Ron Howard: Child Star & Hollywood Director (People to Know) (Library Binding)

~ Barbara Kramer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-A workmanlike overview of the career of this actor and director. "Career" is the operative word here, since Howard began acting in the role of Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show when he was only six. This book follows him through his life as a child actor; his movie breakthrough in American Graffiti, which led to his role as Richie Cunningham on the long-lived television series Happy Days; and his transition from acting to a career as a highly respected film director. Kramer discusses each of his subject's movie projects, focusing on behind-the-scenes stories of the filming of each picture. Although his life and career are virtually inseparable, this biography gives no sense of him as a person. The only insight into Howard's character is that he is nice-a family man who keeps his kids out of the spotlight, but often on the set with him. The text is well documented, with extensive chapter notes providing references to back up each quotation. Black-and-white photographs show Howard primarily in professional poses either acting or on the job as a director.-Tim Wadham, Dallas Public Library, TX

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Presents the life and career of Ron Howard who gained fame as a young actor starring in television shows and went on to become a film director and producer.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894909819
• ISBN-13: 978-0894909818
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,812,292 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ron Howard Child Star & Hollywood Director, January 29, 2002

By A Customer

Ron Howard had a very interesting childhood with being Opie Taylor in a very famous TV series, The Andy Griffith Show, and then moving on to more interesting times with his debut on "Love and the Happy Days." It was a pilot episode which was then named Happy Days. On Happy Days he played Richie Cunningham. During the six years he was doing Happy Days, he married his high school sweetheart. He left Happy Days because he wanted
to pursue his dream of directing. The reason for wanting to be a director was because when acting if he didn't like the script he would have to live with it. If he was a director he could change what he didn't like. The first movie he directed was Grand Theft Auto, he also acted in this movie. As time went on he had several films that didn't go so well in the box office, so when he directed Apollo 13 he worked very hard to make it a success. He showed the world what a great director he really was.

The book "Ron Howard Child Star & Hollywood Director," on a scale of one to five is a three. The book didn't really have a captivating mood or keep your interest throughout the entire book. In my opinion it was slow and ponderous. Even in the parts that were more interesting, the author was slow to get to her point, I didn't like that about the book. What I enjoyed in the book was how his family was the number one thing in Howard's
life. The main focus of this book shows how " Ron Howard has proved that a child star can grow up to find adult happiness and success."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ron Howard Child Star & Hollywood Director, January 29, 2002

By A Customer

Ron Howard had a very interesting childhood with being Opie Taylor in a very famous TV series, The Andy
Griffith Show, and then moving on to more interesting times with his debut on "Love and the Happy Days." It was
a pilot episode which was then named Happy Days. On Happy Days he played Richie Cunningham. During the
six years he was doing Happy Days, he married his high school sweetheart. He left Happy Days because he wanted
to pursue his dream of directing. The reason for wanting to be a director was because when acting if he didn't like
the script he would have to live with it. If he was a director he could change what he didn't like. The first movie
he directed was Grand Theft Auto, he also acted in this movie. As time went on he had several films that didn't go
so well in the box office, so when he directed Apollo 13 he worked very hard to make it a success. He showed the
world what a great director he really was.

The book "Ron Howard Child Star & Hollywood Director," on a scale of one to five is a three. The
book didn't really have a captivating mood or keep your interest throughout the entire book. In my opinion it was
slow and ponderous. Even in the parts that were more interesting, the author was slow to get to her point, I didn't
like that about the book. What I enjoyed in the book was how his family was the number one thing in Howard's
life. The main focus of this book shows how " Ron Howard has proved that a child star can grow up to find adult
happiness and success."

5.0 out of 5 stars Ron Howard: Child Star & Hollywood Director, December 15, 1999

By	M. D. Cummings "Marv" (Kanosh,, Utah United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Ron Howard has always been a symbol of something good coming from an era of "Drug freaks and acid heads." I'm his same age and I lived in that same time when the clamps or thumb screws, as we called them, were put on us--the younger brothers and sisters--by our parents. We always felt that we were stymied as a direct result of the exiled hippy generation.

I remember hearing the words of Cruchev. He said, 'American children were nothing but spoiled brats.' Ron Howard, from Opie Taylor to the director of Apollo 13, has been a wonderful sample of the many good qualities that have come from our generation.

Ron Howard's example and accomplishments was one of the main reasons I purchased the book. The other reason was the Author: Barbara Kramer.

Barbara Kramer has a style that allows a young reader to read at a rapid pace,while at the same time, enabling the reader to comprehend the contents of the book.

As an adult reader, and author, I read the book with great enthusiasim. I'm actually a slow reader but I finished this book in one hour and enjoyed every minute of it.

If there is one thing I dislike, it's a biography that is slow and ponderous. I think young readers feel the same. "Ron Howard: Child Star & Hollywood Director," picks up on all the interesting points of his life. I was particularly interested in how Family was number one to the Howards. They wanted to make sure Ron had a normal childhood. I also liked how Ron got along with people of the older generation, like Betty Davis and John Wayne. In my opinion that was how the "Generation Gap" was really bridged, by people like Ron Howard.

Great book. my wife is next in line to read it after she's through my oldest son wants to check it out.