Trivia / Quiz Show

• Acclaimed Flop: The movie bombed at the box office, only bringing in $24.8 million on a $31 million budget, but it received high acclaim and was nominated for many film awards.
• Artistic License – History: The circumstance of Stempel's defeat here was simplified as opposed to being detailed. Stempel was to answer the question of who won the 1954 Best Picture Oscar which was "On the Waterfront." Stempel answered with "Marty" (the pinpoint of Stempel's ordered "dive"). In the movie, this is where Stempel's run came to an end. As it actually transpired, the game continued and ended in a tie which made the money in the next game worth $2500 per point difference. At the end of two questions for each, the scores are not made known to either contestant but whoever thinks they're ahead can choose to end the game. Charles Van Doren, ahead by an 18-10 score, chose to end the game and thus became the new champ.
• Box Office Bomb: Budget, $31 million. Box office, $24.8 million. It earned glowing reviews but its release topped out at 822 theaters.
• Completely Different Title: In Czech, the film was titled Otázky a odpovědi^note Questions and answers.
• The Danza: Martin Scorsese as Martin Rittenhome, especially as the latter is fictitious.
• Fake American: British actors Ralph Fiennes as Charles Van Doren and Paul Scofield as his father Mark Van Doren.
• What Could Have Been:
  • This was originally devised as a project for Richard Dreyfuss, with Harold Becker directing.
  • At one point, Steven Soderbergh was offered to direct with Tim Robbins starring as Charles Van Doren.
  • Christopher Eccleston auditioned for Charles Van Doren. William Baldwin was also considered.
  • Paul Newman turned down the part of Mark Van Doren.

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