Giant Monster Movie Quiz

I recently wrote a Giant Monster Movie Quiz for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, set to coincide with the new Godzilla film. The editor of the "Life & Arts" section asked me to revise it to make it easier and more accessible for the general public. I have to say I agree with her. For those of you who are film buffs and monster maniacs, here's the original quiz. Enjoy!

Giant Monster Movie Quiz

The latest incarnation of Godzilla is stomping into theaters tomorrow. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film stars Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston as an outcast scientist who is dismissed as a lunatic for believing in Godzilla, at least until the less-than-jolly green giant rears his ugly head (and claws and tail).

Debuting in Japan in 1954 (Gojira) and introduced to American audiences in 1956 (Godzilla, King of the Monsters), Godzilla is more than a mindless destructive force. In this rejuvenation of the famous franchise, he “rises to restore [the] balance” [of nature] as “humanity stands defenseless.” In other words, he’s a monster on a mission.

To help prepare for the ensuing carnage, take this giant monster movie quiz and see how you scored at the end.

1.

A classic of silent cinema, The Lost World (1925) featured stop-motion dinosaur effects by Willis O’Brien (King Kong). The film is based on a story by what famous author?

a) Mary Shelley

b) H. G. Wells

c) Jules Verne

d) Arthur Conan Doyle

2.

Everyone loves the original King Kong, which thrilled moviegoers in 1933 and is still entertaining audiences (via Blu-ray) today. What scream queen played Kong’s beautiful captive?

a) Fay Wray

b) Clara Bow

c) Jean Harlow

d) Evelyn Ankers

3

What director, famous for such Westerns as Stagecoach (1939) and The Searchers (1956), served as executive producer on the original Mighty Joe Young (1949)?

a) Anthony Mann

b) John Ford

c) Budd Boetticher

d) Sam Peckinpah

4

In The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), a “Rhedosaurus” is awakened by atomic bomb testing, spurring it to rampage through New York City. What stop-motion master animated this beastly behemoth?

a) George Pal

b) Ray Harryhausen

c) Willis O’Brien

d) Phil Tippett

5

In 1956, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, a recut of Japan’s original Gojira (1954), was released in the United States. Shoehorned into the film was a subplot about an American reporter in Tokyo. What actor—a future TV lawyer—played that reporter?

a) Andy Griffith

b) William Shatner

c) Sam Waterston

d) Raymond Burr

6

What year was the original Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman released?

a) 1957

b) 1958

c) 1959

d) 1960

7

Godzilla fought what famous monster in 1962?

a) King Kong

b) Mothra

c) Frankenstein

d) Mechagodzilla

8

The Valley of Gwangi, released in 1969, is a dinosaur film crossed with what genre?

a) Horror

b) Mystery

c) Science Fiction

d) Western

9

In what movie could Godzilla fly?

a) Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)

b) Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

c) Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974)

d) Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

10

What noted makeup artist wore the ape suit in the 1976 King Kong remake?

a) Jack Pierce

b) Dick Smith

c) Rick Baker

d) Bud Westmore

11

What does general store owner Walter Chang (Victor Wong) name the giant sandworms in Tremors (1990)?

a) Mutants

b) Graboids

c) Sand Creatures

d) Dirt Demons

12

The 1993 feature film Jurassic Park is based on the book of the same name by what novelist? Hint: He created the hit TV show, ER.

a) Robin Cook

b) John Saul

c) Dean Koontz

d) Michael Crichton

13

What RoboCop (1987) alumnus directed the giant-bugs-in-space military movie, Starship Troopers (1997)?

a) Ridley Scott

b) James Cameron

c) Paul Verhoeven

d) Roland Emmerich

14

What actor played the chief protagonist in 1998’s widely panned Godzilla, which was a big-budget reimagining of the franchise?

a) Steve Gutenberg

b) Jon Cryer

c) Michael J. Fox

d) Mathew Broderick

15

Disney’s John Carter (2012), which starred Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) in the title role, is set on what planet?

a) Venus

b) Earth

c) Mars

d) Planet X

 Answers:

1

D, Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle’s story was filmed again in 1960, but to much less critical acclaim.

2

A, Fay Wray. She was told by director Merian C. Cooper that she would have “the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood.”

3

B, John Ford. Although Ford is primarily known for working with the likes of John Wayne, James Stewart and Lee Marvin, he did indeed fund the exploits of a big, hairy ape in Mighty Joe Young.

4

B, Ray Harryhausen. Mr. Harryhausen also worked on such nostalgic favorites as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

5

D, Raymond Burr. No stranger to B-movies, Raymond “Perry Mason” Burr also appeared in Bride of the Gorilla (1951) and Tarzan and the She-Devil (1953).

6

B, 1958. The film, which starred Allison Hayes as the title character, was remade for TV in 1993 with Darryl Hannah assuming the lead role.

7

A, King Kong. The duo battled in King Kong vs. Godzilla, which was released in Japan in1962 and the U.S. in 1963.

8

D, Western. The movie stars James Franciscus as a cowboy trying to capture a Tyrannosaurus Rex for use in a Mexican circus.

9

A, Godzilla vs. Hedorah. The film, which had an overt anti-pollution message, was released in the U.S. in 1972 as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.

10

C, Rick Baker. Mr. Baker, who also did makeup effects for King Kong, has worked on numerous Hollywood blockbusters, including Star Wars (1977), Men in Black (1997) and Tropic Thunder (2008).

11

B, Graboids. The burrowing behemoths terrorize the fictional desert town of Perfection, Nevada.

12

D, Michael Crichton. Dr. Crichton also wrote such filmable thrillers as The Andromeda Strain (1969) and Congo (1980).

13

C, Paul Verhoeven. A director who seems to specialize in explicit violence, Verhoeven also helmed the sci-fi mind-bender, Total Recall (1990), and the controversial thriller, Basic Instinct (1992).

14

D, Mathew Broderick. Better known as the title character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Broderick portrayed nerdy scientist Dr. Niko “Nick” Tatopoulos.

15

C, Mars. The film is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1917 novel, A Princess of Mars.

How did you score?

0-5 Points: Stop what you’re doing at once and enroll in Monsters University. Or at least get a job at Monsters, Inc.

6-10 Points: It was big of you to take this quiz, but this is nonetheless a rather monstrous score.

11-14 Points: You know your giant monster movies, don’t you? Consider yourself the King of Kong.

15 Points: Congratulations, a perfect score—praise Godzilla!