The Oscars are tonight. In honor of that, here is a Culture Vulture Quiz to explore the connection between the Oscars and Little Rock (with a few other Arkansas connected films thrown in). In honor of the 86th Oscars, here are 86 questions; hopefully it won’t take as long to complete as it will to watch the entire ceremony tonight.
To get more in the mood for movies, be sure and visit the Old State House Museum for their Lights! Camera! Arkansas! exhibit and visit screenings at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater.
Answers will be published tomorrow. Email your guesses to lrculturevulture@aol.com.
1. Which Oscar winner gave future Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen her first break in the movies?
A – Woody Allen
B – James Cagney
C – Jack Nicholson
D – Jason Robards
2. In which category was The Hanging Tree (which starred Little Rock native Ben Piazza) nominated for an Oscar?
A – Cinematography (Color)
B – Film Editing
C – Song
D – Sound
3. Which former Little Rock resident won an Honorary Oscar in 1958?
A – Julie Adams
B – Gilbert “Broncho Billy” Anderson
C – Jay C. Flippen
D – Dick Powell
4. The Oscar winning documentary short “Nine from Little Rock” was narrated by which member of the Little Rock Nine?
A – Minnijean Brown
B – Ernest Green
C – Jefferson Thomas
D – Carlotta Walls
5. In addition to receiving an Oscar for the live action short “The Accountant,” Ray McKinnon has appeared in several Oscar winning films. In which of these Oscar winners did he NOT appear?
A – Apollo 13
B – The Blind Side
C – Driving Miss Daisy
D – Sling Blade
6. Arkansas actor Rick Dial acted with many heavyweights during his film career. With which of these Oscar winners did he NOT appear?
A – Michael Caine
B – Chris Cooper
C – Robert Duvall
D – Timothy Hutton
7. Twice nominated for an Oscar, Arkansan Melinda Dillon is perhaps best known for appearing in which iconic holiday film?
A – A Christmas Story
B – Elf
C – Home Alone
D – It’s a Wonderful Life
8. How many Oscar nominees and winners starred in The Firm, which was filmed partially in Arkansas?
A – 1
B – 4
C – 5
D – 7
9. Little Rock Film Festival honorees Harry and Linda Bloodworth Thomason produced the Arkansas-set TV show “Evening Shade.” Which Oscar nominated actor did NOT appear in that show?
A – Charles Durning
B – Hal Holbrook
C – Burt Reynolds
D – Billy Bob Thornton
10. The song “Get Back to Little Rock” is featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary The War Room. Who sang the song in the film?
A – The Groan Ups
B – The Philander Smith Gospel Choir
C – Jason D. Williams
D – Lucinda Williams
11. Leo Robin and Jule Styne, who wrote the song “Little Girl from Little Rock” each won Oscars. For which song did Robin win a Best Song Oscar?
A – “Beyond the Blue Horizon”
B – “Blue Hawaii”
C – “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
D – “Thanks for the Memory”
12. For which song did Styne win a Best Song Oscar?
A – “I Fall in Love Too Easily”
B – “It’s Magic”
C – “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
D – “Three Coins in the Fountain”
13. Prior to receiving four Academy Award nominations, Beasts of the Southern Wild was a hit at the Little Rock Film Festival. Quvenzhané Wallis, the film’s star, made Oscar history by becoming the youngest Best Actress nominee. How old was she?
A – 7
B – 9
C – 11
D – 13
14. The late Bob Ginnaven was a Little Rock adman and actor. In addition to Steel Magnolias, in which Oscar- nominated film, did he also appear with Dolly Parton?
A – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
B – Nine to Five
C – Rhinestone
D – Straight Talk
15. Little Rock native George Newbern (and Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre alum) has twice appeared on film as the son-in-law of which Oscar winning actress?
A – Goldie Hawn
B – Diane Keaton
C – Barbra Streisand
D – Dianne Wiest
16. Little Rock Hall graduate, Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre alum and Pulitzer Prize winning writer David Auburn has written three movies. Which of the following Oscar winners has NOT starred in one of his movies?
