The L.A. Story Quiz (With a Twist of Lemon)
1 of 11
Which of the following locations does Harris NOT consider a mystical place?
The desert outside Santa Fe
The Tree of Life in the Arab Emirate of Bahrain
The Joshua Tree National Park
ANSWER: Harris explains that the third place he considers "mystical" is the restaurant at the corner of Sunset and Crescent, "Because that's where I first met her and that's where I first touched her," referring to Sara. Harris explains that the third place he considers "mystical" is the restaurant at the corner of Sunset and Crescent, "Because that's where I first met her and that's where I first touched her," referring to Sara.
2 of 11
What does Harris's license plate say?
72SUNNY
GRFLD
2GAT123
ANSWER: 2GAT123 is a fictional license plate used in many films, including the LA-themed Mulholland Drive, plus a bunch of TV shows. 2GAT123 is a fictional license plate used in many films, including the LA-themed Mulholland Drive, plus a bunch of TV shows.
3 of 11
Regarding Sara's mother, which of the following is NOT mentioned in the film?
She makes papier mache
She hunts
She was married to Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein
ANSWER: Roland and Sara's mothers hunt together; when Sara calls her mother to play music over the phone, the mother says she's making "fifty-six papier mache hats." Roland and Sara's mothers hunt together; when Sara calls her mother to play music over the phone, the mother says she's making "fifty-six papier mache hats."
4 of 11
What does Roland do for a living?
Owns L'Idiot
Sells English paintings
Is an art critic for the London Times
ANSWER: When asked whether the paintings are "abstract or realistic," he replies: "It depends on which way you look at them, I suppose." When asked whether the paintings are "abstract or realistic," he replies: "It depends on which way you look at them, I suppose."
5 of 11
How does Harris paraphrase the famous Shakespeare line from Macbeth, "[Life] is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing?"
"Hey, life is pretty stupid, with lots of hubbub to keep you busy, but really not amounting to much."
"Life is pretty dumb, with lots of noise and hubbub to bother you, but it doesn't mean anything."
"Life is idiotic, with a lot of dumb people flapping their gums. Of course, I'm paraphrasing."
ANSWER: Right after Harris says this, we see a cat meow melodramatically. The film is full of allusions to Shakespeare, from subtle elements like a character named Ariel (The Tempest), plot elements (crossed lovers like A Midsummer Night's Dream), to entire scenes (Hamlet), and intentional misquotations (Richard II). We even see Shakespeare's tombstone in an L.A. cemetery just before an extensive scene based on Hamlet's "poor Yorick!" scene. Right after Harris says this, we see a cat meow melodramatically. The film is full of allusions to Shakespeare, from subtle elements like a character named Ariel (The Tempest), plot elements (crossed lovers like A Midsummer Night's Dream), to entire scenes (Hamlet), and intentional misquotations (Richard II). We even see Shakespeare's tombstone in an L.A. cemetery just before an extensive scene based on Hamlet's "poor Yorick!" scene.
6 of 11
How many imagined heart attacks has Harris had?
7
9
11
ANSWER: In the opening monologue of the film, Harris explains: "I was deeply unhappy but I didn't know it, because I was so happy all the time." In the opening monologue of the film, Harris explains: "I was deeply unhappy but I didn't know it, because I was so happy all the time."
7 of 11
Which of the following is NOT a beverage ordered during the "California Cuisine" restaurant scene?
Decaf espresso with a twist of lemon
Half double decaffeinated half-caf with a twist of lemon
Half-caf triple latte with a twist of lemon
ANSWER: Decaf coffee, decaf espresso, double decaf cappuccino, decaffeinated coffee ice cream, and half double decaffeinated half-caf are all ordered; twists of lemon are added to each beverage after Harris requests one with his half-caf, whatever that is. Decaf coffee, decaf espresso, double decaf cappuccino, decaffeinated coffee ice cream, and half double decaffeinated half-caf are all ordered; twists of lemon are added to each beverage after Harris requests one with his half-caf, whatever that is.
8 of 11
In which year was L.A. Story released?
1990
1991
1993
ANSWER: L.A. Story was released on February 8, 1991 and was marketed using a critic's quote as "The first great comedy of the 90's." In one scene Harris learns of Trudi's multi-year infidelity and says: "Three years! This has been going on since the 80's?!" L.A. Story was released on February 8, 1991 and was marketed using a critic's quote as "The first great comedy of the 90's." In one scene Harris learns of Trudi's multi-year infidelity and says: "Three years! This has been going on since the 80's?!"
9 of 11
Which of these degrees does Harris have?
B.S. in Atmospheric Science
Ph.D. in Arts and Humanities
B.A. in British Literature
ANSWER: TV cohost Gail mentions that Harris has a Ph.D. in Arts and Humanities after Harris delivers a particularly wacky weather forecast. "Lot of good it did you," Gail says. TV cohost Gail mentions that Harris has a Ph.D. in Arts and Humanities after Harris delivers a particularly wacky weather forecast. "Lot of good it did you," Gail says.
10 of 11
What's the proper spelling of Sarah Jessica Parker's character's name?
SanDeE*
SaNdiNE*
sAndEe*
ANSWER: SanDeE* writes her name on Harris's palm, explaining: "Big S, small A, small N, big D, small E, big E. Then there's a little star at the end. [Draws star and a heart around the whole thing.]" SanDeE* writes her name on Harris's palm, explaining: "Big S, small A, small N, big D, small E, big E. Then there's a little star at the end. [Draws star and a heart around the whole thing.]"
11 of 11
L.A. Story uses time-lapse footage from what experimental film?
Chronos
Powaqqatsi
Koyaanisqatsi
ANSWER: Directed by Godfrey Reggio and shot by Ron Fricke, Koyaanisqatsi featured time-lapse footage of Los Angeles, among other locales. Some L.A. clips from Koyaanisqatsi, notably of traffic scenes, are seen in L.A. Story to match other time-lapse shots in the film. They're most noticeable in the "rolling in the fog" sequence, and the scene just before Sara plays music with her mother. Directed by Godfrey Reggio and shot by Ron Fricke, Koyaanisqatsi featured time-lapse footage of Los Angeles, among other locales. Some L.A. clips from Koyaanisqatsi, notably of traffic scenes, are seen in L.A. Story to match other time-lapse shots in the film. They're most noticeable in the "rolling in the fog" sequence, and the scene just before Sara plays music with her mother.
