Quizology.Online

Tag: film

  • I’d Hate to Die on That Dung Heap — Answers

    Here’s today’s answers.

    All of today’s questions are date-specific, relating in one way or another to April 26th.

    One

    Akira Kurosawa‘s 1954 film is set in a village plagued by bandits, and a 1960 American western is a remake of this story.

    1. What was the title of Kurosawa’s 1954 film?
    2. What was the 1960 American film?
    3. What actors played the title characters in the American film?

    Answers

    1. Seven Samurai
    2. The Magnificent Seven
    3. Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter and James Coburn.

    Seven Samurai, a 1954 Japanese action film by Akira Kurosawa, is hailed as one of the greatest films ever. Set in the 16th century, it depicts a village hiring samurai to fend off bandits, overcoming cultural tensions. Despite being Japan’s longest and costliest film at the time, it achieved global success, elevating Japanese cinema and influencing cinematography. Starring Mifune Toshirō, it inspired The Magnificent Seven.

    Flag of Tanzania.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Two

    The country represented by the above flag was founded in 1964.

    1. What is the full, official name of the new country founded?
    2. This new country was formed by the union of a sovereign state with a semi-autonomous region, what were this state and region?

    Answers

    1. United Republic of Tanzania
    2. Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

    Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is an East African nation with a 2024 population of 67.5 million. Formed in 1964 from the Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, it features Mount Kilimanjaro, three Great Lakes, and is a popular safari destination. Swahili is the national language, with Dodoma as its capital.

    Three

    In 1933, Hermann Göring established the Geheime Staatspolizei. What was it commonly known as?

    Answer: Gestapo.

    The Gestapo, Nazi Germany’s secret police, was established in 1933 by Hermann Göring and later controlled by Heinrich Himmler. It targeted political opponents, dissenters, and minorities, committing numerous atrocities. Despite its small size, it was effective due to citizen reporting and played a crucial role in the Holocaust. Post-WWII, it was declared a criminal organisation.

    Four

    American artist and ornithologist James Audubon was born in 1785. In what present day country was he born?

    Answer: Haiti.

    Born in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue, West Indies, now Haiti, John James Audubon, a French-American artist and ornithologist, is known for his paintings and illustrations of North American bird species. However, he has been accused of fraud and misconduct, such as plagiarising data and trafficking Native American remains.

    Five

    On 26 April 1986, a nuclear disaster occurred in which Soviet Socialist Republic?

    Answer: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

    On 26 April 1986, reactor no. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Pripyat, exploded, causing one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. The explosion, due to a design flaw during a test, led to a power surge, steam explosions, and a reactor core fire, spreading radioactive contamination across Europe. Immediate evacuations affected 117,000 people. The disaster resulted in radiation-related fatalities and thousands of cancer cases, with varying death toll predictions. The city of Pripyat was abandoned and replaced by the purpose-built Slavutych. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus, completed in December 1986, limited radioactive contamination and protected undamaged reactors’ crews. Between 2016 and 2018, the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement was built around the old sarcophagus to facilitate reactor debris removal. The clean-up is expected to be completed by 2065. It has been described as the most expensive disaster in history costing an estimated US$700 billion.

    I’d Hate to Die on That Dung Heap

    The post title is a quote from the Seven Samurai said by Kikuchiyo, as he and the six Samurai arrive at the village.

  • I’d Hate to Die on That Dung Heap

    All of today’s questions are date-specific, relating in one way or another to April 26th.

    One

    Akira Kurosawa‘s 1954 film is set in a village plagued by bandits, and a 1960 American western is a remake of this story.

    1. What was the title of Kurosawa’s 1954 film?
    2. What was the 1960 American film?
    3. What actors played the title characters in the American film?
    Question two.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Two

    The country represented by the above flag was founded in 1964.

    1. What is the full, official name of the new country founded?
    2. This new country was formed by the union of a sovereign state with a semi-autonomous region, what were this state and region?

    Three

    In 1933, Hermann Göring established the Geheime Staatspolizei. What was it commonly known as?

