Silent Film Trivia
Silent Film trivia explores the inventive period of early cinema when filmmakers relied on visual storytelling, expressive performances, and title cards to captivate audiences. From slapstick comedy and epic dramas to groundbreaking directors and screen icons, it highlights how silent movies shaped film language and popular culture. Whether you want easy laughs or deeper challenges, it offers a family-friendly way to test what you know about the movies before sound.
Easy Silent Film Trivia
13 questions
These easy Silent Film trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
What is the name of the film that was filmed in 1888 and is often cited among the earliest motion pictures?
Answer: Roundhay Garden Scene
"Roundhay Garden Scene" was filmed in 1888.
Question 2
Which silent film was released in 1902?
- A.The Great Train Robbery
- B.Metropolis
- C.The Kid
- D.A Trip to the Moon
Answer: A Trip to the Moon
"A Trip to the Moon" was released in 1902.
Question 3
What film was released in 1903: "The Great Train Robbery" or "The Gold Rush"?
- A.Metropolis
- B.Way Down East
- C.The Great Train Robbery
- D.The Gold Rush
Answer: The Great Train Robbery
"The Great Train Robbery" was released in 1903.
Question 4
Who starred in the silent film "Sherlock Jr."?
Answer: Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton starred in "Sherlock Jr.".
Question 5
Which silent star is famously seen hanging from a clock in "Safety Last!"?
Answer: Harold Lloyd
The listed fact identifies Harold Lloyd is the star hanging from a clock in "Safety Last!".
Question 6
Which film features both Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan?
Answer: The Kid
"The Kid" features Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan.
Question 7
Which actress was nicknamed the "It Girl"?
Answer: Clara Bow
Clara Bow was nicknamed the "It Girl.".
Question 8
Who starred in the silent hit "The Sheik"?
Answer: Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino starred in "The Sheik.".
Question 9
Who starred in the silent film "Flesh and the Devil"?
Answer: Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo is the star of "Flesh and the Devil.".
Question 10
Which actress starred in "Way Down East"?
Answer: Lillian Gish
Lillian Gish starred in "Way Down East.".
Question 11
Who played the title role in "The Thief of Bagdad"?
Answer: Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks played the title role in "The Thief of Bagdad.".
Question 12
Which actress appeared in "The Toll of the Sea"?
Answer: Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong appeared in "The Toll of the Sea.".
Question 13
Which performer became a major silent-film star in the United States?
Answer: Sessue Hayakawa
Sessue Hayakawa became a major silent-film star in the United States.
Silent Film Family Trivia
12 questions
These family Silent Film trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
In what year was "City Lights" released?
Answer: 1931
"City Lights" was released in 1931.
Question 2
Which silent film in this set came out in 1926?
- A.Nosferatu
- B.Steamboat Bill, Jr.
- C.The General
- D.City Lights
Answer: The General
"The General" was released in 1926.
Question 3
A big storm and lots of comic chaos fill which 1928 silent film?
- A.The General
- B.Wings
- C.Broken Blossoms
- D.Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Answer: Steamboat Bill, Jr.
"Steamboat Bill, Jr." was released in 1928.
Question 4
Which movie won the very first Academy Award for Outstanding Picture?
- A.Intolerance
- B.Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
- C.Wings
- D.City Lights
Answer: Wings
"Wings" won the first Academy Award for Outstanding Picture.
Question 5
What year was the first Academy Awards ceremony held?
Answer: 1929
The first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929.
Question 6
Which film won the first Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Picture?
- A.The General
- B.The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
- C.Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
- D.Wings
Answer: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
"Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans" won the first Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Picture.
Question 7
True or false: "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" was released in 1920.?
Answer: True
"The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" was released in 1920.
Question 8
Which famous silent-era film first appeared in 1922?
- A.City Lights
- B.The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
- C.Nosferatu
- D.Wings
Answer: Nosferatu
"Nosferatu" was released in 1922.
Question 9
Who starred in the silent film "The Phantom of the Opera"?
Answer: Lon Chaney
"The Phantom of the Opera" starred Lon Chaney.
Question 10
Which actress was promoted as a silent-screen vamp?
- A.Theda Bara
- B.Colleen Moore
- C.Frances Marion
- D.Lon Chaney
Answer: Theda Bara
Theda Bara was promoted is a silent-screen vamp.
