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MR. HAND'S SPRING 2005 POP MOVIE POP QUIZ
Everyone loves a pop quiz. Well, that may not exactly be true, but nobody seems to mind one that gets us thinking about the movies, the ones we love to think about, the ones that inform our lives and make it better, the ones that mean the most to us. Well, there are questions in the quiz below that may address some of those movies. But there are also questions below that are meant only to jog your memory, make you make associations, perhaps bring up an aspect of the movies, or going to the movies, that you’d set aside as trivial or perhaps hadn’t ever given much thought to (and probably for a good reason). There are no right answers to this quiz, just your answers. And, unlike the pop history exam in Mr. Hand’s class, if you check back on this page over the next few days you’ll get a chance to peek over to someone else’s desk and see their answers without getting yelled at in front of other students, drawing detention, or having the teacher stop by your house at an inopportune time for an impromptu catch-up lesson to help make up for having wasting his time in the classroom. Everyone is invited to drop their answers in the Comments column below, regular posters to this site, those who regularly lurk and don’t usually comment, or anyone else stumbling across this site for the first time. You can provide short, concise responses, or you can elaborate to your heart’s content, and if you feel the need and have the time to elaborate, please do—those are often the answers that are most fun for the rest of us to read. So now, class, pencils ready? Have an excellent Easter weekend… and begin.
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again.
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances.
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection.
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection.
5) Best NYC movie?
6) Best LA movie?
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney?
9) Best movie remake?
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world.
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard?
15) Your father’s favorite movie.
16) Your mother’s favorite movie.
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him.
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her.
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant?
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about.
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about.
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate.
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love.
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies.
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie.
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis?
28) Your favorite sports movie.
29) Your favorite movie sex scene.
30) Your favorite movie car chase.
31) Your favorite death scene.
32) Your favorite movie gross-out.
33) Your favorite movie rating.
34) Your favorite movie theater.
35) Your favorite movie snack.
36) Your favorite movie speech.
37) Your favorite movie about movies.
38) Your favorite Hammer horror movie.
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie.
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie.
22 comments:
Answering only those questions that I can answer...
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances. WILD AT HEART.
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection. I don't have a DVD collection.
5) Best NYC movie? (Including those set in NYC, but shot in LA?)
A tossup between ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and THE WARRIORS
6) Best LA movie?
After EARTHQUAKE, you mean? Can't say I have one. TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. is a nice title, though.
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?
Well, EARTHQUAKE, of course. Just ahead of BLOOD IN, BLOOD OUT.
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney? Bogart, I guess.
9) Best movie remake? THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).
EARTHQUAKE by the South Park guys. Any Joe Camp movie by the South Park guys.
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie.
"Ride of the Valkyrie(s)" in APOCALYPSE NOW/"La Marseillaise" in CASABLANCA.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.
I think of THE SOUND OF MUSIC as one long, boring movie montage filled with unwelcome pop songs.
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world. HEARTS AND MINDS.
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard? You mean Katharine Hepburn, right?
15) Your father’s favorite movie.
I don't know. It might be THE TOWERING INFERNO for all I know.
16) Your mother’s favorite movie.
GONE WITH THE WIND or GIANT, but I'm guessing.
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him.
Jack Elam in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her.
Claudia Cardinale in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. Elizabeth Taylor in GIANT.
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant? But why do I have to choose?
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.
After seeing THE LAST DETAIL, asking my father if that's what the navy was like.
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies.
My father's silence as my mother, brother and I waited for his answer.
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie. Robert Morley in THEATRE OF BLOOD.
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis?
Bette Davis in HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE or WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE
over JOAN CRAWFORD in STRAIT-JACKET or WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE.
28) Your favorite sports movie. HOOSIERS and GRAND PRIX and HARD TIMES.
(Although when Chuck Heston dies on the field at the end of NUMBER ONE,
that's a special moment for a lot of reasons)
29) Your favorite movie sex scene. Well, if they had sex at any time during EARTHQUAKE...
30) Your favorite movie car chase. Under the elevated train in THE FRENCH CONNECTION.
31) Your favorite death scene. Robert Duvall in GERONIMO.
34) Your favorite movie theater. The Rialto in South Pasadena, CA.
35) Your favorite movie snack. Popcorn.
36) Your favorite movie speech. Orson Welles as Harry Lime on black marketeering in THE THIRD MAN;
John Qualen as Muley squatting in the dust in THE GRAPES OF WRATH.
37) Your favorite movie about movies. CINEMA PARADISO.
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie. Never saw any.
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie. Don't remember if I saw any.
Virgil Hilts
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again.
It's not exactly rare, and it's been issued on vhs, but I was just thinking how much I'd love to see Louis Malle's "Murmur of the Heart" again just a few moments ago...
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances.
Roman Coppola's "CQ"
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection.
Tough one, possibly Joe Dante and Allan Arkush's "Hollywood Boulvevard" simply because it's an odd title to have audio commentary.
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection.
Some more silent films, perhaps the Buster Keaton-Kino collection.
