Quiz: test your movie knowledge

[sydneyswans1]

9) For this film, actor Lee J. Cobb, balding, wanted to act the role wearing a wig. The director was reluctant – eventually a compromise was reached: the character, a police detective, would never take his hat off. Name the film.

Coogan's Bluff

[custos]

Yep I bet Coogan's Bluff is right. Regarding Cobb in the Exorcist, did you know that the author of the Exorcist, William Blatty, tried to sue the makers of Columbo claiming they pinched the character from Cobb's role in the Exorcist?

[Drifter]

Coogan's Bluff is right.

Wasn't aware of the Blatty / Columbo lawsuit. heh heh heh.

:)

[custos]

12) This British director segued from sexploitation into graphic horror, wanting to find something that would breach the “taste barrier” in British cinema. He eventually decided on pathological cannibalism. Name this 1970s notorious cannibal-granny movie, often considered the bleakest point in British horror film.
Criminally Insane ?

[Drifter]

Criminally Insane ?


Not the one the question refers to. :)

[Drifter]

Right, a straggler has been answered/updated in the previous post: clues for the stragglers now and a few more new questions.

1) Cult director Richard Stanley originally set up this movie only to have it removed from his hands and extensively re-written for a different director, who totally changed the focus of the script. Name the film (and the replacement director). CLUE: the lead character, a doctor, has been played in different emakes by Charles Laughton, Burt Lancaster and in the film in question by Marlon Brando ANSWERED (by PLG; the House) as Island of Dr. Moreau; John Frankenheimer

2) Cyberpunk author William (Neuromancer) Gibson, admitting that an original film had been an influence on his literary style, was once engaged to write the screenplay for this sci-fi movie sequel (for which he described his fun story idea as “like the crew of the Enterprise running into a spaceship full of Stalinists”). In the end, Gibson declined to re-write when they weren’t happy (though neither was he) and they went with another story. Name the sequel Gibson was once engaged to write. CLUE: even in this future prison, no-one could hear you scream ANSWERED (by Lizard Drinkin) as Alien 3

3) This Roger Corman produced horror film was greeted by a wave of feminist protest when it was released due to its exploitative and demeaning attitude to women. Although the director was a woman, she went on record stating that Corman had instructed the objectionable bits to be filmed separately and added in later without her knowledge. Name the film, one of Corman’s more morally problematic. CLUE: an update of 50s monsters movies ala Creature from the Black Lagoon ANSWERED (by custos) as Humanoids from the Deep

4) In the early 1970s, among the personal effects found in Jim Morrison’s apartment after the singer / poet / songwriter died of a heroin overdose was a screenplay by which fledgling writer-director? CLUE: apt irony - the director in question later made a film bio about Morrison and the band ANSWERED (by Ozeagle) as Oliver Stone

5) This British director segued from sexploitation into graphic horror, wanting to find something that would breach the “taste barrier” in British cinema. He eventually decided on pathological cannibalism. Name this 1970s notorious cannibal-granny movie, often considered the bleakest point in British horror film. CLUE: title is is frightful pun on a scary dream ANSWERED (by sydeneyswans1) as Frightmare

6) One of the women / girls in this James Bond film garnered extra publicity for the film when it was revealed that she was formerly a man. Which James Bond film features a transsexual Bond girl? ANSWERED (by JenniV) as For Your Eyes Only

7) A series of unusual deaths plagued cast members from this series of films, leading some to say they were cursed. Two young stars died horribly – one choked into a coma by her boyfriend and one dying of septic shock – and two older actors passed away of disease. Name the film franchise so cursed (a bonus point each for naming the deceased). ANSWERED (by PLG) as Poltergeist; (Dominique Dunne; Heather O'Rourke)

8) Psychiatrist Thomas Radecki in 1981 claimed that there were 28 shootings and 25 confirmed deaths in imitation of an event in this film. The deaths involved people who watched the film in the cinemas, on TV or on VHS. By 1989, a columnist suggested the figure had risen to 35. Name the film that inspired these copycat incidents. ANSWERED (by JenniV) as The Deer Hunter

