Answers: Cinema
Introduction
The pub to find was The Coronet in Holloway Road [7], which is converted from an old cinema called the Savoy – exactly as described in the history (plus photograph) included in the clue sheet, all of which is true. The pub is owned by Wetherspoons, hence the (misspelt) reference to "Witherspoon’s Beer". The address of ‘the Professor’ was given as 338 Stanley Road, which is the address of the Coronet with ‘Stanley’ replacing ‘Holloway’ as a tribute to the old Music Hall star. Coronets are shown on the ‘forthcoming films’ poster. Finally, and I think this was only visible in the rare printed versions of the Hunt, the editor of The Mystery Film is given as S. T. Loraine – an obscure hint to Loraine Road, which runs down the side of The Coronet. The date and time to turn up at the pub is shown in the ‘performance times’ for the main film.
Forward References
There are several references to the ‘Astronomy/Masquerade’, ‘Jack the Ripper’ and ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ themes which make an appearance in Stages 2 and 3 of the Hunt. Masquerade is the original treasure hunt book written by Kit Williams, which is described in more detail in the answers to the ‘Astronomy’ section.
Firstly the byline to The Mystery Film is ‘Stars, Detection, Tragedy’ – references to the three themes mentioned above. Nobody noticed this. [14].
Isaac Newton and Tara Treetops are characters in Masquerade, and Newton also had astronomical connections, or so it is rumoured. [7]
William Henry Smythe, James Bradley, Wilhelm Struve and John Michell were all astronomers [6].
The parody of the Jurassic Park poster includes a hare, which is a major theme in Masquerade [10], plus the sun, moon and stars to suggest astronomy [12]
The quotation "I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track" is taken from one of Jack the Ripper’s communications with the police [8].
‘Bedfordshire Star’ contains a hint about Ampthill, which is in Bedfordshire and also the location of one of the Stage 2 pubs. The ‘star’ is another astronomy reference [10]
The Bloodstained Postcard is not the name of a film as far as I know but is another Jack the Ripper reference - to the postcard he sent to the police on 1 October 1888 beginning "I wasnt codding". The description underneath is of a film called Jacknife [5].
A Star is Born is, of course, a film, as well as being an astronomy reference. The words underneath are the lyrics to a Pink Floyd song called Astronomy Domine, the best version of which is on the album Ummagumma – produced by Norman Smith [8].
The Silver Casket is a Mary Queen of Scots reference, the significance of which will become further apparent in the answers to that section. The film described underneath is actually called Maryland [5]. By an unnoticed coincidence this was directed by Henry King, which would have been a good link to the Falstaff questions in the other half of the Hunt.
The Movie Quiz
The "Professor Propellerhead" illustration is a logo I use when I compere the weekly quiz night at The Bailey in Holloway Road (coincidentally equidistant between the Coronet and the Hope & Anchor). Be there on Mondays, 9pm sharp - free entry and a weekly cash prize of �50.
Some of these answers contain references to Jack the Ripper, Queens, Marys, Coronets and other items relevant to the Hunt, others are there because they looked like nice questions.
1. What was the name of the crazed USAF Commander in Dr Strangelove? Jack D Ripper, played by Sterling Hayden in the 1963 Kubrick black comedy [2].
2. Why were some of the cast of Gone With The Wind unable to attend its premiere? The glitzy Atlanta premiere was held in a whites-only cinema [3].
3. In which film did Bob Hope star with Katherine Hepburn? This unlikely pairing appeared in the 1956 stinker The Iron Petticoat [1].
4. Which actress completed Jean Harlow’s role in Saratoga, after the star died during filming? The main look-alike was Mary Dees. Geraldine Dvorak also doubled and Paula Winslow did the voiceovers [2].
5. Who played the title role in the classic 1931 version of Frankenstein? This classic trick question fooled only a few. Frankenstein was played by Colin Clive [3] with Boris Karloff playing the unnamed monster.
6. Which film was adapted from the novel Noblesse Oblige by Roy Horniman? This is the oft-televised 1940 Ealing classic Kind Hearts and Coronets in which Alec Guinness plays all the members of the D’Ascoyne family [3].
7. In which film is Doris Day murdered? She was shot dead by Steve Cochran in the 1950 film Storm Warning [11]. Although apparently murdered in Midnight Lace, a final plot twist reveals this to be untrue.
8. Joe Yule and Frances Gumm starred in which 1939 musical? Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland (for these are their stage names) appeared in the Busby Berkeley extravaganza Babes in Arms [4].
9. Which character has been played by Donald Cook, Ralph Bellamy and William Gargan? They have all played the detective Ellery Queen in various films [3].
10. In which film is one of the leading characters named Amyl Nitrate? This was the classic Derek Jarman punk epic Jubilee [3] in which Elizabeth I (not, unfortunately, accompanied by Mary Queen of Scots) visits lots of spiky-haired youths in 1977.
11. I killed Dietrichson. Me. Walter Neff. Insurance salesman, 35 years old". In which film? Essentially this is the entire plot of Double Indemnity [1].
12. Who was Gaston de Tolignac? This was the pseudonym used by D W Griffith when writing screenplays, notably Orphans in the Storm, and appearing in his own films such as Birth of a Nation and Intolerance [6].
Other Answers