Question 11
Which silent-film star helped popularize the bob haircut in 1920s movies?
- A.Colleen Moore
- B.Theda Bara
- C.Frances Marion
- D.Gloria Swanson
Answer: Colleen Moore
Colleen Moore helped popularize the bob haircut in 1920s films.
Question 12
Who was a major screenwriter of the silent era?
Answer: Frances Marion
Frances Marion was a major screenwriter of the silent era.
Fun Silent Film Trivia
13 questions
These fun Silent Film trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
Which cliff-hanging silent comedy hit screens in 1923?
- A.Safety Last
- B.Sherlock Jr.
- C.The Circus
- D.Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Answer: Safety Last!
"Safety Last!" was released in 1923.
Question 2
What 1924 silent film has the detective-flavored title "Sherlock Jr."?
Answer: Sherlock Jr.
"Sherlock Jr." was released in 1924.
Question 3
Which silent film put Harold Lloyd at the center of campus comedy?
- A.Don Juan
- B.The Freshman
- C.Safety Last!
- D.The Crowd
Answer: The Freshman
"The Freshman" starred Harold Lloyd.
Question 4
If Buster Keaton checked into "Our Hospitality," who would be greeting you on the marquee?
Answer: Buster Keaton
"Our Hospitality" stars Buster Keaton.
Question 5
Which swashbuckling star led the silent film "The Mark of Zorro"?
- A.John Barrymore
- B.Rudolph Valentino
- C.Emil Jannings
- D.Douglas Fairbanks
Answer: Douglas Fairbanks
"The Mark of Zorro" starred Douglas Fairbanks.
Question 6
Who starred in the silent film "Don Juan"?
Answer: John Barrymore
"Don Juan" starred John Barrymore.
Question 7
Which heartthrob starred in the silent film "The Eagle"?
- A.Rudolph Valentino
- B.John Barrymore
- C.Douglas Fairbanks
- D.Harold Lloyd
Answer: Rudolph Valentino
"The Eagle" starred Rudolph Valentino.
Question 8
The one-word silent film title "It" starred which actress?
- A.Clara Bow
- B.Janet Gaynor
- C.Colleen Moore
- D.Lillian Gish
Answer: Clara Bow
"It" starred Clara Bow.
Question 9
Who starred in the question-marked silent title "Why Be Good?"?
Answer: Colleen Moore
"Why Be Good?" starred Colleen Moore.
Question 10
Which actor starred in the silent film "The Last Command"?
- A.Douglas Fairbanks
- B.Emil Jannings
- C.John Barrymore
- D.Charlie Chaplin
Answer: Emil Jannings
"The Last Command" starred Emil Jannings.
Question 11
Who made Academy Awards history by winning the very first Best Actor prize?
Answer: Emil Jannings
Emil Jannings won the first Academy Award for Best Actor.
Question 12
Which actress took home the first Academy Award for Best Actress?
Answer: Janet Gaynor
Janet Gaynor won the first Academy Award for Best Actress.
Question 13
Which company built major film-production facilities at Joinville-le-Pont near Paris?
Answer: Pathé
Pathé developed major film-production facilities at Joinville-le-Pont near Paris.
Funny Silent Film Trivia
13 questions
These funny Silent Film trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
Which silent-film figure wore the crown-like nickname "King of Comedy" without needing a single spoken acceptance speech?
Answer: Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was known is the "King of Comedy.".
Question 2
The famously chaotic Keystone Kops came from whose studio, proving traffic control was never the goal?
Answer: Mack Sennett's studio
The Keystone Kops were created by Mack Sennett's studio.
Question 3
Which major silent-film comedian had the nickname in quotation marks right in his name: Roscoe "Fatty" who?
Answer: Roscoe Arbuckle
Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was a major silent-film comedian.
Question 4
Who was a leading silent comedy star whose screen presence arrived well before punchlines made any noise?
Answer: Mabel Normand
Mabel Normand was a leading silent comedy star.
Question 5
Which comedian was one of the big silent-screen laughs of the 1920s: Harry Langdon, Douglas Fairbanks, or Erich von Stroheim?
- A.Douglas Fairbanks
- B.Erich von Stroheim
- C.Rudolph Valentino
- D.Harry Langdon
Answer: Harry Langdon
Harry Langdon was one of the big silent-screen comedians of the 1920s.
