From Mayberry to the Moon
Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon by Beverly Gray
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 12, 2003)
ISBN-10: 1558539700
Amazon: Product Description: Ron Howard: From Mayberry to the Moon and Beyond, the first full-length biography of Ron Howard, takes an in-depth look at the Oklahoma boy who gained national fame as a child star, then grew up to be one of Hollywood's most admired directors. Although many show biz kids founder as they approach adulthood, Ron Howard had the advantage of brains, common sense, and two down-to-earth parents who kept him from having an inflated view of his own accomplishments. He also had a longstanding goal: to trade the glare of the spotlight for a quieter but equally creative life behind the camera. This biography tracks his career from 1960, when he debuted as six-year-old Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show through 2002, when he accepted his Academy Award® as Best Director for A Beautiful Mind.
Throughout the book it's noted (sometimes jokingly, sometimes not) that Ron cannot seem to rid himself of people still calling him Opie.
Some of the movies I enjoyed that were Directed/ Produced by Ron:
Splash- 1984 .......
Cocoon - 1985........
Willow-1988 .......
Backdraft -1991 .....
Apollo 13-1995.......
The Chamber - 1996......
From the Earth to the Moon - 1998 (HBO).......
A Beautiful Mind - 2001...... (the book was written and ended here)
Cinderella Man -2005....... (since then.. Ron is still going strong!)
The DiVinci Code - 2006.
Considering that Rons career is far from over, this was a fairly good biography.
For the most part in books like this when they begin to make each movie an individual chapter it gets drawn out and not so interesting. (well.. if you've seen the movies a rehash isn't all you want to read) I'm guessing this book wasn't too boring because I did read it to the end.
I truly admire Ron's directing career... let's face it, .. he's good ! And I think he has a lot more in him before it's all over.
Yes, I did watch him as Opie, and as Richie Cunningham and have probably seen just about everything he's done in front of the camera, and enjoyed it. But no matter how good the actor is (but you do need both to be good!)... what you see on the screen, is more how the director see's the story... and I do think Ron Howard has what it takes to be one of those exceptional directors.
I pretty much knew most of his story.. how his parents were in the business and how they allowed him to act at such a young age and watched over him etc. So there were no surprises tucked away in this book, but that's not why I read Biographies and Autobiographies... I do read them in hopes to get to know the individual better.. and in hopes that what I read makes me admire him more and not less. I guess I want verification that the person I am reading about deserves my accolades.
No surprises here. What you see is what you get... and so I continue to look forward to what Ron will give us next!
posted by DesLily | 7:17 AM
8 Comments:
I haven't read this book, but I do love Biographies, especially about people I admire, whether they are actors, directors, writers, painters, etc....
Have you ever read Sidney Lumet's book..I LOVED That...and he does go into each of his films in depth...Which I found utterly fascinating and illuminating, too! He is such a versatile and incrediblt talented Director...
I'll have to check out Ron Howards book....
Naomi: I will look up Sidney Lumet's book I know I haven't read it. I had a few older books about "hollywood" from silent films to talkie's but must have sold off many books trying to survive in CA..this is the first real "kick" I've been on for some time reading "old hollywood" and "old stars" like laurel and hardy and the marx brothers.. and now Buddy and Howard (old and new) I have one more book here by Peter Bogdanovich just talking about some stars that I had gotten and never yet read. I so love the actors and actresses that have gone from us, many went from silent to talkies like Lilian Gish ..if the books are written well you get the feel for what it was like back then.. and there are few "stars" (if any) that worked at their craft as much as they did. Just really interesting stuff.. and its why i love watching the old movies on TCM too.
Such a fantastic director, you get the feeling he's an 'actor's' director because he's been one. My favourite of his films is The Paper with Michael Keaton. (I think that was one one his...)
cath: I think Howard doesn't just listen to the actors but hears what they are saying and somehow knows when to go with a suggestion. Some directors listen but dont hear and yet others don't even listen. Of course as the outsider we will never really know which, if either is correct.. but I do think Ron is one of the better directors!
I can't help it! He's Opie to me. When other kids were watching a big purple dinosaur on TV I was watching a different Barney altogether! He's a wonderful director though. I've liked just about every movie that he's directed.
That's why I love biographies and autobiographies too. Right now I'm reading Shirley Temple's called Child Star. I've had it for over a decade but never got around to reading more than a few pages. I also like to get little behind-the-scenes info as well.
ladytink: you aren't the only one that thinks that way lol.. I have another biography here on John Ford (director) but it's over 1,000 pages so I haven't tackled it yet lol.. I like to read some bio's mostly movie celebs or directors and mostly ones around the change from silent to talkie movies.. I find it fascinating. But now and again I enjoy a newer one. I'm not it in for the "dirt" so much as just how things were back then..
He's a wonderful director. When I see "directed by Ron Howard," it's pretty much a given that I'll want to see it. So stupid but I miss his hair. I loved his red hair! LOL Thanks for the review. I'll have to look for this one. :)
Bookfool: I'm pretty much with you in that if he directs it I will want to see it. That's the sign of a good director!!
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