    Four

    American artist and ornithologist James Audubon was born in 1785. In what present day country was he born?

    Five

    On 26 April 1986, a nuclear disaster occurred in which Soviet Socialist Republic?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Once Upon A Time — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The Fairy Tale, a painting by James Sant in 1845.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Once upon a time, on today’s date, a wedding which was described as a fairy tale was celebrated. The first question is about that wedding, while the remainder are about opening lines which could be considered modern versions of ‘Once Upon A Time’.

    One

    This actress, who had starred in High Noon in 1952 and won the Best Actress Academy Award for The Country Girl in 1954, retired from acting in 1956 to marry in Europe. Who is she, and who did she marry?

    Answer: Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

    Grace Kelly made her film debut in Fourteen Hours (1951) and quickly rose to stardom with roles in High Noon (1952) and Mogambo (1953). Her performance in The Country Girl (1954) earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. In Monaco on 18 April 1956, she married Prince Rainier III in a civil ceremony, with a second religious ceremony taking place the next day. Now known as Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, she and her husband had three children. Grace focused on children’s rights and the arts, founding the Princess Grace Foundation and AMADE Mondiale. She died in a car crash in 1982, aged 52. Her son, Prince Albert established the Princess Grace Awards in 1984.

    The remaining questions are about opening words, which could be considered a modern equivalent of ‘Once Upon a Time’.

    Two

    What work of historical fiction published in the mid-nineteenth century opens with the line ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’, and who wrote it?

    Answers: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

    A Tale of Two Cities, published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, is a historical novel set in London and Paris during the French Revolution. It follows Doctor Manette’s 18-year imprisonment in the Bastille and his reunion with his daughter Lucie in London. The novel explores the conditions leading to the Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Renowned as Dickens’s best-known historical fiction, it ranks 63rd on the BBC’s The Big Read poll and has inspired numerous adaptations.

    Three

    This Lego product, which debuted in 2001 in an online game, has appeared in comics, books, movies, and animations where it is associated with the opening words ‘In the time before time …’. What product is this?

    Answer: Bionicle.

    Bionicle, a discontinued Lego line launched in 2001, featured biomechanical heroes called Toa. The theme, which included books, comics, games and films, was a major success and influenced later Lego themes.

    Four

    In the Star Wars universe what ten words open the nine ‘Skywalker saga’ films?

    Answer: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

    Each Star Wars film, from the original episodes IV, V, and VI; the prequels, I, II, and III; and the sequels, VII, VIII, and XI, opens with the same text, logo, episode number, subtitle, and a three-paragraph summary beginning with ‘A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…’

    Five

    In music, which 1971 chart-topper begins with the phrase ‘A long, long time ago…’, and what singer-songwriter wrote and recorded it?

    Answer: American Pie by Don McLean.

    American Pie by Don McLean, released in 1971, became a number-one hit in the US in 1972 and topped charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It reached number 2 in the UK. The song, at 8 minutes and 42 seconds, was the longest to reach number one until 2021. Its lyrics, including the phrase ‘the day the music died’, reflect cultural changes and loss of innocence after the 1959 plane crash in which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper all died. McLean’s original recording was preserved in the US National Recording Registry in 2017. He celebrated its 50th anniversary with a 2022 European tour.

  • Once Upon A Time

    The Fairy Tale, a painting by James Sant in 1845.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Once upon a time, on today’s date, a wedding which was described as a fairy tale was celebrated. The first question is about that wedding, while the remainder are about opening lines which could be considered modern versions of ‘Once Upon A Time’.

    One

    This actress, who had starred in High Noon in 1952 and won the Best Actress Academy Award for The Country Girl in 1954, retired from acting in 1956 to marry in Europe. Who is she, and who did she marry?

    The remaining questions are about opening words, which could be considered a modern equivalent of ‘Once Upon a Time’.

    Two

    What work of historical fiction published in the mid-nineteenth century opens with the line ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’, and who wrote it?