A – Adrien Brody
B – Anthony Hopkins
C – Gwyneth Paltrow
D – Christopher Plummer
17. Which Oscar winner starred in the TV movie Crisis at Central High?
A – Jessica Lange
B – Vanessa Redgrave
C – Jessica Tandy
D – Joanne Woodward
18. The Oscar nominated film The Story of Dr. Wassell starred Gary Cooper as World War II hero and Little Rock native Dr. Corydon M. Wassell (who was related to two Little Rock mayors). It was directed by which Oscar winner?
A – Cecil B. DeMille
B – Howard Hawks
C – Billy Wilder
D – William Wyler
19. Which Oscar winning actress appeared on stage at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre?
A – Kathy Bates
B – Mercedes McCambridge
C – Sissy Spacek
D – Hilary Swank
20. Which film starring former Little Rock resident Dick Powell won 5 Oscars?
A – The Bad and the Beautiful
B – 42nd Street
C – Golddiggers of 1933
D – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
21. Scenes from A Soldier’s Story were filmed at Lamar Porter Field in Little Rock. Which of the following Oscar winning or nominated actors did not appear in that movie?
A – Adolph Caesar
B – Morgan Freeman
C – Howard E. Rollins Jr.
D – Denzel Washington
22. Which movie filmed in Arkansas boasted an Oscar winner and Oscar nominee as well as a future Oscar winner and future Oscar nominee among its cast?
A – Bloody Mama
B – Shotgun Stories
C – White Lightning
D – The White River Kid
23. Ted Danson, Emmy winning actor and co-owner of Little Rock restaurant South on Main, appeared in which Oscar winning film?
A – Black Hawk Down
B – The Hurt Looker
C – Saving Private Ryan
D – Zero Dark Thirty
24. In addition to Mary Steenburgen, Central Arkansas-filmed End of the Line boasted several award winning (and future award winning) actors. Which of the following cast members has not, to date, been nominated for an Oscar?
A – Kevin Bacon
B – Bob Balaban
C – Barbara Barrie
D – Holly Hunter
25. Oscar nominated Michael Shannon has appeared in each of the movies to date directed by Little Rock native Jeff Nichols. Several other Oscar winners and nominees have appeared in Nichols’ films. Which of the following have not yet appeared in a Jeff Nichols production?
A – Jessica Chastain
B – Matthew McConaughey
C – Amy Ryan
D – Reese Witherspoon
26. Oscar winner Gregory Peck appeared on the silver screen as which political candidate with a Little Rock connection?
A – Orval Faubus
B – Douglas MacArthur
C – Joseph Taylor Robinson
D – Winthrop Rockefeller
27. Arkansan Jason Moore directed a recent Broadway revival of Steel Magnolias. Which Oscar nominated actress from the 1970s appeared in it?
A – Jill Clayburgh
B – Melinda Dillon
C – Barbara Harris
D – Marsha Mason
28. Arkansas native John Grisham was an early supporter of the Oxford American. Many of his novels have been turned into feature films. In addition to The Firm, which other Grisham-based film, has earned an actor an Oscar nomination?
A – The Chamber
B – The Client
C – The Pelican Brief
D – A Time to Kill
Mayor J V Satterfield escorting actress Maureen O’Hara at the Movie Ball (photo from Arkansas Democrat)
29. Shortly after appearing in Little Rock for an event around the opening of Robinson Auditorium, Maureen O’Hara filmed which Best Picture Oscar winner?
A – How Green Was My Valley
B – The Lost Weekend
C – Mrs. Miniver
D – Rebecca
30. Oscar winner Lisa Blount made a name for herself in An Officer and a Gentleman. Which of her costars won an Oscar for appearing in that film?
A – Richard Gere
B – Louis Gossett, Jr.
C – Robert Loggia
D – Debra Winger
31. Carol Channing, who played “Little Girl from Little Rock” Lorelei Lee on stage, received an Oscar nomination for which movie?
A – Hello, Dolly!
B – Mame
C – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
D – Thoroughly Modern Millie
32. Which multiple Oscar nominee has been a featured speaker at the Clinton School?
A – Ed Harris
B – John Lithgow
C – Sigourney Weaver
D – Debra Winger
33. South Pacific‘s heroine, Nellie Forbush, is from Little Rock. The film was nominated for three Oscars, receiving a win in one of the categories. In which of the following categories was the film NOT nominated?
