DAILY DIRT: Flynn, Eastwood, Pacino lead medal-worthy male movie stars

From “They Died With Their Boots On” to “Say Hello to My Little Friend,” these giants of the silver screen represent the best of the best … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 810 of The Daily Dirt.

1. If you’re regular reader of The Daily Dirt, I’m sure you’re aware of how much this space enjoys discussing, in no particular order, movies, TV, sports and music.

Today the main topic deals with the film genre, specifically our favorite all-time actors. Admittedly, my preferences regularly change — except for the top of the order. Here’s my picks for the most medal-worthy male movie stars in cinematic history:

Gold medal: Errol Flynn. Movie aficionados can only wonder if Flynn had lived past age 50 what he might have accomplished, but in his short life he is credited with more than a dozen bona fide classics. Flynn was equally at home as a swashbuckler, war hero or deputy sheriff, and for the better part of two decades was he king of action films and his status as a Hollywood heartthrob was, according to reports of the day, unmatched.

To this day, Flynn’s films rank among the most popular on cable outlets. It’s easy to understand why.

Best Flynn films

• 1. “They Died With Their Boots On” (1941): This marked the eighth and final pairing of Flynn and another Hollywood legend, Olivia de Havilland. While it offers a highly fictionalized account of the life and death of Gen. George Armstrong Custer, it is considered the most entertaining account of the battle of The Little Big Horn. The film also boasts a memorable soundtrack, fueled by the equally legendary song “Gary Owen”.
• 2. “The Sea Hawk” (1940): This much-ballyhooed film earned four Oscar nominations. It was one of Flynn’s best sword-and-sea efforts, and is still considered one of the best action films of all-time. Flynn portrayed English pirate Geoffrey Thorpe. (I named my son, Geoff, after this Flynn character.)
• 3. “Dodge City” (1939): Flynn, who was Australian (complete with the accent), was said to have never felt comfortable with his western roles. It never showed onscreen. Some of his finest performances were with the wild west as a backdrop. Flynn played Sheriff Wade Hatton in this memorable flick. 

Silver medal: Clint Eastwood. For the boomers reading this, I’m sure you remember Eastwood’s first big break came as Rowdy Yates in the TV western “Rawhide”.

Best Eastwood films

• 1. “Dirty Harry” (1971): Go ahead, make Harry Callahan’s day. 
• 2.“The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976): Clint the Squint basically reinvented the western genre in the 1970s, and this was arguably his best effort as The Man With No Name. 
• 3. “Bridges of Madison County” (1995): A softer, gentler Clint Eastwood. Before I originally saw this film, I was sure I would not like it. Boy, was I wrong.

Bronze medal: Al Pacino. Pacino established himself as a film actor during one of cinema’s most vibrant decades, the 1970s, and has become an enduring and iconic figure in the world of American movies.

Best Pacino films

• 1. “The Godfather” (1972) and “The Godfather Part II” (1974): Not only a great original, but an equally riveting sequel.
• 2. “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975): One of the most violent gangster-type films I have ever watched. Pacino was prefect for it.
• 3. “Scarface” (1983): Say hello to my little friend.

2. The Great Plate Debate of 2023 is nearing the finish line and BE A BETH looks impossible to dethrone.

Here is this year’s penultimate ranking of the top license plates in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri:

Gold medal: BE A BETH. 

Silver medal: APPEAL. 

Bronze medal: FUSEBOX. 

(2022 champion: IMDUMB)

The best of the rest over the past week:

• SXY LXI
• CHIC-S
• DANCE-3
• HIS HER 1
• LOU 83
• SLD 1
• JAMS 27

3. Here’s our updated NFL rankings heading into the weekend:

• 1. San Francisco (10-3): Is Brock Purdy the leading NFL MVP candidate?
• 2. Dallas (10-3): … or is it Zak Prescott?
• 3. Baltimore (10-3): Ravens now eyeing No. 1 AFC seed in postseason.
• 4. Philadelphia (10-3): Two straight losses. Is a collapse imminent?
• 5. Miami (9-4): How healthy is The Cheetah?

This week’s marquee matchups:

(Sunday) Dallas (10-3) at Buffalo (7-6): This isn’t your typical Jerry Jones team in Dallas. This year’s Cowboys are proving they can actually win important games. Prediction: Dallas 35, Buffalo 17. This game has the feeling of a rout, barring one of those Buffalo blizzards that could affect how this game would have to be played.

(Sunday) Chicago (5-8) at Cleveland (8-5): If I had listed six teams in the above rankings, the Browns would have held that position. The Joe Flacco saga might be the story of the year in the NFL. Prediction: Cleveland 31, Chicago 14. Browns hold on to the No. 1 wild card spot.

(Sunday night) Baltimore (10-3) at Jacksonville (8-5): If Trevor Lawrence is healthy, and with the Jaguars playing at home, this game has all the earmarks of an unexpected outcome. Prediction: Baltimore 24, Jacksonville 21. I’m just not sure Lawrence will be 100 percent from that ankle injury by Sunday night. 

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Have you ever been to Buffalo in December? I have. It’s not pretty.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Yeah, Steve, like Cleveland in December is tropical.