    Three

    This Lego product, which debuted in 2001 in an online game, has appeared in comics, books, movies, and animations where it is associated with the opening words ‘In the time before time …’. What product is this?

    Four

    In the Star Wars universe what ten words open the nine ‘Skywalker saga’ films?

    Five

    In music, which 1971 chart-topper begins with the phrase ‘A long, long time ago…’, and what singer-songwriter wrote and recorded it?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • We’ve had a Problem — Answers

    Here’s today’s answers.

    All of these questions are related to today, April 13th.

    Apollo13 – view of the crippled Service Module after separation.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1970, Apollo 13 suffered an explosion in a tank en route to the Moon. What did the tank contain, and who were the three crew?

    Answers: Oxygen; James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise (aka Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise).

    Apollo 13, the seventh crewed Apollo mission, was aborted after an oxygen tank explosion two days into the mission. The crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat, facing hardships like limited power and water, but successfully returned to Earth. The incident highlighted the need for improved safety measures, leading to changes in oxygen tank design for future missions.

    Two

    In accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, a religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints. In what century did this occur, and what religion was formalised as described?

    Answers: 17th century; Sikh or Sikhism.

    Sikhism, founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region, is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and nine successors. It emphasises faith in one creator, equality, selfless service, and honest conduct. Since 1699, Sikhs follow the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal guru and are identified by the five Ks, which are:

    • Kesh — unshorn hair and beard
    • Kangha — a comb for the kesh, usually made of wood
    • Kara — a bracelet, usually made of iron or steel
    • Kachhera — an undergarment
    • Kirpan — a small curved sword or knife made of iron or steel

    Three

    In 1953, the CIA launched Project MKUltra. What was the purpose of this programme?

    Answer: Mind-control (alter human behaviour).

    MKUltra was a CIA programme that ran from 1953 to 1973, experimenting on unwitting subjects to alter behaviour using drugs, hypnosis, and other methods. The programme, which involved illegal activities and violated individual rights, was exposed in 1975, and further information was declassified in 2001. Encyclopædia Britannica notes that MK-ULTRA was a CIA mind-control programme from 1953 to 1964, continuing work from concentration camps with the aim of controlling minds for Cold War purposes.

    Four

    George Frideric Handel’s Messiah made its world premiere on this date. In what century, and in what capital city, did this premiere take place?

    Answers: 18th century; Dublin, Ireland.

    Messiah, an oratorio by George Frideric Handel, premiered in Dublin in 1742 and is now a popular Easter performance. Based on biblical texts by Charles Jennens, it features the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and combines Old and New Testament verses. Originally for a small Baroque orchestra, performances have since expanded.

    Five

    On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Academy Award. 

    1. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in any category, and for which film was the award made?
    2. Who was the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for which film was the award made?

    Answers

    1. Hattie McDaniel; Gone with the Wind.
    2. Halle Berry; Monster’s Ball.
      Hattie McDaniel played Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939) and won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Halle Berry won the Best Actress Oscar as Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball (2001). Berry was also the first person of colour to win Best Actress, and that year was the first time two African-American performers won Oscars in the same year — Denzel Washington for Training Day.

    We’ve had a Problem

    The post title reflects what was first said from Apollo 13 to Houston after the explosion. Jack Swigert called Mission Control, ‘Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here’. Capsule communicator (Capcom) astronaut Jack R. Lousma asked, ‘This is Houston. Say again, please’. Lovell replied, ‘Ah, Houston, we’ve had a problem here. We’ve had a Main B Bus Undervolt’.

  • We’ve had a Problem

    All of these questions are related to today, April 13th.

    Apollo13 – view of the crippled Service Module after separation.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1970, Apollo 13 suffered an explosion in a tank en route to the Moon. What did the tank contain, and who were the three crew?

    Two

    In accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, a religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints. In what century did this occur, and what religion was formalised as described?

    Three

    In 1953, the CIA launched Project MKUltra. What was the purpose of this programme?

    Four

    George Frideric Handel’s Messiah made its world premiere on this date. In what century, and in what capital city, did this premiere take place?

