What would you do?

I was at my in-laws for family game night on Sunday. Derek and his dad are VERY competitive. There is a dispute on who won one of the games. I want an outsiders option on an issue we had. We were playing a game called movie Sence It Movies. If you have never played there are card questions and DVD questions or puzzles. We were on an All Play to win, this is where the roller has entered the winners circle and a question or puzzle is put up and if the roller is the first to answer correctly they win. It was a Spellbinder- like in Wheel of Fortune only the letters are filled in slowly by the game. The roller said Cider House Rules at the same time another player said The Cider House Rules. The roller was told they were incorrect as THE was up on the screen and not a part of their answer. Someone else ended up winning the game and the roller was in a sad sad mood. My question for you is how would you have made the call? Would you say the roller had it even though they left the THE out or the other player?