Question 6
Which film stars Buster Keaton and sounds like the ideal job for someone who never broke character: "The Cameraman," "Girl Shy," or "The Strong Man"?
Answer: The Cameraman
"The Cameraman" stars Buster Keaton.
Question 7
Which Harold Lloyd film has a title that sounds like romance tripping over its own shoelaces?
Answer: Girl Shy
"Girl Shy" stars Harold Lloyd.
Question 8
Which Harold Lloyd movie sounds less like a hero and more like the family member who got the smaller slice of pie?
Answer: The Kid Brother
"The Kid Brother" stars Harold Lloyd.
Question 9
Which Harry Langdon feature promises muscles right in the title, whether or not the title card can bench-press: "The Strong Man" or "The Immigrant"?
- A.The Kid Brother
- B.The Strong Man
- C.The Immigrant
- D.Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
Answer: The Strong Man
"The Strong Man" stars Harry Langdon.
Question 10
Which Harry Langdon title repeats itself three times, as if the movie were already hurrying down the sidewalk?
Answer: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" stars Harry Langdon.
Question 11
Who stars in "Show People," a title that basically waves jazz hands before the projector even starts?
Answer: Marion Davies
"Show People" stars Marion Davies.
Question 12
Which leading silent comedy star headlines "The Extra Girl"âa title that sounds one audition away from chaos?
Answer: Mabel Normand
"The Extra Girl" stars Mabel Normand.
Question 13
True or false: "Cops" is a 1922 Buster Keaton short, proving even the title wastes no time.?
Answer: True
"Cops" is a 1922 Buster Keaton short.
Hard Silent Film Trivia
14 questions
These hard Silent Film trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
Which filmmaker directed the 1920 race-film landmark "Within Our Gates"?
Answer: Oscar Micheaux directed "Within Our Gates."
"Within Our Gates" was directed by Oscar Micheaux.
Question 2
Oscar Micheaux directed which silent feature centered on the title "The Symbol of the Unconquered"?
Answer: "The Symbol of the Unconquered."
Oscar Micheaux directed "The Symbol of the Unconquered.".
Question 3
Who directed the Japanese silent film "A Page of Madness"?
Answer: Teinosuke Kinugasa directed "A Page of Madness."
"A Page of Madness" was directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa.
Question 4
If youâre watching "Dragnet Girl," whose direction are you seeing?
Answer: YasujirĆ Ozu.
The director of "Dragnet Girl" is YasujirĆ Ozu.
Question 5
In Japanâs silent era, what were the live narrators who often accompanied screenings called?
Answer: They were called benshi.
Silent-film screenings in Japan often featured live benshi narrators.
Question 6
Which director made "The Passion of Joan of Arc"?
Answer: Carl Theodor Dreyer directed "The Passion of Joan of Arc."
"The Passion of Joan of Arc" was directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer.
Question 7
Abel Gance directed which epic silent film about the French leader named in its title?
Answer: "Napoléon."
"Napoléon" was directed by Abel Gance.
Question 8
Which Abel Gance silent feature is not "Napoléon" but "La Roue"?
Answer: "La Roue."
"La Roue" was directed by Abel Gance.
Question 9
Name both credited directors of "The Golem: How He Came into the World."?
Answer: Paul Wegener and Carl Boese.
"The Golem: How He Came into the World" was directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese.
Question 10
Fritz Lang directed which silent film titled "Destiny"?
Answer: "Destiny."
The director of "Destiny" was Fritz Lang.
Question 11
Who directed "Dr. Mabuse the Gambler"?
Answer: Fritz Lang directed "Dr. Mabuse the Gambler."
"Dr. Mabuse the Gambler" was directed by Fritz Lang.
Question 12
"The Last Laugh" is associated with which director?
Answer: F. W. Murnau.
F. W. Murnau is the director of "The Last Laugh.".
Question 13
Who directed the city-symphony documentary "Man with a Movie Camera"?
Answer: Dziga Vertov directed "Man with a Movie Camera."
"Man with a Movie Camera" was directed by Dziga Vertov.
Question 14
The famous Odessa Steps sequence belongs to which silent film?
Answer: "Battleship Potemkin."
The Odessa Steps sequence appears in "Battleship Potemkin.".
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