August 11, 2005

Are the Lambs Still Screaming?

I love a good horror movie. One of my favorites is Silence of the Lambs - one of the three movies in the Hannibal Lecter trilogy. Oh, what a fine villain Hannibal is - a psychology enthusiasts dream. It is a brilliant study of the psychology of serial killers and a game of cat-and-mouse between Lecter and Starling – a convoluted game with rules that are clearly understood only by the incarcerated psychiatrist. What a brilliant film!



How many Hannibal Lecter fans do we have reading here? Want to take a little quiz, just for giggles? The answers will be down at the bottom of the post - don't cheat!

1. Who originated the role of Hannibal Lecter?
a. Sir Ian McKellan
b. Brian Cox
c. Sir Anthony Hopkins
d. Dame Judy Dench

2. Anthony Hopkins said the voice of Hannibal Lecter was a combination of:
a. Jodie Foster and Paul Newman
b. Wallace and Grommit
c. Humphrey Bogart and Margaret Thatcher
d. Truman Capote and Katherine Hepburn

3. On whose novels are "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Red Dragon" films based?
a. Joseph Campbell
b. Ed Harris
c. Thomas Harris
d. Anne Rice

4. Another Thomas Harris novel was the basis for a disaster film from the 1970's. What was its title?
a. Black Sunday
b. Poseidon Adventure
c. The Big Bus
d. Towering Inferno

5. In a cameo as the FBI Director, what famous Hollywood producer/filmmaker spiced up scenes with Jody Foster?
a. James Toback
b. Robert Rodriguez
c. Roger Corman
d. Dino De Laurentiis

6. In which film did Anthony Hopkins first appear?
a. The White Bus
b. Silence of the Lambs
c. Meet Joe Black
d. The Lion In Winter

7. Jodie Foster played FBI Agent Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. However, director Jonathan Demme first offered the role to another actress. Who was she?
a. Susan Sarandon
b. Michelle Pfeiffer
c. Rosie O'Donnell
d. Meryl Streep

8. What event in young Clarice Starling's life shocked her into temporarily running away from home?
a. Catching mommy kissing Santa Claus
b. Losing her favorite pet
c. Seeing livestock slaughtered
d. Getting a big tattoo

9. Jodie Foster started her acting career at the age of two, but she didn't direct until she was nearly 30. What film from the early '90s did she direct?
a. Little Man Tate
b. Malcolm X
c. Maverick
d. Nell

10. In Silence of the Lambs, what did the killer look for in a victim?
a. green eyes
b. nice car
c. soft skin
d. upbeat personality



Quiz Anwswers:
1-b Brian Cox originated the role, in 1986's Manhunter, but turned down The Silence of the Lambs. The part was offered to Gene Hackman who was slated to direct the film until Jonathan Demme took over.

2-d Capote's nasal sneer and Hepburn's throaty tone gave Lecter his characteristically frightening, if somewhat annoying, voice.

3-c Anne Rice might wish she'd written the Hannibal Lecter trilogy, but Thomas Harris was the real father of this horror masterpiece.

4-a Thomas Harris wrote the novel on which 1977's Black Sunday was based. This is his only film not based on Hannibal Lecter.

5-c Roger Corman, who produced more than 300 films, played the role of the FBI Director. Some say it's his best work.

6-a While often thought of as his first film, Anthony Hopkins's breakthrough role in The Lion in Winter wasn't his first time on screen. His first film role was the character Brechtian in the 1967 short film The White Bus.

7-b Michelle Pfeiffer, and later Meg Ryan were offered the role before Jodie Foster was even considered.

8-c While the idea of mommy and Santa Claus is scary, too, Clarice ran away because she saw lambs being killed.

9-a She directed and acted in Little Man Tate.

10-c The serial killer "Buffalo Bill" was interested in wearing his victims' skin.

***

Ahhh, such memorable moments - the dark basement scene with the infrared goggles, the Italian cop's demise over the Piazza, the dinner with Ray Liota, the murderous pigs, Hannibal's escape from custody, the death head moth lodged in the dead girls throat...they go on and on. I think I might just have to rent them this weekend.

My favorite quote from these films?
"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti." - Dr. Hannibal Lecter

12 comments:

  1. He puts the lotion on his skin! Ok, ok, now give me my supplies!

    Oh, that's Joe Dirt. Never mind. :)

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  2. I love Silence of the Lambs. That is one scary freaking moive. I just about jumped out of my seat when Hannibal escapes and you realize how. I haven't seen the other two movies.

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  3. Loved all three movies :) great quiz!

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  4. E-Lo - hee hee! Joe Dirt is a riot. lol

    Vince - Yep! That part is SO twisted!

    Derek - for sure.

    Julie - No, I can't. She's too bubbly, I think. Silence is my fave, then Hannibal. Didn't care for Red Dragon as much. The book (Silence) is VERY good! Liked it a lot. Woot for hawt student teachers!

    Mike - that's 70% - not bad! :)

    Jennifer - thanks!

    Denny - cool! I wish she would have, too. I liked her much better as Clarice although Julianne did a good job. A new one? Sweet! I have no idea...

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  5. Well i scored 50% which pretty much sucks since i've seen them all and loved Silence and really liked Hannibal.
    I was sure it would have been Rosie O'Donell. Though Meg Ryan seems an equally unlikely choice - what were the producers smoking when they came up with THAT?

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  6. I've seen all three movies but spent so much time covering my head that I really only saw about one full movie. I scare quite easily.

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  7. I read your list of 100 and can honestly say I have never read anyone's list that I have less in common with. I couldn't relate to anything other than the panty hose comment. It's by no means a stab at ya, it was just a strange observation and had to share it for some reason. Sorry if it was rude. You seem brilliant, you have to be a genius with a very high IQ!

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  8. I didn't know # 6 or 9. Harris' books are absolutely terrific. Hannibal was a fantastic read.

    I can only hope that the third movie throws away the ending from the movie and runs with the plotline form the novel Hannibal.

    Somehow I think I would enjoy that approach a lot more than the happy bouncy film version.

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  9. Love scary movies!! And I own 'Silence'; never seen the others. I tried reading Hannibal and just couldn't get into it, so decided to stop while I was ahead.

    "I've got to go, Clarice. I'm having an old friend for dinner..."

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  10. I didn't like that movie very much, primarily because I don't like Jodie Foster at all, never have and probably never will.

    Her face always seems to be locked into a Botox like state of non-emotional stares and her voice always seems to sound exactly the same no matter what she is doing or saying. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it! hehe

    But Hopkins is great in the movie!!

    Loved the post below about your Celtic origins, very informative and interesting =) thanks!!

    Have a great weekend sweetie!!

    hugs!!

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  11. Cali - Nah, 50% isn't bad. Rosie would have been better than Meg, that's for sure!

    Boo - hee hee - I'm picturing you with pie eyes, hiding under your blankie. lol

    Anon - Interesting comment about my list - you can't relate to cheesecake, spending too much time blogging, or working in a pizza joint? hmmm... A genius? ha ha ha ha!

    Pete - I want to read Hannibal. Somehow, happy bouncy just doesn't fit here. lol

    Cootera - hmmm...well, the movie Hannibal was really good, I thought. I love that quote, too.

    Se7en - I like Ms. Foster, but I see what you mean. thank YOU. :) *Hugs*

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