Film history is filled with technical choices, artistic risks, and the occasional monumental flop. This quiz covers the basics of cinematic techniques like the Dutch angle, alongside a look at some of the most famously troubled productions in Hollywood history.
You will see questions about the Razzie Awards, the reality of adapting novels for the screen, and specific directorial signatures. Some questions focus on popular studio hits, while others look at the strange records set by films that missed the mark.
If you enjoy learning about the industry, check out cinematography basics, browse our troubled productions collection, or explore some notorious box office bombs.
What is a ‘Dutch angle’ in cinematography?
A scene where actors speak only in Dutch
A scene where actors speak only in Dutch
A specialized lighting rig from the Netherlands
A specialized lighting rig from the Netherlands
A tilted camera shot used to create tension
A tilted camera shot used to create tension
A type of rapid editing technique
A type of rapid editing technique
Which 2000 science fiction film was a lifelong passion project for John Travolta and based on a novel by L. Ron Hubbard?
Gotti
Gotti
Battlefield Earth
Battlefield Earth
Primary Colors
Primary Colors
Phenomenon
Phenomenon
Which ceremony is known for ‘celebrating’ the absolute worst in filmmaking?
The BAFTA Awards
The BAFTA Awards
The Razzie Awards
The Razzie Awards
The Golden Globes
The Golden Globes
The Academy Awards
The Academy Awards
Who authored the novel upon which the film ‘Battlefield Earth’ was based?
Stephen King
Stephen King
J.R.R. Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
Which famous Stanley Kubrick film deviated significantly from the Stephen King novel it was based on?
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
The Godfather
The Godfather
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The Shining
The Shining
Which legendary director, often known as the ‘Master of Suspense’, was famous for frequently using Dutch angles to convey character disorientation?
Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Orson Welles
Orson Welles
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Why is the Dutch angle so named?
They were invented by a Dutch filmmaker named Van Angle
They were invented by a Dutch filmmaker named Van Angle
The camera is always mounted on a Dutch-built pedestal
The camera is always mounted on a Dutch-built pedestal
The name is a corruption of ‘Deutsch’ (German) angle
The name is a corruption of ‘Deutsch’ (German) angle
They are filmed in the Netherlands
They are filmed in the Netherlands
Films from which year were honored at the first Razzie ceremony?
2010
2010
1980
1980
1990
1990
2000
2000
Which classic film noir is famously cited for its pervasive and innovative use of the Dutch angle?
2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Third Man
The Third Man
Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Strangelove
Clockwork Orange
Clockwork Orange
What is unique about the trophy given to winners at the Razzie Awards?
It is for films never released in theaters
It is for films never released in theaters
It is awarded for best directing
It is awarded for best directing
It is a lifetime achievement award
It is a lifetime achievement award
It is presented with a golden berry spray figure
It is presented with a golden berry spray figure
Which statement accurately describes the Razzie-related legacy of ‘Battlefield Earth’?
It swept almost every category in which it was nominated at the 21st Razzies
It swept almost every category in which it was nominated at the 21st Razzies
It was originally planned to be an animated feature
It was originally planned to be an animated feature
The budget for the project was unexpectedly cut in half
The budget for the project was unexpectedly cut in half
John Travolta refused to promote it
John Travolta refused to promote it
How does the 1982 film ‘Blade Runner’ differ notably from Philip K. Dick’s novel, ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’?
It changes the source character’s fundamental motivation entirely
It changes the source character’s fundamental motivation entirely
It removes all original plot lines to create a spin-off
It removes all original plot lines to create a spin-off
It features a completely different main protagonist than the book
It features a completely different main protagonist than the book
It focuses only on the climax of the book
It focuses only on the climax of the book
What is the primary psychological purpose of using a Dutch angle in film?
To save money on set construction
To save money on set construction
To fit more landscape into the frame
To fit more landscape into the frame
To communicate madness or psychological discomfort
To communicate madness or psychological discomfort
To induce nausea in the audience
To induce nausea in the audience
Which film adaptation is widely praised for staying faithful to the tone of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel by employing a similar aggressive narrative style?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
Fight Club
Fight Club
How many Razzies did ‘Battlefield Earth’ win at the 21st ceremony, setting a record at the time?
5
5
9
9
7
7
3
3
Which of the following statements about a Dutch angle shot is INCORRECT?
The camera is often tilted on its roll axis.
The camera is often tilted on its roll axis.
It typically creates a sense of imbalance in the frame.
It typically creates a sense of imbalance in the frame.
The horizon line is parallel to the bottom of the frame.
The horizon line is parallel to the bottom of the frame.
It can be used to convey psychological unease or disorientation.
It can be used to convey psychological unease or disorientation.
Beyond conveying instability, directors often use Dutch angles to achieve what dramatic effect?
To hide mistakes made by the set designers
To hide mistakes made by the set designers
To symbolize the shifting power dynamics between characters
To symbolize the shifting power dynamics between characters
To make the actors look taller
To make the actors look taller
To indicate a specific time of day in the scene
To indicate a specific time of day in the scene
Which sub-category of the Razzies did ‘Battlefield Earth’ win, highlighting its legacy of failure?
‘Worst Film of the Decade’
‘Worst Film of the Decade’
‘Worst Cinematic Achievement’
‘Worst Cinematic Achievement’
‘Most Overrated Performance’
‘Most Overrated Performance’
‘Worst Lifetime Achievement Award’
‘Worst Lifetime Achievement Award’
Which of these is a famous point of contention regarding the adaptation of ‘Forrest Gump’ from Winston Groom’s novel?
The author of the book explicitly hated the film adaptation
The author of the book explicitly hated the film adaptation
The ending is significantly darker than the book’s conclusion
The ending is significantly darker than the book’s conclusion
The setting has been moved from the future to the past
The setting has been moved from the future to the past
The book features a happy ending, whereas the film is noted for its lack of one
The book features a happy ending, whereas the film is noted for its lack of one
John Travolta played an angel in a 1996 film. Which film was it, often contrasted with his passion project disasters?
Michael
Michael
Face/Off
Face/Off
The General’s Daughter
The General’s Daughter
Primary Colors
Primary Colors
The Dutch angle is most traditionally associated with which cinematic era/genre?
2010s Romantic Comedies
2010s Romantic Comedies
1990s Action blockbusters
1990s Action blockbusters
1940s Film Noir
1940s Film Noir
1970s Horror
1970s Horror
Which fundamental challenge in adapting a novel to film primarily addresses the transformation of prose-based exposition and internal thought into a visual and external narrative?
The ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ rule often requires massive narrative cuts, changing the book’s pacing
The ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ rule often requires massive narrative cuts, changing the book’s pacing
Films are strictly forbidden from changing any character names from the book
Films are strictly forbidden from changing any character names from the book
Most adaptions are shorter than their source material
Most adaptions are shorter than their source material
Novel adaptations are always less critically acclaimed than original screenplays
Novel adaptations are always less critically acclaimed than original screenplays
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
When you finish, you can also explore more history in our sections on noted directors, learn about literary adaptations, or find trivia covering classic film noir.
