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Quiz about Gumshoes in the Movies
Quiz about Gumshoes in the Movies

Gumshoes in the Movies Trivia Quiz


He may wear a hat, or have a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, and he likes to drink a bit. The gumshoe, or detective, is tough and smart, and sometimes he has a tough girl around too. How many of these film gumshoes do you recognize?

A multiple-choice quiz by robbieh. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
robbieh
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
241,622
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
2861
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 185 (7/10), Guest 97 (8/10), Guest 50 (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Humphrey Bogart was Sam Spade, the epitome of the gumshoe. He appeared in this classic film with Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, all in a quest for a priceless artifact. Name this movie, made in 1941. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This 1947 film starred Robert Montgomery as Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled gumshoe. He was hired to locate a woman who had vanished, or perhaps had taken off to Mexico. Of course, complications were to follow, and Marlowe found himself in trouble with the police. But this movie was shot in a unique way: through Marlowe's eyes, as if the camera was Marlowe himself. What was the title of this classic film noir? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Sergeant Jack Vincennes was another wonderful portrayal of a hard-boiled detective. He was a Los Angeles cop, a rather crooked one, who came to a bad end. Would it be helpful if I told you the film was "L.A. Confidential"? So, who played Jack Vincennes? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Mike Hammer was a hard-nosed private detective. He was featured in books, in films and on television. "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955) was a Mike Hammer film, starring Ralph Meeker. Name the tough-guy author who created Mike Hammer. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. John Shaft was the creation of the author Ernest Tidyman, and he was a bit different from the other detectives. He was cool, and he was African-American. "Shaft" was a big hit, with a very memorable soundtrack, directed by the famous photographer Gordon Parks. Name the actor who played John Shaft in this ground-breaking 1971 film. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Jack Nicholson had his turn playing a gumshoe in a great movie. This one was directed by Roman Polanski; Jack's character got his nose sliced up early on. "Chinatown" was the film - can you name the character he played? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This all-time great made two appearances as Private Detective Tony Rome, fedora and all. The films were "Tony Rome" (1967) and "Lady in Cement"(1968). Name this legendary performer. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Based on a true story, "The French Connection" was a big hit in 1971. Detective "Popeye" Eddie Doyle and his partner were involved in the effort to break up a large drug-smuggling operation. This classic film earned an Oscar for the man who portrayed "Popeye" Doyle. Name this great actor. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was a unique film, a mix of animated and human characters. Directed by Roger Zemeckis, it was one of the first films in which reality and animation came together and interacted convincingly. The main human character was a gumshoe. Can you name the actor who played him? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Phillip Marlowe was portrayed by several actors in different films. "The Big Sleep" was one of Raymond Chandler's most interesting mysteries, which was made into a film starring one of Hollywood's greatest stars. Who played Marlowe in "The Big Sleep"? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 09 2024 : Guest 185: 7/10
Oct 05 2024 : Guest 97: 8/10
Oct 03 2024 : Guest 50: 9/10
Oct 02 2024 : Guest 198: 9/10
Oct 01 2024 : Guest 73: 5/10
Sep 26 2024 : Guest 75: 7/10
Sep 26 2024 : Guest 49: 2/10
Sep 17 2024 : Guest 98: 8/10
Sep 17 2024 : Guest 147: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Humphrey Bogart was Sam Spade, the epitome of the gumshoe. He appeared in this classic film with Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, all in a quest for a priceless artifact. Name this movie, made in 1941.

Answer: The Maltese Falcon

"The Maltese Falcon" was based on a novel by the master crime writer Dashiell Hammett. Sam Spade and his partner were hired by a mysterious woman to locate her sister. Spade's partner was murdered, and the police were looking to pin it on the detective.