A – Cinematography, Color
B – Film Editing
C – Scoring of a Motion Picture
D – Sound
34. Delight native Glenn Campbell, who recently gave his farewell Little Rock performance at Robinson Center Music Hall, co-starred with which actor who received an Oscar for that performance?
A – Lee Marvin
B – George C. Scott
C – Rod Steiger
D – John Wayne
35. Oscar winner Shirley Jones is appearing with Celebrity Attractions in Central Arkansas next season and has appeared previously with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. For which film did she win her Oscar?
A – Beyond the Poseidon Adventure
B – Carousel
C – Elmer Gantry
D – The Music Man
36. The Arkansas Rep production of Les Miserables runs from March 5 through April 6. Last year a film version of this classic musical received 8 nominations. How many Oscars did it win?
A – Zero
B – Three
C – Five
D – Seven
37. The Little Rock Film Festival honored Arkansas native Hal Needham in 2011. He received Scientific and Technical Oscar in 1987 and an Honorary Oscar in 2013. Which of the following Oscar winners did NOT appear in a movie directed by Needham?
A – Sally Field
B – Jack Lemmon
C – Shirley MacLaine
D – Frank Sinatra
38. John Corigliano will be featured with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in the 2014-2015 season. For which film did he win an Oscar?
A – Altered States
B – Amadeus
C – The Red Violin
D – Reds
39. In the 1990s, Wildwood Park for the Arts featured several performers who have also been subjects of Oscar winning films. Which of the following Oscar winning or nominated movies is about someone who performed at Wildwood?
A – Coal Miner’s Daughter
B – Dreamgirls
C – Sweet Dreams
D – What’s Love Got to Do with It?
40. As a young actor, which future Oscar nominee performed scenes from Shakespeare on the stage of Little Rock Central auditorium as part of a national tour?
A – Alan Alda
B – Ed Harris
C – Hal Holbrook
D – Ian McKellen
41. Nominated for tonight’s Oscars for the song from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Bono and The Edge performed in the rain at the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center. For which film were they previously Oscar nominated?
A – The Devil Wears Prada
B – Gangs of New York
C – Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
D – Short Cuts
42. Dave Brubeck performed at Wildwood several times. Which 2013 Oscar winner featured music by Brubeck?
A – Argo
B – Django Unchained
C – Silver Linings Playbook
D – Zero Dark Thirty
43. Which Oscar winner appeared in Little Rock for a fundraiser for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre?
A – Julie Andrews
B – Holly Hunter
C – Kevin Kline
D – Gregory Peck
44. Political writer Joe Klein appeared at the third Arkansas Literary Festival. His novel Primary Colors (published with the author name “Anonymous”) was made into an Oscar nominated movie. Which of the following stars of the movie has not won an Oscar?
A – Kathy Bates
B – Emma Thompson
C – Billy Bob Thornton
D – John Travolta
45. Which Little Rock actor has served as an Oscar co-host?
A – Gil Gerard
B – Ben Piazza
C – Dick Powell
D – Mary Steenburgen
46. Which Oscar winner and Oscar host has performed with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra?
A – Whoopi Goldberg
B – Goldie Hawn
C – Shirley MacLaine
D – Liza Minnelli
47. Which Oscar nominated or winning actor, who has been acclaimed for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, appeared at the Clinton School in 2009?
A – Daniel Day-Lewis
B – Hal Holbrook
C – Gregory Peck
D – Sam Waterston
48. The works of former Little Rock resident and acclaimed composer William Grant Still have been featured in many movies. Which Oscar winning screwball comedy featured the music of Still?
A – The Awful Truth
B – It Happened One Night
C – The Philadelphia Story
D – You Can’t Take It with You
49. Which writer, whose writings have inspired two Oscar nominated movies, has been featured in Little Rock-based Oxford American?
A – Dee Brown
B – James Goldman
C – William Goldman
D – Charles Portis
50. In which movie did Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen NOT appear with back-to-back Oscar winner Jason Robards?
A – Melvin and Howard
B – Parenthood
C – Philadelphia
D – Time After Time
51. What happened to Oscar winner Elia Kazan in Little Rock?
A – He was born
B – He graduated from college
C – He was married
D – He became a father
52. Oscar nominated actor Roy Scheider died in Little Rock. In the 1970s, he received two Oscar nominations. In addition to a nod for The French Connection, for which other film did he receive a nomination?
