50 Fun Facts About Classic Movies

Which 1941 film, directed by Orson Welles, is often cited as the greatest movie ever made?

Citizen Kane (1941), directed by and starring Orson Welles, has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest films ever made for its groundbreaking cinematography, narrative structure, and deep focus techniques.

In Casablanca (1942), what is the name of Rick's nightclub?

Rick's Café Américain is the famous nightclub owned by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca. It serves as the central setting for much of the film's action.

Who directed Psycho (1960)?

Alfred Hitchcock directed Psycho (1960), which became one of the most influential horror-thriller films in cinema history. The shower scene remains one of the most iconic moments in film.

What is the famous last word spoken in Citizen Kane?

"Rosebud" is the dying word of Charles Foster Kane. The entire film follows a reporter's quest to discover its meaning, which is revealed to be the name of Kane's childhood sled.

Which actor played Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)?

Marlon Brando played Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor. He famously refused the Oscar in protest of Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans.

In The Wizard of Oz (1939), what color are Dorothy's famous slippers?

Dorothy's slippers are ruby red in the 1939 film. Interestingly, in L. Frank Baum's original novel, the slippers were silver. They were changed to ruby for the film to take advantage of the new Technicolor process.

Which 1975 Steven Spielberg film is credited with creating the summer blockbuster?

Jaws (1975) is widely credited as the first summer blockbuster. Its massive marketing campaign and wide release strategy changed how Hollywood approached big-budget films and summer movie seasons.

What year was the original Star Wars film released?

Star Wars (later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope) was released on May 25, 1977. It became a cultural phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Who played Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939)?

British actress Vivien Leigh played Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, beating out over 1,400 actresses who auditioned for the role. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Which classic film features the line 'Here's looking at you, kid'?

"Here's looking at you, kid" is spoken by Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942). It's consistently ranked as one of the most famous movie quotes of all time by the AFI.

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), what does Andy Dufresne use to tunnel through his cell wall?

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) uses a small rock hammer, which he hides inside a Bible, to slowly tunnel through his cell wall over nearly 20 years to eventually escape Shawshank State Penitentiary.

Who directed Schindler's List (1993)?

Steven Spielberg directed Schindler's List, winning his first Academy Award for Best Director. The film, shot primarily in black and white, tells the story of Oskar Schindler saving over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.

What was Hitchcock's first American film?

Rebecca (1940), based on Daphne du Maurier's novel, was Alfred Hitchcock's first American film after moving from Britain. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, the only Hitchcock film to do so.

Which actor said 'I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse' in The Godfather?

Marlon Brando, as Don Vito Corleone, delivers this iconic line in The Godfather. It's ranked #2 on the AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes list.

In which film does Robert De Niro say 'You talkin' to me?'

Robert De Niro improvised the famous "You talkin' to me?" scene in Taxi Driver (1976), directed by Martin Scorsese. His character Travis Bickle practices drawing a gun in front of a mirror.

How many Academy Awards did Ben-Hur (1959) win?

Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards at the 32nd ceremony, a record that stood until Titanic (1997) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) tied it.

Who played the title character in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)?

Peter O'Toole starred as T.E. Lawrence in David Lean's epic Lawrence of Arabia. Despite the film's critical acclaim, O'Toole did not win the Oscar — Gregory Peck won for To Kill a Mockingbird that year.

What is the name of the sled in Citizen Kane?

The sled is named "Rosebud," representing Kane's lost childhood innocence. In the film's final scene, the sled is thrown into a furnace, and the audience sees the name painted on it.

Which classic film features the chariot race as its most famous scene?

Ben-Hur (1959) features one of cinema's most spectacular chariot race sequences. The scene took five weeks to film and used 15,000 extras on one of the largest film sets ever built.

Who directed 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)?

Stanley Kubrick directed 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-wrote with Arthur C. Clarke. The film is renowned for its realistic depiction of space travel, pioneering special effects, and enigmatic storyline.

In Sunset Boulevard (1950), what is Norma Desmond's famous closing line?

Gloria Swanson, as faded silent film star Norma Desmond, delivers the iconic closing line "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up" as she descends the staircase in a delusional state.

Which 1994 film won the Academy Award for Best Picture over The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction?

Forrest Gump won Best Picture at the 67th Academy Awards, beating both The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction — two films that are now often considered among the greatest ever made.

What is the highest-grossing film of the 1990s (adjusted for inflation at that time)?

Titanic (1997) was the highest-grossing film of the 1990s, earning over $1.8 billion worldwide. It held the record for highest-grossing film of all time until Avatar surpassed it in 2010.

Who played Norman Bates in the original Psycho (1960)?

Anthony Perkins portrayed Norman Bates in Psycho, creating one of cinema's most memorable villains. He reprised the role in three sequels. The character was inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein.

