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About This Quiz
Stanley Kubrick's classic comedy, "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," stars the great Peter Sellers in three hilarious roles. How much do you remember about this 1964 political satire?
Where are the Russians developing their doomsday device?
Outside Moscow
Atsolov Island
Zhokhov Island
The Russians have an establishment on Zhokhov Island where they are developing the super-bomb they call the doomsday device. Yes, it's a real place, located in the East Siberian Sea, in an area about as remote as you can get.
The Philippines
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Which of these roles does Peter Sellers not play?
Dr. Strangelove
Major King Kong
Sellers does not play Major King Kong, pilot of the B-52 bomber where much of the movie is set. That role went to Slim Pickens.
President Merkin Muffley
Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
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What unusual order does General Ripper give to Captain Mandrake for Burpelson Air Force Base?
Everyone should abandon their positions and go to a bunker immediately.
Man the antiaircraft guns because a Russian invasion is expected.
Seal the base and confiscate all civilian radios.
The first sign that something is amiss with General Jack D. Ripper comes when he issues an order that the base be sealed off and all non-military radios be confiscated. Despite his protests, Captain Mandrake eventually complies with the strange demand.
Gather all the weapons and lock them in a contained room.
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What is the Airborne Alert Force?
A fleet of nuclear-armed aircraft that maintain a constant presence in the sky
The Airborne Alert Force consists of a fleet of B-52 bombers that carry nuclear weapons, as well as other bombs. They patrol the skies at all times so that bombers are never more than two hours from Russia, in case trouble arises.
A code name for the Russian Air Force
A code name for Burpelson Air Force Base
General Ripper's personal fighter jet
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What do the movie's characters call the Russians?
Moscovites
Vodka swillers
Commies
Russkies
During the Cold War, the word Russkie became a common term for Russian people. Pronounced "Rooskie," it was considered by some to be derogatory.
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What is General Buck Turgidson doing when he is informed of Gen. Ripper's order to attack Russia?
He is with his girlfriend.
General Turgidson seems more interested in his affair with his secretary, Miss Scott, than taking care of urgent military business. He is lounging with her, both wearing swim wear, when he gets word that an order to bomb Russia has been issued.
He is meeting with the President.
He is on his way to a meeting in Moscow.
He is inspecting his troops at Fort Knox.
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What is the "R" in Wing Attack Plan R?
Ronald
Russia
Robert
The R stands for Robert. Why? Who knows?
Ringleader
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Which of these is not one of General Ripper's three rules his men are to follow if the enemy attacks the base?
Shoot first and ask questions later.
Trust no one unless you know him personally.
Fire on anyone or anything that approaches within 200 yards.
Protect him at any and all costs.
General Ripper is less concerned about casualties than he is about making sure the base is not breached in any way. If that means firing indiscriminately, so be it.
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Why does Mandrake doubt the claim that a Russian attack is underway?
He calls the Pentagon and they know nothing about it.
He finds a radio and it is playing music rather than news.
Although Ripper has commanded that all civilian radios be confiscated, Mandrake finds one that was missed. When he notes that a normal music program is being broadcast, he assumes that if a Russian attack really was underway, the radio would be playing news coverage of the situation.
He sees nothing on the base's radar screens.
Peace talks seem to be going well.
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What is Ripper's preferred drink?
Gin and tonic
Bourbon and branch water
Grain alcohol and rain water
Ripper is an eccentric guy, no doubt about it, and a man's man, too. His favorite alcoholic beverage is grain alcohol mixed with rain water.
Scotch and soda
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Who briefs President Muffley about the situation regarding Ripper's order to attack Russia?
General Turgidson
General Turgidson manages to tear himself away from his girlfriend long enough to take care of a little business. He joins the President and his top military advisors in the war room to let them know about Ripper's order and the current status of the situation.
Colonel Bat Guano
Captain Mandrake
Dr. Strangelove
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What does Ripper think the Russians are adding to the water to pollute Americans' bodily fluids?
Arsenic
Fluoride
Clearly insane, Ripper tells Mandrake that the Russians are using fluoride to taint the water in the United States. He believes this is a plot to pollute Americans' bodily fluids.
Lead
White grape juice
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What is required to counter Rippert's command and stop the attack on Russia?