    Five

    On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Academy Award. 

    1. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in any category, and for which film was the award made?
    2. Who was the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for which film was the award made?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Let it Be — Answers

    Today’s answers are shown below.

    The first question relates to both today’s date, April 10th, and music. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the music theme.

    The Beatles Let it Be.
    Image orohits949.com

    One

    On this day in 1970, who became the first to publicly announce that he was leaving The Beatles?

    Answer: Paul McCartney.

    The Beatles’ internal strife, evident in the White Album and Get Back sessions, escalated over business disagreements, leading to Lennon’s departure in September 1969 and McCartney’s making the first public announcement when he issued a press release advising of his departure in April 1970.

    Two

    Name the official theme song for Mission: Impossible III; whose song it was, and who featured on it?

    Answer: Impossible; Kanye West featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole and BJ.

    Impossible by American hip-hop artist Kanye West featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole, and BJ. Composed for the film Mission: Impossible III, it served as its official theme but wasn’t included on the soundtrack. The song charted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Bubbling Under Hot 100 charts in 2006.

    Three

    Add up the numbers from the titles that these clues point you to, and the total sum is the answer.

    1. The Beatles — Days of the Week (1964)
    2. The Rolling Stones — Nervous Breakdown (1966)
    3. Bob Marley and the Wailers — Little Birds (1977)
    4. Bryan Adams — Summer (1985)
    5. The Proclaimers Miles (1988)
    6. Vanessa Carlton — Miles
    7. Adele — Album (2008)
    8. Christina Perri — Years (2011)
    9. Adele — Album (2021)
    10. Belinda Carlisle — Loneliest Number (2025) (A long time previously Harry Nilsson followed by Three Dog Night)

    Answer: 2,649.

    1. 8 — Eight Days a Week (1964) The Beatles
    2. 19 — 19th Nervous Breakdown (1966) Rolling Stones
    3. 3 — Three Little Birds (1977) Bob Marley & The Wailers
    4. 69 — Summer of ’69 (1985) Bryan Adams
    5. 500 — I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) (1988) The Proclaimers
    6. 1,000 — A Thousand Miles (2002) Vanessa Carlton
    7. 19 — 19 (2008) Adele
    8. 1,000 — A Thousand Years (2011) Christina Perri
    9. 30 — 30 (2021) Adele
    10. 1 — One (Is the Loneliest Number) Belinda Carlisle (2025) (Originally Harry Nilsson in 1968, followed by Three Dog Night in 1969.)

    Four

    Creedence Clearwater Revival topped the UK singles charts and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 with a song from their Green River album, which had a three-word title. What song?

    Answer: Bad Moon Rising.

    Bad Moon Rising, a song by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was their lead single from the album Green River. Released on 16 April 1969, four months before the album’s release, it peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 28 June 1969. It also spent three weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in September of the same year. Bad Moon Rising became CCR’s second gold single.

    Five

    Who were the four named members of the rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young?

    Answer: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young.

    CSN formed in 1968 after Crosby, Stills, and Nash discovered their harmonious blend. Crosby left the Byrds in late 1967, Buffalo Springfield (Stills) disbanded in early 1968, and Nash departed the Hollies in December. In early 1969, they released their debut album, Crosby, Stills & Nash, which featured Top 40 hits Suite: Judy Blue Eyes and Marrakesh Express. They added Neil Young, Stills’s former Buffalo Springfield bandmate, and as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, performed at Woodstock in 1969. Their first album with Young, Déjà Vu (1970), topped international charts, selling over eight million copies and producing hits like Woodstock and Teach Your Children. Tensions during their second tour led to the group’s disbandment. They reunited multiple times, releasing eight studio and four live albums, with their final studio album, Looking Forward, in 1999. CSN was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with individual members also recognised for their work with other groups. Crosby passed away in 2023.

    Let it Be

    The post-title ‘Let it Be’, released in 1970, was their final single before McCartney’s departure. The song, written by McCartney, topped charts internationally and was certified Platinum in several locations and double Platinum in both the UK and US.

