Songs from Musicals: Part II Trivia Quiz

Answer: Calamity Jane

"Secret Love" was sung by Doris Day in the 1953 musical "Calamity Jane". The song was composed by Sammy Fain and Paul Frasncis Webster for the movie. The song reached number one in the USA and UK in 1954 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The movie is loosely based on the life of the female cowboy, drinker, brawler, and scout, Martha Jane Canary, Calamity Jane (1852-1903) and her relationship with Wild Bill Hickok.

Answer: South Pacific

Rossano Brazzi had the male lead as Emile de Becque in the 1958 movie "South Pacific". His voice was dubbed by the opera singer Giorgio Tozzi for the song "Some Enchanted Evening". The story centres around the romance of a US Navy nurse and a French plantation owner on a Pacific island during WWII.

Answer: Oklahoma!

Gordon MacRae as Curly sang "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" in the 1955 movie "Oklahoma!" The song was the first song that was sung in the beginning of the movie. The movie tells the story of two young cowboys who are in love with the same woman.

Answer: Funny Girl

Barbra Streisand performed this song in the 1968 musical "Funny Girl". The song was written by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne and Streisand performed the song on stage and in the movie. Barbra Streisand tied with Katharine Hepburn ("The Lion in Winter") for the Academy Award for Best Actress. "Funny Girl" is set in New York City before and after WWI.

The story is about Fanny Brice (Streisand) and her husband Nicky Ainstein (Omar Sharif) concerning his problems of failed business ventures and her determination to become an actress.

Answer: Oliver!

The song was sung by Jack Dawkins (Jack Wild) known as the Artful Dodger in the 1968 movie "Oliver!". Jack Wild sings the song to Oliver (Mark Lester) when they first meet. The story is a musical adaption of the Charles Dickens tale of an orphan who runs away and gets involved with a group of young lads who are pickpockets whose mentor is a man called Fagin.

Answer: High Society

"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was written by Cole Porter for the movie "High Society" (1956). The song was sung by Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm in the movie when they were looking at expensive wedding gifts, yet they had no desire to be rich. The movie "High Society" is about a spoiled heiress (Grace Kelly) who is about to marry for the second time.

Her ex-husband (Bing Crosby) lives next door and things become complicated when "Spy" magazine assigns their reporter, Mike Connors (Frank Sinatra), to report on the wedding.

Answer: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953) was film filled with gags and musical numbers. The film starred Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. It is Marilyn's rendition of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" wearing a pink dress that is best remembered. Russell and Monroe portray showgirls that are also best friends in the movie.

Answer: Band Wagon

"Dancing in the Dark" was first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1931 and was then featured in the 1953 MGM musical "The Band Wagon" starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. They both danced to the song in the movie "The Band Wagon". The story is about a veteran of musical comedy (Fred Astaire) and his uncomfortable relationship with a new and youthful ballerina (Cyd Charisse).

Their new production experiences various problems but eventually the production, show and story changes and they become lovers.

Answer: Grease

"Hopelessly Devoted to You" was sung by Oliver Newton-John as Sandy in the 1978 musical romantic comedy "Grease". The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song but lost out to "Last Dance" in the 1978 movie "Thank God It's Friday". The story centres around Sandy (Oliver Newton-John) from Australia and Danny (John Travolta) who spend time together during a summer in California in the 1950s and unbeknown to them after summer they attend the same high school.

At school Sandy finds Danny very different from the person she met during the summer, but eventually through various friends they become friends and lovers again.

Answer: An American in Paris

The music was written by George Gershwin and the lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song was performed by Georges Guetary as Henri "Hank" Baurel in the 1951 musical "An American in Paris" starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. The story is about an American WWII veteran (Gene Kelly) who is trying to make his reputation as a painter in Paris.

He becomes involved in a love triangle but eventually gets his true love in Leslie Caron.