General Knowledge Quiz

[Gloster]

Which character drove a Hirondel, sometimes given as Hirondelle, in his heyday?

 

[Ashley Hill]

That would be Simon Templar.

 

[Gloster]

That would be Simon Templar.

Indeed. The Saint, as he is better known.

Your chance to be the new Robin Hood.

 

[Ashley Hill]

In the books The Saint (Simon Templar) drove a Hirondel,which cars did he drive in the two television versions?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

One of them, as driven by Roger Moore in his TV portrayal as the "Saint" in the 1960s, was a sporty white Volvo, although I'm guessing that this is possibly not quite enough detail for the purposes of the question.

 

[341o2]

Actually, in the books, the Saint had several cars. The Saint sometimes tricked Claud Eustace Teal of Scotland Yard by having Patricia Holm or Orace behind the wheel of one as a decoy.
Roger Moore drove a Volvo P1800 coupe, while Ian Ogilvy had a Jaguar XJS Coupe.
Both cars were registered ST1, but did they carry the registration in real life, regarding the Roger Moore series, you will observe the same street scene set with minor alterations in several episodes

 

[Ashley Hill]

Actually, in the books, the Saint had several cars. The Saint sometimes tricked Claud Eustace Teal of Scotland Yard by having Patricia Holm or Orace behind the wheel of one as a decoy.
Roger Moore drove a Volvo P1800 coupe, while Ian Ogilvy had a Jaguar XJS Coupe.
Both cars were registered ST1, but did they carry the registration in real life, regarding the Roger Moore series, you will observe the same street scene set with minor alterations in several episodes

I’m not overly familiar with the books but I like both tv series. You are correct about the cars so your turn to don the halo!

 

[341o2]

When Roger Moore played James Bond, I felt the films had a hint of the silly season, and bore very little resemblance to Fleming's novels.
What was the original plot of Moonraker as written by Fleming?

 

[Gloster]

When Roger Moore played James Bond, I felt the films had a hint of the silly season, and bore very little resemblance to Fleming's novels.
What was the original plot of Moonraker as written by Fleming?

A German ‘werewolf’ type masquerading as a successful British businessman is going to get a rocket to launch from the Deal area, but unbeknown to others he is programming it to hit London. There is also a lengthy card game.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

When Roger Moore played James Bond, I felt the films had a hint of the silly season, and bore very little resemblance to Fleming's novels.
What was the original plot of Moonraker as written by Fleming?

A German trying to get revenge. Bond even calls Drax - kraut at one point.

 

[341o2]

That is the story. Bond is introduced to Drax who is cheating at cards to smoke him out.
Bond is then sent undercover to the Moonraker launching site (and this was a rocket fired at a target, nothing to do with outer space), to investigate (from memory) possible espionage.
While there, he meets Gala Brand, another undercover agent, who is acting as Drax's secretary. It is she who discovers the change in the giro compass settings, which means that Moonraker will now land in London with consequent devastation.
Drax discovers who Bond and Gala are, and reveals who he is, a German, admitted to hospital during the war, and in the confusion found it easy to change his identity. He went in as Drache, a German citizen, and left as Drax, a British citizen. Now, he can take his revenge on the nation he hates.
Bond and Gala are tied to chairs by wire, Bond baits Drax to make him lose his temper, and gets beaten up, so Drax overlooks a blowtorch, by which means they escape. Drax then orders steam cleaning of the area to parboil them, and force them to surrender. They resist the pain, and manage to alter the giro compass settings. Moonraker lands in the sea.
Bond doesn't get the girl, as when they have recovered, Gala reveals that she is promised to another, and they go their own ways.

As Gloster was first, with most of the story, the floor passes to you.

 

[Gloster]

The pre-credit sequence of the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, also starring Roger Moore, has ‘Bond’ skiing off a cliff top and then… I will stop there to maintain the suspense for anyone who hasn’t yet seen it. It was set in Austria, but was filmed on Mount Asgard. Where is Mount Asgard?

 

[DaleCooper]

The pre-credit sequence of the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, also starring Roger Moore, has ‘Bond’ skiing off a cliff top and then… I will stop there to maintain the suspense for anyone who hasn’t yet seen it. It was set in Austria, but was filmed on Mount Asgard. Where is Mount Asgard?

Sounds Scandinavian - Norway?

 

[yoyothehobo]

Its in Nunavat in Canada. Doesnt it have the record for the mountain with the largest vertical free fall possible or something like that (actually that is Mount Thor, also on Baffin Island)

 

[Gloster]

Its in Nunavat in Canada. Doesnt it have the record for the mountain with the largest vertical free fall possible or something like that (actually that is Mount Thor, also on Baffin Island)

Correct.

Your turn.

 

[yoyothehobo]

Correct.

Your turn.

Continuing the Bond theme, in Casino Royale an Aston Martin DBS set the world record for Car Cannon Rolls, where in the real world was the record set?

 

[millemille]

Continuing the Bond theme, in Casino Royale an Aston Martin DBS set the world record for Car Cannon Rolls, where in the real world was the record set?

I'd guess at the Millbrook proving ground?

 

[yoyothehobo]

I'd guess at the Millbrook proving ground?

Yes, James Bond taking on his most dangerous assignment yet in deepest darkest Bedfordshire.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to pose a new question

 

[millemille]

Ok, continuing the film automotive theme.

What film ended on cliffhanger in a Bedford VAL 14 rolling chassis with Harrington Legionnaire bodywork?

 

[yoyothehobo]

Got to be the Italian Job

 

[millemille]

Got to be the Italian Job

Too easy!

 

[yoyothehobo]

Too easy!

If i see this sign, where am i going

 

[Peterthegreat]

Stonehenge?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Santiago de Compostela

 

[yoyothehobo]

Santiago de Compostela

Correct, your path to set

 

[SuspectUsual]

What was Capability Brown's real first name?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What was Capability Brown's real first name?

Lancelot.


I knew all those history documentaries would come in useful at some point!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Lancelot.


I knew all those history documentaries would come in useful at some point!

Indeed it was.

Your turn to design a question

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thank you; I'll plant another gardening question:

".... .........., Grandfather, father and son."

What is the name represented by the dots - and why do the three generations appear after the name?

 

[xotGD]

Alan Titchmarsh.