Quizology.Online

Tag: film

  • Sausages — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Sausages, The Covered Market, Oxford, U.K.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    There is a simple theme running through today’s questions, which I’m sure you will work out very quickly.

    One

    What five-letter word means sausages and an area of, for example, St. Andrew’s, Scotland?

    Answer: Links.

    Sausages in a chain are links, as is a seaside golf course on ‘linksland’. The Oxford English Dictionary definition of the golf variety is shown below.

    links /lɪŋks /
    ▸ plural noun [treated as singular or plural] (also golf links) a golf course, especially one on grass-covered sandy ground near the sea: a couple of days’ golf on a sunny Spanish links. ▪ another term for linksland

    – ORIGIN Old English  hlinc ‘rising ground’, perhaps related to lean1.

    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Two

    What eight-letter word relates to all of these: Joe Gilmore, a barman at the Savoy Hotel, London in 1969; Apollo 11, 1969; Mr Bean, 1969; Michael Jackson, 1983?

    Answer: Moonwalk.

    Joe Gilmore created the Moonwalk cocktail to celebrate Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s landing on the Moon in Apollo 11 and their moonwalks. Mr. Bean was Apollo 12’s Alan Bean who, along with his colleague Pete Conrad, also walked on the Moon a few months later. Michael Jackson’s famous Moonwalk was first publicly performed in 1983.

    Three

    What connects Fort Providence to the Beaufort Sea?

    Answer: Mackenzie River.

    The Mackenzie River, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is, with the Slave, Peace and Finlay Rivers, the longest river system in Canada, with the second-largest drainage basin of any North American river after the Mississippi. The Mackenzie’s main stem flows 1,738 km (1,079 miles) from Great Slave Lake at Fort Providence to the Arctic Ocean at the Beaufort Sea, in the Inuvik Region. Historically significant, it supports limited economic development, including oil, minerals, and agriculture.

    Four

    Dr. John Watson; Bilbo Baggins; Lester Nygaard; Chris Carson. Who is the connection?

    Answer: Martin Freeman.

    English actor Martin Freeman has won two Emmy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He portrayed Dr. John Watson in Sherlock (2010–2017); a young Bilbo Baggins in the The Hobbit film trilogy (2012–2014); Lester Nygaard in Fargo (2014), and Chris Carson in The Responder (from 2022).

    Five

    What one title is shared by these: a 1956 film about Vincent van Gogh; an Iggy Pop album from 1977; a 2017 Lana Del Rey album?

    Answer: Lust for Life.

    Lust for Life is a 1956 biographical film about Vincent van Gogh, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Kirk Douglas. Lust for Life was also the title of Iggy Pop’s second solo album, released in 1977. Finally, Lust for Life is Lana Del Rey’s fifth studio album, released in 2017.

    Sausages

    As explained in the first answer sausages in a chain are links and today’s questions are all about links.

  • Sausages

    Sausages, The Covered Market, Oxford, U.K.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    There is a simple theme running through today’s questions, which I’m sure you will work out very quickly.

    One

    What five-letter word means sausages and an area of, for example, St. Andrew’s, Scotland?

    Two

    What eight-letter word relates to all of these: Joe Gilmore, a barman at the Savoy Hotel, London in 1969; Apollo 11, 1969; Mr Bean, 1969; Michael Jackson, 1983?

    Three

    What connects Fort Providence to the Beaufort Sea?

    Four

    Dr. John Watson; Bilbo Baggins; Lester Nygaard; Chris Carson. Who is the connection?

    Five

    What one title is shared by these: a 1956 film about Vincent van Gogh; an Iggy Pop album from 1977; a 2017 Lana Del Rey album?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Art for Art’s Sake — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Waterfall © MC Escher 1961.
    Image MyArtBroker.com

    These questions are all about people from the creative arts who were born on today’s date, 17 June.

    One

    Which Dutch artist, born 1898, created the lithograph Waterfall shown above? 

    Answer: M.C. Escher.

    Waterfall is a stunning visual representation of the concept of perpetual motion, depicting a never-ending cascade of water that flows uphill and back into itself. The piece combines elements of mathematics, physics, and art to create a seamless illusion of movement and transformation, inviting the viewer to contemplate the nature of change and the eternal cycle of life.
    — MyArtBroker.com

    Two

    Born in 1882, this composer was commissioned to write three ballets for the Ballets Russes’ Paris seasons: The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), and The Rite of Spring (1913). Who is the composer?

    Answer: Igor Stravinsky.

    Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) was a Russian composer with French and American citizenship, pivotal in modernist music. His career spanned three periods: Russian, neoclassical, and serial. Known for ballets like The Rite of Spring, he influenced composers like Copland and Glass. Stravinsky died in New York City, leaving six memoirs.