9) Very early in his career, a young and punkish Jeff Goldblum played a mugger / street hoodlum in two separate Charles Bronson movies in the mid 1970s. Name them. ANSWERED (by JenniV) as Death Wish; St. Ives

10) This author was disgruntled with the movie version of his sci-fi novel. He particularly objected to the film’s ending - the revelation of cannibalism as the source of the food of the future, rather than what the novel apparently described as a mixture of soybeans and lentils. He said that this change made even the title irrelevant. Name the film (and the novel’s author and a extra bonus point for naming the novel). ANSWERED (by Lizard Drinkin; JenniV) as Soylent Green; Harry Harrison novel Make Room Make Room

11) This film begins with the proclamation: “This is a true story… At the request of the survivors the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.” Many viewers accepted this pronouncement, however it was a playful joke on the part of the filmmakers as the film was completely fictionalized. Name the film. ANSWERED (by PLG) as Fargo

12) This director agreed to make a film out of a book he admittedly detested, finding it amoral violence for violence’s sake. The main actor, also a playwright, approached the director believing he could make something out of the role. The director relented, hoping to eliminate the gratuitous violence and make it into a “statement”. In any event the studio recut the film into a straight action film, even if this meant that contractually the director had the right to have his name taken off the film and have “abridged version” added to prints. Name the film.

:)
ANSWERED:
custos: 120
Lizard Drinkin: 59
PLG: 52
HoundsOfLove: 42
all about eve: 35
Ed W.: 26
Orko: 16
m0nkie: 12
Ozeagle: 9
luther: 6
Funkaphiliac: 6
JenniV: 6
Winterfan: 4
sydneyswans1: 4
EMCWheels: 3
Rallygirl: 3
Momentum: 2
harvs: 1
popeye: 1
Mean Dean: 1
The House: 59

[Lizard Drinkin]

2) Cyberpunk author William (Neuromancer) Gibson, admitting that an original film had been an influence on his literary style, was once engaged to write the screenplay for this sci-fi movie sequel (for which he described his fun story idea as “like the crew of the Enterprise running into a spaceship full of Stalinists”). In the end, Gibson declined to re-write when they weren’t happy (though neither was he) and they went with another story. Name the sequel Gibson was once engaged to write. CLUE: even in this future prison, no-one could hear you screamAlien 3


8) Psychiatrist Thomas Radecki in 1981 claimed that there were 28 shootings and 25 confirmed deaths in imitation of an event in this film. The deaths involved people who watched the film in the cinemas, on TV or on VHS. By 1989, a columnist suggested the figure had risen to 35. Name the film that inspired these copycat incidents.Taxi Driver?


10) This author was disgruntled with the movie version of his sci-fi novel. He particularly objected to the film’s ending - the revelation of cannibalism as the source of the food of the future, rather than what the novel apparently described as a mixture of soybeans and lentils. He said that this change made even the title irrelevant. Name the film (and the novel’s author).
Soylent Green, don't know the author.

[Ozeagle]

4) In the early 1970s, among the personal effects found in Jim Morrison’s apartment after the singer / poet / songwriter died of a heroin overdose was a screenplay by which fledgling writer-director? CLUE: apt irony - the director in question later made a film bio about Morrison and the band
Oliver Stone ?

[Drifter]

Lizard is right with Alien 3 and Soylent Green,, but not with Taxi Driver.

Ozeagle: yes..Oliver Stone.

:)

[JenniV]

9) Very early in his career, a young and punkish Jeff Goldblum played a mugger / street hoodlum in two separate Charles Bronson movies in the mid 1970s. Name them.

Death Wish and St Ives...

