Tricky Movie Trivia and Movie Reviews

If you live in the United States, the 2012 presidential election and the inauguration that will install our new president are probably at least peripherally on your mind. So, what better time to feature a movie trivia quiz on election movies?

I’ve found that many election movies are comedies. Could it be because the political process, although unintentionally so, is a bit funny? With all the mud-slinging that has become part of the process, real life sometimes can sometimes be comical — in a tragic sort of way.

The following movies are not necessarily about presidential elections, so keep that in mind when answering the questions:

1. Aaron Sorkin and James Toback worked without credit on the script of which election movie?

2. Name the movie this quote came from: “I’m not sure you can get AIDS by burning down your house, but I get your point.”

3. Allison Janney was offered the role of C.J. Cregg on The West Wing after Aaron Sorkin saw her in which election film?

4. Howard Stern was initially offered the lead role in a big-budget election movie but turned it down. What is the name of that movie?

5. In which election-themed movie did Thora Birch leave filming on her third day because of disagreements with the director?

6. Which movie featured Monty Python’s famous argument sketch as part of its presidential debate?

7. An election-themed movie featured Albanians as fictional enemies of the United States. What is the name of the movie?

8. Which movie features a small-time con man who gets elected to Congress because he has the same name as a congressman who just died?

9. Which satirical election movie was inspired by a Saturday Night Live sketch?

10. Which election movie featured two actors who both had played DC Comics superheroes in other movies?

And a bonus question: Which American citizen and entertainment mogul was one of 15 candidates for president of Afghanistan in 2009?

Scroll down to see the answers.
_
_
_
_
_
_

_
_
_
_
_
_

_

Answers

1. Aaron Sorkin and James Toback worked without credit on Warren Beatty’s Bulworth.

2. “I’m not sure you can get AIDS by burning down your house, but I get your point.” was said by Bulworth’s title character played by Warren Beatty.

3. Aaron Sorkin gave Allison Janney the role of CJ Cregg in The West Wing after seeing her play the minor role of Miss Walsh in Primary Colors.

4. Howard Stern turned down the lead role in Man of the Year because he already had a prior commitment to his satellite radio show. Robin Williams got the part instead.

5. Thora Birch walked off the set of Election, which starred Mathew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon.

6. Monty Python’s argument sketch was featured as part of the presidential debate in Head of State, starring Chris Rock and Bernie Mac.

7. Wag the Dog, starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert Dinero, featured Albanians as fictional enemies of America.

8. In The Distinguished Gentleman, Eddie Murphy stars as Thomas Jefferson Johnson, which is also the name of a fictional recently-deceased congressman.

9. Bob Roberts, starring Tim Robbins, was inspired by a Saturday Night Live sketch.

10. Speechless featured Christopher Reeve and Michael Keaton, who have both played superheroes. Christopher Reeve played Superman in multiple films and Michael Keaton played Batman in two movies.

Answer to bonus question: Ehsan Bayat; who was born in Afghanistan, educated in the United States and a principle in Afghanistan’s Ariana Television Network; was a candidate in the 2009 Afghan presidential election. If you got this right, give yourself a gold star!

Find our other movie trivia quizzes in the sidebar or visit the Tricky Movie Trivia site map.

We honored Mom last month, now it’s time to send some appreciation in Dad’s direction for Fathers Day. The following tricky movie trivia questions will challenge your knowledge about dad movies, old and new. See how many you can get right!

1. Cary Grant turned down a starring role in what blockbuster 1964 movie so he could star in Father Goose?

2. Which famous comedian wanted the lead role of Stanley T. Banks in 1950′s Father of the Bride but was thought to be unsuitable by studio executives?

3. In 1991′s Father of the Bride, Steve Martin’s character George Banks says he doesn’t want his daughter’s wedding to bankrupt him and cause him to wander the streets in a bathrobe. That actually happens to a character Steve Martin played in another movie. What was that movie?

4. In which 2003 dad-related movie did the following exchange take place? (Big hint: It starred Eddie Murphy.)
Character #1: “Today we need some organization and planned activities.”
Character #2: “No. We need Ritalin and leashes, that’s what we need.”

5. Big Daddy (1991) features an action figure doll that was made up by Adam Sandler and modeled after a real action figure he had as a boy, named Diver Dan . What was the name of the fictional doll in the movie?

6. A major diaper company paid $50,000 to have their products mentioned in 3 Men and a Baby. What is the name of that company?

Bonus question: Who played Liv Tyler’s father in the Michael Bay film Armageddon? (Give yourself a pat on the back if you get this right!)

Scroll down to see the answers.

_
_

_

_

_

_

_

Answers

1. Cary Grant turned down the role of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady to star in Father Goose. He wanted Audrey Hepburn to play Catherine Freneau opposite him in Father Goose, but she was already committed to starring in My Fair Lady, so the part went to Leslie Caron.

2. Jack Benny wanted the lead role in the 1950 version of Father of the Bride, but the role went to Spencer Tracy instead.

