The other chain trivia threads have been TV & movies- this time the answer can be from history, literature or anything else as well. Please answer or, better yet, leave your own.
Remember that even if you get stumped, you can often get the answers to another question and then work backwards.
Famous 16th century Englishman traditionally held to be the author of the song Greensleeves.
Movie in which 1 was portrayed by Charlon Heston (actually released under 2 names- either is acceptable).
Author of the book on which 2 was based.
Constellation with whom 3’s brother shared a name.
Only film produced/distributed by a studio with the same name as 4 that won Academy Awards for Best Picture/Actress/Actor/Director.
City in which the male lead from 5 is living at the beginning of its first sequel.
Artist who created the most famous statue associated with 6.
City that is also the name of a song from a controversial 1960s musical which mentions an Italian film director with the same first name as 7.
The frequently banned bestselling and classic novel by a native of 8 which became a hugely controversial film in the 1970s; the author’s original inspiration for the book allegedly came from an attack on his wife by American soldiers during WW2.
The actress currently married to a former Cheers star who was once the wife of the star of the film version of 9.
Oscar winning actress who was portrayed in an Oscar winning performance by an actress in a movie about the same eccentric man who was the title character in the movie for which 10 won an Oscar.
In 1936 11 starred in a movie about a real life queen whose real-life third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, had the same surname as the actress herself. (11 was a member of the same family as the character’s husband.) This prompted studio execs to never mention the character’s surname for fear audiences would think it an incestuous performance. What was the name of the actor who portrayed the Earl of Bothwell in this movie?
Actual Secretary of State and presidential candidate whose fictional alter ego was portrayed by 12 in a classic film with Spencer Tracy.
American children’s classic (the first in a long series) that inspired one of the most famous films of all time in which one of the main characters, who is not human but a talking animal, was based on 13 (according to biographers of both 13 and of the book’s author).
Super famous producer husband of an actress who played a witch in the film version of above.
Lyricist for the super successful musical based on a novel by Edna Ferber and produced by 15.
The most famous longtime collaborator of number 16.
The musical 17 composed based on the answer to question number 1.
I am not going to post any answers because I got them ALL through Googling, but I had a super time doing it. Tremendous job You know all of this off the top of your head??
I didn’t know the part about 14 until I looked it up. I was trying to think of something to use to connect him to pop-culture and noticed that on an online bio.
Since this one has been resoundingly successful, here’s another one.
Only historical character to have been portrayed by both Chow Yun Fat and Rex Harrison.
Capitol of the American state in which the most famous twins born in 1’s country settled and eventually died.
Birthplace (nation only will suffice) of the monarch who ordered 2’s beheading.
Fantastically popular 80s series in which a pop star born in 3 married the main character (the marriage didn’t end happily).
Actor who will star as main character in 4 in an upcoming movie.
Sting song that is also the name of the wife of the title character of 5’s last major biopic.
Neurological disorder associated with the character who sang 6 in Moulin Rouge.
Famous sufferer of 7 who was also the first black woman to lead troops into battle in U.S. history (though she is most famous for another aspect of her life).
Actress who portrayed 8 in a TV movie and who also married a legendary jazz trumpeter/composer.
Author of the book in whose 1991 film adaptation 9 portrayed a murderer and cook.
Actress with the same name as 10’s birth name.
Screenwriter whose first novel (published in 1961) was adapted into a film for which 11 won her Oscar.
Occupation of two main characters at the beginning of the current movie blockbuster based on a screenplay by 12.
Female star who received an Oscar nomination for an Oscar nominated 1960 film (it didn’t win, neither did she) about Australians with the same occupation as 13.
Well, here are some guesses – maybe I hit a right answer here or there.
[SPOILER]1. Famous 16th century Englishman traditionally held to be the author of the song Greensleeves.
Movie in which 1 was portrayed by Charlon Heston (actually released under 2 names- either is acceptable).
Author of the book on which 2 was based.
Constellation with whom 3’s brother shared a name. Orion?
Only film produced/distributed by a studio with the same name as 4 that won Academy Awards for Best Picture/Actress/Actor/Director. Umm…Rocky?
City in which the male lead from 5 is living at the beginning of its first sequel. Philadelphia?
Artist who created the most famous statue associated with 6.
