November 21, 2024 | Jesse Singer

The Ultimate 1970s Movie Trivia


Bell Bottoms And Great Movies

The 1970s was an amazing decade at the movies—with the introduction of a whole bunch of film makers with strong and creative points of view and a desire to do things that hadn't really been seen before on screen. From dark and gritty stories to the creation of the blockbuster, the 70s might be the greatest decade of cinema that has ever been. And we have some questions about said decade at the movies. How many can you answer?

Q: Which Of These Directors Didn't Win A Best Director Oscar In The 1970s?

1: Francis Ford Coppola

2: Martin Scorsese

3: Bob Fosse

4: William Friedkin

Martin Scorsese wearing a pair of glassesSiebbi, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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A: Martin Scorsese

Scorsese didn't win his first (and so far only) Best Director Oscar until The Departed in 2007.

Martin Scorsese in a black suit, smiling at the cameraGeorges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Q: "You're Out Of Order! You're Out Of Order! The Whole Trial Is Out Of Order!"

What 1979 Al Pacino movie includes that famous quote?

Al Pacino wearing a grey scarfEmbajada de EEUU, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: ...And Justice For All (1979)

Pacino earned a Best Actor nomination for his performance.

Screenshot of the movie And Justice for AllColumbia, And Justice for All (1979)

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Q: What Film Earned Mel Brooks A Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar Nomination In The 70s?

1: Blazing Saddles

2: Young Frankenstein

3: Silent Movie

4: High Anxiety

Screenshot of the movie Young FrankensteinJouer Limited, Young Frankenstein (1974)

A: Young Frankenstein (1974)

Blazing Saddles received a Best Original Song nomination.

Screenshot of the movie Young FrankensteinJouer Limited, Young Frankenstein (1974)

Q: William Friedkin Directed 1971's The French Connection—Who Directed The 1975 Sequel, French Connection II?

1: John Frankenheimer

2: Sidney Lumet

3: Ken Russell

4: John Cassavetes

Screenshot of the movie French Connection IITwentieth Century, French Connection II (1975)

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A: John Frankenheimer

While definitely not as good as the first film, French Connection II does have an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

John Frankenheimer in a suitJoop van Bilsen / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons

Q: What Was William Friedkin's Next Film—After The French Connection?

It was the first horror movie to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

William Friedkin in a black shirt and grey jacketElen Nivrae, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A: The Exorcist (1973)

In total, the film picked up 10 nominations, winning two: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

Screenshot of the movie The ExorcistWarner Bros., The Exorcist (1973)

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Q: Francis Ford Coppola Made Four Films In The 70s...

All four were nominated for a Best Picture Oscar: The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, and...

What was the fourth film?

Francis Ford Coppola in a blue shirtOzgur POYRAZOGLU, Flickr

A: The Conversation (1974)

Coppola also wrote the film and received a Best Screenplay nomination as well.

Screenshot of the movie The ConversationAmerican Zoetrope, The Conversation (1974)

Q: What 1978 War Drama Features A Harrowing And Iconic Scene Of Russian Roulette?

The scene takes place following the main characters capture by the Viet Cong.

Screenshot of the movie The Deer HunterEMI Films, The Deer Hunter (1978)

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A: The Deer Hunter (1978)

Christopher Walken won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in this one.

Screenshot of the movie The Deer HunterEMI Films, The Deer Hunter (1978)

Q: What Actor Portrayed Lenny Bruce In The 1974 biopic, Lenny?

The role was initially offered to Al Pacino, but he turned it down.

Screenshot of the movie LennyMarvin Worth, Lenny (1974)

A: Dustin Hoffman

Hoffman picked up a Best Actor nomination.

Screenshot of the movie LennyMarvin Worth, Lenny (1974)

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Q: Who Directed The 1979 War Comedy 1941, Starring Dan Aykroyd, Ned Beatty, John Belushi & John Candy?

Director Robert Zemeckis co-wrote the screenplay.

Screenshot of the movie 1941Universal, 1941 (1979)

A: Steven Spielberg

According to Jack Nicholson, director Stanley Kubrick allegedly told Spielberg that 1941 was "great, but not funny".

Steven Spielberg wearing a pink shirt and black jacketGage Skidmore, Flickr

Q: What 1978 Film Was A Reimagining Of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz With An African American Cast?

The film starred Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russell—among others.

Screenshot of the movie The WizUniversal, The Wiz (1978)

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A: The Wiz (1978)

The film was a failure upon its initial release, but has since gained a cult following and seen critics reevaluate it in a more positive light.