3. Steve Martin wandered the streets in his bathrobe in 1979′s The Jerk.

4. That exchange was between the characters played by Eddie Murphy and Phil Garlin in Daddy Daycare.

5. Diver Dan’s fictional knock-off action figure was Scuba Steve.

6. Pampers paid $50,000 to have their diapers mentioned in 3 Men and a Baby.

Bonus question: Bruce Willis played Liv Tyler’s father in Armageddon.

Bonu_

You might also enjoy these other Tricky Movie Trivia holiday-related posts:

Easter Classic Movies Trivia Quiz
Irish Movies for St. Patrick’s Day
Romantic Movies for Valentine’s Day
Memorial Day War Movies Trivia Quiz
Movies About Moms for Mother’s Day

_

Image via Wikipedia

Bette Davis was named #2 on The Greatest Screen Legends actress list by the American Film Institute and the 10th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly not only because she was a great actress, but also because she knew how to pick good parts.

Below are famous movie quotes from 10 indelible Bette Davis characters. See how many of the quotes you can match with the movies!

In which movies did a Bette Davis character say:

1. “Get outta here, Luke Standish! You smirkin’ Judas!”

2. “I didn’t bring your breakfast, because you didn’t eat your din-din!”

3. “I find one should never look for admirers while at the same time one is falling to bits.”

4. “I didn’t want to be born. You didn’t want me to be born either. It was a calamity on both sides.”

5. “I’ll admit I may have seen better days, but I’m still not to be had for the price of a cocktail, like a salted peanut.”

6. “Sherry, the next time you do NOT want to see anybody, just let me know, and I’ll usher them right in.”

7. “I think I’ll have a large order of prognosis negative!”

8. “This is 1852 dumplin’, 1852, not the Dark Ages. Girls don’t have to simper around in white just because they’re not married.”

9. “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”

10. “You’re going to have a big wedding whether you like it or not! And if you don’t like it, you don’t have to come!”

Scroll down to see the answers.

__

__

__

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

__

__

__

Answers

1. The character Charlotte Hollis said, “Get outta here, Luke Standish! You smirkin’ Judas!” in Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

2. The character Baby Jane Hudson said, “I didn’t bring your breakfast, because you didn’t eat your din-din!” in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

3. The character Fanny Trellis Skeffington said, “I find one should never look for admirers while at the same time one is falling to bits.” in Mr. Skeffington.

4. The character Charlotte Vale said, “I didn’t want to be born. You didn’t want me to be born either. It was a calamity on both sides.” in Now, Voyager.

5. The character Margo Channing said, “I’ll admit I may have seen better days, but I’m still not to be had for the price of a cocktail, like a salted peanut.” in All About Eve.

6. The character Maggie Cutler said, “Sherry, the next time you do NOT want to see anybody, just let me know, and I’ll usher them right in.” in The Man Who Came to Dinner.

7. The character Judith Traherne said, “I think I’ll have a large order of prognosis negative!” in Dark Victory.

8. The character Julie Marsden said, “This is 1852 dumplin’, 1852, not the Dark Ages. Girls don’t have to simper around in white just because they’re not married.” in Jezebel.

9. The character Mildred Rogers said, “Good riddance to bad rubbish.” in Of Human Bondage.

10. The character Agnes Hurley said, “You’re going to have a big wedding whether you like it or not!

If you like Bette Davis, you might also enjoy these Tricky Movie Trivia movie reviews:

Now, Voyager
All About Eve

Posted April 24, 2008 Comments(1)

When it comes to spring movie trivia questions, films about teenagers and spring break are no-brainers. Not all movies with spring themes are that obvious, however. Admittedly, we’ve gone for a few easy shots here by including some spring break movies. But there also are a few you might not have thought of that feature spring as their main theme.

Some of the movies in this quiz were made long before the days of high tech blu ray players and viral YouTube videos, but they still hold their charm even all these years later. Thankfully, in this unstable world, some things are eternal!

So spring into action and see how many answers you can get right on this tricky movie trivia quiz about spring movies:

1. When the famous politically incorrect song Springtime for Hitler was sung in the 1968 rendition of The Producers, the singing voice was dubbed. Whose voice was heard singing the song in the film?

2. Mel Brooks had another name in mind for The Producers but the studio wouldn’t let him use it. What was that name?

3. Name the famous English actress whose character in Enchanted April said, “In my day husbands and beds were very seldom mentioned in the same breath. Husbands were taken seriously, as the only true obstacle to sin.”

4. Elizabeth von Arnim wrote the novel Enchanted April, on which the movie was based. What other famous movie was made from one of her novels? (Hint: It was released in 1944.)

5. In the Secret Garden, which celebrates the renewal brought by spring, main character Mary’s parents passed on. How did they die?

6. What is the name of the Secret Garden character played by Andrew Knott who said, “The animals tell me all their secrets.”

7. The quintessential spring break movie Where the Boys Are marked the movie debut of which female actress who also was in What’s New Pussycat and the 1975 version of The Stepford Wives?