    Three

    Barry Manilow, who was born in 1943, won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1977 for a Bruce Johnston-written song. What song did Manilow ironically sing to win this award?

    Answer: I Write the Songs.

    Barry Manilow won a Grammy in 1977 for I Write the Songs — which, ironically, he did not write — written by Bruce Johnston. Manilow has produced, arranged, and performed for musicals, films, and commercials, including for McDonald’s and Pepsi. Nominated for 15 Grammy Awards, winning once, he has produced Grammy-nominated albums for Bette Midler and others. As a solo artist, he has sold over 85 million records globally.

    Four

    This English filmmaker, born 1936, received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for both The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016). He is also known for Cathy Come Home (1966) and Kes (1969). Who is this filmmaker?

    Answer: Ken Loach.

    Ken Loach is a British director known for his social realism films. Initially studying law at Oxford, he transitioned to acting and directing, notably for the BBC. His 1966 docudrama Cathy Come Home highlighted homelessness. Loach’s acclaimed films include Kes, Hidden Agenda (1990), The Wind That Shakes the Barley and I, Daniel Blake, the latter two winning the Palme d’Or. He also directed documentaries like The Spirit of ’45 (2013) and received the Praemium Imperiale in 2003.

    Five

    Born in California in 1987, this American rapper and songwriter received the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, and has, at the time of writing, won 27 Grammys. Who is this musician?

    Answer: Kendrick Lamar.

    Kendrick Lamar, born in 1987, is a renowned American rapper known for his introspective lyrics and social commentary. He signed with TDE in 2005, achieving fame with albums like Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp a Butterfly. Lamar has won 27 Grammys, headlined the Super Bowl, and co-founded PGLang.

  • Art for Art’s Sake

    Waterfall, 1961.
    Image MyArtBroker.com

    These questions are all about people from the creative arts who were born on today’s date, 17 June.

    One

    Which Dutch artist, born 1898, created the lithograph Waterfall shown above? 

    Two

    Born in 1882, this composer was commissioned to write three ballets for the Ballets Russes’ Paris seasons: The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), and The Rite of Spring (1913). Who is the composer?

    Three

    Barry Manilow, who was born in 1943, won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1977 for a Bruce Johnston-written song. What song did Manilow ironically sing to win this award?

    Four

    This English filmmaker, born 1936, received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for both The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016). He is also known for Cathy Come Home (1966) and Kes (1969). Who is this filmmaker?

    Five

    Born in California in 1987, this American rapper and songwriter received the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, and has, at the time of writing, won 27 Grammys. Who is this musician?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Voyage of Discovery — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question five. Camellia sinensis.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are not date related but follow a sequence which may become obvious as you venture through it.

    One

    What Canadian Province has borders with the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont?

    Answer: Quebec.

    Quebec, Canada’s largest province by area, is the only Francophone-majority province. It has a rich history, having been a French colony, then a British colony, before becoming part of Canada in 1867. Quebec’s economy is diverse, with key industries including aeronautics, hydroelectricity, and mining, and it is renowned for its distinct culture and contributions to Canadian society.

    Two

    In the film Some Like It Hot (1959) the band’s singer Sugar Kane also played what stringed instrument?

    Answer: Ukulele.

    Some Like It Hot is a 1959 American crime comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The film, set in the Prohibition era, follows two musicians (Curtis and Lemmon) who disguise themselves as women to escape mobsters.

    Three

    What was the title of the 1983 Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder duet?

    Answer: Ebony and Ivory.

    Ebony and Ivory is a 1982 duet by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, promoting racial harmony. The song topped charts in the UK and US, but was banned in South Africa during apartheid after wonder dedicated his Academy Award to Nelson Mandela.

    Four

    What letter of the Greek alphabet is used to indicate a mathematical function for ‘the sum of’?

    Answer: Sigma.

    Sigma is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet, with a value of 200 in Greek numerals. It is used as a summation operator in mathematics and is the origin of the Latin letter S.

    Five

    Camellia sinensis is the plant used to make what?

    Answer: Tea.

    Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub or small tree, is used to produce various types of tea. The name sinensis means ‘from China’ in Botanical Latin, and the genus name Camellia honours Rev. Georg Kamel.

    Voyage of Discovery

    The post title was a voyage of discovery, or a quest, and if you look at the answers, the initial letters spell out Q U E S T.

  • Voyage of Discovery

    See question five. Camellia sinensis.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are not date related but follow a sequence which may become obvious as you venture through it.

    One

    What Canadian Province has borders with the US states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont?

    Two

    In the film Some Like It Hot (1959) the band’s singer Sugar Kane also played what stringed instrument?

