Our questions are all about an award-winning actor who is celebrating his 76th birthday today, August 31st.
One
He portrayed George P. Putnam in the 2009 film Amelia. Who is he?
Two
He also starred in 1995’s First Knight, alongside Sean Connery as King Arthur and Julia Ormond as Guinevere. In this film, he portrayed which character?
Three
He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in a 2002 film. What film?
Four
In this 1990 film, his co-star plays Vivian Ward. Can you name his character and the film?
Five
What seven-letter name, beginning with ’T’, is our actor’s middle name?
An author, best known for the 1818 novel Frankenstein, was born on 30 August 1797. Who is this author?
Answer: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Mary Shelley, daughter of philosopher William Godwin and women’s rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft, was an English novelist best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein. She was married to Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and faced personal tragedy, including the death of her husband and several children. Shelley’s literary output, including novels and travel writing, often challenged the individualistic Romantic ethos and advocated for cooperation and sympathy, particularly as practised by women.
Title page of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, first edition, 1818. Image Wikipedia
Two
What was the full title of Frankenstein as displayed on the title page of its first edition in 1818?
Answer: Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.
Mary Shelley’s 1818 Gothic novel, Frankenstein, tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a sapient creature, and compares him to the Greek Tiata Prometheus who gave fire to humanity. Shelley was inspired to write the novel during a competition with her husband and others, including Lord Byron.
The Titan Prometheus. The Release of Prometheus by Carl Bloch, 1864. Image Wikipedia
Three
The title page mentioned in question 3 also features the following epigraph:
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould Me man? Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?
Please identify the epic poem (1667) from which this quote is taken and the author of that poem?
Answer: Paradise Lost by John Milton
Paradise Lost, an epic poem by John Milton, explores the biblical story of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. The poem delves into themes of free will, the consequences of disobedience, and the complexities of human nature, while also sparking controversy for its portrayal of Satan.
To what poet was the author of Frankenstein married?
Answer: Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) was an English Romantic poet known for his radical views and masterful poetry. Despite limited recognition during his lifetime, his work, including “Ozymandias” and “Ode to the West Wind,” gained acclaim posthumously, influencing generations of poets. Shelley’s life was marked by personal struggles and political controversy, leading him to self-exile in Italy, where he produced some of his most celebrated works. He died in a boating accident at the age of 29.
Theatrical poster for Frankenstein, 1931. Image Wikipedia
Five
In the 1931 film adaptation of Frankenstein, what actor was cast as ‘The Monster’ and was depicted as ‘?’ in the opening credits?
Answer: Boris Karloff
Frankenstein is a 1931 American science fiction horror film directed by James Whale, based on Mary Shelley’s novel. The film, starring Colin Clive (Henry Frankenstein) and Boris Karloff (The Monster / ‘?’), was a commercial success and significantly impacted popular culture. In 1991, the United States Library of Congress selected Frankenstein for preservation in the National film Registry, recognising its ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant’ value.
The Emperor’s New Clothes. Illustration by Hans Tegner, 1900 Image Wikipedia
One
Who wrote the 1837 fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes?
Answer: Hans Christian Anderson
An emperor, obsessed with clothes, hires two con-men who claim to weave clothes that are invisible to the incompetent or stupid. The emperor, his officials, and the townspeople all pretend to see the clothes, fearing they are incompetent, until a child reveals the truth. Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, is renowned for his fairy tales, which are widely translated. He also wrote plays, novels, poems, travel books and autobiographies.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf Painting by Carl Larsson in 1881. Image Wikipedia
Two
The Brothers Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales, a collection from 1823, includes these three tales; The … Brothers, The … Dancing Princesses and The … Hunstmen. The same number is missing from all three titles, what is the number?
Answer: Twelve
Grimms’ Fairy Tales, originally Children’s and Household Tales, a seminal work of Western children’s literature, is a collection of fairy tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm. The first volume of the first edition contained 86 tales.
Peter and Wendy was originally written as a play in 1904, and then reworked into a novel in 1911. Who was the author of both versions?
Answer: JM Barrie
British novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, best known for creating Peter Pan, was inspired by the Llewelyn Davies boys. He was knighted and awarded the Order of Merit, and bequeathed the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The Hare and the Tortoise from Aesop’s Fables, 1912. Image Wikipedia
Four
The Fir and the Bramble and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse are from what collection of famous stories which date back more than 2,500 years?
Answer: Aesop’s Fables
Aesop’s Fables, a collection of fables attributed to the ancient Greek slave and storyteller Aesop, have been passed down through oral tradition and various sources. Initially intended for adults, the fables evolved to become educational tools for children, emphasising ethical lessons and gaining global recognition through translations and adaptations. Among some of the better known are The Tortoise and the Hare and Hercules and the Wagoner.
Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin are well-known, although not original, stories from what early collection of tales?
Answer:
One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights, is a collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. The stories, framed by the tale of Shahryar and Scheherazade, were collected over centuries and include tales from various cultures and eras. Some stories, like Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, were added later by translators.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf From a painting by Carl Larsson in 1881. Image Wikipedia
One
Who wrote the 1837 fairy tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes?
Two
The Brothers Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales, a collection from 1823, includes these three tales; The … Brothers, The … Dancing Princesses and The … Hunstmen. The same number is missing from all three titles, what is that number?
Three
Peter and Wendy was originally written as a play in 1904, and then reworked into a novel in 1911. Who was the author of both versions?
