Ron Howard’s favourite Christmas movie: “It’s more powerful now”
When movie fans discuss the most beloved filmmakers of the 20th century, Steven Spielberg is regularly mentioned alongside the likes of Stanley Kubrick, Ridley Scott and Ron Howard, with the group creating some of the most critically acclaimed and most adored movies of the era. Howard, in particular, having started out his career in front of the camera, is one of the few actors to make a successful transition to the big screen.
A darling of American sitcoms throughout the late 20th century, Howard thrived in such shows as The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days before making his feature debut in 1977 with Grand Theft Auto. Nowadays, he’s seen as one of Hollywood’s finest and most trusted names, having created such modern favourites as A Beautiful Mind, Rush and Thirteen Lives.
Another 21st-century favourite of fans is his 2000 adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski and Molly Shannon. A modern classic that finds itself on festive TV screens annually, despite how much Carrey suffered while making the flick, How the Grinch Stole Christmas bubbles with creativity and joy.
While it’s a favourite Christmas movie of so many across the world, it is not Howard’s own favourite, with the director instead opting for the timeless Frank Capra masterpiece It’s a Wonderful Life.
Speaking to CNN about the movie, he stated: “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen It’s a Wonderful Life. I find it’s one of the most fascinating stories to revisit and I never ever watched it without taking a moment to consider that central thematic question: ‘Are you aware of the way you can affect those around you and the ripple effect of it?’”.
Starring the likes of James Stewart, Donna Reed and Karolyn Grimes, the film is based partly on Charles Dickens’ tale of A Christmas Carol, telling the story of a man considering suicide who is visited by three angels who take him on a tour of his life over the years. Regularly called the best Christmas movie of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life certainly has a timelessness that modern classics lack.
Continuing his thoughts on the movie, Howard adds: “Who doesn’t cry when you see Jimmy Stewart rediscover himself and his desire to live? In a really complicated, difficult, frustrating world, a damnable world, there, the choice to engage and live matters and you can matter. And it was powerful then and it’s powerful now. In fact, it’s more powerful now”.
Take a look at the trailer for the movie Howard calls his favourite Christmas movie below.
