If Ron Howard wanted to be a director and that is why he left Happy Days in 1980 then why did he act in two for made tv movies in 1981, "Bitter Harvest" and "Fire on the Mountain"?

Hi Speech2003 and welcome to the Happy Days board! I am pretty new here too, and this is a nice place to hang around.

Regarding your question, bear with me, I can get long winded in my answers, but I will try.

I am a devoted fan of Ron and have followed his career, well, for years, but in this instance I can only speculate. I do know that Ron's interest was in directing for a long time before he left Happy Days, and his first directing opportunity was at age 23 with Grand Theft Auto in 1977. I believe it was on the A and E biography on Ron that his wife said that Ron was "always a big risk taker" and he decided to leave the security of Happy Days to pursue his dream to direct. It is likely hard to get directing jobs when obligated to a weekly TV show. So, once he left, no one was calling on him to direct anything, at least not right away. I don't think directing is something you just decide to do, and then people start calling, and I am sure Ron knew this, you have to work at it even if the results aren't immediate. However, his movie Night Shift was released in 1982, and I do believe I heard that it took 2 years to get that movie from concept to screen, as Ron was not at that point a movie director of any note. Thus, this would have been in production starting in the time period after he left Happy Days.

Additionally, he had already directed several TV movies, and these came about as a result of his first directing effort with Grand Theft Auto. While on Happy Days, he was under contract with NBC to do several TV movies as a director. He had also been sought after as an actor in TV shows and TV movies for many years, and I am just guessing that when he didn't have a directing opportunity available, he took acting jobs that were offered, especially when they not in the same vein as Richie and Opie. I am not sure, but he may have been under contract to act in a certain number of TV movies. When Ron was first starting out as a wannabe director, many people did not take him seriously due to his boy next door image as Richie and Opie, and I suspect that by acting in unexpected roles, it served to further his reputation as someone who had more range than to be an actor in TV sitcoms. TV actors are still like second class citizens compared to movie actors, and directing is really a step up the ladder compared to acting. So maybe by taking these acting jobs, it was something maybe to bargain with in trying eventually get directing jobs. Plus, these are not such a time committment as a weekly sitcom, and honestly, it kept up his visibility. Ron also was involved as a producer in various TV movies, including one with Donnie Most, Leo and Loree.

I have a copy of a People magazine from 1978, with Ron on the cover, and it says, something like, "believe it or not, that nice twerp from Happy Days is a hot shot director." Ron still gets dissed by people who refer to him as Opie, as if he was still 10 years old. He still has the TV image to live down, even though it also led to his current career.

By the way, have you seen Bitter Harvest? I taped it off of TV when it was rerun on a late show some years ago, and it is a great movie, and Ron's performance is really, really good, really riveting. I saw Fire on the Mountain when it was first on TV, but that was in the old days:rolleyes: before VCR's were invented, or at least before I could afford one. I don't recall much of the movie, but I have looked for it on Ebay. Recently, Ron's movie in which he directed Betty Davis, Skyward, sold for :eek: 81.00 on Ebay. It is very rare. I tried but was outbid!

There is a biography on Ron due in bookstores in March or April, maybe you will find more of your answers there. I will be in line day one for that book.

Hope this gives you some possible answers to your question. And, again, welcome!

PeggySue

Thanks PeggySue!:D

I Would like to add the interesting fact that Ron Howard played Richie on Happy Days

Originally posted by Chad Doody
I Would like to add the interesting fact that Ron Howard played Richie on Happy Days
Did not.


























:p Wow, Chad. Thank you for informing me- I NEVER knew.:bonk:

Originally posted by •Shotz|NYC•

Did not.


























:p Wow, Chad. Thank you for informing me- I NEVER knew.:bonk:

Anytime :D

Originally posted by •Shotz|NYC•
Thanks PeggySue!:D

:dizzy: soooo, Shotz is it?? Just what did you do with Ms.ConanO'Brien?? Is she :lookaroun in the closet, with, uh, Chuck?? Shotz, or Shot?!! And the Mafia are gone, too!! Could be trouble in River City!

Witness protection program, anyone??;)

Originally posted by PeggySue


:dizzy: soooo, Shotz is it?? Just what did you do with Ms.ConanO'Brien?? Is she :lookaroun in the closet, with, uh, Chuck?? Shotz, or Shot?!! And the Mafia are gone, too!! Could be trouble in River City!