City that is also the name of a song from a controversial 1960s musical which mentions an Italian film director with the same first name as 7. ** Must be something from Hair, I imagine, though I don’t know it. Oh…Liverpool??**
The frequently banned bestselling and classic novel by a native of 8 which became a hugely controversial film in the 1970s; the author’s original inspiration for the book allegedly came from an attack on his wife by American soldiers during WW2. Aargh, that one with Dustin Hoffman where his wife is attacked…can’t remember the name…
The actress currently married to a former Cheers star who was once the wife of the star of the film version of 9. Mary Steenburgen?
Oscar winning actress who was portrayed in an Oscar winning performance by an actress in a movie about the same eccentric man who was the title character in the movie for which 10 won an Oscar. Katherine Hepburn?
In 1936 11 starred in a movie about a real life queen whose real-life third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, had the same surname as the actress herself. (11 was a member of the same family as the character’s husband.) This prompted studio execs to never mention the character’s surname for fear audiences would think it an incestuous performance. What was the name of the actor who portrayed the Earl of Bothwell in this movie?
Actual Secretary of State and presidential candidate whose fictional alter ego was portrayed by 12 in a classic film with Spencer Tracy.
American children’s classic (the first in a long series) that inspired one of the most famous films of all time in which one of the main characters, who is not human but a talking animal, was based on 13 (according to biographers of both 13 and of the book’s author). The Wizard of Oz? (The cowardly lion assumedly being the character in question.)
Super famous producer husband of an actress who played a witch in the film version of above. _________ Minnelli? (Don’t know the first name.)
Lyricist for the super successful musical based on a novel by Edna Ferber and produced by 15. Oscar Hammerstein II? (Edna Ferber wrote Show Boat, right?)
The most famous longtime collaborator of number 16. Richard Rodgers
The musical 17 composed based on the answer to question number 1. I’m on the wrong track…there aren’t any Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals about #1…nor any Hammerstein and Kern musicals, either.[/SPOILER]
(And in case there’s anyone out there who can’t get enough of these games, I will somewhat regretfully post a link to my own sad attempt in the genre. It didn’t get a single reply; maybe it wasn’t constructed very well, but hey – maybe someone out there would like to try it who missed it the first time. Hope springs eternal! )
I Want to bump this thread, and Rodgers didn’t quite get them all so I’ll post my well-researched answers:
Famous 16th century Englishman traditionally held to be the author of the song Greensleeves.
Henry III
Movie in which 1 was portrayed by Charlon Heston (actually released under 2 names- either is acceptable).
Prince and the Pauper
Author of the book on which 2 was based.
Mark Twain
Constellation with whom 3’s brother shared a name.
Orion
Only film produced/distributed by a studio with the same name as 4 that won Academy Awards for Best Picture/Actress/Actor/Director.
Orion Films - Silence of the Lambs
City in which the male lead from 5 is living at the beginning of its first sequel.
Florence, Italy
Artist who created the most famous statue associated with 6.
David - Michaelangelo
City that is also the name of a song from a controversial 1960s musical which mentions an Italian film director with the same first name as 7.
Manchester England (Hair, Michaelangelo Antonioni)
The frequently banned bestselling and classic novel by a native of 8 which became a hugely controversial film in the 1970s; the author’s original inspiration for the book allegedly came from an attack on his wife by American soldiers during WW2.
A Clockwork Orange
The actress currently married to a former Cheers star who was once the wife of the star of the film version of 9.
Mary Steenburgen
Oscar winning actress who was portrayed in an Oscar winning performance by an actress in a movie about the same eccentric man who was the title character in the movie for which 10 won an Oscar.
Katherine Hepburn (played by Cate Blanchett in The Aviator, which was about Howard Hughes. Steenburgen won an Oscar for Melvin and Howard, about Melvin Dummar and Howard Hughes)
In 1936 11 starred in a movie about a real life queen whose real-life third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, had the same surname as the actress herself. (11 was a member of the same family as the character’s husband.) This prompted studio execs to never mention the character’s surname for fear audiences would think it an incestuous performance. What was the name of the actor who portrayed the Earl of Bothwell in this movie?
Frederic March
Actual Secretary of State and presidential candidate whose fictional alter ego was portrayed by 12 in a classic film with Spencer Tracy.