5) Best NYC movie?
"They All Laughed"
6) Best LA movie?
"To Live and Die In LA"
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?
There's really only one, "The Bay Boy", which is just godawful.
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney?
Bogart
9) Best movie remake?
"His Girl Friday"
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).
John Carpenter's "Only Angels Have Wings", which I've read he wants to remake. Maybe have Kurt Russell in the Cary Grant role.
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie.
"Atlantis" in "Goodfellas", "TB Sheets" in "Bringing Out the Dead", "Queen Bitch" in "The Life Aquatic"...
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.
Any popular Motown song (great music, just don't want to see another montage with "It Takes Two" serving as inspirational music)
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world.
"Rocky", a boring choice I'm sure
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard?
Hepburn
15) Your father’s favorite movie.
"To Sir with Love"
16) Your mother’s favorite movie.
I'm not sure, possibly "Ghost"
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him.
Cary Grant in "North by Northwest"
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her.
Ava Gardner in "The Barefoot Contessa" or Rita Hayworth in "Gilda"
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant?
Jimmy Stewart
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about.
Keith David, Michael Parks, James Remar
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about.
Jessica Harper
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate.
"Harold and Kumar Go to Whitecastle"
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love.
"Dawn of the Dead" remake
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.
six years old, the first showing of Tim Burton's "Batman", and a whole cavalcade of freaks who dressed up and had hand-made action figures parading in front of me while my father and i made our way to our seats (I guess I answered earliest...)
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies.
seeing "White Chicks" against my will
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie.
"Monty Python and the Meaning of Life"
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis?
Crawford
28) Your favorite sports movie.
"The Longest Yard"
29) Your favorite movie sex scene.
"Mulholland Drive"
30) Your favorite movie car chase.
"Bullitt"
31) Your favorite death scene.
"For a Few Dollars More"
33) Your favorite movie rating.
R
35) Your favorite movie snack.
popcorn
36) Your favorite movie speech.
"Mr Smith goes to Washington"
37) Your favorite movie about movies.
"The Big Knife"
38) Your favorite Hammer horror movie.
"Horror of Dracula"
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie.
"The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes"
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie.
"The Love Bug"
Virgil: There goes the neighborhood. Thanks for the "Katharine"! Now, meet me outside the Rialto tonight, after THE BICYCLE THIEF. I wanna talk to you about that script of yours...
Thanks for the invite, but Miss Desmond doesn't like it when I leave the house.
Virgil
Well, this was quite a daunting challenge for a holiday weekend! Wasn't able to come up with answers for all of them, but here's what I've got:
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection. AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney? BOGIE
9) Best movie remake? OCEAN’S ELEVEN
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard? KATE
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him. CARY GRANT in NOTORIOUS
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her. ELIZABETH TAYLOR in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant? CARY
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about. DAVID STRATHAIRN
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about. VIOLA DAVIS
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate. SOUND OF MUSIC. “The hills are alive…”
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies. THE OPENING CRAWL IN THE FIRST STAR WARS MOVIE IN 1977.
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis? BETTE
28) Your favorite sports movie. FIELD OF DREAMS
29) Your favorite movie sex scene. BODY HEAT: WILLIAM HURT HURLING THE CHAIR THROUGH THE WINDOW. YOWSA!
30) Your favorite movie car chase. WHAT’S UP. DOC?
34) Your favorite movie theater. MANN’S CHINESE
35) Your favorite movie snack. POPCORN, OF COURSE
36) Your favorite movie speech. A) PRES. ANDREW SHEPARD AT THE END OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT. B) ALEC BALDWIN’S ‘GOD’ SPEECH IN MALICE.
37) Your favorite movie about movies. BOWFINGER
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie. COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie. THE SHAGGY D.A.
Here is my homework. The dog ate the first draft.
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again.
"Lord of the Rings Trilogy" and "The Count of Monte Cristo"
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances.
"Spinal Tap"
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection.
"Lord of the Rings Trilogy"
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection.
"The Count of Monte Cristo"
5) Best NYC movie?
"West Side Story" and "The Siege"
6) Best LA movie?
"24" series seasons 1,2,& 3
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?
"The Way West", I got to see portions of this movie filmed near Christmas Valley and Fort Rock. Watching Kirk Douglas and Sally Field up close and in person was a first for me seeing famous stars live.
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney?
Humphrey Bogart
9) Best movie remake?
"Freaky Friday" and "The Parent Trap"
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.
"The Sound of “…..”
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world.
"The Passion of Christ"
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard?
Katherine Hepburn
15) Your father’s favorite movie.
"Speed" He loved Sandra Bullock
16) Your mother’s favorite movie.
Any movie with Nicholas Cage
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him.
Clark Gable in "Gone with the Wind"
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her.
Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman"
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant?
Jimmy Steward hands down
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about.
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about.
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate.
"Kindergarden Cop"
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love.
"Spinal Tap"
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.
Any movie I go to with the Grandkids
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies.