Witness protection program, anyone??;)
Hehe- I got sick of MsConanOBrien, but now I miss it LOl. Yah, its in the closet- its in *ahem* good hands.:lol: Its Shotz (Shotz Brewery) from Laverne & Shirley.:D Mafia?? Gone??:eek: :seeya: No way jose!! LOl. Well, it died down a bit, but we're still representing!;)

I always thought his first directing gig was the TV movie "Cotton Candy" (which he wrote also), but when I just checked IMDB it says that "Deed of a Daring-Do" was his first. I don't know what that is and there are no real details on the site.

By the way, I just checked ebay and looked up Cotton Candy.
Check it out Ron fans:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3311562580&category=1165

Originally posted by •Shotz|NYC•

Hehe- I got sick of MsConanOBrien, but now I miss it LOl. Yah, its in the closet- its in *ahem* good hands.:lol: Its Shotz (Shotz Brewery) from Laverne & Shirley.:D Mafia?? Gone??:eek: :seeya: No way jose!! LOl. Well, it died down a bit, but we're still representing!;)

:rolleyes: Ohhh. Shotz brewery. Duh. What was I thinking. But I was, uh, worried about MCOB, thank goodness no one was shot!

But there remains the matter of Chuck, for all eternity.:lookaroun

Originally posted by PeggySue


:rolleyes: Ohhh. Shotz brewery. Duh. What was I thinking. But I was, uh, worried about MCOB, thank goodness no one was shot!

But there remains the matter of Chuck, for all eternity.:lookaroun
:bonk:LOl.

My poor Chuck!!!!!:eek: :lol:

Originally posted by dlemond
I always thought his first directing gig was the TV movie "Cotton Candy" (which he wrote also), but when I just checked IMDB it says that "Deed of a Daring-Do" was his first. I don't know what that is and there are no real details on the site.

By the way, I just checked ebay and looked up Cotton Candy.
Check it out Ron fans:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3311562580&category=1165

Hi, Dlemond! Deed of Daring-Do is actually a short film, about 3 minutes in length, that Ron submitted in a student film contest at age 16. He won second prize. Ron has described it in numerous biography type TV interviews, and it is usually shown in part as he describes it. His brother, father, and wife (girlfriend at time) are in it. The trick was that the contest required that the participant film something and not have the film developed, just send it in. Again, video cameras did not exist then. It was a very complicated little film as it required multiple camera setups and precise timing to get a simple but effective story told. I always wondered who won first place.

As for Cotton Candy, I have a copy from the same seller. It is very, very grainy, obviously a knockoff of a videotape. Hard to watch, but I am still kind of glad I got a copy.

Originally posted by PeggySue


Hi, Dlemond! Deed of Daring-Do is actually a short film, about 3 minutes in length, that Ron submitted in a student film contest at age 16. He won second prize. Ron has described it in numerous biography type TV interviews, and it is usually shown in part as he describes it. His brother, father, and wife (girlfriend at time) are in it. The trick was that the contest required that the participant film something and not have the film developed, just send it in. Again, video cameras did not exist then. It was a very complicated little film as it required multiple camera setups and precise timing to get a simple but effective story told. I always wondered who won first place.

As for Cotton Candy, I have a copy from the same seller. It is very, very grainy, obviously a knockoff of a videotape. Hard to watch, but I am still kind of glad I got a copy.

I watched Cotton Candy when it first aired on TV back in 1978.
Guess I'm kinding of dating myself, but I was a young kid.

Thanks for the welcome Peggy Sue.
I taped "Bitter Harvest" along time ago off Lifetime and had that copy for 10 years. Then I saw several off EBay and bid the highest on a copy. When I received it, it had scenes that weren't on my previous copy. I thought Ron did a great job in the movie.

I have been searching for "Fire on the Mountain" and finally found someone who had taped it along time ago off CBS Late Night. The movie is supposed to be 100 minutes in length, but the copy I have is about 70-75, plus there are alot of commercials in it. I have never seen it on ebay, but on videoeta.com, it said it would be released on DVD in April, and if you give them your email address, there will notify you when it comes out. Ron did a good job in that as well.