A special key, the location of which is known only to Rippert
A retinal scan of the President of the United States
The signatures of the President, Vice-President and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
A three-digit code known only to Ripper
Part of Plan R includes disabling communication with the bombers once the command is given. The only way to restore communication is the use of a three-digit code, but Ripper is the only one who knows it and he refuses to tell anyone else, so there is no way to tell the pilots to call off the mission.
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Who interrupts General Turgidson with a phone call during his meeting with the President and the military command?
Miss Scott
Miss Scott, the general's very needy secretary and girlfriend, doesn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation. She's lonely and calls her man to find out when he'll be coming home.
General Ripper
Captain Mandrake
Major King Kong
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A surprise visitor is admitted to the war room during the critical discussion about the impending attack. Who is it?
Miss Scott
The First Lady
The Russian ambassador
During this most sensitive meeting, the Russian ambassador is invited to the war room for a briefing. Of course, he takes advantage of the situation by subtly taking photos of the room, including the top secret maps that line the walls.
A White House butler
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What is the name of the Russian premier in the film?
Alexei de Sadeski
Dimitri Kissov
Although he doesn't appear in the film, Russian Premier Dmitri Kissov is an important character. President Muffley carries on a long conversation with him during the most pivotal moments of the impending attack, and he is one of many characters with names that are plays on words.
Boris Vodkafan
Vladimir Prutin
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What happens when the U.S. Army tries to enter the base to stop Ripper's attack on Russia?
They are met by nuclear war protesters outside the perimeter.
They are fired upon by those inside the base.
Ripper has given orders for his troops to shoot first and ask questions later. They are nothing if not obedient, so when U.S. troops approach, they are subjected to heavy fire, even though they are on the same side as those inside the compound.
Fighter jets fly overhead and bomb them.
Those inside the base open the gates and let them in since they are Americans troops.
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Why can't Mandrake do anything to stop the fighting as U.S. troops try to storm the base?
He does not know the proper code to call a halt to the shooting.
He is unconscious.
He is British, so no one will listen to him.
He is locked in a room with Ripper.
When the U.S. troops inside and outside the base perimeter begin firing at each other, Mandrake is powerless to do anything. Ripper, whose mental state is deteriorating rapidly, has locked the two of them in his office and all communications have been severed.
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Why does the Russian ambassador warn the President to be careful when talking to the Russian premier?
He might be drunk.
The Russians are known for loving their vodka, and apparently the premier is no different. As he is about the make the critical call to Moscow, the ambassador gives President Muffley a heads up that his boss might be drunk.
The phones might be tapped.
The premier has trouble understanding English.
The premier is easily angered.
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How do the people gathered in the war room get the phone number for the Central Air Defense Headquarters?
They call the CIA.
They ask the President's secretary.
They call information.
Apparently the President's Rolodex isn't quite complete. Trying desperately to come up with a plan, the assembled leaders want to place a call to the headquarters of the Central Air Defense, but no one knows the number. No problem, just call information.
They get it from the Russian ambassador.
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What will trigger the Russians' doomsday device?
A nuclear attack on Russia
In the midst of the crisis, the Americans learn that the Russians have created a secret doomsday device. No order is needed to set it off. The series of deadly bombs is programmed to detonate automatically in the event of a nuclear attack on Russia.
An order from the Russian premier
A three-digit code known only to the premier
The presence of American aircraft within Russian air space
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What will happen if the doomsday device goes off?
A nuclear attack will be launched on the United States.
All human and plant life on earth will be destroyed.
The powerful doomsday device will spread a radioactive shroud all across the globe. Within two months, all human and plant life will die.
A major bombing attack will be launched on Europe.
All Russians will move to secure underground facilities.
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What makes Ripper think the Russians are tampering with the water?
He has never seen a Russian drink water.
As he becomes completely unhinged, Ripper shares more information with Mandrake about his wild conspiracy theory. He believes the Russians are using fluoride to tamper with the water in the U.S. and his only source of evidence is that he never sees Russians drinking water.
He has seen a classified report.
He overheard a conversation between two Russian generals.
He saw it in a dream.
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Why won't the Russians try to stop the doomsday device?
They want to destroy the world.
They don't have the proper code.
It would take too long.
It is set to detonate immediately if anyone tampers with it.
The Russian premier and ambassador would like to stop the impending implosion of the device, but their hands seem to be tied. In a pretty serious design flaw, its creators have set it to detonate immediately if anyone tries to dismantle it or tamper with it in any way. Oops.