Watching Spinal Tap with Sir Dennis
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie.
Belushi in "Animal House"
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis?
Joan Crawford
28) Your favorite sports movie.
"Mystery Alaska"
29) Your favorite movie sex scene.
Sharon Stone crossing her legs in "Basic Instinct"
30) Your favorite movie car chase.
"Speed"
31) Your favorite death scene.
"Unforgiven" the gut shot cowboy in the rocks
32) Your favorite movie gross-out.
33) Your favorite movie rating.
PG-14
34) Your favorite movie theater.
Algers Theater, Lakeview, OR
35) Your favorite movie snack.
Gummy Bears
36) Your favorite movie speech.
"Patton" Pattons opening speech
37) Your favorite movie about movies.
38) Your favorite Hammer horror movie. Huh?
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie.
"Computer who wore tennis shoes"
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie.
I like them all
Dear Mr. Hand,
My parents are totally heated up at me because I was supposed to be doing all these bogus chores around the house and instead I had to write this awesome paper for your class, so I hope you appreciate it.
-Bruce Spicoli
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again.
SICKO, the (bad) satire of PSYCHO which I directed, edited, etc., in high school, along with my friend Bill Helwig. It’s a lost film now, perhaps for the best.
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances.
VERY BAD THINGS: Ugly, cruel, and smugly cynical, not to mention stupid.
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection.
LORD OF THE RINGS: the three extremely long versions. Ah, bliss!
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection.
Probably DAYS OF HEAVEN, if there’s a good DVD out there. I’ve seen it in 70mm, and I can’t watch the VHS copy I bought years ago, much as I love the movie (despite Gere’s typically mannered performance).
5) Best NYC movie?
ANNIE HALL. I was really happy to find, when I finally visited Manhattan, that it was as beautiful a city as Woody Allen had made it seem.
6) Best LA movie?
SUNSET BOULEVARD.
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?
SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION has stuck in my memory all these years as capturing something of the spirit of Oregon; I saw it with my brother Ray at the Tides Theater in Seaside, Oregon, and it made a vivid impression.
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney?
Bogart, with his sad, wounded tough-guy face.
9) Best movie remake?
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1978), one of my favorite movies.
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).
DAMN YANKEES, I guess, so they’d include all the songs. I don’t know who would be in it, though, to equal Ray Walston as Mr. Applegate/The Devil and Gwen Verdon as Lola. Nor could any production of the song SHOELESS JOE FROM HANNIBAL, MO. live up to Bob Fosse’s choreography of the ballplayers kicking up dust on the diamond of whatever defunk LA ballpark they shot it on. But it was the first musical I sang in and I have a soft spot for it.
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D in ORDINARY PEOPLE (I chose this only partly to irritate you, Dennis…there are many others I could’ve chosen, but I do think it worked beautifully for the film.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.
Well, it’s not typical, but I hate that “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head” montage in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world.
This is odd: GORILLAS IN THE MIST, not because it was a great movie, but because it spurred me to read the book Farley Mowat wrote about Dian Fossey, “Woman in the Mists,” which incorporates her journal entries. At the time I was working at a job I hated (sales), not acting, had just moved to a dreary place, etc—and Fossey was a woman with virtually no qualifications who found a way to work with the gorillas, and eventually gave up everything in order to study and protect them. I thought, the least I can do is to find a job that performs some service to someone, and to pursue in some way what I would like to be doing with my life.
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard?
Katharine Hepburn—no offense to Ms. Lombard, God rest her lively soul.
15) Your father’s favorite movie.
HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY.
16) Your mother’s favorite movie.
I think she’d say it was a toss-up between A NUN’S STORY and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA…though she has a soft spot for THE MIRACLE WORKER.
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him.
Laurence Olivier, in REBECCA (or WUTHERING HEIGHTS).
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her.
Vivien Leigh, in GONE WITH THE WIND. (sigh).
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant?
Jimmy Stewart.
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about.
Me!
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about.
Brooke Adams…I wouldn’t say almost nobody knows about her, but I’d sure like to see more of her.
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate.
PSYCHO, the remake: an interesting experiment which can’t touch the original but which I had a great time watching. Very interesting work by the actors, especially Anne Heche.
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love.
PULP FICTION.
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.
I have to pick one of many: Sitting in a Westwood movie theatre (the Regal?) on opening night of BLUE VELVET, with Lynch himself (or someone who looked just like him) across the aisle in a tux, shaken and stunned as the lights came up. We had been given little comment cards and pencils, and Pattie and I looked at each other over the first question: “What is your overall rating for this movie? Excellent,Good, Fair, Poor” We both shrugged and simultaneously said, “Excellent?” and checked that box.
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies.
The entire experience of sitting through MAGNOLIA.
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie.
That piggy that Merry or Pippin worked for slopping down his lunch in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING. One scene that didn’t need extending.
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis?
Bette Davis: guts, humor and heart.
28) Your favorite sports movie.
29) BULL DURHAM: we watch it every year as baseball season starts, and it never gets old.
30) Your favorite movie sex scene.