After several plot twists, everyone ended up in search of a valuable figurine. John Huston directed this film, with fine perfomances from a great cast. "Satan Met a Lady" was actually an earlier version of "The Maltese Falcon", starring Bette Davis. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948) was another John Huston film starring Humphrey Bogart. "The Glass Key" (1942) was written by Dashiell Hammett and starred George Raft.
2. This 1947 film starred Robert Montgomery as Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled gumshoe. He was hired to locate a woman who had vanished, or perhaps had taken off to Mexico. Of course, complications were to follow, and Marlowe found himself in trouble with the police. But this movie was shot in a unique way: through Marlowe's eyes, as if the camera was Marlowe himself. What was the title of this classic film noir?

Answer: Lady in the Lake

The story was recounted by Marlowe as he sat at a desk in his detective agency office; when the action began, the camera presented everything as though it had been seen through his eyes. From then on Marlowe was only seen when looking into a mirror. The cameraman, Paul Vogel, did a fine job, moving the camera to simulate what Marlowe saw as he walked up a flight of stairs, smoked a cigarette, got into a fight and participated in a car chase.

There was an interesting moment when the woman who hired Marlowe (Audrey Totter)tried to give him a kiss.

This unusual film was directed by Robert Montgomery himself. Of the other films mentioned "Lady Be Good" was released in 1941, "Lady in the Water" 2006 and "The Lady from Shanghai" in 1947.
3. Sergeant Jack Vincennes was another wonderful portrayal of a hard-boiled detective. He was a Los Angeles cop, a rather crooked one, who came to a bad end. Would it be helpful if I told you the film was "L.A. Confidential"? So, who played Jack Vincennes?

Answer: Kevin Spacey

This great movie had all the right stuff; performances, story, photography. It was an all-time classic. The plot revolved around efforts to solve a multiple homicide at the Nite Owl diner, and the subsequent uncovering of vast corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department. Directed by Curtis Hanson, and released in 1997, it won an Oscar for Kim Basinger (Best Supporting Actress) and another for the screenplay. Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and James Cromwell all appeared in "L.A. Confidential"; all three gave terrific performances.
4. Mike Hammer was a hard-nosed private detective. He was featured in books, in films and on television. "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955) was a Mike Hammer film, starring Ralph Meeker. Name the tough-guy author who created Mike Hammer.

Answer: Mickey Spillane

Mickey Spillane was a highly successful writer of crime novels. Seven of his books are among America's ten top-sellers of the twentieth century. He played Mike Hammer in a 1963 film, "The Girl Hunters". "Kiss Me Deadly" was a good story and a classic film noir. Mike Hammer picked up a young woman who was hitchhiking, and was then run off the road.

He ended up in the hospital, with the woman dead. When he attempted to investigate, he was warned to stay off the case; advice which was disregarded.

In addition to Ralph Meeker, Hammer has been portrayed by Stacy Keach, Darren McGavin and Biff Elliott. Spillane wrote thirteen Mike Hammer crime novels.
5. John Shaft was the creation of the author Ernest Tidyman, and he was a bit different from the other detectives. He was cool, and he was African-American. "Shaft" was a big hit, with a very memorable soundtrack, directed by the famous photographer Gordon Parks. Name the actor who played John Shaft in this ground-breaking 1971 film.

Answer: Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree had been a football player and a fashion model before becoming an actor. "Shaft" was the story of a private detective whose mission was to find a mobster's missing daughter, and of course there were the usual hassles with the police.

The cast included Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, and Lawrence Pressman. The movie was adapted from Tidyman's 1971 novel. It won an Oscar for Isaac Hayes for Best Song: the "Theme from Shaft". The film was a ground-breaker, opening the door for the flood of so-called "blaxploitation" films that were released in the '70s, and Shaft became a movie icon.
6. Jack Nicholson had his turn playing a gumshoe in a great movie. This one was directed by Roman Polanski; Jack's character got his nose sliced up early on. "Chinatown" was the film - can you name the character he played?

