Question 1

How did television influence the movie business in the late 1960s and 1970s?

Accepted Answer

Television significantly influenced the movie business in the late 1960s and 1970s in several ways. It became an important venue for watching movies, which expanded the audience reach. The popularity of color television pushed the movie industry to adopt color as the standard, moving away from black and white films. Additionally, television networks started producing their own movies, known as made-for-TV movies, which introduced a new form of competition for traditional movie studios.

Question 2

Her appearance in this politically informed Vietnam war movie earned Jane Fonda her second Academy Award.

Accepted Answer

"Coming Home" is the film for which Jane Fonda won her second Academy Award, this time for Best Actress. The movie, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, explores the impact of the war on the lives of returning veterans and their families.

Question 3

This Steven Spielberg science fiction blockbuster can also be seen as a personal movie about a single mother struggling to raise three children on her own.

Accepted Answer

"E.T.: The Extraterrestrial" focuses on a single mother raising three children, one of whom befriends an alien. This subplot adds a personal, relatable dimension to the sci-fi adventure, reflecting Spielberg's knack for blending extraordinary tales with intimate human stories.

Question 4

What characteristic of 1970s movies do both Star Wars and Taxi Driver represent?

Accepted Answer

Both "Star Wars" and "Taxi Driver" challenged the distinction between "A" and "B" films by blending high-quality production with themes and styles that were traditionally associated with lower-budget or genre films.

Question 5

Which of the following aspects of Nashville is part of the signature style of its director, Robert Altman?

Accepted Answer

Robert Altman is known for his distinctive filmmaking style, which often includes the intermixing of multiple storylines and a large ensemble cast, as seen in "Nashville." This approach allows for a complex narrative structure and deep character exploration.

Question 6

The Godfather established the career of what influential American director?

Accepted Answer

Francis Ford Coppola directed "The Godfather," which is widely regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema and significantly boosted his career.

Question 7

What statement best describes changes in America movie audiences in the 1960s?

Accepted Answer

During the 1960s, young people became a significantly more important demographic for the movie industry, as films began to cater more to their interests and sensibilities, reflecting the broader cultural shifts of the era.

Question 8

In what way can Star Wars be considered a franchise movie?

Accepted Answer

Star Wars can be considered a franchise movie because it led to the creation of a vast array of merchandise, including toys, clothing, books, and more, generating significant revenue beyond the films themselves.

Question 9

What is one way that America movies of the late 1960s and 1970s seem more contemporary to us than movies from the early 1960s?

Accepted Answer

The late 1960s and 1970s in American cinema are marked by a significant shift towards more realistic and graphic content, including the depiction of sexuality and violence. This period, often referred to as the "New Hollywood" era, saw filmmakers taking advantage of loosening censorship laws to explore more mature and controversial themes, making these films feel more contemporary compared to the more conservative and restrained films of the early 1960s.

Question 10

This actor was an unlikely action hero in two of the biggest blockbusters of the 1970s, Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Accepted Answer

Richard Dreyfuss starred in both "Jaws" (1975) and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), making him an unlikely action hero in these two major blockbusters of the 1970s.

Question 11

These two stars were considered ideals of conventional masculine beauty in the late 60s and 1970s.

Accepted Answer

Paul Newman and Robert Redford were iconic symbols of conventional masculine beauty during the late 60s and 1970s, especially known for their roles in movies like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) and "The Sting" (1973), which highlighted their good looks and charm.

Question 12

What is one reason that Blaxploitation films were considered controversial?

Accepted Answer

Blaxploitation films were considered controversial because they potentially reinforced stereotypes about black urban life, often depicting characters in roles related to crime, violence, and other negative aspects, which critics argued could perpetuate harmful perceptions.

Question 13

What is one major impact of replacing the Production Code with the rating system?

Accepted Answer

The replacement of the Production Code with the rating system allowed movies to feature more explicit language and more graphic representations of sexuality, as it provided a structured way to categorize films based on their suitability for different audiences. This change marked a significant shift in the content that could be shown in movies.

Question 14

The surprising success of this low budget road movie featuring a rock and roll soundtrack demonstrated the growing importance of the youth market to the movie industry in the late 60s and 1970s.

Accepted Answer

"Easy Rider" is the correct answer because it was a low budget road movie that became a huge success, largely due to its appeal to the youth market and its rock and roll soundtrack, highlighting the changing dynamics of the movie industry in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Question 15

Airport is an early example of what popular 1970s movie cycle?

Accepted Answer

"Airport" is considered an early example of the disaster movie genre, which became highly popular in the 1970s. This genre typically involves large-scale catastrophic events and ensemble casts dealing with the ensuing crises.

Question 16

Which of the following could not be considered an example of a "vigilante" movie?

Accepted Answer

The Poseidon Adventure is not a vigilante movie; it's a disaster film focusing on the survivors of a capsized ship, unlike the others which involve characters taking the law into their own hands.

Question 17

Even though it was one of the most popular and critically acclaimed films of 1979, long delays and cost overruns during the making of this Vietnam war movie contributed to the backlash against auteur directors by Hollywood studios.

Accepted Answer

Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, experienced significant delays and budget overruns during its production, which contributed to the industry's growing skepticism towards auteur directors and their control over projects.

Question 18

In this his first movie, the filmmaker Mel Brooks established a tradition of outrageous comedy by featuring dancing Nazi storm troopers to satirize anti-Semitism.

Accepted Answer

"The Producers" is the correct answer because it is the film by Mel Brooks that features the satirical musical "Springtime for Hitler," which includes dancing Nazi storm troopers as part of its outrageous comedy to satirize anti-Semitism.

Question 19

What is one way that Annie Hall deviated from the traditional romantic comedy?

Accepted Answer

Annie Hall is notable for deviating from the traditional romantic comedy formula by focusing on a romance that ultimately fails, rather than culminating in a happy ending.

Question 20

Which of the following is not considered a "Blaxploitation" movie?

Accepted Answer

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is not considered a Blaxploitation movie because it was not made during the Blaxploitation era (1970-1975) and does not contain the typical Blaxploitation themes of violence, sex, and exploitation.

Quiz 6: Movies Big and Small: Art Movies, Blockbusters, and the New Hollywood, 1967-1980