RYAN’S DAUGHTER, in the woods.
31) Your favorite movie car chase.
BULLITT.
32) Your favorite death scene.
Janet Leigh’s in PSYCHO.
33) Your favorite movie gross-out.
All of JACKASS: THE MOVIE.
34) Your favorite movie rating.
R. I have a soft spot for M, too.
35) Your favorite movie theater.
Probably the old Paramount Theater in Portland, now the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
36) Your favorite movie snack.
Other than popcorn, Red Vines.
37) Your favorite movie speech.
I’ll just pick one: Uncle Charlie’s “Women keep busy out here…not like in the cities. In the cities women marry rich men…” from SHADOW OF A DOUBT.
38) Your favorite movie about movies.
SUNSET BOULEVARD, though I also liked THE BIG PICTURE.
39) Your favorite Hammer horror movie.
BRIDES OF DRACULA.
40) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie.
NOW YOU SEE HIM, NOW YOU DON’T
41) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie.
BLACKBEARD’S GHOST
Murray: Regarding your #25, I facilitated the most unpleasant time you've had watching a movie by bringing THIS IS SPINAL TAP to your house? Wow! I don't know whether to be ashamed or honored...! :)
Everybody: I'm halfway through my own list, but y'all have definitely done some memory-jogging for me. I hope the lists keep pouring in.
Blaagh: I love your #11 and #24. And do you know if SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION is on DVD?
God bless Virgil Hilts for naming WILD AT HEART as the one movie he never wants to see again...wisdom at last.
Dennis, glad you liked my list! It was fun to write, and it's a blast to read others' quizzes.
I don't know whether SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION is on DVD--oh, wait, I just checked and it's not, according to Amazon (o wondrous internet). Too bad! That's one to lobby for; now that I started thinking about it, I'm dying (so to speak) to see it again.
Bruce
Bruce,
Thanks for mentioning DAYS OF HEAVEN, though watching it on a big screen is the only way to go.
And you have reminded me that SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION also contains one of the great death scenes, Richard Jaeckel's (sp?) agonizingly slow and inevitable demise. That's a hard one to watch because it's such an emotional scene that's directed and acted to perfection.
Virgil Hilts
1) I’d drop everything to see Flap (1970), a post- Easy Rider movie of virtually no reputation starring Anthony Quinn as a Native American fighting the establishment and directed by Sir Carol Reed-- I really liked this movie as a kid, but the director and subject matter seem like such an odd fit, and I’m almost positive it wouldn’t be nearly as good as I remember it. But therein lies the curiosity…
2) Movie I Never Want to See Again Under Any Circumstances: Ransom, a film by Ron Howard
3) Most Treasured DVD in My Collection: Nashville. Also: like Blaaagh, the extended Lord of the Rings trilogy and, along with MachineGunMcCain, Hollywood Boulevard, the impassioned story of low-budget Miracle Pictures, where "If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"
4) I most covet Criterion's release of Jean Renoir's The Rules of the Game for my collection
5) Best NYC movie: Dog Day Afternoon
6) Best L.A. movie: The Long Goodbye
7a) Best Movie Ever Made In My Home State (Oregon): National Lampoon's Animal House
7b) Best Movie Ever Made About My Home State (Oregon): Sometimes a Great Notion
8) Bogart, for In a Lonely Place alone
9) I'm with MGM: His Girl Friday
10) I'd like to see director David R. Ellis (Final Destination 2, Cellular) remake Fantastic Voyage with Clive Owen for Stephen Boyd, Eva Mendes for Raquel Welch and, since they resurrected Sir Laurence Olivier for Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, how about recruiting Donald Pleasance to play the Donald Pleasance role.
11) Best Integration Of Existing Music into a Movie: The Small Faces' "Ooh La La" over the final slow-motion dance in Rushmore. Honorable Mention: Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" over the opening credits of the 2004 version of Flight of the Phoenix.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage:
The Spencer Davis Group's "Good Lovin'", or just about anything from the Diana Ross and the Supremes catalog.