Screenshot of the movie The WizUniversal, The Wiz (1978)

Q: What Is The Famous Phrase News Anchor Howard Beale Demands People Scream Out Their Windows In 1976's Network?

Beale was played brilliantly by Peter Finch in the film.

Screenshot of the movie NetworkMGM, Network (1976)

A: "I'm As Mad As Hell, And I'm Not Going To Take This Anymore!"

In 2005, the Writers Guilds of America voted the screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky's as one of the 10 greatest in history.

Screenshot of the movie NetworkMGM, Network (1976)

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Q: Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 Masterpiece, Apocalypse Now, Is Loosely Inspired By What Joseph Conrad Novella?

Conrad's 1899 novella is set in late 19th-century Congo.

Screenshot of the movie Apocalypse NowAmerican Zoetrope, Apocalypse Now (1979)

A: Heart Of Darkness

Ergo the title of the great 1991 documentary about the making of the film, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse.

Screenshot of the movie Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's ApocalypseAmerican Zoetrope, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)

Q: Jack Lemmon Won His Only Best Actor Oscar For What 1973 Film?

Lemmon received a total of seven Best Actor nominations throughout his amazing career.

Screenshot of the movie Save the TigerFilmways Pictures, Save the Tiger (1973)

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A: Save The Tiger (1973)

With the win, Lemmon became the first actor to ever win a Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He'd previously taken home the Best Supporting award for 1955's Mister Roberts.

Screenshot of the movie Save the TigerFilmways Pictures, Save the Tiger (1973)

Q: 2001: A Space Odyssey Was The Highest Grossing Film Stanley Kubrick Made In The 1970s...

TRUE or FALSE?

Screenshot of the movie 2001: A Space OdysseyMGM, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

A: FALSE

2001: A Space Odyssey came out in 1968.

Although, it did gross more than either of the two films Kubrick made in the 70s: A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975).

Screenshot of the movie 2001: A Space OdysseyMGM, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

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Q: Name The 1979 Monty Python Film About A Man Born On The Same Day—And Next Door To—Jesus, Who Is Subsequently Mistaken For The Messiah.

Former Beatle George Harrison helped finance the film.

Screenshot of the movie Monty Python's Life of BrianHandMade Films, Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)

A: Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979)

It was the highest-grossing British film in the United States that year.

Screenshot of the movie Monty Python's Life of BrianHandMade Films, Monty Python's Life of Brian (19790

Q: Brian's Song Was A 1971 ABC Movie Of The Week Centered Around Athletes In What Sport?

1: Football

2: Baseball

3: Track & Field

4: Tennis

Screenshot of the movie Brian's SongScreen Gems Television, Brian's Song (1971)

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A: Football

The story dealt with the friendship between Gale Sayers and his Chicago Bears teammate, Brian Piccolo (who was diagnosed with terminal cancer).

Screenshot of the movie Brian's SongScreen Gems Television, Brian's Song (1971)

Q: In The 1973 Film Soylent Green, Charlton Heston's Detective Character Discovers That Soylent Green Is Made Out Of What?

The dystopian thriller is set in the year 2022, where overpopulation, global warming, and pollution have civilization on the brink of collapse.

Screenshot of the movie Soylent GreenMGM, Soylent Green (1973)

A: People

Heston's famous line at the end of the movie: "Soylent Green is people!"

Screenshot of the movie Soylent GreenMGM, Soylent Green (1973)

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Q: In 1973, This 10-Year-Old Actress Became The Youngest Person To Ever Win An Oscar

She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Screenshot of the movie Paper MoonParamount, Paper Moon (1973)

A: Tatum O'Neal

She starred in the film Paper Moon—opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal.

Tatum O'neal in a suit holding her Oscar for UCLA Library Special Collections, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Q: Only One Movie Made In The 1970s Won All "Big Five" Oscars. What Was The Film?

The Big Five are: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay.

1: Annie Hall

2: The Godfather Part II

3: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 

4: The Sting

Screenshot of the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestFantasy Films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

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A: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

There have only been three Big Five winners in the history of the Academy Awards:

It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Screenshot of the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestFantasy Films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Q: How Many Films In The Halloween Horror Franchise Came Out In The 1970s?

1: 0

2: 1

3: 2

4: 4

Screenshot of the movie HalloweenCompass International, Halloween (1978)

A: 1

John Carpenter's original Halloween film came out in 1978. Halloween II didn't come out until 1981.

Screenshot of the movie HalloweenCompass International, Halloween (1978)


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