The Silver Screen—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

One

The iconic car chase in Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, was filmed in which city? Secondly, McQueen was driving a Ford Mustang but what make and model was the other car in the chase?

Answer: San FRAncisco and Dodge Charger

The iconic car chase scene in Bullitt, filmed in San Francisco, featured Steve McQueen driving a Ford Mustang through the city’s hilly streets. The 10-minute scene, filmed over three weeks, showcased modified Mustangs and Chargers, with McQueen performing close-up scenes and stunt drivers handling the high-speed stunts. Bullitt was released on this date in 1968.

*The Misfits* starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift.
Image The Movie Database

Two

Born today in 1920, Montgomery Clift portrayed Perce Howland in the 1961 film The Misfits. Who were his co-stars who played Gaylord Langland and Roslyn Taber.

Answer: Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe

Clark Gable played Gaylord Langland and Marilyn Monroe as Roslyn Taber. Montgomery Clift, an American actor, was known for his emotional depth and vulnerability in roles.

Three

1918 American actress Rita Hayworth whose portrayal of seductresses helped earn her the nickname “The Love Goddess,” was born.

— Encyclopædia Britannica

Born as Margarita Carmen Cansino in New York City this day in 1918, what actress’s name is missing from the above quote?

Answer: Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth, an American actress and dancer, was a prominent figure in the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring in 61 films over 37 years. Known for her role in Gilda, she was a top pin-up girl during World War II and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Question 4. George Wendt as Norm Peterson.
Image Cheers Fandom

Four

Three-in-one?

Who is the actor in the photograph?
He was a regular in which television series from 1982 to 1993?
What is his character’s name in that series?

Answer: George Wendt; Cheers and Norm Peterson

Hilary Norman ‘Norm’ Peterson, a semi-unemployed accountant, is a regular at the bar. His character, originally named George, was rewritten after George Wendt’s audition.

George Wendt was born on this date in 1948 and passed away in May 2025.

James Stewart in *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Five

On this day in 1939, a classic film premiered. James Stewart stars as the title character, who launches a filibuster in the US Senate to combat corruption. What is the film?

Answer: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

The American classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring James Stewart, had its world premiere; although it angered the political establishment, the drama won wide acclaim from the public and film industry.

The Silver Screen

One

The iconic car chase in Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen, was filmed in which city? Secondly, McQueen was driving a Ford Mustang but what make and model was the other car in the chase?

Two

Born today in 1920, Montgomery Clift portrayed Perce Howland in the 1961 film The Misfits. Who were his co-stars who played Gaylord Langland and Roslyn Taber.

Three

1918 American actress …, whose portrayal of seductresses helped earn her the nickname “The Love Goddess,” was born.

— Encyclopædia Britannica

Born as Margarita Carmen Cansino in New York City this day in 1918, what actress’s name is missing from the above quote?

Four

Three-in-one?

Who is the actor in the photograph?
He was a regular in which television series from 1982 to 1993?
What is his character’s name in that series?

Five

On this day in 1939, a classic film premiered. James Stewart stars as the title character, who launches a filibuster in the US Senate to combat corruption. What is the film?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Unsinkable—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

One

In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

Answer: Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater

*Titanic* film poster.
Image Original Vintage

Two

Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

Answer: Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco and Mozambique

Three

What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

Answer: Bottlenose dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins.
Image American Oceans

Four

There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

Answer: Somethin’ Stupid Frank and Nancy Sinatra

This 1967 hit, which was billed as being by ‘Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra’, was the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one song in America. Nancy Sinatra has said, ‘Some people call (it) the Incest Song, which I think is, well, very sweet!’

Five

Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

Answer: Woodrow Wilson and Harold Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, was the 28th President of the United States and was in office from 1913 to 1921.
Harold Wilson, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was in office from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.

Unsinkable

Today’s questions are random with no connection between them.

RMS *Titanic*.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

Two

Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

Three

What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

Four

There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

Five

Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Great Dictator—Answers

(See question 3.) This iconic shot of Harold Lloyd hanging from a clock in *Safety Last!* was achieved with some improvisation.
Image Wikipedia

One

The Great Dictator, which premiered in New York on 15 October 1940, satirised Adolf Hitler, Nazism and anti-Semitism. Who directed this film?

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. Having been the only major Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, Chaplin made this his first true sound film. — Wikipedia

Two

From which London railway station does the Hogwarts Express depart and what is the name of the Scottish viaduct it crosses on its way to and from Hogwarts?

Answer: Kings Cross Station; Glenfinnan Viaduct

Steam train on the Glenfinnan Viaduct features in four films in the series.
Image Wikipedia

Three

Two for the price of one! Who played the actor dangling from a clock on a skyscraper in the 1923 film Safety Last! and what’s the fictional name of the skyscraper in Die Hard?

Answer: Harold Lloyd (Safety Last!) and

Answer: Nakatomi Tower (or Plaza) (Die Hard)

2121 Avenue of the Stars, formerly Fox Plaza, is a 34-storey skyscraper in Century City, Los Angeles. It stands at 493 feet (150 metres) tall was used for external filming of *Die Hard*’s Nakatomi Tower.
Image Wikipedia

Four

Which actor was the first to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for best actor?

Answer: Spencer Tracy

Tracy was nominated for nine best actor Oscars, a category record held jointly with Laurence Olivier. His two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor were for Captains Courageous (1938) and Boys Town (1939).

Five

Sean Connery won only one Academy Award during his career, and it came some time after he had finally retired from the role of James Bond. For which role, and in which film, did he win this Best Supporting Actor Oscar?

