The Films of Sidney Lumet Trivia Quiz

Sidney Lumet is one of the great, under-appreciated filmmakers. Here are some questions about some of his movies.

A multiple-choice quiz by jjalan. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jjalan

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
175,058

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
347

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Sidney Lumet's directorial debut was the film "Twelve Angry Men". Henry Fonda plays an idealistic juror, who convinces his 11 fellow jurors to acquit a seemingly guilty defendant. What number juror is Henry Fonda's character? Hint

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2. The 1976 film "Network" was another Best Picture Nominee by Lumet. What famous line does Howard Beale yell in the movie? Hint

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"

"Down with America!"

"Let's Bomb France!"

"Turn off your televisions, morons!"

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3. In Lumet's "The Verdict" Paul Newman played a burnt out, booze-addled lawyer who wins a medical malpractice case. What famous actor was set to do the role before Newman? Hint

Dustin Hoffman

Robert Redford

Jack Nicholson

William Holden

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4. What type of place are Al Pacino and John Cazale robbing in the classic Lumet film "Dog Day Afternoon"? Hint

Convenience store

Post office

Bank

Train

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5. What happens to Serpico in the Lumet classic "Serpico"? Hint

He gets murdered.

He launders money and moves away to Tahiti.

He takes a bribe not to inform on his fellow officers.

He gets shot, testifies, and then moves away to Switzerland.

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6. There was a lawsuit over Lumet's film "Fail-Safe" because it resembled which similarly-themed and previously released film? Hint

Topkapi

The Manchurian Candidate

Dr. Strangelove

Seven Days in May

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7. What difficult situation does Jane Fonda's character find herself in in Lumet's "The Morning After"? Hint

It's the day after a nuclear holocaust.

Her daughter has been murdered.

She wakes up in a mental hospital.

She wakes up next to a dead guy.

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8. What rememberance from Rod Steiger's character's past haunts him in the film "The Pawnbroker"? Hint

He killed a man years ago.

His wife's mysterious death.

He was a communist spy.

He was in a concentration camp.

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9. What does Paul Newman do to Charlotte Rampling when he finds out she's double-crossed him in "The Verdict"? Hint

He shoots her.

He slaps her.

He reports her to the state attorney.

He forgives her and they get married.

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10. What happens to Howard Beale at the end of "Network"? Hint

He commits suicide.

He is assassinated on live television.

He becomes the most popular anchor in television history.

He gets carried off in a straight jacket.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: 8

"Twelve Angry Men" was a Best Picture Nominee featuring Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall, Jack Warden and Jack Klugman.

2. The 1976 film "Network" was another Best Picture Nominee by Lumet. What famous line does Howard Beale yell in the movie?

Answer: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"

Peter Finch won a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of suicidal news anchor Howard Beale. He died shortly after making the film.

3. In Lumet's "The Verdict" Paul Newman played a burnt out, booze-addled lawyer who wins a medical malpractice case. What famous actor was set to do the role before Newman?

Answer: Robert Redford

Redford was set to do the picture but was canned after he tried to do an end run and get his buddy Sydney Pollack as the director. Directors Arthur Hiller and James Bridges had been signed on to do the picture before Lumet eventually took over.

4. What type of place are Al Pacino and John Cazale robbing in the classic Lumet film "Dog Day Afternoon"?

Answer: Bank

The film was controversial because Pacino plays a homosexual robbing a bank to pay for his lover's sex change.

5. What happens to Serpico in the Lumet classic "Serpico"?

Answer: He gets shot, testifies, and then moves away to Switzerland.

The film is based on a true story about a New York police officer who testifies against police corruption.

6. There was a lawsuit over Lumet's film "Fail-Safe" because it resembled which similarly-themed and previously released film?

Answer: Dr. Strangelove

Starring Henry Fonda as the President, the movie "Fail-Safe" concerns the fear of nuclear confrontation with the Russians, a theme of course marvelously lampooned in Kubrick's classic farce "Dr. Strangelove". There was a TV remake of "Fail-Safe" in 2000.

7. What difficult situation does Jane Fonda's character find herself in in Lumet's "The Morning After"?

Answer: She wakes up next to a dead guy.

Fonda gives another superb performance as a woman with a bit of a drinking problem, who wakes up in a pool of some guy's blood. The movie also stars Jeff Bridges, Raul Julia and Kathy Bates.

8. What rememberance from Rod Steiger's character's past haunts him in the film "The Pawnbroker"?

Answer: He was in a concentration camp.

Rod Steiger is great in this film about a holocaust survivor haunted by the past.

9. What does Paul Newman do to Charlotte Rampling when he finds out she's double-crossed him in "The Verdict"?

Answer: He slaps her.

In a really powerful scene, Newman slaps the bejesus out of Rampling in the middle of a bar and then rather calmly walks away. This is a truly unforgettable scene.

10. What happens to Howard Beale at the end of "Network"?

Answer: He is assassinated on live television.

In a perfectly scathing ending to a perfectly scathing film, Howard Beale is knocked off on live television to record-breaking ratings. This is one of the best movies ever, based on a screenplay by Paddy Chayevsky and starring Oscar winners Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight, plus William Holden, Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty.

Source: Author jjalan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
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