[JenniV]

10) This author was disgruntled with the movie version of his sci-fi novel. He particularly objected to the film’s ending - the revelation of cannibalism as the source of the food of the future, rather than what the novel apparently described as a mixture of soybeans and lentils. He said that this change made even the title irrelevant. Name the film (and the novel’s author). Film identified (by Lizard Drinkin) as Soylent Green but who was the author of the novel (and a bonus point for naming the novel).

Author: Harry Harrison
Novel: Make Room! Make Room!

[PLG]

1) Cult director Richard Stanley originally set up this movie only to have it removed from his hands and extensively re-written for a different director, who totally changed the focus of the script. Name the film (and the replacement director). CLUE: the lead character, a doctor, has been played in different emakes by Charles Laughton, Burt Lancaster and in the film in question by Marlon Brando
The Island Of Dr Moreau



3) This Roger Corman produced horror film was greeted by a wave of feminist protest when it was released due to its exploitative and demeaning attitude to women. Although the director was a woman, she went on record stating that Corman had instructed the objectionable bits to be filmed separately and added in later without her knowledge. Name the film, one of Corman’s more morally problematic. CLUE: an update of 50s monsters movies ala Creature from the Black Lagoon
Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman


6) One of the women / girls in this James Bond film garnered extra publicity for the film when it was revealed that she was formerly a man. Which James Bond film features a transsexual Bond girl?
The Spy Who Loved Me

7) A series of unusual deaths plagued cast members from this series of films, leading some to say they were cursed. Two young stars died horribly – one choked into a coma by her boyfriend and one dying of septic shock – and two older actors passed away of disease. Name the film franchise so cursed (a bonus point each for naming the deceased).
Poltergeist Dominic Dunne & Heather O'Rourke

11) This film begins with the proclamation: “This is a true story… At the request of the survivors the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.” Many viewers accepted this pronouncement, however it was a playful joke on the part of the filmmakers as the film was completely fictionalized. Name the film.
Fargo

[Drifter]

JenniV is right on the Bronson films and Harry Harrison's Make Room Make Room

PLG is right about Island of Dr. Moreau, the Poltergeist films and Fargo, but not about the Corman film or the Bond film (at least not that I know of or that question refers to).

:)

[JenniV]

6) One of the women / girls in this James Bond film garnered extra publicity for the film when it was revealed that she was formerly a man. Which James Bond film features a transsexual Bond girl?

For Your Eyes Only

[JenniV]

8) Psychiatrist Thomas Radecki in 1981 claimed that there were 28 shootings and 25 confirmed deaths in imitation of an event in this film. The deaths involved people who watched the film in the cinemas, on TV or on VHS. By 1989, a columnist suggested the figure had risen to 35. Name the film that inspired these copycat incidents.

The Deer Hunter :confused:

[Drifter]

JenniV right on both. :)

[sydneyswans1]

5) This British director segued from sexploitation into graphic horror, wanting to find something that would breach the “taste barrier” in British cinema. He eventually decided on pathological cannibalism. Name this 1970s notorious cannibal-granny movie, often considered the bleakest point in British horror film. CLUE: title is is frightful pun on a scary dream

Frightmare

[custos]

3) This Roger Corman produced horror film was greeted by a wave of feminist protest when it was released due to its exploitative and demeaning attitude to women. Although the director was a woman, she went on record stating that Corman had instructed the objectionable bits to be filmed separately and added in later without her knowledge. Name the film, one of Corman’s more morally problematic. CLUE: an update of 50s monsters movies ala Creature from the Black Lagoon
Humanoids from the Deep ?