William Jennings Bryan (depicted as Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind, by March)
American children’s classic (the first in a long series) that inspired one of the most famous films of all time in which one of the main characters, who is not human but a talking animal, was based on 13 (according to biographers of both 13 and of the book’s author).
The Wizard of Oz (cowardly lion based on Bryan)
Super famous producer husband of an actress who played a witch in the film version of above.
Flo Zigflield (Married to Billie Burke, the Good Witch of the North)
Lyricist for the super successful musical based on a novel by Edna Ferber and produced by 15.
Oscar Hammerstein (Show Boat)
The most famous longtime collaborator of number 16.
Richard Rodgers
The musical 17 composed based on the answer to question number 1
Actually, I am LOVING it. Gonna check out Rodgers01’s next
Only historical character to have been portrayed by both Chow Yun Fat and Rex Harrison.
King of Siam
Capitol of the American state in which the most famous twins born in 1’s country settled and eventually died.
Raleigh (NC, Chang and Eng Bunker)
Birthplace (nation only will suffice) of the monarch who ordered 2’s beheading.
England (sir walter raleigh)
Fantastically popular 80s series in which a pop star born in 3 married the main character (the marriage didn’t end happily).
Miami Vice (Sheena Easton!)
Actor who will star as main character in 4 in an upcoming movie.
Colin Farrel
Sting song that is also the name of the wife of the title character of 5’s last major biopic.
Roxane (wife of Alexander the Great)
Neurological disorder associated with the character who sang 6 in Moulin Rouge.
Narcolepsy (“the sick argentinian” or something)
Famous sufferer of 7 who was also the first black woman to lead troops into battle in U.S. history (though she is most famous for another aspect of her life).
Hariett Tubman (fascinating!)
Actress who portrayed 8 in a TV movie and who also married a legendary jazz trumpeter/composer.
Cicely Tyson (Miles Davis)
Author of the book in whose 1991 film adaptation 9 portrayed a murderer and cook.
Fannie Flagg (from, you know…THE MATCH GAME. Fried Green Tomatoes)
Actress with the same name as 10’s birth name.
Patricia Neal
Screenwriter whose first novel (published in 1961) was adapted into a film for which 11 won her Oscar.
Larry McMutry (Hud, with Paul Newman)
Occupation of two main characters at the beginning of the current movie blockbuster based on a screenplay by 12.
Sheep Herders (or so says a recent CS post…)
Female star who received an Oscar nomination for an Oscar nominated 1960 film (it didn’t win, neither did she) about Australians with the same occupation as Debroah Kerr (the Sundowners, as Sean said)
Very easy- connect 14 to 1.
She played Anna in The King and I - about the King of Siam
King Henry VIII (though he almost certainly did NOT write it)
“The Prince and the Pauper”/“Crossed Swords”
Mark Twain
Orion
“Silence of the Lambs”
Florence
Michaelangelo’s David
Manchester, England
Malcolm McDowell (Anthony Burgess was from Manchester)
Mary Steenburgen
Katherine Hepburn (played by Cate Blanchett)
Frederic March
William Jennings Bryan
The Cowardly Lion in “The WIzard of Oz” - I don’t buy the connection, but many people have long argued that “Oz” was a satire of the gold standard, and the Cowardly Lion is the only animal character it could be.
As for the Chow Yun Fat / Rex Harrison portrayals, the specific king was King Mongkut, aka King Rama IV, reigned 1851-68.
Side note: “The King and I” remains banned in Thailand as disrespectful to the monarchy. For the recent remake, permission to film in Thailand was refused, so Malaysia doubled for Siam. Plus Anna Leonewens was a lying bitch. Her memoirs were very popular in the UK at the time, but she seems to have made the whole thing up. She did serve a stint as the future King Rama V’s tutor, but she was one of several, and it is doubtful she even met King Mongkut. If she did appear before him in person, it would have been for a quick glance by him to approve or disapprove her being hired.
Side side note: Anna Leonewens was the real-life great-aunt of actor Boris Karloff, whose real name was William Henry Pratt.
Side side side note: Anna’s little son eventually returned to Siam as an adult and founded a long-running business interest. I still see a Leonewens Company office in MBK Center, but I don’t know if it’s still in the family.