I also have "Act Of Love" which he made in 1980, and that is great performance as well.

I am related to him as his mom and my grandfather were first cousins, and that makes us forth cousins. I have never met him, but I have met his dad once, and his mom (before she past away) on numerous occasions.

Originally posted by speech2003
I have been searching for "Fire on the Mountain" and finally found someone who had taped it along time ago off CBS Late Night. The movie is supposed to be 100 minutes in length, but the copy I have is about 70-75, plus there are alot of commercials in it. I have never seen it on ebay, but on videoeta.com, it said it would be released on DVD in April, and if you give them your email address, there will notify you when it comes out. Ron did a good job in that as well.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think videoeta made a mistake in confusing the title with the acutal movie.
Because a movie called "Fire on the Mountain" is being released on DVD on April 22, but it a documentary made in 1995 about World War II.


Here is the link to the title:
http://www.dvdplanet.com/product_listing.asp?productid=30966&format=DVD

Originally posted by speech2003
Thanks for the welcome Peggy Sue.
I taped "Bitter Harvest" along time ago off Lifetime and had that copy for 10 years. Then I saw several off EBay and bid the highest on a copy. When I received it, it had scenes that weren't on my previous copy. I thought Ron did a great job in the movie.

I have been searching for "Fire on the Mountain" and finally found someone who had taped it along time ago off CBS Late Night. The movie is supposed to be 100 minutes in length, but the copy I have is about 70-75, plus there are alot of commercials in it. I have never seen it on ebay, but on videoeta.com, it said it would be released on DVD in April, and if you give them your email address, there will notify you when it comes out. Ron did a good job in that as well.

I also have "Act Of Love" which he made in 1980, and that is great performance as well.

I am related to him as his mom and my grandfather were first cousins, and that makes us forth cousins. I have never met him, but I have met his dad once, and his mom (before she past away) on numerous occasions.

Speech2003, Hi again! That is pretty cool :cool: that you are related to Ron! Too bad you two haven't met, it would be nice if you can someday. Ron's mom always appeared to be a very sweet lady when seen in interviews, etc. It is too bad she didn't live to see him win the Oscars. Do you have anything you are comfortable sharing about Ron or his family from yours or your family's point of view? I do not want to pry, but I am just curious to know if Ron and his family are as nice as they have always seemed to be. Ron just has always seemed not just very talented but also very down to earth. I always enjoy seeing his parents and brother in Ron's movies, as well as other roles.

Regarding the movies you mentioned, I also have "Act of Love" on video. Ron is very different in this role, it is pretty interesting to see, and like you said he is very good in it. I also have "Run Stranger Run" and my favorite, "The Migrants," both featuring Cloris Leachman. Ron is the co-lead in both films. "The Migrants" is a really haunting film, a great story and with great acting by everyone. You should try to get that one on Ebay, the video is often for sale, and well worth having. I have tried a few times to Get "Bitter Harvest" but was outbid, maybe by you! I am sure I will get it one of these days, and look forward to the additional scenes.

Hope you can stick around here, Speech2003!

PeggySue

Hey Peggy Sue,
I just saw about 3 copies of Bitter Harvest on EBAY so you might want to jump in.

Ron's mom was very enjoyable to be around. I would always ask her about the different stars in Hollywood, and she would answer me with no problems at all. I met Rance only once. He and Jean came to my grandparents after Ron directed the movie Cotton Candy in Dallas. I was 11 at the time and from what I can remember, he was a very friendly and nice person. The movie "Far and Away" is loosely based on our family settling in Oklahoma. In a way, it is a movie based on Ron's on heritage.

Originally posted by speech2003
Hey Peggy Sue,
I just saw about 3 copies of Bitter Harvest on EBAY so you might want to jump in.

Ron's mom was very enjoyable to be around. I would always ask her about the different stars in Hollywood, and she would answer me with no problems at all. I met Rance only once. He and Jean came to my grandparents after Ron directed the movie Cotton Candy in Dallas. I was 11 at the time and from what I can remember, he was a very friendly and nice person. The movie "Far and Away" is loosely based on our family settling in Oklahoma. In a way, it is a movie based on Ron's on heritage.