Four
The Fir and the Bramble and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse are from what collection of famous stories which date back more than 2,500 years?
Five
Sinbad the Sailor and Aladdin are well-known, although not original, stories from what early collection of tales?
One of the Ford Anglia 105E’s seen in the Harry Potter films. Image Wikipedia
One
Which turquoise blue Ford motor car model is depicted as the flying car in the Harry Potter books and films?
Answer: Ford Anglia 105E
“My secondary school, Wyedean, where I went when I was eleven, was the place I met Sean Harris, to whom Chamber of Secrets is dedicated and who owned the original Ford Anglia. He was the first of my friends to learn to drive and that turquoise and white car meant FREEDOM and no more having to ask my father to give me lifts, which is the worst thing about living in the countryside when you are a teenager. Some of the happiest memories of my teenage years involve zooming off into the darkness in Sean’s car.“ — J.K.Rowling. harrypotterfandom.com
The filming of the scene where the Ford Anglia crashes into the Whomping Willow resulted in the destruction of 14 cars.
Tristan da Cunha as seen from International Space Station. Image NASA/Wikipedia
Two
Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, has only one settlement. What is its name?
Answer: Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the only settlement of the island of Tristan da Cunha, a part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. Locally, it is referred to as The Settlement or The Village.
What tourist attraction in Verona, Italy is a fake as the person allegedly connected to it never existed?
Answer: (either or both) Juliet’s house or Juliet’s balcony
In 1905, the mayor of Verona, as part of a tourism marketing campaign, bought the house from the Cappello family, thinking the name resembled Capulet, Juliet’s surname, and declared it the one and only Juliette’s House. Even the balcony is fake, constructed in the 20th century using parts from a 17th-century sarcophagus and attached to the wall to create a bogus balcony.
Statue of Juliet at Juliets House, Verona. Image WikipediaPalace of Holyroodhouse. Image Wikipedia
Four
What building is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland?
Answer: Palace of Holyroodhouse (aka Holyrood Palace)
Holyrood Palace, or in full the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, is located at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The name derives either from a legendary vision of the cross witnessed by David I, or from a relic of the True Cross known as the Holy Rood or Black Rood, which had belonged to Saint Margaret of Scotland, David’s mother. The palace, which adjoins Holyrood Abbey, is open to the public year-round, except when the royal family is in residence.
The title page of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, published in 1768-71. Image Wikipedia
Five
On 10 December 1768, the first edition of which reference work was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland?
Answer: Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica, a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia, was first published in 1768 and is currently owned by Chicago based Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. After 244 years of print, the last printed edition was published in 2010, and it has been available exclusively online since 2016. The Britannica is known for its scholarly articles and has undergone several changes in format and ownership throughout its history.
The Edinburgh connection is in all the questions except No. 3.
JK Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter while living in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. The settlement was orininally founded and named by a Scotsman: Sergeant William Glass from Kelso, Scottish Borders.
Not part of the theme.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is at the bottom of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle is at the opposite end.
Encyclopædia Britannica was originally founded and published in the city.
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? — The post title is from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Lyndon B. Johnson, 1915. Image WikipediaLyndon B Johnson, 1972. Image Wikipedia
One
Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?
Answer: Lyndon B Johnson
Lyndon B Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, served from 1963 to 1969. He assumed the presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and was later elected in a landslide. Johnson’s presidency is remembered for his Great Society programmes, which aimed to expand civil rights, improve healthcare, and combat poverty, but his legacy is also marred by the Vietnam War.
Two
On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?
Answer: 1930s (1939)
The jet engine, though conceptually ancient, only became practical in the 20th century. Early attempts, like the Caproni Campini N.1 and Tsu-11, were unsuccessful. The breakthrough came with the gas turbine, leading to the development of the turbojet, with Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain (He178) playing pivotal roles in its creation.
Three
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last? 1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes 2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes 3. Between 960 and 990 minutes
Answer: Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
The war lasted no longer than 40 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history. — Encyclopædia Britannica
The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, marking it as the shortest recorded war in history. — Wikipedia
Four
The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?
Answer: Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins, a 1964 American musical film, features Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who transforms a troubled London household.
Five
On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve? 1. 199.96 mph 2. 273.13 mph 3. 345.49 mph
Answer: 345.49 mph
Captain George Eyston, a British engineer and racing driver, broke the land speed record three times between 1937 and 1939.
Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy, pictured above in 1915, went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?
Two
On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?
Three
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last? 1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes 2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes 3. Between 960 and 990 minutes
Four
The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?
Five
On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve? 1. 199.96 mph 2. 273.48 mph 3. 345.49 mph
Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, meets HM King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. LONDON- UK- 5th May 2023. Photo by Ian Jones via Wikipedia
One
Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?
Answer: John Buchan
John Buchan, a Scottish novelist and politician, served as Governor General of Canada from 1935 until his death in 1940. He promoted Canadian unity and strengthened the country’s sovereignty. Buchan, who was the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, created the character Richard Hannay.
Two
The title of this post, Mr Standfast, is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?
Answer: (Any of) – The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, The Three Hostages, The Island of Sheep
Hannay appears in several novels as a major character, including:
Note, Richard Hannay also appears in some works by other authors.
Three
The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.
Answer: Mary Simon
Mary Simon, the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada, was born in Quebec and previously worked as a broadcaster and diplomat. Her appointment was criticised due to her limited French fluency.
Four
The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.
Answer: (1) 8 Canadian provinces or territories and (2) 13 US states
Quizology.Online 