A – All that Jazz
B – Jaws
C – Klute
D – Marathon Man
53. Paris, Ark. native and UCA alum James Bridges was an acclaimed director and screenwriter. In addition to receiving an Oscar nomination for writing The Paper Chase (which earned a Supporting Actor Oscar for John Houseman), for which other project did Bridges receive an Oscar nomination?
A – Bright Lights, Big City
B – The China Syndrome
C – September 30, 1955
D – Urban Cowboy
54. Bill Clinton is one-fourth of the way to EGOT status. Which award has he received?
A – Emmy
B – Grammy
C – Oscar
D – Tony
55. Brinkley native Louis Jordan’s song “Stone Cold Dead in the Market” appears in which Oscar winning movie?
A – Apocalypse Now
B – Raging Bull
C – Rocky
D – 10
56. Congressman John Lewis is one of the featured speakers at the 2014 Arkansas Literary Festival. In which Oscar-nominated documentary is Rep. Lewis featured?
A – Eyes on the Prize
B – An Inconvenient Truth
C – Paradise Lost 3
D – The War Room
57. Mavis Staples, who appeared at Little Rock’s Christ Episcopal Church in 2013, can be heard on the soundtrack of which Oscar-winning film?
A – The Color Purple
B – The Help
C – Saturday Night Fever
D – Shaft
58. Arkansas native Tess Harper received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Crimes of the Heart. Which Oscar winning actress did not play one of her cousins in that film?
A – Sally Field
B – Diane Keaton
C – Jessica Lange
D – Sissy Spacek
59. Little Rock Film Festival honoree Jay Russell is branching out into theatrical producing. Which Oscar nominated Hitchcock film is the inspiration for his upcoming Broadway production?
A. Psycho
B. Rear Window
C. North by Northwest
D. Vertigo
60. In addition to being married to former Little Rock resident Helen Gurley Brown, David Brown was a movie producer. For which of these Oscar nominated films did he, himself receive an Oscar nomination?
A. Angela’s Ashes
B. Cocoon
C. The Player
D. The Verdict
61. Which Oscar nominated Documentary Feature was honored at the 2013 Little Rock Film Festival?
A. The Act of Killing
B. Dirty Wars
C. The Square
D. 20 Feet from Stardom
62. Which Oscar winning director helmed The Last Waltz, a documentary which featured Arkansan Levon Helm?
A – William Friedkin
B – George Lucas
C – Martin Scorsese
D – Steven Spielberg
63. John Glenn, who was featured guest at the Museum of Discovery during the Clinton Library opening, was also a character in the Oscar winning film The Right Stuff. Which actor portrayed him in that film?
A – Tom Hanks
B – Ed Harris
C – Sam Shepard
D – Gary Sinese
64. The work of which fashion icon, whose dresses often adorn Oscar ceremony attendees, was featured at the Clinton Presidential Center in 2013?
A – Christian Dior
B – Alexander McQueen
C – Oscar de la Renta
D – Valentino
65. Little Rock District Judge Vic Fleming appears in the documentary Wordplay. Another person who is featured is which Oscar host?
A – David Letterman
B – Steve Martin
C – Chris Rock
D – Jon Stewart
66. Part-time Little Rock resident Judge Reinhold spoofed an Oscar winning Best Picture as part of his appearance as the iconic “close talker” on Seinfeld. Which movie was it?
A – Braveheart
B – Dances with Wolves
C – Schindler’s List
D – Unforgiven
67. This summer the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre will present Hamlet. The 1948 version of this movie is, to date, the only filmed version of a Shakespeare play to win Best Picture. Which actor won an Oscar for appearing in this movie?
A – Stanley Holloway
B – Laurence Olivier
C – Anthony Quayle
D – Jean Simmons
68. Mary Steenburgen starred in the Oscar nominated film Cross Creek, which was a biopic of the author of which novel?
A – The Exact and Very Strange Truth
B – Old Yeller
C – To Kill a Mockingbird
D – The Yearling
69. On which TV show hosted by an Oscar host, did Governor Bill Clinton appear in 1988?
A – Johnny Carson
B – Chevy Chase
C – Ellen Degeneres
D – Bob Hope
70. Hot Springs native Alan Ladd is perhaps best remembered for essaying the title role in Shane. The film was nominated for six Oscars and received one. For which category did it win the Oscar?
