The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep

On 30 July this year, two world-famous filmmakers passed away. Who were these two? (Easy!). Each attempted to capitalize on earlier successes by producing films with Hollywood stars. Which director worked with which star on which film? (Medium!). One of the directors was nominated for the Best Director Oscar three times, the other only once. Who is who and for which films? (Difficult). Bonus Points: Which director do you think was best and why? (no right answer but good arguments will be duly noted).

Here's another one.

This American Indian tribe was the first to fly its own flag and since the 1970s has been one of the nation's wealthiest tribes, but the majority of its income does not come from a casino. During the 1840s this tribe donated the equivalent in today's money of one million dollars to Irish Famine relief. Today the tribe has nearly zero unemployment and employs workers in a foreign country.

1. What is the tribe's name?
2. In which US states is it located?
2. What is its source of income?

E) Antonioni and Bergman
H) Antonioni for Blow Up, Bergman for 7th Seal, Wild Strawberries and ?
B) Bergman was more important b/c he offered a philosophy and moral code where Antonioni was more bleak.

Yes, Antonioni and Bergman. James is right that Antonioni was nominated for Blowup, however Bergman was not nominated for Seventh Seal or Wild Strawberries.

But who is more bleak? Bergman seems to have us forsaken (by god?) whereas with Antononio maybe we have just lost our way, alienated?

Antonioni (not antononio which sounds like a Shakespearean character).

1. Navajo
2. Arizona, New Mexico
3. Peyote, no wait....lapis lazuli.

We still need movies with Hollywood stars and other Best Director nominated films. But I'm going to bed...it's been a long week. See you in the antipodean AM...

Nix on Navajo.

Did I forget to mention the prizes?

First prize is a napkin drawing of the tribe's insignia in authentic BIC.
Second prize is a replica lump of earth from the tribe's sacred site.
Third prize is we all post quiz quesions this week and Bill has to answer them. Only he is disqualified from guessing at mine due to fine print contest rules.

1. Hopi
2. Oklahoma
3. oil

Jonathan is right about Oklahoma. It's one of 3 states where the tribe's member bands have headquarters. But the major income-generating center is in another state.

Pequot
Connecticut
Gambling?

Bill, I apologize - I'm one of those too many missed calls. Will get on it asap!

Der, it does help to read the questions before answering. I'll go with
Inuit
Alaska
oil

not yet

1. Cherokee
2. also NC
3. silver

Cherokee is close.

Apache

Nobody likes my questions, eh? Here's some clues: Both of the Hollywood actors (arguably) had their heyday in the 1970s, though both are still working today, one can still (easily) "carry" a picture but the other is now a well-known character actor.

Antonioni...Travolta? Bergman...Death?

As for Shananan's -- she is right, the fine print on this one is clear. It's a great question, though. I hope somebody gets it!

Saturday Night Ennui? You are probably thinking of Blowout, the Brian Da Palma "homage" to Blowup that had Travolta as a B-movie sound recordist who possibly records a political murder. Not bad. But that's the closest that Travolta came to Antonioni. The star who worked with that director is possibly more famous...at least more respected as an actor.

The star who worked with Bergman is more identified with another (very famous)director who also passed away this year...

Altman? I can only think of Shelley Duvall. Was she also in 3 Women by... Bergman?

The tribe in question sided with the Conferacy during the Civil War.

The star had a leading part in 3 of Altman's films (and a cameo as himself in a fourth).

The star of the Antonioni film has won 3 oscars (best actor twice for a 1975 film and a 1997 film, and best supporting actor for a 1983 film). His costar in the Antonioni film is better known for another "scandalous" film.j

Confused yet?

1. Seminole.
2. Florida, Oklahoma and points in between.
3. Orchids

It's duelling guest quizmasters!

Tim Robbins? Probably not.

Jack Lemmon?

Elliot Frickin' Gould?

I give.
Here's a clue that may be NO Help At All, but a spooky coincidence:

A famous civil rights tragedy occurred on this tribe's reservation in the 1960s. Currently there's a headline-grabbing civil rights controversy centered in another state in a town that is home to, and shares the name of, a band of this same tribe.

Mississippi and Louisiana.
Chickasaw.
Shrimping.

Boxjam is burning right on both states.

Getting warmer on the tribe.

Yes, it is indeed Elliot frickin' Gould who starred in Bergman's (1971) The Touch, which was by all reports, a flop.

The star who worked for Antonioni in 1975 also acted in the role that won him his first best actor oscar, acting alongside future members of the cast of Taxi (in that other film).

Isn't that town in the news called Jena? But I've never heard of a tribe by that name....

We must be talking about Mississippi Burning events but this ol' Yankee don't know enough about the South...

Have y'all Wombatters struck out?

Chahta hopia hake!

Catawba.

Time to spill.

The Missisippi Choctaw came back from the verge of extinction — or Oklahoma — after the Trail of Tears. Part of the ancient Southern Cult confederacy of moundbuilders, they and the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole were dubbed the Five Civilized Tribes for their willingness to adopt white ways, including ownership of black slaves. Neverheless, they were exiled to Oklahoma, which never became the all-Indian state as promised. Those who returned to Mississippi became the poorest people in the poorest state in America.

In the 1970s an entrepreneurial chief turned their fortunes around by building an industrial park. Manufacturers were attracted to the low-cost labor, cheap rent and reservation tax breaks. The tribe now owns or manages several factories producing plastics, greeting cards, automotive electronics and a printing plant. They've partnered with NASA in a geo-imaging venture and employ tens of thousands of people (65% non-Choctaw) in Mississippi and Sonora, Mexico.

They do have 2 casinos, since the late 80s, but couldn't have built them without manufacturing money. Since the casinos compete with the Gulf Coast gambling boats, the tribe has also built a resort, golf course, water park, etc.

The Jena Choctaw are in Louisiana.

BTW, Wikipedia is not accurate on this story.

www.choctaw.org

Great double quiz, you guys! I knew about the Choctaw from an article some brilliant writer shared with me a long time ago.

Still mixed up on the Antonioni...Hoffman?

I suppose I could have tried to link the 2 quizzes, if I had gone one step further toward that other 1975 movie made by the star of the Antonioni flick....it featured future members of Taxi and a (largely non-speaking but key) role for a Native American actor....but let's forget about Cuckoo's Nest. The star was Jack Nicholson, the movie was The Passenger (aka Professione: Reporter). Not a bad film --though pretty slow (esp if you are not in the Antoni-ennui mood), also starring Maria Schneider of Last Tango fame.

For what it's worth, Bergman got his Best Director nominations for Cries and Whispers, Face to Face, and Fanny and Alexander. And David Carradine and Ingrid Bergman are other Hollywood stars who also worked with him (though after Eliott Gould did).

Thanks for playing.