Answer: Jake Gittes

Nicholson played Jake Gittes, the others were also characters in the film. The film was about tycoon Hollis Mulwray and his very complicated family life, water issues, murder and venality in the early days in Los Angeles. Nicholson's nose was sliced by a thug, played by Roman Polanski, and he wore a big bandage on it for most of the film. "Chinatown" (1974) picked up eleven Oscar nominations, and won just one Oscar, for Robert Towne (Best Screenplay). Nicholson was nominated, as was Faye Dunaway, Roman Polanski (Best Director) and Robert Evans (Best Picture). John Huston appeared in this one, as Hollis Mulwray, along with Diane Ladd and John Hillerman.
7. This all-time great made two appearances as Private Detective Tony Rome, fedora and all. The films were "Tony Rome" (1967) and "Lady in Cement"(1968). Name this legendary performer.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Tony Rome was a tough Miami detective, solving mysteries in both films. Sinatra played a detective several times during his film career. His best efforts were in musicals, where he not only sang (as only he could) but danced as well. His crowning moment in films had to be when he won his Oscar for "From Here to Eternity" (1953).
8. Based on a true story, "The French Connection" was a big hit in 1971. Detective "Popeye" Eddie Doyle and his partner were involved in the effort to break up a large drug-smuggling operation. This classic film earned an Oscar for the man who portrayed "Popeye" Doyle. Name this great actor.

Answer: Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman is one of the most well-respected actors working in films today. He earned another Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Unforgiven" in 1992. He has appeared in such classic films as "The Conversation" in 1974 and "Reds" in 1981. "The French Connection" also picked up an Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director (William Friedkin, Best Screenplay and Best Editing. "Popeye" Doyle was based on real-life New York City detective Eddie Egan, who also had a role in the film. "The French Connection" featured a car chase that is considered to be one of the best ever filmed.

The cast included Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider and Tony LoBianco.
9. "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" was a unique film, a mix of animated and human characters. Directed by Roger Zemeckis, it was one of the first films in which reality and animation came together and interacted convincingly. The main human character was a gumshoe. Can you name the actor who played him?

Answer: Bob Hoskins

This was a chance for film fans to get to know British actor Bob Hoskins. He has appeared in several critically acclaimed films, including "The Long Good Friday" in 1980 and "Mona Lisa" in 1986. He was Oscar-nominated for Best Actor for "Mona Lisa".
A unique film and technical feat, "Jessica Rabbitt" was released in 1988. Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) was hired by a movie studio to snoop on Jessica Rabbitt, a Toon (animated character). Jessica was quite sexy, and her voice was supplied by Kathleen Turner in an uncredited role.
10. Phillip Marlowe was portrayed by several actors in different films. "The Big Sleep" was one of Raymond Chandler's most interesting mysteries, which was made into a film starring one of Hollywood's greatest stars. Who played Marlowe in "The Big Sleep"?

Answer: Humphrey Bogart

The unforgettable Humphrey Bogart was born on Christmas Day in 1899. He starred in many films, almost always as a tough guy, and is a film legend. He won an Oscar for Best Actor for "The African Queen" (1951). Bogart was married four times, the last time to actress Lauren Bacall.

They worked in several films together, including "The Big Sleep", released in 1946. He died of cancer at the young age of 57. "In The Big Sleep", Marlowe was hired by a dying man named General Sternwood to solve several problems within the Sternwood family.

The plot went on to become one of the most complicated in film history, and it's said that many people never did figure out many of the plot twists. Still, it was Bogart playing Phillip Marlowe and great fun to watch.

The great Robert Mitchum also played Phillip Marlowe, in the 1975 film "Farewell My Lovely". Raymond Chandler was the master of the crime novel genre, and Humphrey Bogart was the perfect actor to embody Chandler's characters.
Source: Author robbieh

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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This quiz is part of series Classic Movie Quizzes from Robbieh:

Robbieh created some great quizzes on movies when she was active in the Indian Gang....trying to ensure they are not lost, and that people continue to enjoy playing them...

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  7. Gumshoes in the Movies Easier
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  9. A Trench Coat, a Fedora and a Revolver Average
  10. Classic Leading Men : T or F Average

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