    Three

    What was the title of the 1983 Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder duet?

    Four

    What letter of the Greek alphabet is used to indicate a mathematical function for ‘the sum of’?

    Five

    Camellia sinensis is the plant used to make what?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • The Best Way to Observe Fish is to Become a Fish — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    RV Calypso.
    Image francebleu.fr

    Today’s first question is the only one connected to the date 11 June. The others continue a theme created in the first.

    One

    Born in 1910, this French author, explorer, inventor, diver, and biologist was awarded the Legion of Honour, the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, for espionage work while a member of the French resistance during World War II. Who is this?

    Answer: Jacques Cousteau.

    Jacques Cousteau (1910–1997) was a French naval officer, ocean explorer, filmmaker and co-inventor of the Aqua-Lung, which revolutionised scuba diving. A World War II resistance member and decorated naval officer, he pioneered underwater research, photography, and filmmaking. Using his research vessel Calypso (pictured), he led expeditions worldwide and helped popularise ocean exploration through books, documentaries and television. Cousteau also directed Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum, developed underwater habitats, and founded organisations dedicated to marine conservation and environmental protection.

    Two

    This actor, who links Hamlet and Ealing comedies with adaptations of John Le Carré’s novels and Star Wars, commanded a World War II landing craft during the invasions of Sicily and Elba. Who is he?

    Answer: Alec Guinness.

    Sir Alec Guinness, born Alec Guinness de Cuffe, was a renowned English actor, noted for his roles in nine of the BFI’s 100 most important British films. He won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Tony, and Volpi Cup. Knighted in 1959, he starred in films like Great Expectations, Lawrence of Arabia, and was Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. Guinness also excelled in theatre and television, notably as George Smiley in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley’s People.

    Three

    This actress, who played Delilah in 1949’s Samson and Delilah, was the co-inventor of a 1941 torpedo radio guidance system which utilised pioneering spread spectrum and frequency hopping technology to prevent jamming. Who was she?

    Answer: Hedy Lamarr.

    Hedy Lamarr, an Austrian-American actress and inventor, co-invented a radio guidance system during World War II with composer George Antheil. Their invention utilised spread spectrum and frequency hopping technology to protect Allied torpedoes from Axis jamming. Lamarr received numerous awards for her contributions to spread-spectrum technology, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award, the BULBIE Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award, and the Viktor Kaplan Medal. Its principles are utilised for secure wireless networking, such as Bluetooth and early versions of Wi-Fi, which use variants of spread spectrum to protect data from interception and interference. She was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

    Four

    This actor, who worked in Royal Air Force Intelligence during World War II, links all of these: Count Dracula; a 1970s Bond villain; baddies in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit; a High Councillor in The Golden Compass and the voice of Death in animated versions from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Who is he?

    Answer: Christopher Lee.

    He was renowned for his portrayal of Count Dracula in Hammer Horror films, starting with Dracula (1958). He also starred as Bond villain Francisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), Count Dooku in the Star Warsprequel trilogy (2002–2005), and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies (2001–2003 and 2012–2014, respectively). Lee voiced the character Death in two animated fantasy-comedy television series adaptations of the Discworld novels Soul Music and Wyrd Sisters (both 1997).

    Five

    An actor who flew US Liberator bombers over Europe during World War II had a starring role in 1939 in which he ‘went to Washington’. The following year, a ‘tale about Philadelphia’ won him a Best Actor Oscar. Who was this actor and pilot whose time in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve spanned 1941 to 1968?

    Answer: James Stewart.

    The two films referenced in the question are Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and The Philadelphia Story (1940). James Stewart, initially rejected for being underweight, enlisted in 1941 after gaining weight. An experienced pilot, he served in the Air Corps, becoming a second lieutenant in 1942. His celebrity aided recruitment, leading to 150,000 new troops. Volunteering for combat, he flew a B-24 Liberator in Europe, earning promotions to Major in 1944 and Colonel in 1945. Stewart received the Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix de Guerre, and Air Medal. He served in the Air Force Reserve until 1968, retiring as a brigadier general. 

    The Best Way to Observe a Fish is to Become a Fish

    The post title is a quote from Jacques Cousteau

    “The best way to observe fish is to become a fish,” wrote Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1952. “And the best way to become a fish…is to don an underwater breathing device called the Aqua-Lung.”
    — Time magazine

  • The Best Way to Observe Fish is to Become a Fish

    Image francebleu.fr

    Today’s first question is the only one connected to the date 11 June. The others continue a theme created in the first.

    One

    Born in 1910, this French author, explorer, inventor, diver, and biologist was awarded the Legion of Honour, the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, for espionage work while a member of the French resistance during World War II. Who is this?