Answer: Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables

Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables (1987) was nominated for four Academy Awards. Connery won the best supporting actor Oscar and Golden Globe Award for his role as the incorruptible beat cop, Jimmy Malone.

The Great Dictator

Today’s first question centres around a film premiere on October 15, followed by questions related to films.

One

The Great Dictator, which premiered in New York on 15 October 1940, satirised Adolf Hitler, Nazism and anti-Semitism. Who directed this film?

Two

From which London railway station does the Hogwarts Express depart and what is the name of the Scottish viaduct it crosses on its way to and from Hogwarts?

Three

Two for the price of one! Who played the actor dangling from a clock on a skyscraper in the 1923 film Safety Last! and what’s the fictional name of the skyscraper in Die Hard?

Four

Which actor was the first to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for best actor?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Presidential Genesis—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.
Image Wikipedia

One

The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

Answer: Ohio

Ohio ranks second to Virginia in the number of US presidents born there. These seven presidents hail from Ohio: Ulysses S Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James A Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G Harding.

Two

Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

Answer: Weasels or Mustelidae

The wolverine, the largest member of the Mustelidae family – commonly known as the weasel family – includes other animals like weasels otters martens and badgers. Renowned for their stocky build thick fur and impressive strength relative to their size, wolverines are truly remarkable creatures.

Petrus Kartner—Father Abraham.
Image Wikipedia

Three

In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

Answer: Dutch and Father Abraham

Dutch musician and record producer Petrus Antonius Laurentius Kartner (1935-2022), known as Vader Abraham, wrote around 1600 songs. He is best known for his Smurf-themed music, including The Smurf Song, which sold 400,000 copies after a repress and a full album that sold 500,000 copies.

Four

In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

Answer: Libero

The word originates from Italian and means ‘free’. The libero, is a defensive specialist in volleyball, wearing a different coloured jersey and unable to serve or attack above the net. Libero replacements don’t count against the substitution limit, but can only be made with the original libero.
Established in 1998, this position is recognised by most volleyball governing bodies and is credited with lengthening rallies.

Neptune’s Staircase, Caledonian Canal, Scotland, UK.
Image Wikipedia

Five

What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

Answer: Caledonian Canal

Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822 the Caledonian Canal is one of Scotland’s most remarkable engineering achievements — a scenic 60-mile (97 km) waterway that cuts through the Great Glen, connecting the east coast at the Beauly Firth near Inverness with the west coast’s Loch Linnhe at Corpach near Fort William. Some 60 miles (97 km) in length with 22 miles (35 km) of man-made canal while the rest is natural lochs which include Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Neptune’s Staircase is a flight of eight locks near to the Loch Linnhe end of the canal.

Presidential Genesis

Here are five random questions for you to consider.

Wolverine, see question 2.
Image Wikipedia

One

The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

Two

Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

Three

In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

Four

In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

Five

What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Shrouded in Mystery—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

One

Is it true or false that in 1988 the Archbishop of Turin announced that carbon-14 dating of the Shroud of Turin placed its date in the first century CE?

Answer: False

He admitted the shroud’s origins date back to the Middle Ages. The Shroud of Turin, traditionally believed to be Jesus’ burial cloth, was radiocarbon dated in 1988 to the period 1260–1390 CE This contradicts its traditional association with Jesus’ crucifixion. While some question the reliability of the 1988 test, no expert has deemed it substantially unreliable.

Two

The 1972 Andes flight carrying the Old Christians Rugby Club became international news when it was revealed that the survivors had resorted to cannibalism to survive. Is it true or false that the flight originated from Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Answer: False

They were flying from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile. Old Christians Club, a Uruguayan sports club from Montevideo, is known for its rugby union team. The club also has football and field hockey branches. Forty rugby club members and five crew members were on board a plane that crashed in the Argentinean Andes. They endured an avalanche and weeks of starvation, resorting to eating the frozen bodies of the deceased. Sixteen survivors were rescued after two trekked across the mountains to seek help.

Three

Is it true of false that in 54 CE the Roman emperor Claudius died from poisoning and was succeeded by his son Caligula, rather than his son with Messalina?

Answer: False

He was succeeded by his adoptive son Nero rather than Britannicus, his son with Messalina. Ancient historians believe Claudius was poisoned, likely by his wife Agrippina, to secure Nero’s succession. However, some argue he died from illness or old age, citing his poor health and the lack of evidence against his taster Halotus.

Four

Is this statement true or false: In 2010, 33 miners were rescued from South America’s Patagonian Desert after spending a 69 days underground.

Answer: False

It was the Atacama Desert in Chile. The 2010 Copiapó mining accident trapped 33 miners 700 metres underground for a record 69 days after a cave-in at the San José mine in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The rescue operation, involving multiple countries and organisations, successfully brought the miners to the surface. The mine’s owner, San Esteban Mining Company, had a history of safety violations and negligence.

Five

Margaret Thatcher, who was born today in 1925 was the British Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990. Is it true or false that she was Member of Parliament for the constituency of Finchley for more than 32 years?

Answer: True

She became the MP for Finchley on 8 October 1959 and held the position until her retirement in the spring of 1992. Thatcher was Europe’s first female prime minister and the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century, also the only one to secure three consecutive terms.

Shrouded in Mystery

Here are five questions which are all related to today, October 13th

One

Is it true or false that in 1988 the Archbishop of Turin announced that carbon-14 dating of the Shroud of Turin placed its date in the first century CE?

Two

Three

Is it true of false that in 54 CE the Roman emperor Claudius died from poisoning and was succeeded by his son Caligula, rather than his son with Messalina?

Four

Is this statement true or false: In 2010, 33 miners were rescued from South America’s Patagonian Desert after spending a 69 days underground.

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.