Hi again Speech2003! Or Hey!! as you said. Nice of you to share the comments about Ron's parents. Much as I would expect from what I have seen or read about them. I enjoyed "Far and Away" very much, and knew the story's background. I have the background book from the making of the movie which is pretty detailed.

I have put a bid in on one of the "Bitter Harvest" videos, and hope to win one. There is also a picture of Ron from that movie on sale at ebay, I will post the link here, although I assume it won't stay after after the auction ends. If anyone wants to post the picture, go ahead! Very different but good look for Ron!

Peggy Sue

Bitter Harvest picture (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3311441667&category=2312)

Did you get your copy of Bitter Harvest, Peggy Sue?

My first attmept to post a pic like this. Hopefully, it'll work.

Originally posted by speech2003
Did you get your copy of Bitter Harvest, Peggy Sue?

Hi Speech2003 Despite being lost in a snow drift out here in the East! :snowman3:yes, I bid and won a copy of "Bitter Harvest," which I expect to arrive in about a week or so. Looking forward to any deleted scenes!

If you or anyone else are interested, there are a few copies of the movie "The Migrants" listed on Ebay, which as I said earlier, is a great movie.
EBAY site for "The Migrants" (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&from=R7&ebaytag1=ebayreg&query=%22the+migrants%22&query2=the+migrants&search_option=3&exclude=&category0=11232&minPrice=&maxPrice=&ebaytag1code=0&st=&SortProperty=MetaEndSort)

College Girl, nice of you to post that picture of Ron from Bitter Harvest! Interesting look for Ron, isn't it?

PeggySue

I haven't seen all of the movies Ron has directed, but the ones I have seen I liked. Ron is a great story teller! Speech2003, if you can recall anything more on the Howards, please do tell. Thanks.

This is kind of OT (sorry), but I read somewhere that Ron lives in (or lived in) Connecticut and I am just wondering if anybody knows if there is any truth to that rumor? Thanks! :)

Originally posted by Tuscadero
This is kind of OT (sorry), but I read somewhere that Ron lives in (or lived in) Connecticut and I am just wondering if anybody knows if there is any truth to that rumor? Thanks! :)

Hi Tuscadero! To answer your question, Ron has been reported for many years to live in Greenwich, CT, east of NYCity. Last year, I saw him on the Larry King Show, and he said he lives in Westchester County, NY, north of NYCity. The same thing had been reported in an article in New Yorker Magazine. He also has an apartment in NYCity. Here is the link to that article, with the quote about where he lives. The article is pretty insightful, worth reading in full. New Yorker Magazine 2001 article about Ron (http://www.newyorkmetro.com/movies/articles/01/12/hollywood/1.htm)
...For someone who's been famous for so long -- he became a TV star at 6 and remains eerily boyish at 47 -- Ron Howard still manages to stay surprisingly anonymous, even when he's strolling through Grand Central Terminal at rush hour. He's just another casually dressed baby-boomer commuting to work in sneakers, blue corduroys, and an NBC baseball cap. One would never guess that Howard is one of the most successful filmmakers in the world -- only a handful of other producer-directors, like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, can even give him a run for his money. Few of the New Yorkers in Grand Central this morning -- even if they happen to work in the film business -- realize that he's been living and making his films right here since 1985. He used to commute in from a house in Greenwich, Connecticut, often on Metro-North, but now he and his wife divide their time between a home in Westchester and a place in the city. "My kids are older, and we finally bought an apartment," he says, "so I'm out and about a little bit more." ...

I have noticed a few articles online in the past year that identify Ron as a Greenwich resident, so perhaps he still has that home also. This was shortly after he won the Oscars last year. I also wouldn't be surprised that he still has a home in Los Angeles, for when he travels to the West.

There was also an article online recently stating that Ron had purchased a home in Hilton Head, South Carolina, which is where his 15-year-old son attends a golfing academy boarding school. His son was described as something of a golf prodigy.

It is obvious Ron is doing very well and that he made a great decision when he switched over to directing!

