Who Played the Wife? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Elizabeth Berridge

New York native Elizabeth Berridge played Mozart's wife in the movie. Prior to landing the role her only other significant credits were as Sheila Steward in "Natural Enemies" (1979) and as Amy Harper in the 1981 film "The Funhouse". She also appeared in the television series "Texas" as Allison Linden from 1980-1982. Elizabeth was well cast in the role of the elegant but frustrated wife of Mozart. Even though Mozart's genius was not grounded, she supported him when he chose to write music for the common people rather than the royalty, before his early death. Thomas Hulce was nominated for his role as Mozart but did not win Best Actor. Prior to that he had a role as one of the Delta House fraternity gang in 1979's "Animal House". Peggy Ashcroft took Oscar home for her role in "A Passage to India" released the same year. Lindsay Crouse earned a nomination for "Places in the Heart" and Patrizia von Brandenstein did win an Oscar for her work in "Amadeus" in the Best Art Direction-Set Decoration category. Interesting fact; Meg Tilly was originally cast for the role of Constanze but after beginning rehearsals she injured her leg playing soccer and had to cease production, giving Berridge the opportunity to play the role.

Answer: Verna Bloom

Verna Bloom started her acting career on stage. She made the transition to the big screen in 1969 where she appeared in "Medium Cool". Other films to feature the versatile Boston native are "High Plains Drifter" (1973), "The Last Temptation of Christ" in 1988 and "Mean Streets" (1973). In "High Plains Drifter" Verna played the role of the innkeepers wife who becomes Clint Eastwood's romantic interest. To further exhibit her versatility she played Jesus' mother Mary in "The Last Temptation of Christ". Martin Scorsese had also tapped Verna for a role in his 1985 film "After Hours". In "Animal House" she couldn't resist the urge to party with the fraternity boys and ended up being sent away on a long vacation to avoid scandal.
Gena Rowlands was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "Gloria" (1979). Eva Le Gallienne was in "Resurrection" (1980) and the role of Vickie Thailer was played by Cathy Moriarty in the 1980 film "Raging Bull".
Interesting fact; After replacing Glenda Jackson in Broadway's "Marat/Sade" in 1967 Verna was offered her first film role.

Answer: Mary Kay Place

Tulsa-born Mary Kay Place became a household name when she starred in the offbeat soap opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1976-1977). Her first television appearance was on "All in the Family" playing one of Gloria's girlfriends. Norman Lear was so impressed with her that he cast her in "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman".

She took home an Emmy for her portrayal of Loretta. After the soap opera ended some of her ensuing films roles were with Burt Reynolds in the 1979 film "Starting Over" and the 1983 film "The Big Chill".

In "Captain Ron" Mary's character had to endure the frustrating results of every failed effort to bring the inherited boat home while still trying to protect her children from various influences and dangers. Benjamin Salisbury played one of the Harvey children in "Captain Ron".

The following year he achieved television stardom on "The Nanny". Moira Kelly played Oona O'Neill Chaplin in the 1992 film "Chaplin". Marcia Strassman played Mrs. Diane Szalinski in "Honey I Blew Up the Kid" opposite Rick Moranis in 1992. Lori Petty was one of the ball players in the 1992 film "A League of their Own". Interesting fact; Mary Kay Place is also a singer and appeared with Willie Nelson in 1977 on "Saturday Night Live" singing "Something to Brag About".

Answer: Geena Davis

Massachusetts native Geena Davis has taken home her share of Emmy, Oscar and Golden Globe awards. Her six-foot stature was a plus for her original field of modeling. She was working as a model when she was cast in "Tootsie" in 1982 playing a soap-opera actress. Her biggest exposure came in 1986 with "Beetlejuice" and opposite Jeff Goldblum in "The Fly" the same year. Her role as Adam's wife was essentially as the foil to Beetlejuice's shenanigans. After her appearance in those films she went on to critical acclaim in such films as "Thelma and Louise" (1991) and "A League of Their Own" the following year. She is the recipient of a Bachelor's Degree in Drama from Boston University and had her own sitcom during the 2000-2001 television season.
In "Beetlejuice" Catherine O'Hara played Delia Deetz, Winona Ryder was Lydia Deetz and Sylvia Sidney was Juno, the administrator in the afterlife who urged the Maitlands not to retain Beetlejuice.
Interesting fact; In 1999 Geena placed twenty-fourth out of twenty-eight in trials for the US Olympic archery team.

Answer: Beverly D'Angelo

Beverly D'Angelo was born in Ohio and began her acting in stage and Broadway works. After a series of minor roles she landed the role of Echo in Clint Eastwood's "Every Which Way But Loose" in 1979 and the film version of "Hair" the same year. She was then selected to play Ellen, the patient wife of Clark Griswold who tried to prevent most of the disasters on the trip but ended up having to try to rectify the results of Clark's bungling and poor decisions. Recent film appearances in 2008 included "Black Water Transit" and "The House Bunny". A relationship with Al Pacino produced twins Olivia and Anton in 2001. She first met Pacino in the eighties while auditioning for "Sea of Love" (1989).
Susan Sarandon appeared with Geena Davis in "Thelma and Louise" among other films. Miriam Flynn played cousin Ed's wife Catherine in the "Vacation" series. Christie Brinkley made an appearance in "Vacation" as a free-wheeling lady of the evening.
Interesting fact; In a 1992 episodes of "The Simpsons" Beverly played country singer Lurleen Lumpkin who almost entices Homer away from Marge. She reprized the role on the show in 2008.

