Garbo's final appearance was this 1941 romantic comedy, directed by George Cukor and co-starring Melvyn Douglas. Garbo attempts to reconnect with her estranged husband (Douglas) by pretending to be her own twin. MGM was forced to re-shoot several scenes prior to release to avoid a "condemned" rating from the Legion of Decency.
The film lost money and was universally panned by critics. Garbo's contract was terminated shortly after "Two-Faced Woman's" release and her career never gained traction after World War II.
2. Humphrey Bogart
Answer: The Harder They Fall
Already suffering from the cancer which killed him a few months after "The Harder They Fall" was released, Bogie turned in a performance that drew admiring reviews. Widely considered the greatest male star in movie history, Bogart played a sports writer turned boxing manager.
The story was a thinly disguised retelling of a real life scandal involving heavyweight Primo Carnera who unsuccessfully sued Columbia Pictures for invasion of privacy.
3. Charlie Chaplin
Answer: A Countess From Hong Kong
Chaplin made only a cameo appearance in this Sophia Loren, Marlon Brando movie which he wrote and directed. Loren plays a stateless Russian emigre who attempts to get into the US by stowing away with a diplomat (Brando). Chaplin appears briefly as a ship's steward.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, ranging from very poor to fairly good. Chaplin never again appeared on film.
4. Natalie Wood
Answer: Brainstorm
Natalie Wood died during a break in filming of "Brainstorm", a science fiction feature. Wood and Christopher Walken played married scientists who developed a method of recording and playing back peoples' memories. Her major scenes had been completed before her death and after some hesitation, MGM decided to complete filming.
The movie was released in 1983, almost two years following Woods' death. "Brainstorm" did not prove a financial success largely due to lack of promotion by MGM.
5. Tony Curtis
Answer: David & Fatima
This 2008 film was a retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" set in Jerusalem with a love affair between an Israeli man and a Palestinian woman. Cameron Van Hoy and Danielle Pollack play the star-crossed lovers. Curtis' brief appearance as a neighbor was less than memorable.
He died of cardiac arrest a couple of years following the release of "David & Fatima". The film was neither a critical nor financial success.
6. George C. Scott
Answer: Gloria
Scott's 40 year film career ended with a thud, unfortunately. "Gloria" was soundly panned by critics and lost a lot of money. Star Sharon Stone played an ex-convict who goes up against the mob to protect a young boy from them. She received a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress for her efforts. Scott died 8 months after the movie was released of a ruptured aneurysm.
7. Vivien Leigh
Answer: Ship Of Fools
Based on a Katherine Anne Porter novel, 1965's "Ship Of Fools" portrayed passengers on a liner travelling to Nazi Germany prior to WWII. Despite physical and mental health problems, Leigh put in an admirable performance. The film was nominated for several Oscars and won two. Two years later while in rehearsal for a new play, Leigh died of complications of tuberculosis.
8. Cary Grant
Answer: Walk, Don't Run
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics provide a backdrop for this romantic comedy. Grant plays matchmaker to his younger co-stars Samantha Eggar and Jim Hutton. "Walk, Don't Run" proved a moderate success at the box office. Grant announced his retirement following the film's release.
He turned down numerous offers to return to film over the next 20 years. In 1986, Grant was touring in his one man show "A Conversation with Cary Grant" when he died of a massive stroke.
9. Bette Davis
Answer: Wicked Stepmother
Davis played a witch who, along with her daughter, tries to take over the family of her newlywed husband. She dropped out of shooting this comedy not far into production, citing issues with the script but it's been suggested that she was suffering health problems. Rewritten to cover her absence (her character was turned into a cat) "Wicked Stepmother" was a financial failure but Davis' performance received generally positive reviews.
After a 58 year career, Bette Davis died months after the film's release.
10. Elizabeth Taylor
Answer: The Flintstones
Taylor plays Fred Flintstone's (John Goodman) intrusive mother-in-law, Pearl Slaghoople, in this 1994 adaptation of the animated TV show. "The Flintstones" proved popular with audiences, but wasn't well received by critics. After more than 50 years as one of the world's preeminent film stars, Taylor died of congestive heart failure in 2011.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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