13a) The movie that most made me want to change the world, or at least brought home the reality that the world, even in its most isolated corners, needed change: Harlan County, USA
13b) The movie that most made want to change my life: Super Size Me
13c) The movie that probably actually did change my life: Ken Burns’ Baseball
14) Carole Lombard (but not Jill Clayburgh)
15) Dad's Favorite Movie: Anything that bears the Pixar stamp, particularly A Bug's Life
16) Mom's Favorite Movie: Monsters, Inc., Deliverance, but definitely not Woody Allen's Sleeper
17) Most Handsome Man in the Movies: Cary Grant in Notorious
18) Most Beautiful Woman: Claudia Cardinale in Once Upon A Time In the West
19) Cary Grant
20) Favorite Actors (Almost) Nobody Seems to Know About: Luis Guzman, Q&A, Carlito’s Way, The Limey, Bill Paterson, Comfort and Joy, The Witches
21) Favorite Actresses (Almost) Nobody Seems to Know About: Regina King, Jerry Maguire, Ray, Sandra Oh, Sideways, The Princess Diaries, Shawnee Smith, Saw, Margaret Whitton, Major League, The Secret of My Succe$s
22) The Movie I Love That Everyone Else Seems to Hate: Robert Altman’s Popeye, David Lynch’s Dune, Michael Laughlin’s Strange Behavior
23) The Movie I Hate That Everyone Else Seems to Love: George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption
24) Most Memorable Moment Related to the Movies: I took my dad, who was always indifferent to movies throughout my childhood, to see National Lampoon’s Animal House in a theater in Eugene, Oregon, September 1978, while my mom waited in our motel room with my then-seven-year-old sister. The plan was that Mom would meet us at the box office after the show, and Dad would take my sister back to the motel so then Mom could see it. When we met my mom and my sister after the show, Dad decided that “it really wasn’t that bad” for my sister to see—an assessment I found surprising, given the movie’s escalated level of raunch, but one he made on the spur of the moment because, to his surprise, he loved the movie and wanted to see it again. It was the first time I could remember him being so enthusiastic about a movie, and I couldn’t help but feel he was taking a little bit of pride in the fact that I was in it. And this would not be his last encounter with the Deltas-- Dad would see Animal House several more times over the next few years, and he’s probably seen it more than any other movie.
25) Most Unpleasant Moment Related to the Movies: Tricking my dad into taking me to see Deliverance when I was 13 years old, then realizing Mom wanted to come along and that I’d have to sit between them for the entire movie.
26) Most Revolting Eating Scene in a Movie: Sean Connery shlurping—smack, smeck— and shwallowing his shupper—smack, gulp, smeck—in The Hunt for Red October
27) Joan Crawford, for Johnny Guitar alone
28) Favorite Sports Movie: Bull Durham, The Bad News Bears
29) Favorite Movie Sex Scene: the raw-egg swapping in Tampopo
30) Favorite Car Chase: Ronin, the original The Italian Job (1969)
31a) Favorite Death Scene (Unparalleled Drama Division): Richard Jaeckel’s agonizingly slow death, pinned between two logs in a river, in Sometimes a Great Notion
31b) Favorite Death Scene (Grand Guignol Division): Piper Laurie being stuck onto a door jam and repeatedly impaled by kitchen implements made airborne courtesy of the uncontrollable rage rocketing out of her telekinetic daughter, then giving a last gasp and coming to rest Christ-like and crucified, in Carrie. Added bonus: Sissy Spacek trying to pull her down, but that one hand just... won’t… yank… free…
32) Favorite Movie Gross-out: I’m absolutely in the Blaaagh camp here—it’s gotta be the entirety of jackass: the movie
33) Favorite Movie Rating: M, then R, and of course M’s inexplicable cousin, GP
34) Favorite Movie Theater: The Alger, Lakeview Oregon, The Bijou, Eugene, Oregon, The Vista, Hollywood, California
35) Favorite Movie Snack: Orville Redenbacher’s 94% Fat-Free Smart Pop (popped and bagged at home and snuck in via backpack)
36) Favorite Movie Speech: Otter’s oratory before the fraternity board and the dean in National Lampoon’s Animal House-- “I’m not gonna stand here and listen to you bad-mouth the United States of America! Gentlemen!”—and (thank you again, Blaaagh) Uncle Charlie’s slow burn at the dinner table in Shadow of a Doubt
37) Favorite Movie About Movies: Sunset Boulevard
38) Favorite Hammer Horror Movie: Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
39a) Favorite Kurt Russell Disney Movie (Dexter Riley Division): The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
39b) Favorite Kurt Russell Disney Movie (Non-Dexter Riley Division): The Barefoot Executive
40) Favorite Dean Jones Disney Movie: The Love Bug, That Darn Cat!
I had completely forgot about "Sometimes A Great Notion". I would love to see it with captions or subtitles. Dennis, I agree with you totally that Richard Jaeckel's, drowning scene is tops. Thanks to you and Bruce for a reminder of a great OREGON movie.
Virgil, Glad to hear there's another fan of those two movies out there--and yes, you're probably right that it makes no sense to see DAYS OF HEAVEN anywhere else but in a theater.
Thom--what great, funny answers! I can relate about memory: I just played a giant role with really complicated language, and now I have to think and think to come up with how to pronounce anything with more than two syllables--as if I've used up all my available memory cells. I'd love to see the old SCTV shows, too; I still laugh when I think about them now. You may have made a better choice of a NYC movie with MANHATTAN, I think, better than ANNIE HALL, I mean, at evoking NYC. "In Dreams" was an inspired music choice, I agree...Juliette Binoche is my dream girl...I never knew your Hitchcock story--I'm pea-green with envy! Not so your horrific poking story--that sounds like something off REVOLUTION POLLUTION. Right on about the drilling killing in BODY DOUBLE...ugh. Spare me another viewing of that thing.
