the family pool. George does not forgive her for this act and the following day she re-marries Dexter. The remake in 1956 was "High Society" which was the final film appearance of Grace Kelly before she became Princess Consort of Monaco. Grace Kelly played the role of Tracy, Bing Crosby was Dexter and Frank Sinatra played the role of Mike.

The other three movies were also romantic comedies with "His Girl Friday" (1940) starring Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell and Ralph Bellamy. "My Favorite Wife" (1940) starred Cary Grant, Randolph Scott and Irene Dunne, and "The Lady Eve" (1941) starred Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda and Charles Coburn.

Answer: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn

During their careers Tracy and Hepburn co-starred in nine movies together from 1942-1967. This one was their sixth in 1949. Spencer Tracy (1900-1967) won two Academy Awards for Best Actor. Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) won four Academy Awards for Best Actress. In the movie, the married couple Adam and Amanda oppose each other in an attempted murder trial; he for the prosecution and she for the defense. The result of the case leads to divorce proceedings between Adam and Amanda. However, they eventually settle their differences and decide that they truly love each other.

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall co-starred in many movies together during the 1940s and were actually married from 1945 until his death in 1957. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell co-starred in "His Girl Friday" (1940) and James Stewart and Donna Reed co-starred in "It's A Wonderful Life" (1946).

Answer: Roman Holiday

"Roman Holiday" is a romantic comedy. Audrey Hepburn plays the role of a princess from an unspecified country and while in Rome just wants to be and act like any normal person. She unexpectedly meets an American reporter portrayed by Gregory Peck. He does not recognize her and they spend an exciting, fun and eventful day together in Rome. Interestingly, Cary Grant was originally offered the role played by Gregory Peck but turned it down. Elizabeth Taylor and Jean Simmons were offered the role played by Audrey Hepburn but at the time they were unavailable with other commitments.

"Last Tango in Paris" was a 1972 movie starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. "From Paris with Love" was a 2010 action movie starring John Travolta. "An American in Paris" was a 1951 musical film starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron.

Answer: Harold and Maude

The movie "Harold and Maude" revolves around the experiences of a young man Harold (Bud Cort) who is intrigued with death. He eventually meets a 79 year old woman, Maude (Ruth Gordon), who teaches him that life is a gift and he should enjoy it to the fullest. The relationship between the two eventually and slowly develops into a romantic relationship.

"Secretary" (2002) is an erotic romance movie that explores the relationship between E. Edward Grey (James Spader) and his secretary Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal). "Punch-Drunk Love" (2002) is a romantic comedy drama starring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, and "Chasing Amy" (1997) is a romantic comedy starring Ben Affleck and Joey Lauren Adams.

Answer: Annie Hall

"Annie Hall" (1977) is a movie directed by Woody Allen who also plays the role of Alvy "Max" Singer. The movie follows the story of Alvy's love for Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) and his efforts in trying to find the reasons for the breakdown of their relationship. The relationship is an on and off affair but Alvy is smitten by Annie. Eventually they both move on to other relationships.

"Manhattan" (1979) also starred Woody Allen and Diane Keaton with Mariel Hemingway being nominated for Best Actress. "Julia" (1977) was nominated for 11 Academy Awards winning three, including Jason Robards (Best Supporting Actor) and Vanessa Redgrave (Best Supporting Actress) at the 50th Academy Awards in 1978. "The Goodbye Girl" (1977) was nominated for Best Picture with Richard Dreyfuss winning Best Actor in 1978.

Answer: Moonstruck

Olympia Dukakis is the cousin of Michael Dukakis, who was the Democratic nominee for President of the USA in 1988. Cher won the award for Best Actress and Dukakis the award for Best Supporting Actress. "Moonstruck", nominated for six Academy Awards, is a romantic comedy about a 37 year old widow Loretta (Cher), who lives with her parents and paternal grandfather. Her boyfriend (Johnny) proposes to her before flying off to Italy to see his dying mother and promises to marry her when he returns in one month. While he is away she has an affair with Johnny's younger brother (Ronny) and falls in love with him one night during a bright moon spell. In the meantime her father is being unfaithful to her mother but father and daughter come to a truce as he knows she is being unfaithful to her fiancee. When Johnny returns from Italy he breaks off the engagement and Ronny steps in and proposes to Loretta.

"Steel Magnolias" (1989) is a comedy drama which starred Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Olympia Dukakis. "Mermaids" (1990) is a comedy drama starring Cher and Bob Hoskins. "Tales of the City" (1993) is a television miniseries starring Olympia Dukakis in the lead role of Anna Madrigal.

Answer: Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan

Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) share a drive to New York to start new careers, after both had graduated from the University of Chicago. After various discussions on the trip with regard to the role of male and female relationships they part company in New York on unfriendly terms. Over the next five years they occasionally meet again in some unusual circumstances, fall in love, then move on again with other relationships. Finally, at a New Years Eve party they meet unexpectedly and realize they are truly lonely without each other and finally marry.

Billy Crystal is an American actor, producer, comedian and TV host. He has hosted the Academy Awards on many occasions. Meg Ryan is an American actress, director and producer. She has won two American Comedy Awards for Funniest Actress in a Leading role.

Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith starred in the 1992 movie "Shining Through". Woody Allen and Mia Farrow appeared together in "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986), and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were together in "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993).

Answer: An Affair to Remember

Throughout "Sleepless in Seattle" there are references, clips and the original theme used in "An Affair to Remember" starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Even in the closing scenes, while trying to get up to the observation deck, Annie (Meg Ryan) quotes from "An Affair to Remember" which the elevator operator recognizes and states that it was his wife's favorite movie. Nora Ephron (1941-2012) was the director and screenwriter of "Sleepless in Seattle" and was influenced by the story in "An Affair to Remember".

"The Dirty Dozen" (1967) is talked about during dinner with Sam, Jonah, Greg and Suzy. Suzy was played by Rita Wilson who is the actual wife of Tom Hanks. The opening music in "Sleepless in Seattle" is from the movie "Casablanca" (1942) being "As Time Goes By". "An Affair to Remember" (1957) was the remake of the movie "Love Affair" (1939) starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. Both of these movies were directed by Leo McCarey.