DAILY DIRT: Movie fan? Here’s a great trivia question for you

I’d have to say the best combo of films among the ensuing six would be the “Godfather” spectacles … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 559 of The Daily Dirt.

1. If you’re a friend of mine, you know how much I love sports, TV and movies, not to mention the trivia that accompanies those items.

That’s why I found the following information about these major films so interesting.

Six actors/actresses have been nominated for Academy Awards for playing the same character twice. They are:

• Sylvester Stallone was nominated for launching the “Rocky” boxing franchise in 1976 and was nominated for the reboot, “Creed,” in 2015. He currently holds the record for most years (39) between nominations for portrayals of the same character. Both were great movies.
• Paul Newman had previously held that record when he played “Fast Eddie” Nelson in “The Hustler” (1961) and “The Color of Money” in 1986, a span of 25 years. He won the ’86 Oscar. Both of these were also great films, with Tom Cruise starring in the latter.
• Cate Blanchett was nominated for playing Queen Elizabeth I in “Elizabeth” (1998) and “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007). I’ve never seen either film. And let’s be honest, I probably never will.
• Al Pacino, who portrayed Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” (1972) and “The Godfather: Part II” in 1974. Has Al Pacino ever made a bad movie?
• Peter O’Toole was nominated for playing King Henry II in both “Becket (1964) and “The Lion in Winter” (1968). Yep, missed these two, too.
• Bing Crosby won the best actor Oscar for playing Fr. Chuck O’Malley in “Going My Way” (1944) and for reprising the role in “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945). Saw ’em both!!

2. Fun fact, football fans:

Over the past 30 years, the Green Bay Packers have had two starting quarterbacks, 15 years with Brett Favre and 15 years with Aaron Rodgers. 

The starting quarterback in 2023, however, will be Jordan love. Rodgers has moved on to the New York Jets (once the trade is finalized).

3. One of The Daily Dirt’s faithful followers, Stacey O’Brien, offered all this well-formed wisdom earlier in the week:

“I love how the first thing they do at the doctor’s office is weigh you. I was already nervous, now I’m depressed. Maybe next thing they can bring up something I regret from my past and really get this party started.”

Obviously, Stacey is an amazing woman.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — During this week in 1966 — 57 years ago — the top three songs in the country, according to the Billboard Hot 100, were “The Ballad of the Green Berets” (Sgt. Barry Sadler), “19th Nervous Breakdown” (Rolling Stones) and “These Boots are Made for Walkin'” (Nancy Sinatra). That is arguably the most interesting top three in the history of the Billboard charts — a member of the armed forces, the bad-boy Rolling Stones and the daughter of crooner Frank Sinatra.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He has never been nominated for an Oscar.