Dennis: I gotta see HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD! Let's watch it together next time. I fondly remember RULES OF THE GAME, too--and would like to see that again. Love your idea of a FANTASTIC VOYAGE remake by David R. Ellis! I agree about Lynch's DUNE...maybe POPEYE does deserve another look. Love the story about your dad seeing ANIMAL HOUSE and being proud...my dad, on the other hand, saw me in it and said only, "Maybe you should consider directing instead..." Wish I'd thought to mention the weird, short-lived GP rating!
Murray--you're welcome...maybe we should start a lobbying group to get SOMETIMES A GREAT NOTION released on DVD (with subtitles of course).
Bruce
All right, Dennis. It's (past) time for me to put an end to the agonizing, place my pencil on the desk and take a deep breath. I've been losing sleep over #5, #10, #17, #25 (Come on, repressed memories-- I know you're in there somewhere... Poor Thom McGregor...), #31, #37... To compensate for the tentative or missing answers, there are a few obnoxiously garrulous ones. I hope you'll forgive me.
1) I'd drop everything just to see MANNEKEN PIS again.
2) Never want to see again under any circumstances GANGS OF NEW YORK. And I want my three hours back too.
3) Most treasured DVD in my humble collection - A Criterion blessing: DOWN BY LAW.
4) Most coveted DVD - A Criterion splurge: I SOLITI IGNOTI (BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET). Close second: THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE.
5) Best NYC movie? I was going to be cheeky and say ANNIE HALL for this AND the next, but then I remembered...
6) Best LA movie? MULHOLLAND DRIVE
7) Best movie made in or about Indiana - No, not HOOSIERS, but BREAKING AWAY, filmed in Bloomington (where I, like darling Dave Stoller, began to try very hard to be Italian), and DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND, an enthralling documentary filmed in rural Lagrange County (where I grew up). Honorable mention to Neil LaBute's IN THE COMPANY OF MEN: corporate misogyny captured in Fort Wayne-- whoo-hoo!
9) Best movie remake? THE FLY (1986) is so great, but I don't know-- Last year's WILLARD was pretty darn fun.
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie - Tom Waits's "Jockey Full of Bourbon" over the opening of DOWN BY LAW.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage - Standing by my utter loathing of Smash Mouth's "All-star."
13) Movie that made me want to change my life and the world - In 2002, conniptions on the sidewalk after watching BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. Last weekend, total meltdown in the public restroom after watching HOTEL RWANDA.
15) Dad's favorite movie - DR. ZHIVAGO. As a kid, he was totally in love with Julie Christie.
16) Mum's favorite movie - An ugly can of worms containing lots of sappy WWII dramas and smarmy swashbucklers. Our taste for cinematic entertainment diverges beyond THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, for which we share a deep passion.
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him - Gregory Peck in SPELLBOUND?
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her - Rita Hayworth puttin' "the blame on mame" in GILDA.
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant? Both! All!
20) Favorite actor almost nobody knows about - Hmm. How about Pruitt Taylor Vince (the HEAVY guy)? Since Jim Broadbent and Don Cheadle are pretty famous now and Dennis already took Luis Guzman... Ooh! Ooh! David Wenham! Does he qualify?
21) Favorite actress almost nobody knows about - Melanie Lynskey who ruled HEAVENLY CREATURES. Been meaning to rent every stupid stinkin' film she's been in since just to see her again.
22) The movie I loved that everyone else seems to hate - On a Kevin Spacey kick a few years back, I rented PAY IT FORWARD and ended up watching it over and over all weekend long. And I cried. Think I even watched it with the audio commentary! And I cried.
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love - A triumvirate of cocky young directors wasting perfectly good celluloid (not to mention their potential talent): KILL BILL (all volumes), MAGNOLIA, and RUSHMORE.
24) Most memorable moment related to the movies - Standing with the paparazzi (the Italian paparazzi!) and watching Woody Allen arrive with Soon-Yi Previn to the world premiere of EVERYBODY SAYS I LOVE YOU in Venice and then getting to sit and watch the film in the grandest cinema I'd ever seen. (Ehm. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be the grandest of WA's films.)
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie - I nominate Divine devouring dog dung in PINK FLAMINGOS.
28) Favorite sports movie - No, not HOOSIERS. BREAKING AWAY and THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE. Cycling rules!
29) Favorite movie sex scene? Thank you so much for asking! I've been waiting for the excuse to proclaim my appreciation of the lumps of flesh that are Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie tumbling about amorously in DON'T LOOK NOW.
30) Favorite movie car chase - THE BLUES BROTHERS?
32) Favorite movie gross-out - I'm especially fond of Lionel and his lawnmower in BRAINDEAD. When I first saw it (dubbed in Italian as SPLATTERS: GLI SCHIZZACERVELLI), lots of folks walked out at this scene, huffing indignantly. Alas, the sweet genius of Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor is lost on some.
33) Favorite movie rating - The G slapped on a David Lynch flick!
34) Favorite movie theater - Cinema Center, Fort Wayne (1992-1994); Lumiere, Bologna (1996-1997); UC Theater, Berkeley (1998-2000) (RIP); Nuart, Los Angeles (2000-2002); Vista, Hollywood (2003-2004).
