Can You Name These Great '70s Movies Characters from a Single Sentence?

By: John Miller
Image: Zanuck/Brown Productions

About This Quiz

The '70s gave rise to many one-off Oscar winners and movie franchises that have stood the test of time. Those movies generated some of the greatest characters of the 20th century -- can you name these '70s heroes from a short description?

In "Star Wars," which character pilots an X-Wing fighter and blasts a gigantic weapon called the Death Star to bits?

Do or do not. There is no "try." Luke Skywalker learns to control his anger, harnesses the Force and finds a way to bring the Galactic Empire to its knees in "Star Wars."

Who is the fierce warrior who splatters extraterrestrials in every direction in "Alien"?

Sigourney Weaver makes gunpowder mascara look good. As Ellen Ripley, she wields enormous weapons and sends nightmarish "Alien" beings to early graves.

Who is the incompetent commander of the 4077th in "M.A.S.H."?

Let's face it, Henry Blake isn't cut out to be a commander of a M.A.S.H. unit in Korea. It's a good thing he has Radar around to keep things under control.

In "Jaws," who is the police chief who hunts a man-eating great white shark off the New England coast?

After a fatal shark attack, Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) closes the local beach and sets out to catch the shark before it hurts someone else. Brody's strong presence made "Jaws" a phenomenon.

In "Superman," who is the bumbling guy who miraculously transforms into a superhero?

In 1978, kryptonite became a household name thanks to the blockbuster movie "Superman." Turns out, Clark Kent's klutzy nature is just a cover for his secret Superman identity.

Which character uses his religion to battle a demon in "The Exorcist"?

In "The Exorcist," Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) realizes that a little girl is possessed by a demon. The priest takes on the monster but soon realizes that he's in over his head.

Who is the high schooler who falls in love with Sandy Olsson in "Grease"?

John Travolta plays the part of Danny Zuko in "Grease," and he's sure that he'll see Sandy again in the future. Turns out, he's right! She moves from Australia and unknowingly enrolls in Danny's school.

In "Taxi Driver," who is the character who takes up a nighttime taxi job in part to deal with his insomnia?

Travis Bickle is a war veteran who just can't sleep at night, so he starts driving a taxi at night. But nothing goes right for him, and his life devolves into a nightmare that he can't wake up from.

In "The Godfather," Marlon Brando is the Don of a major crime family. What's his character's name?

Brando shines as Vito Corleone, the ruthless crime boss who rules the New York underworld. He must somehow survive a gang war that erupts in 1945.

He's a poor Philadelphia boxer who gets a chance to fight for the heavyweight championship. He's ____.

Sylvester Stallone didn't just take the starring role in "Rocky," he also wrote the script for this epic sports flick. In doing so, he created one of the most famous characters of the 20th century.

Who is the black sheriff in the Old West comedy "Blazing Saddles"?

Actor Cleavon Little produced roars with his portrayal of Sheriff Bart, who isn't exactly welcomed with open arms on the frontier. But Bart is smarter than the town full of Johnsons.

Which nutty character did Jack Nicholson play in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"?

After serving part of a prison sentence for statutory rape, Randle McMurphy winds up at a mental institution. It's not long before he's plotting to escape the facility, which he fears will make him crazier than he already is.

Which character sets off to find a deranged Army Special Forces man named Colonel Kurtz who is hiding in the jungles of Cambodia in "Apocalypse Now"?

In this terrifying war drama, Martin Sheen is Captain Benjamin L. Willard, who is given the unenviable task of hunting down a crazed American deep in the heart of the jungle. Eventually, Willard must face fear on every psychological level.

Which character jumps to hyperspace in the Millennium Falcon in "Star Wars"?

Luke Skywalker is the introspective one -- Han Solo is a man of action. In "Star Wars," he zooms around in the Falcon dodging Empire fighters and rescuing princesses.

Which character takes on all comers using his martial arts skills in "The Way of the Dragon"?

In "The Way of the Dragon," legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee punches and kicks his way across the screen as Tang Lung. Lee also directed this film.

Who is the masked killer who goes on a rampage in the terrifying film "Halloween"?

John Carpenter's low-budget blockbuster "Halloween" made the white-masked maniac Michael Myers one of the most famous stars of the '70s. Myers never said a word during his scenes, and to scare people, he didn't have to.

In "Star Wars," which character is a committed mouth breather?

With his swooping black cape and red lightsaber, Darth Vader casts a menacing shadow across the face of humanity, in part due to his heavy mouth breathing. Somebody give the guy some nasal spray.

Who is the hard-nosed detective who stars in the crime flick "Dirty Harry"?

Clint Eastwood cut his teeth on Westerns and then morphed into a city cop for "Dirty Harry." He's Harry Callahan, who often faces off with criminals and says, "Go ahead, make my day."

Which gritty "Taxi Driver" character shaves his hair into a mohawk and plots to assassinate a U.S. Senator?

Traumatized by war, Travis Bickle struggles with reality in New York City, and at his lowest point, he plots to kill a politician. In the end, he somehow survives the madness and doesn't even wind up in jail.

What's the name of the lead character (played by Robert De Niro) in the traumatic film "The Deer Hunter"?

In "The Deer Hunter," De Niro is Mike Vronsky, a young Pennsylvania native who is about to be shipped off to the Vietnam War. He and his friends will be forever scarred by the war.

Who is the female character Rocky pines for in "Rocky"?

"Yo, Adrian!" In a movie filled with memorable scenes, it's that two-word phrase that makes it really easy to remember Rocky's love interest.

In "Deliverance," Jon Voight plays the part of _____, who goes canoeing down a Georgia river with three friends, some of whom don't survive a violent confrontation with well-armed hillbillies.

In "Deliverance," Voight is Ed Gentry, who paddles down a beautiful river right into the ugly black heart of human nature. "Squeal like a pig," indeed.

What's the name of the oppressive character who is hellbent on controlling mental patients in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"?

Actress Louise Fletcher's passive-aggressive character Nurse Ratched might be beautiful, but she's got an evil streak that's a mile wide. She's a relentlessly controlling personality who dehumanizes the patients in her care.

Who is an older woman that passes on her zest for life to a young man named Harold?

In "Harold and Maude," the latter is a Nazi concentration camp survivor who embraces each day as it comes. She passes on her love of life to a death-obsessed kid named Harold.

Which possessed character projectile vomits all over the place in "The Exorcist"?

In one of the most disturbing child roles ever, Linda Blair is Regan, who is possessed by a demon. Controlled by the creature, Regan vomits pea soup all over her bedroom and causes permanent trauma to moviegoers everywhere.

In "The Godfather Part II," Al Pacino plays a mobster named _____.

Actor Al Pacino took the "Godfather" franchise to new heights thanks to his masterful performance as Michael Corleone. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

In "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," what's the name of the character who is driven to see UFOs?

Roy Neary is a utility worker who can't get UFOs out of his mind in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." He's filled with awe when his dream comes true.

In "Animal House," which character is the leader of the gross, drunken Delta Tau Chi house?

John Belushi stars as John "Bluto" Blutarsky in "Animal House." Bluto is the guy who spends his days drinking instead of going to class … and then the hijinks commence.

What's the name of Woody Allen's character in 1977's "Annie Hall"?

Allen is Max Singer, a comedian searching for answers to a failed relationship. The acclaimed film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

What's the name of the character who engages in "ultra-violence" in "A Clockwork Orange"?

In Stanley Kubrick's twisted "A Clockwork Orange," Alex is a crazed young man who goes a drug-fueled rampage. But he gets caught and he's subjected to terrifying behavioral modification techniques.

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