8. In the Elvis spring break movie Girl Happy, some of the Fort Lauderdale beach crowd scenes were borrowed from which other spring break movie that was released in 1960?

9. Elvis’ co-star in Girl Happy is the only woman who was Elvis’ love interest in three different films. What is her name?

10. A famous porn star was featured in Lauderdale. What is his name?

Scroll down for the answers.

_

_

_

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _

Answers

1. Mel Brooks sang Springtime for Hitler in the original version of The Producers.

2. Springtime for Hitler was the name Brooks wanted to use. For obvious reasons, MGM frowned on that idea. Even with the watered-down title, The Producers didn’t play in Germany until it was included in a film festival featuring the works of Jewish filmmakers.

3. Joan Plowright (as Mrs. Fisher) spoke the lines, “In my day husbands and beds were very seldom mentioned in the same breath. Husbands were taken seriously, as the only true obstacle to sin.” Joan Plowright became Lady Olivier in 1961, after Sir Laurence Olivier divorced Vivien Leigh and married her. They became Baron and Baroness Olivier in 1970.

4. Elizabeth von Arnim’s novel Mrs. Skeffington was made into a 1944 movie of the same name that starred Bette Davis and Claude Rains. It was Bette Davis’ final Oscar-nominated performance while she was under contract to Warner Bros.

5. Mary’s parents died in an earthquake in India, leaving her to be shipped off to England to live with her reclusive uncle and discover the secret garden where magic was commonplace.

6. The character who said “The animals tell me all their secrets” was Dickon, played by Andrew Knott. The Secret Garden was Knott’s first film. He has since been active in British television.

7. Paula Prentiss is the actress who had her film debut in 1960′s Where the Boys Are. She continues to act in movies and has been married to director Richard Benjamin since 1961.

8. Some of the Fort Lauderdale beach crowd scenes Girl Happy were lifted from Where the Boys Are.

9. Shelley Fabares, whose real name is Michele Marie Fabares, is the only woman who was Elvis’ love interest in three different films.

10. Porn veteran Ron Jeremy was featured in Lauderdale, which is a double-spring movie because it also goes by the names Spring Break USA and Spring Fever USA!

We hope you enjoyed answering these spring trivia questions!

Plenty of romantic movies can help you get in the mood for Valentine’s Day, but these 10 are among our favorites. The V-Day film-watching formula is simple: grab the chocolate ice cream, a box of Kleenex (depending on the movie) and the remote control. Then, fire up one of these movies on DVD and enjoy:

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
1947
Starring Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison
104 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“You’ll forgive me if I take a minute to get accustomed to you.”

Hannah and Her Sisters
1986
Starring Woody Allen, Diane Wiest, Carrie Fisher, Michael Caine, Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey
103 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“And Nietzsche, with his theory of eternal recurrence. He said that the life we lived we’re gonna live over again the exact same way for eternity. Great. That means I’ll have to sit through the Ice Capades again.”

The Enchanted Cottage
1945
Starring Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Herbert Marshall, Mildred Natwick
91 minutes
Also, read our movie review

Memorable quote from the movie:
Oliver Bradford (Robert Young): “Well, apparently you don’t complain!”
Major John Hillgrove (Herbert Marshall): “You haven’t given me a chance.”

When Harry Met Sally
1989
Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
96 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“Had my dream again where I’m making love, and the Olympic judges are watching. I’d nailed the compulsories, so this is it, the finals. I got a 9.8 from the Canadians, a perfect 10 from the Americans, and my mother, disguised as an East German judge, gave me a 5.6. Must have been the dismount.”

Moonstruck
1987
Starring Cher, Nicholas Cage, Olympia Dukakis
102 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“Pardon me folks. That was just a very attractive mental patient.”

The Lake House
2006
Starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves
Rated PG, 105 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“Even though this is clearly impossible, it’s amazing.“

You’ve Got Mail
1998
Starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey
119 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“It was a perfect blend of poetry and meanness.”

Gone With the Wind
1939
Starring Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard
226 min (copyright length), 238 min (restored U.S. DVD version)

Memorable quote from the movie:
“No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That’s what’s wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”

Chasing Amy
1997
Starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee
113 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams): “So, you’ve never been curious about men?”
Holden (Ben Affleck): “Curious about men? Well, I always wondered why my father watched Hee Haw.”

Four Weddings and a Funeral
1994
Starring Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell
117 minutes

Memorable quote from the movie:
“That’s the great advantage of having a reputation for being stupid; people are less suspicious of you.”

I hope you enjoyed these romantic movie recommendations.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

You might also enjoy these other Tricky Movie Trivia holiday-related posts:

Easter Classic Movies Trivia Quiz
Movies About Moms for Mother’s Day
Irish Movies for St. Patrick’s Day
Memorial Day War Movies Trivia Quiz
Father’s Day Movie Trivia Quiz

Posted February 10, 2008 Comments(2)