Answer: Donna Reed

Iowa-born Donna Belle Mullenger assumed the name of Donna Reed when she began her film career. In 1941 she starred with Robert Sterling in "The Get-Away". In "It's A Wonderful Life" she was excellent as the sweet and supporting wife of George Bailey, when the townspeople became upset about his banking decisions.

The role began a series of film roles for Reed and after "It's A Wonderful Life" she appeared with Lana Turner in "Green Dolphin Street" (1947). In 1954 she received Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Montgomery Clift's mistress in "From Here to Eternity", then she starred in her own series, "The Donna Reed Show", from 1958-1966.

She took a break from acting when the show closed except for playing Miss Ellie for a season on "Dallas" between 1984-85. Actress Kim Novak was only 13 when "It's A Wonderful Life" premiered. Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland was born in Tokyo where her father was working as an attorney.

She went on to appear in many films as Joan Fontaine. Lana Turner's first screen appearance was in "They Won't Forget" in 1937. Interesting fact; Bob Crane, who went on to star in "Hogan's Heroes" had a recurring role on "The Donna Reed Show" as a neighbor.

Answer: Grace Kelly

After achieving poor math grades Grace Kelly turned to acting and enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She worked as a model while pursuing her acting studies. When Gene Tierney backed out of her role in the 1952 film "Mogambo", Kelly was offered the role which led to a seven year contract with MGM. After "Mogambo" she worked in various theater productions until she was cast in "Dial M for Murder". She was Hitchcock's vehicle for suspense as the unknowing victim of her husband's plot to kill her. She worked in a number of movies and was also cast in "Rear Window" by Hitchcock" in 1954. After filming "High Society" in 1956 she became Princess Grace of Monaco and retired from films.
Nathalie Kay 'Tippi' Hedren was featured in "The Birds" opposite playboy Rod Taylor in 1963. Janet Leigh and Vera Miles were both cast in 1960's "Psycho".
Interesting fact; During the filming of "Dial M for Murder" a married Ray Milland reportedly attempted to have an affair with Kelly causing quite a scandal at the time. She never confirmed whether they indeed had an affair and after Grace held a press conference the scandal faded.

Answer: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The Broadway production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" opened in 1955 and starred Barbara Bel Geddes as Maggie and Ben Gazzara as Brick. Brick was an alcoholic former football player and Taylor' character tried disparately to get him on the wagon, resulting in tumultuous arguments.

Despite nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director for Richard Brooks, nobody took home the coveted award. Burl Ives reprized his Broadway role as Big Daddy. Ives was nominated for an Oscar the same year for his work in "The Big Country".

The 1958 Newman film "The Long Hot Summer" featured Joanne Woodward in the costarring role. Pier Angeli worked with Newman in the 1956 film about boxer Rocky Graziano titled "Somebody up there Likes Me" and "Sweet Bird of Youth" (1962) featured Newman and Geraldine Page. Interesting fact; While Burl Ives played Newman's father in the film, he was only 16 hears his senior.

Answer: Barefoot in the Park

Jane Fonda played Redford's wife in the film depicting the tribulations of a young wife trying to make a fifth floor New York flat a romantic love nest. Elizabeth Ashley had the role in the Broadway production. "Barefoot in the Park" wasn't the first time Redford and Fonda were paired.

In 1966 they worked with Marlon Brando in "The Chase" when Redford had few credits to his name. Robert Redford and Jane Fonda were paired again in "The Electric Horseman" (1979). Karen Carlson worked with Redford in 1972 in "The Candidate". "The Great Gatsby" paired Redford with Mia Farrow in 1974.

The 1969 movie "This Property Is Condemned" starred Natalie Wood and Redford. Interesting fact; Natalie Wood had previously appeared with Redford and was originally considered for the film role of "Barefoot in the Park" but she opted out citing the fact she needed a rest.

Answer: Lee Remick

"Anatomy of a Murder" in 1959 and "The Omen" released in 1976 were two other films featuring the acting talents of Lee Remick. She studied at the Actor's Studio and made her first appearance on Broadway in 1953 in "Be Your Age". In 1957 Remick made her film debut in "A Face in the Crowd". Blake Edwards directed her in "Days of Wine and Roses". Her role as an alcoholic was convincing and required considerable research. She was nominated for Best Actress for her work in the film. In addition to receiving an Oscar, Lee also took home Tony Awards for her work on Broadway. Her last film appearance was in was "Passport to Terror" in 1989.
Shirley MacLaine appeared with Lemmon in "Irma LaDouce" (1963) and other films. Virna Lisi was opposite Lemmon in "How to Murder Your Wife" (1965). The 1970 comedy flick "The Out-of-Towners" featured Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.
Interesting fact; Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon were both Massachusetts natives.