[Drifter]

sydneyswans1 and custos both right. :)

[Drifter]

Right. An update with some more new questions in addition to the one remainder:-

1) This director agreed to make a film out of a book he admittedly detested, finding it amoral violence for violence’s sake. The main actor, also a playwright, approached the director believing he could make something out of the role. The director relented, hoping to eliminate the gratuitous violence and make it into a “statement”. In any event the studio recut the film into a straight action film, even if this meant that contractually the director had the right to have his name taken off the film and have “abridged version” added to prints. Name the film. CLUE: two men on foot pursued by a helicopter

2) In 1976-1977, two Gridiron themed films debuted almost simultaneously on screens. However, the makers of the film released second accused the first film’s release of stealing their box-office. Name the two films. ANSWERED (by custos) as Two Minute Warning; Black Sunday

3) The author of the novel on which this film was based liked to joke with the director that the film adaptation was a little soft and really “the first R-rated Hallmark Hall of Fame” production. Name the author and the film adaptation so referred to. CLUE: on death row

4) Kramer vs. Kramer, with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, is often considered one of the finest American films about marital separation and divorce. However, this controversial director, going through his own marital crisis, considered it “false, fake, candy” and so proceeded to do what he has frequently referred to since as his own, personal version of that movie. Name the director and his personal film response. CLUE: midget 'clones' beat people with mallets - only from this Canadian

5) The librarian at Lone Star School in Fresno County, USA wrote a letter “on behalf of students and faculty” to this famous director, stating that “I feel our students are representative of the youth of America...everyone who has read (this book), regardless of ethnic or economic background, has enthusiastically endorsed this (potential) project” and urging the director to adapt this particular book into a film. The director did. Name the book / film. ANSWERED (by custos) as The Outsiders

6) Director and actor fought all the way through this movie, particularly because the actor disliked the brutal character he was playing and wanted to humanize him, to which the director would provoke the actor into playing the character like the boorish, thuggish pig that he was. Name the movie. CLUE: heroin

7) This director was intent to make a film about capital punishment – the gas chamber. In his determination for authenticity, he wanted to witness an actual execution and explained his intent to the warden of San Quentin, who agreed. Several weeks later, the director was summoned to watch an execution. Name the director who undertook this “research” and for what film. ANSWERED (by the House; custos) as Robert Wise; I Want to Live

8) On his first film, this actor’s performance terrified the studio. The dailies and raw footage watched by studio execs so confounded them that they wanted to recast the role. However, the director assembled a couple of scenes together to show them what the actor’s performance would be like when edited. The actor stayed. Name the actor (and the film). CLUE: later a liquefied bug

9) For this comedy, the directors needed a new approach. They propositioned actors who had never done comedy before, saying that the film would be about the jokes and the seriousness of the characters and the absurdity of the situations and that the straighter it was played the better. Name the comedy. CLUE:disaster movie parody ANSWERED (by PLG) as Flying High (aka Airplane)

10) Director Norman Jewison was signed to direct this prestigious picture. However, another director wanted it and spoke out in the press as to why this film should be directed by an African-American director instead of Jewison. Such press antics pressured the director’s way into the producer’s offices and soon Jewison bowed out. Name the film. CLUE: Spike Lee replaced him ANSWERED (by Ozeagle) as Malcolm X

11) This film was caught up in historical change. Originally intended as a timely, relevant, contemporary Cold War fable, it was set on the East German – Czech border. However, when the film was released the Cold War was over and that border no longer existed, making the film an effective period piece. It flopped. Name the film.

12) This anti-war film suffered from a case of misguided marketing. A serious, solemn and sombre anti-war movie, its tone was lightened for marketing and previews which played up the star angle to make the film seem more like a musical comedy, the director blaming this approach for why the film never found its right niche. Name the film. CLUE: they apparently tried to make it seem a typical Bette Midler musical comedy in the ads ANSWERED (by Ozeagle) as For the Boys

:)
ANSWERED:
custos: 124
Lizard Drinkin: 59
PLG: 53
HoundsOfLove: 42
all about eve: 35
Ed W.: 26
Orko: 16
m0nkie: 12
Ozeagle: 11
luther: 6
Funkaphiliac: 6
JenniV: 6
Winterfan: 4
sydneyswans1: 4
EMCWheels: 3
Rallygirl: 3
Momentum: 2
harvs: 1
popeye: 1
Mean Dean: 1
The House: 60