35) Favorite movie snack - Milk Duds
36) Favorite movie speech - The POTUS to Alan Arkin's drunken and disheveled superhero in THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE ("We need ya real bad!") Oh, wait. I think he breaks out in song, so maybe that doesn't count as a speech.
37) Favorite movie about movies - THE PLAYER?
38) I'm woefully inexperienced in Hammer horror, but I did enjoy THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1959).
I didn't have time to give ths proper contemplation, but off the top of my head:
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again.**Les fromages automobiles (1907, George Melies) aka The Creeping Cheeses.
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances.**Spielberg
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection.**"The Movies Begin" (early cinema DVD set from Kino)
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection.**Les Vampires (1915, Louis Feuillade)
5) Best NYC movie?**For lack of anything better coming to mind just now: "New York: A Documentary Film" by Ric Burns
6) Best LA movie?**L.A. Story (I'm sure I could have come up with something better, but oh well.)
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?**Can't think of any for New Hampshire that weren't crap, so will go with my home country of England: "Champagne Charlie" (1944, Alberto Cavalcanti) about the British music hall scene.
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney?**Bogie. Come on.
9) Best movie remake?**Psycho
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).**Psycho should be remade every 10 years and followed shot for shot each time. I don't care who does it next. van Sant again! Chow Yun-Fat as Norman Bates! Tony Leung Chiu-Wai as Janet Leigh! Eddie Izzard as Martin Balsam!
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie.**There was something I thought of and then forgot. But for now "California Dreaming" in "Chungking Express"
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.**"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears.
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world.**Sorry. Can't think of it just now. There were a couple.
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard?**equal, don't care.
15) Your father’s favorite movie.**Whatever teen werewolf movie is playing on TBS that night.
16) Your mother’s favorite movie.**The Quiet Man
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him.**Chow Yun-Fat in "God of Gamblers 2: Gamblers Return"
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her.**for lack of anything bette coming to mind Chingmy Yau in "God of Gamblers 2: Gamblers Return."
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant?**Cary Grant
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about.**Actors are sheep.
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about.**I meant to say actors are cattle.
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate.**Raping Steven Spielberg
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love.**Spielberg
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.**That's private.
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies.**When the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian omitted a reel (20 minutes) of a film and then played it at the end afterwards.
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie.**"My Father is a Hero" (Jet Li movie). Someone eating a bowl of live ants.
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis?**equal, don't care
28) Your favorite sports movie.**Victory?
29) Your favorite movie sex scene.**"Sale comme un ange" ("Dirty Like an Angel") (1991, Catherine Breillat)
30) Your favorite movie car chase.**The Blues Brothers with all the cop cars chasing and smashing.
31) Your favorite death scene.**I'm sure I can think of better, but "The Professional" aka "Leon."
32) Your favorite movie gross-out.**"Salo (or the 120 Days of Sodom." Cooked feces + Nazis + dinner = gross. That's not favorite, just grossest.
33) Your favorite movie rating.**Passed by the British Board of Film Censors.
34) Your favorite movie theater.**Museum of Fine Arts Boston
35) Your favorite movie snack.**Milk Duds
36) Your favorite movie speech.**Richard III (1955, Laurence Olivier) opening. Sorry cheated. Went with Shakespeare.
37) Your favorite movie about movies.**8 1/2
38) Your favorite Hammer horror movie.**I've only seen "The Quatermass Xperiment," and it sucked.
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie.**I have seen none (mercifully)
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie.**Herbie the Love Bug.
- The Mysterious (A)drian (B)etamax
Todd-- The late, great Fred Neil wrote "Everybody's Talkin'", and the late, great Harry Nilsson sang it.
Dennis-- Yes, my list is on its way. And those AREN'T my muddy footprints on your clean kitchen floor. Check Patty's shoes. I'm sure she's the culprit...
Jen
I finally remembered a suitable answer to #18 (The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her), and I wish to revise my response. Chingmy Yau was really just a silly response for lack of anything better coming to mind (not that she's not beautiful herself.)
So here it is: Sylvia Bataille in Jean Renoir's Une partie de campagne (A Day in the Country) (1936). No more exquisitely beautiful woman ever graced the screen or was so perfectly filmed. Jean Renoir had worked with her in a small role in Le Crime de Monsieur Lange and wanted to make this film as an excuse just to film her. And how he did. You will fall in love with her too. And her acting is equally beautiful, increasing her allure even more.
- The Mysterious (A_dria)n B_Etama)x_)
Dennis,
I took the time to answer some of the easier questions on your quiz (The ones that required no thinking).
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY, JAWS and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances.
There are several, but FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY or 976-EVIL stand out.
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection.
LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY box set.
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country?
FANNY AND ALEXANDER - TV version
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney?
Humphrey Bogart.
9) Best movie remake?
Not quite sure. I've never been fond of remakes, but MAN ON FIRE wasn't bad.
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast).
I'll let you know when I get the rights.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage.
"Walking on Sunshine"
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard?
Kate.
and the role which most perfectly featured him.