    Two

    This actor, who links Hamlet and Ealing comedies with adaptations of John Le Carré’s novels and Star Wars, commanded a World War II landing craft during the invasions of Sicily and Elba. Who is he?

    Three

    This actress, who played Delilah in 1949’s Samson and Delilah, was the co-inventor of a 1941 torpedo radio guidance system which utilised pioneering spread spectrum and frequency hopping technology to prevent jamming. Who was she?

    Four

    This actor, who worked in Royal Air Force Intelligence during World War II, links all of these: Count Dracula; a 1970s Bond villain; baddies in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit; a High Councillor in The Golden Compass and the voice of Death in animated versions from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. Who is he?

    Five

    An actor who flew US Liberator bombers over Europe during World War II had a starring role in 1939 in which he ‘went to Washington’. The following year, a ‘tale about Philadelphia’ won him a Best Actor Oscar. Who was this actor and pilot whose time in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve spanned 1941 to 1968?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Today’s the Day — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Robert F. Kennedy, 1968.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today, 5 June.

    One

    On 5 June 1968, U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot? Who shot him, and in what building and in what city was he shot?

    Answer: Sirhan Sirhan; Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles.

    In March 1968, Robert F Kennedy announced his presidential candidacy. By June 4th he had secured five out of six primaries including a victory in California that day. Shortly after midnight on June 5th he addressed his supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. As he exited through a kitchen corridor he was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant. Kennedy was interred near his brother John at Arlington National Cemetery.

    Two

    AIDS was reported for the first time after a rare form of pneumonia was found in five homosexual men. In what year was this, and in what city was the pneumonia detected?

    Answer: 1981; Los Angeles, U.S.A.

    HIV is a retrovirus attacking the immune system, potentially leading to AIDS without treatment. It is preventable and manageable with antiretroviral therapy, extending life expectancy to nearly normal levels. Early testing and treatment prevent progression and transmission. HIV spreads through unprotected sex, contaminated needles, and mother-to-child transmission. Recognised in the 1980s, HIV/AIDS has significant societal, economic, and political impacts. Originating from primates in west-central Africa, AIDS was first identified in 1981. By 2024, AIDS caused at least 42.3 million deaths globally, with 630,000 deaths in 2023 and 39.9 million living with HIV, 65% in the WHO African Region. 

    Three

    Born this day in 1939, this man would become Canada’s 16th and youngest prime minister 40 years later. Who is he?

    Answer: Joe Clark.

    Joe Clark, Canada’s youngest Prime Minister, led the Progressive Conservative Party from 1976 to 1983 and again from 1998 to 2003. His brief tenure as Prime Minister saw the introduction of freedom of information legislation and the ‘Canadian Caper’ rescue. After losing the 1980 election, he served in Brian Mulroney’s cabinet and later as a UN Special Representative for Cyprus.

    Four

    This author was born in Wales in 1949, and had a breakthrough with his 1978 novel Eye of the Needle. His successful Kingsbridge series began with The Pillars of the Earth (1989). Who is this author?

    Answer: Ken Follett.

    Welsh author Ken Follett, born in 1949, is known for his thrillers and historical novels, selling nearly 200 million copies. His breakthrough came with Eye of the Needle (1978), and he later achieved success with The Pillars of the Earth (1989).

    Five

    This actor turned politician had his first screen credit in a starring role in 1937 as Andy McCaine in Love Is on the Air and 20 years later he was Cdr. Casey Abbott in Hellcats of the Navy. Who is he?

    Answer: Ronald Reagan.

    Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was a former movie actor known for his conservative Republicanism and anticommunism. He served as president from 1981 to 1989 and was nicknamed ‘the Great Communicator’ for his oratory skills. Reagan’s policies are credited with contributing to the downfall of Soviet communism. Ronald Reagan died on 5 June 2004.

  • Today’s the Day

    Robert F. Kennedy, 1968.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today, 5 June.

    One

    On 5 June 1968, U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot? Who shot him, and in what building and in what city was he shot?

    Two

    AIDS was reported for the first time after a rare form of pneumonia was found in five homosexual men. In what year was this, and in what city was the pneumonia detected?

    Three

    Born this day in 1939, this man would become Canada’s 16th and youngest prime minister 40 years later. Who is he?

    Four

    This author was born in Wales in 1949, and had a breakthrough with his 1978 novel Eye of the Needle. His successful Kingsbridge series began with The Pillars of the Earth (1989). Who is this author?

    Five

    This actor turned politician had his first screen credit in a starring role in 1937 as Andy McCaine in Love Is on the Air and 20 years later he was Cdr. Casey Abbott in Hellcats of the Navy. Who is he?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.