#92: Guess which movie lines were NOT in the book!

Take the quiz!

This week we are playing a game inspired by my reading of Frankenstein. Next week, I’ll have an adaptation write-up going out over on “The Big Read” that you should definitely check out. Until then, have fun with the quiz!

Quiz Rules

Below are movie quotations that are culturally ubiquitous and frequently spoofed and riffed on. Most of the movies — but not all! — are based on books. Give yourself points if you can answer the following questions correctly:

a. Which movie is the quotation from? (1 point)
b. Is the movie based on a book? (1 point)
c. Is the quotation in the book? (2 points)

Add up your points and let me know your score in the comments!

QUIZ

1. “It’s alive! It’s alive!”

2. “My mama always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

3. “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

4. “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

5. “Elementary, my dear Watson!”

6. “A martini. Shaken, not stirred.”

7. “Here’s Johnny!”

8. “Listen to them, children of the night, what music they make.”

9. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

10. “My precious!”

11. “Carpe deum. Seize the day, boys.”

12. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

13. “Yippee-ki-yay [expletive]”

14. “That’ll do pig. That’ll do.”

15. “Inconceivable!”

Answers

1. Movie: Frankenstein (1931)
   Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)

   Not in the book! The origin of the phrase goes back to the first Frankenstein adaptation, the 1823 play Presumption, or the Fate of Frankenstein. In the play, Frankenstein’s voice is heard, uttering the words, “It lives! It lives!”¹ It has become a staple of Frankenstein films and spoofs.

2. Movie: Forrest Gump (1994)
   Book: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom (1986)
   This exact phrase is not in the book, rather it goes like this: “Let me say this: bein a idiot is no box of chocolates.”²

3. Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
   Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900).
   Dorothy never says this about Kansas. Also: The witch never refers to Dorothy as “my pretty.” The munchkins never say, “follow the yellow brick road,” the road is always referred to as a “road of yellow brick.” Dorothy says, “There is no place like home,” but only during a conversation between her and The Scarecrow. To get home, she claps the heels of her shoes together three times and says: “Take me home to Aunt Em!” I prefer the movie version.

4. Movie: The Godfather (1972)
   Book: The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969)
   Yes, this is in the book!

5. Movie: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
   Book: The Crooked Man by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1893).
   That exact phrase is not in any of the books. The closest is in The Crooked Man: “Excellent!” I [Watson] cried. “Elementary,” said he [Holmes].

6. Movie: Goldfinger (1964)
   Book: Dr. No by Ian Fleming (1958).
   Not exactly. Actual quote: “I would like a medium Vodka dry Martini — with a slice of lemon peel. Shaken and not stirred, please.” Can you imagine a movie version of Bond saying “please?” I can’t.

7. Movie: The Shining (1980)

   Book: The Shining by Stephen King (1977)
   Not in the book. Likely improvised by Jack Nicholson.

8. Movie: Dracula (1931)
   Book: Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)
   Yes, this is in the book!

9. Movie: Gone with the Wind (1939)
   Book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936)
   This one is a bit of a trick. The book quote is “My dear, I don’t give a damn.”

10. Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
    Book: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkein (1954)
    Yes, this is in the book and must be read in an Andy Serkis Gollum voice.

11. Movie: Dead Poets Society (1989)
    Book: Not a book! This surprised me. Not sure what it is about this movie that screams Adaptation! but it’s an original script by Tom Schulman that won him an Oscar in 1990.

12. Movie: Jaws (1975)
    Book: Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974)
    Not in the book, but this one has a fun story.³

13. Movie: Die Hard (1988)

    Book: Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp (1979)
    Not in the book, but “Geronimo [same expletive]” is.

14. Movie: Babe (1995)
    Book: Babe, the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith (1983)
    Another trick. The line in the book is simply “That’ll do.” I prefer the movie version.

15. Movie: The Princess Bride (1987)
    Book: The Princess Bride by William Goldman (1973)
    In the book with equal frequency as the movie, though I dare you to imagine anyone but Wallace Shawn uttering it.

How did you do out of 60 possible points?

Thanks for taking the quiz! If you enjoyed it, please share it with your fellow literary movie lovers. Have a great weekend!

Kyle

1. Hitchcock, Susan Tyler. Frankenstein: A cultural history. Page 83

2. This Day in Quotes: “Life is like a box of chocolates” – the misquote that launched a thousand variations…

3. Origin of 'You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat' Line From 'Jaws' | Mental Floss