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love.
PULP FICTION.
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies.
The golf scene in SIDEWAYS. Déjà vu of a golfing incident from college.
30) Your favorite movie car chase.
Hasn't been made yet. RONIN and BULLITT have come close.
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie.
MIRACLE
I did this kind of quick. I think I could come up with some better answers if I gave it more time, but there's something to be said for the first things you think of.
1) The one movie you’d drop everything just to see again -- well, most movies I like very much I own, so I'll have to chose films that aren't available. With Bunny Lake Is Missing and The Sea Hawk making it recently to DVD, I'll have to go with the truly odd combination of The Conformist and The Wizard.
2) The one movie you never want to see again under any circumstances -- The Story Of Us
3) The most treasured DVD in your personal collection -- Ever After. It's what I always put on after a bad day, making it the most important.
4) The most coveted DVD you like to add to your collection -- it might be swell to own The Matrix.
5) Best NYC movie? Taxi Driver
6) Best LA movie? There's nothing good about LA
7) Best movie ever made in or about your home state, or country? Um...Jaws? Or Session 9. And I don't even like Horror.
8) Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Cagney? Bogart, but truthfully I am hot on neither.
9) Best movie remake? The Ten Commandments. Or perhaps Father of the Bride.
10) The one movie you’d most like to see remade, and by whom (director, cast) -- Nothing. Remakes are bad.
11) Best integration of an existing piece of music into a movie -- wow, of all the great things I ever could have picked I'm going to go low culture on this one and say "Big Poppa" in Daredevil.
12) Most unwelcome pop song typically used in a movie montage -- I'd rather not try to recall one.
13) Movie that made you want to change your life, or the world -- Planet of the Apes.
14) Katherine Hepburn or Carole Lombard? Hepburn
15) Your father’s favorite movie -- I know he rather likes Dr. Zhivago, I don't know if it's his favorite though.
16) Your mother’s favorite movie -- She doesn't watch many movies, but I believe she liked Steel Magnolias.
17) The movies’ most handsome leading man or character actor, and the role which most perfectly featured him -- since many people have said Cary Grant and I am currently watching Errol Flynn, I guess I'll go with Flynn in Robin Hood. I'm so mainstream it's crazy.
18) The movies’ most beautiful leading lady or character actress, and the role which most perfectly featured her -- Zhang Ziyi in CTHD
19) Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant?
20) Your favorite actor who almost nobody knows about -- Gabriel Macht
21) Your favorite actress who almost nobody knows about -- Angela Lansbury -- everyone knows about her but few people know how good she is.
22) The movie you love that everyone else seems to hate -- CQ
23) The movie you hate that everyone else seems to love -- American Beauty
24) Your most memorable moment related to the movies -- watching Planet of the Apes in my tweener years and really thinking about things
25) Your most unpleasant moment related to the movies -- I got pretty sick while watching Crazy/Beautiful. I like the movie but I think about how sick I was whenever I watch it.
26) Most revolting eating scene in a movie -- i really don't want to think about these things.
27) Joan Crawford or Bette Davis? Crawford
28) Your favorite sports movie -- Lagaan
29) Your favorite movie sex scene -- In Stormriders. Really odd choice.
30) Your favorite movie car chase -- that dirty harry with the remote control car -- is it dead pool I think?
31) Your favorite death scene -- "favorite" is an odd word, beat takeshi in battle royale
32) Your favorite movie gross-out -- once again, not thinking about it
33) Your favorite movie rating -- what, like R?
34) Your favorite movie theater -- Vista in Los Feliz
35) Your favorite movie snack -- gardettos
36) Your favorite movie speech -- first one that comes to mind is dennis hopper in true romance.
37) Your favorite movie about movies -- singing in the rain
38) Your favorite Hammer horror movie -- i don't think i've seen any, i'm not much for horror. and i doubt million years b.c. counts
39) Your favorite Kurt Russell Disney movie -- the one with the monkey
40) Your favorite Dean Jones Disney movie -- the one with the monkeys
thank goodness, i'm done.
Alison: Nice angle on Angela Lansbury-- MURDER, SHE WROTE and the aerobics videos are not exactly representative of the woman's talents. Have you ever written about PLANET OF THE APES? And thanks for reminding me about THE STORY OF US, a particularly bad movie-- "Let's gather up the kids and head for Chow Fun's." Thanks too for the great links on your blog-- I have appropriated "A Girl and a Gun," "Cinecultist" and "Like Anna Karina's Sweater" for my sidebar and my daily blog diet. And I hope you'll become a regular here too! Alison's blog, by the way, is "Electric Shadow," everyone-- it's now on my sidebar as well. (By the way, I would have counted One Million Years B.C.)
Jonas: Right on about "Pulp Fiction" and "Walking on Sunshine"! Alison: Right on about "American Beauty"! Wish I'd thought of that, though I like "Pulp Fiction" even less.
Bruce
I guarantee you I will write about Planet of the Apes. I will.
I haven't on the internet before, but I did write any number of college term papers and extrance essays on it =)
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