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Why do the Russians think the Americans are working on a doomsday device of their own?
They read it in the New York Times.
Who needs spies when you can just get a newspaper subscription? When the ambassador reveals that the Russians are under the impression that the U.S. is also creating a doomsday device, he is asked why they think that. The answer? "We read it in the New York Times."
They got the information from a KGB operative.
They misunderstood something the President said.
They have photos of what they think is a secret nuclear facility.
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What does the billboard at Burpelson Air Force Base say?
Peace in our Time
Peace be with You
Peace in our Profession
There is a large billboard at Burpelson that is the focus of attention during the battle between the troops inside the base and those trying to get in. It reads Peace in our Profession. Ah, the irony!
Give Peace a Chance
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What is Mandrake's role in helping Rippert as the general fires on troops outside the building?
He covers him with a semiautomatic machine gun.
He holds a spotlight so the general can see better.
He uses a megaphone to warn the opposing troops to disperse.
He feeds him a string of bullets from a large belt.
When Ripper grabs a large gun and begins firing on his own troops, Mandrake has little choice but to help him because they are locked in a room together. His assigned role is to hold a large, heavy belt containing ammunition and feed the bullets to Ripper's gun.
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What happens to General Ripper?
He shoots himself.
As things deteriorate rapidly, with troops closing in on their location, Ripper surprises Mandrake when he goes into the bathroom and calmly prepares to shave. Moments later, a shot rings out and Mandrake finds that Ripper has committed suicide.
He is captured by the Russians.
He escapes and is never found.
He runs outside and is killed by friendly fire.
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With official communications within the building cut off, how does Mandrake get in touch with the President?
He uses a field radio borrowed from the troops who have broken into the base.
He uses a pay phone.
With few options left, Mandrake finds a pay phone in the hallway and places a call to the President, but he runs into a problem. It's a long distance call and he runs out of change, so he convinces a soldier to shoot open a nearby Coke machine, which yields enough cash to complete his mission.
He finds a CB radio.
He uses a carrier pigeon.
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Why doesn't King Kong turn his plane back once the bombing mission is aborted?
He really wants to drop a bomb on Russia.
He misreads the coded message he receives and thinks the mission is still on.
It's too late; he has already dropped his bomb.
The communication system on his plane has been destroyed
Kong is not able to learn about the aborted mission because an earlier missile attack has seriously damaged his plane, knocking out the communication system and leaving him unable to receive any messages at all.
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Why can't Kong reach his primary bombing target?
His plane doesn't have enough fuel.
The missile that hit Kong's plane isn't his only problem. He is also running dangerously low on fuel and realizes he does not have enough to reach his designated target, so he chooses one that is closer.
His bomb is set with a timing device that will go off too soon.
His navigation system is damaged and he doesn't know where he is.
The Russians have closed and destroyed the facility he was slated to hit.
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What song plays during the team's attempt to open the plane's damaged bomb bay doors?
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
When the bomb bay doors are jammed from the missile damage, the crew tries desperately to open them and free the bomb. During the scene, the classic Civil War song, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, plays loudly.
My Old Kentucky Home
To Russia with Love
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What happens when the bomb bay doors finally open?
The bomb explodes and blows the plane out of the air.
The bomb drops, but fails to explode.
Kong rides the bomb out of the plane and to its destination.
When his crew is unable to pry the doors open, King Kong leaves the cockpit and tries to help. In the process, he straddles the bomb and when the doors finally open, he rides it like a horse, whooping like a rodeo rider as he descends.
The bomb is released but two of the crew members also fall from the plane.
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What physical affliction does Dr. Strangelove have?
A mechanical arm
Not only is Dr. Strangelove in a wheelchair, he has a mechanical arm with a mind of its own. As he talks with the President and military leaders, he struggles mightily to keep it under control.
A missing leg
A terrible speech impediment
A twitch that alternates between his eyes
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Where does Dr. Strangelove propose sending people to start a new civilization?
Caves in Afghanistan
The North Pole
Mine shafts
Dr. Strangelove thinks it will be possible to preserve the human race by sending about 700,000 people into mine shafts to live and reproduce over the course of about a century. General Turgidson is anxious to volunteer when he learns that there would be many more women than men, giving him a wide variety of sexual partners to impregnate.
A series of bunkers under Washington, D.C.
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