A – Cinematography, Color
B – Director
C – Screenplay
D – Supporting Actor
71. Edward Everett Horton starred in the first play to be booked into Robinson Auditorium in April 1940. With a long and varied film career, he appeared in many Oscar nominated and winning films. Which of the following Horton films did NOT win an Oscar?
A – The Front Page
B – Here Comes Mr. Jordan
C – It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
D – Lost Horizon
72. Gordon MacRae was the featured performer at the 1963 opening of the Arkansas Arts Center. Which of his films won two Oscars?
A – Carousel
B – Look for the Silver Lining
C – Oklahoma!
D – The West Point Story
73. Which Oscar nominee appeared in Little Rock in conjunction with Ballet Arkansas?
A – Fred Astaire
B – Mikhail Barishnikov
C – Leslie Browne
D – Natalie Portman
74. The main branch of the Central Arkansas Library System has the names of authors inscribed around the top, one of which is Harper Lee. Not only was her To Kill a Mockingbird turned into an Oscar winning movie, an actress received an Oscar nomination for portraying Lee in a film. Which actress?
A – Amy Adams
B – Cate Blanchett
C – Catherine Keener
D – Melissa Leo
75. Charles S. Dutton recently appeared at Philander Smith College’s Bless the Mic series. In which Oscar nominated sci-fi film was he a performer?
A – Alien
B – Alien 3
C – Terminator
D – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
76. Little Rock Catholic High grad Gil Gerard appeared in which Oscar nominated 1970s disaster film?
A – Airport
B – Airport 75
C – Airport 77
D – Concorde: Airport 79
77. With which two time Oscar winner who was the daughter of an Oscar winner did Ben Piazza twice share the stage?
A – Mia Farrow
B – Jane Fonda
C – Liza Minnelli
D – Sigourney Weaver
78. Little Rock native Frank Bonner guest starred on a variety show hosted by which Oscar winner?
A – George Burns
B – Red Buttons
C – Goldie Hawn
D – Cloris Leachman
79. Which Little Rock museum recently hosted an exhibit on Gone with the Wind?
A – Arkansas Arts Center
B – Clinton Presidential Center
C – Historic Arkansas Museum
D – MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History
80. Which Oscar nominated actress was featured in the Disney Channel movie The Ernest Green Story?
A – Diahann Carroll
B – Ruby Dee
C – Cicely Tyson
D – Alfre Woodard
81. Bruno, which starred Joey Lauren Adams was the feature film directorial debut of which Oscar winning performer?
A – Shirley Jones
B – Shirley Knight
C – Shirley MacLaine
D – Shirley Temple
82. Which cast member from the 2000 Best Picture winner had previously acted on local Little Rock stages?
A. Joey Lauren Adams
B. Wes Bentley
C. Matt Besser
D. George Newbern
83. James Earl Jones has appeared in Central Arkansas several times including with the Arkansas Symphony and at UCA. For which movie did he receive an Oscar nomination?
A. Coming to America
B. Conan the Barbarian
C. The Empire Strikes Back
D. The Great White Hope
84. Which multiple Oscar nominated performer was appointed to head a federal agency by President Clinton?
A. Jane Alexander
B. Jane Fonda
C. Peter Fonda
D. Jon Voight
85. Oscar nominated film So This Is Washington focused on which Arkansas duo?
A. Thaddeus and Hattie Caraway
B. Bill and Hillary Clinton
C. Lum and Abner
D. Wilbur Mills and Fanne Fox
86. Ben Piazza’s final feature film appearance was a Darryl F. Zanuck in the film Guilty by Suspicion. Zanuck was a recipient of the Irving Thalberg Award. Which of the following is true about Zanuck?
A – First Thalberg Award recipient
B – Only three time Thalberg Award recipient
C – Only Thalberg recipient to also be the father of a Thalberg recipient
D – Last person to receive a Thalberg who was a previous recipient
On March 24, 2002, Lisa Blount and and her husband Ray McKinnon picked up the Oscar for Best Live Action Short for their film “The Accountant.” Directed by McKinnon (and starring him) it was produced by Blount.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 