Ron Howard

Oscar-winning director Ron Howard tells host Ben Mankiewicz that he feared being “branded” a supernatural comedy director following the success of “Splash” and “Cocoon.” After tapping guidance from his “Happy Days” boss, Garry Marshall, and insight from Frank Capra’s biography, Howard set forth to explore the medium of film in all its genres as a director. He tells Ben about being mesmerized by “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Graduate” and learning how to work with stars when acting in “The Shootist” with John Wayne directed by Don Siegel. Ron Howard’s Super 8 answers run the gamut from nods to “Project Hail Mary.” and “Eastern Promises,” to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and “Blazing Saddles.”

Films Mentioned:

Night Shift

Splash

Cocoon

Grand Theft Auto

It Happened One Night

Brian’s Song

Boys in the Band

The Wild Bunch

The Graduate

Bonnie and Clyde

White Heat

The Shootist

Charley Varrick

Skyward

Eden

The Paper

The Missing

Backdraft

Frontier Woman

The Journey

Around the World in 80 Days

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Project Hail Mary

Eastern Promises

Unforgiven

A Face in the Crowd

Gone with the Wind

Matilda

High Noon

Arrival

Something About Mary

Terms of Endearment

As Good as it Gets

Young Frankenstein

Blazing Saddles

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