  • Let it Be

    The first question relates to both today’s date, April 10th, and music. The remaining questions are not date-related but follow the music theme.

    The Beatles Let it Be.
    Image orohits949.com

    One

    On this day in 1970, who became the first to publicly announce that he was leaving The Beatles?

    Two

    Name the official theme song for Mission: Impossible III; whose song it was, and who featured on it?

    Three

    Add up the numbers from the titles that these clues point you to, and the total sum is the answer.

    1. The Beatles — Days of the Week (1964)
    2. The Rolling Stones — Nervous Breakdown (1966)
    3. Bob Marley and the Wailers — Little Birds (1977)
    4. Bryan Adams — Summer (1985)
    5. The Proclaimers — Miles (1988)
    6. Vanessa Carlton — Miles
    7. Adele — Album (2008)
    8. Christina Perri — Years (2011)
    9. Adele — Album (2021)
    10. Belinda Carlisle — Loneliest Number (2025) (previously Harry Nilsson followed by Three Dog Night)

    Four

    Creedence Clearwater Revival topped the UK singles charts and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 with a song from their Green River album, which had a three-word title. What song?

    Five

    Who were the four named members of the rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • His Accidency — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    These questions all concern today’s date, April 4th.

    Flag of NATO.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Established in 1949, the organisation represented by this flag originally had twelve members including the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Canada. Name the organisation and four of the remaining eight founding members?

    Answer: (any four from) Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal.

    In 1949, the original twelve members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    Two

    The following quote is from the Encyclopædia Britannica article on the film Ben-Hur, which in 1960 became the first film to win eleven Oscars. A number has been removed from the quote. What, to the nearest thousand, is that number?

    The famed chariot race is considered among cinema’s most-impressive action sequences, not least because it featured up to —— extras.

    Answer: 15,000.

    On this day in 1960, Ben-Hur won eleven Oscars at the 32nd Academy Awards. The referenced quote in its entirety is…

    The famed chariot race is considered among cinema’s most-impressive action sequences, not least because it featured up to 15,000 extras.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    In 1925, the Schutzstaffel was founded by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party in Germany. What is it better known as? 

    Answer: SS.

    The Schutzstaffel, ‘protection squad’, originally a small bodyguard unit of the Nazi Party, evolved into a formidable organisation under Heinrich Himmler. By 1939, it had grown to around 250,000 men, controlling police forces and expanding its role to become a state within a state. As a powerful paramilitary group in Nazi Germany, The SS was responsible for security, mass surveillance, and state terrorism, playing a central role in the Holocaust and committing numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity. It was declared a criminal organisation at the Nuremberg trials.

    Four

    Born in Perth, Australia, in 1979, this actor was posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 81st Academy Awards?

    Answer: Heath Ledger.

    At the 81st Academy Awards Heath Ledger won the Oscar for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his part as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008). In January 2008, Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

    Five

    When William Henry Harrison died who succeeded him as the President of the United States? 

    Answer: John Tyler.

    Harrison died a month after his inauguration. At 67 he was the oldest man to be elected president (at that time); the last to be born under British rule and the first to die in office. He was succeeded by his vice president John Tyler who became known as ‘His Accidency’ — which gave me a title for this post.

  • His Accidency

    These questions all concern today’s date, April 4th.

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Established in 1949, the organisation represented by this flag originally had twelve members including the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Canada. Name the organisation and four of the remaining eight founding members?

    Two

    The following quote is from the Encyclopædia Britannica article on the film Ben-Hur, which in 1960 became the first film to win eleven Oscars. A number has been removed from the quote. What, to the nearest thousand, is that number?

    The famed chariot race is considered among cinema’s most-impressive action sequences, not least because it featured up to — extras.

    Three

    In 1925, the Schutzstaffel was founded by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party in Germany. What is it better known as? 

    Four

    Born in Perth, Australia, in 1979, this actor was posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 81st Academy Awards?

    Five

    When William Henry Harrison died who succeeded him as the President of the United States? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.