Which film features the famous 'I coulda been a contender' speech?

Marlon Brando delivers the "I coulda been a contender" speech in On the Waterfront (1954), directed by Elia Kazan. The scene takes place in the back of a taxi with Rod Steiger.

What was the first feature-length animated film by Walt Disney?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was Walt Disney's first feature-length animated film. Critics called it "Disney's Folly" during production, but it became a massive critical and commercial success.

In Rear Window (1954), what is Jimmy Stewart's character's profession?

James Stewart plays L.B. Jefferies, a professional photographer confined to his apartment with a broken leg, who begins to suspect one of his neighbors has committed murder.

Which classic film popularized the phrase 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn'?

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler speaks this line to Vivien Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939). The use of 'damn' was controversial under the Hays Production Code at the time.

Who composed the iconic score for Jaws?

John Williams composed the minimalist two-note motif that became synonymous with approaching danger in Jaws. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for the film.

What is the name of HAL 9000's famous line in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

HAL 9000 says "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that" when astronaut Dave Bowman asks HAL to open the pod bay doors. It's one of the most quoted lines in science fiction cinema.

Which actress starred in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)?

Audrey Hepburn starred as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Her little black Givenchy dress from the opening scene became one of the most iconic costumes in film history.

In The Silence of the Lambs (1991), what is Hannibal Lecter's profession?

Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant forensic psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. Hopkins won the Best Actor Oscar despite only appearing on screen for about 16 minutes.

Which film was the first to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay)?

It Happened One Night (1934), directed by Frank Capra, was the first film to sweep all five major Academy Award categories. Only two other films have achieved this: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

What real-life ship's story is told in the 1997 James Cameron film?

Titanic (1997) tells a fictionalized love story aboard the RMS Titanic, which sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City.

Who played Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)?

Harrison Ford played Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Tom Selleck was originally cast but couldn't do it due to his Magnum, P.I. contract. Steven Spielberg directed with George Lucas producing.

Which Hitchcock film features a man wrongly accused of murder who hides out on Mount Rushmore?

North by Northwest (1959) stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive mistaken for a government agent who ends up in a chase across the country, culminating in the famous Mount Rushmore sequence.

In The Godfather Part II (1974), who plays the young Vito Corleone?

Robert De Niro played the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He spoke mostly in Sicilian dialect for the role.

What was the first 'talkie' — the first major feature film with synchronized dialogue?

The Jazz Singer (1927) starring Al Jolson is considered the first major feature film with synchronized dialogue sequences, marking the end of the silent film era.

Which classic film ends with the line 'After all, tomorrow is another day'?

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara delivers the final line of Gone with the Wind: "After all, tomorrow is another day!" after resolving to win Rhett Butler back.

Who directed Vertigo (1958)?

Alfred Hitchcock directed Vertigo, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak. Though initially receiving mixed reviews, it has since risen to be considered one of the greatest films ever made, topping Sight & Sound's 2012 poll.

In which film does Judy Garland sing 'Over the Rainbow'?

Judy Garland sings "Over the Rainbow" as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland's signature tune.

What is Humphrey Bogart's character name in The Maltese Falcon (1941)?

Humphrey Bogart plays private detective Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, directed by John Huston. It's considered one of the first film noir classics.

Which 1960 film by Billy Wilder stars Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine?

The Apartment (1960) stars Jack Lemmon as an insurance clerk who lends his apartment to executives for their affairs, and Shirley MacLaine as an elevator operator he falls for. It won Best Picture.

Who played Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)?

Gregory Peck won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the principled lawyer Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

In Singin' in the Rain (1952), who performs the iconic title song in the rain?

Gene Kelly performs the iconic title number, dancing and singing in the rain. He reportedly had a 103°F fever during filming. The scene is widely regarded as one of the greatest musical sequences in film history.

Which Stanley Kubrick film features the character Alex DeLarge?

Malcolm McDowell plays Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange (1971). The film was so controversial that Kubrick himself withdrew it from distribution in the UK, where it remained banned until after his death in 1999.

What is the setting of Casablanca (1942)?

The film is set in Casablanca, Morocco during World War II. The city served as a transit point for refugees trying to escape to America, which provides the political backdrop for the love story.

Which film features the quote 'I see dead people'?

Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear whispers "I see dead people" in The Sixth Sense (1999), directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film is famous for its twist ending.

Who directed Goodfellas (1990)?

Martin Scorsese directed Goodfellas, based on the true story of mobster Henry Hill. The film is known for its innovative use of voice-over narration and a famous unbroken tracking shot through the Copacabana nightclub.

In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), what candy does Elliott use to lure E.T.?

Elliott uses Reese's Pieces to lure E.T. Mars Inc. turned down the product placement for M&M's, and Hershey's agreed instead. Sales of Reese's Pieces reportedly jumped 65% after the film's release.