Peggy Sue

Originally posted by PeggySue


Hi Tuscadero! To answer your question, Ron has been reported for many years to live in Greenwich, CT, east of NYCity. Last year, I saw him on the Larry King Show, and he said he lives in Westchester County, NY, north of NYCity. The same thing had been reported in an article in New Yorker Magazine. He also has an apartment in NYCity. Here is the link to that article, with the quote about where he lives. The article is pretty insightful, worth reading in full. New Yorker Magazine 2001 article about Ron (http://www.newyorkmetro.com/movies/articles/01/12/hollywood/1.htm)
...For someone who's been famous for so long -- he became a TV star at 6 and remains eerily boyish at 47 -- Ron Howard still manages to stay surprisingly anonymous, even when he's strolling through Grand Central Terminal at rush hour. He's just another casually dressed baby-boomer commuting to work in sneakers, blue corduroys, and an NBC baseball cap. One would never guess that Howard is one of the most successful filmmakers in the world -- only a handful of other producer-directors, like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, can even give him a run for his money. Few of the New Yorkers in Grand Central this morning -- even if they happen to work in the film business -- realize that he's been living and making his films right here since 1985. He used to commute in from a house in Greenwich, Connecticut, often on Metro-North, but now he and his wife divide their time between a home in Westchester and a place in the city. "My kids are older, and we finally bought an apartment," he says, "so I'm out and about a little bit more." ...

I have noticed a few articles online in the past year that identify Ron as a Greenwich resident, so perhaps he still has that home also. This was shortly after he won the Oscars last year. I also wouldn't be surprised that he still has a home in Los Angeles, for when he travels to the West.

There was also an article online recently stating that Ron had purchased a home in Hilton Head, South Carolina, which is where his 15-year-old son attends a golfing academy boarding school. His son was described as something of a golf prodigy.

It is obvious Ron is doing very well and that he made a great decision when he switched over to directing!

Peggy Sue

Hi Peggy Sue! Thanks ever so much for the great answer to my question as well as the link to the article! I live in Connecticut myself (I used to live in Fairfield County, not too far from Greenwich)...I should have guessed that if he lived anywhere in CT it would be Greenwich! Funny though, about him remaining anonymous...with that face, how does he avoid recognition?! I mean, if I saw him in Grand Central I'd recognize him! If I was riding the Metro North train with him I'd notice...or wait...maybe I have ridden the Metro North train into the city with him and just didn't know it!

I'm really happy for him that he can live a normal live though, considering the publicity that he has received as of late. Family is so important and we all know how show business can take its toll on personal lives. I'm glad that Ron is happy. But geez...a 15 year old son...he just doesn't seem old enough to have one! :) Best of luck to him, and thank you again for the fabulous information. :)

Originally posted by Tuscadero


Hi Peggy Sue! Thanks ever so much for the great answer to my question as well as the link to the article! I live in Connecticut myself (I used to live in Fairfield County, not too far from Greenwich)...I should have guessed that if he lived anywhere in CT it would be Greenwich! Funny though, about him remaining anonymous...with that face, how does he avoid recognition?! I mean, if I saw him in Grand Central I'd recognize him! If I was riding the Metro North train with him I'd notice...or wait...maybe I have ridden the Metro North train into the city with him and just didn't know it!

I'm really happy for him that he can live a normal live though, considering the publicity that he has received as of late. Family is so important and we all know how show business can take its toll on personal lives. I'm glad that Ron is happy. But geez...a 15 year old son...he just doesn't seem old enough to have one! :) Best of luck to him, and thank you again for the fabulous information. :)

Hi again, Tuscadero! Too bad you never saw Ron on the Metro North train, who knows if you were there when he was and didn't realize it. By the way, Ron turns 49:eek: this Saturday! He has been in show business probably longer than so many others, about 45 years so far. Most people cannot sustain a career anywhere near that long. And I am sure he will keep going.

Ron might be briefly seen on the daily entertainment shows next Monday, as he is a presenter at the Directors' Guild awards which is this Saturday. The prior year's winner, which was Ron, usually presents the award to the best director for feature film.

Little item about celebrity birthdays.
celebrity birthdays (http://www.austin360.com/aas/life/ap/ap_story.html/Entertainment/AP.V3176.AP-Celeb-Birthdays.html)
March 1: Singer Harry Belafonte is 76. Actor Robert Conrad is 68. Singer Roger Daltrey is 59. Actor Alan Thicke (``Growing Pains'') is 56. Actor-director Ron Howard is 49. :birthday: Actress Catherine Bach (``The Dukes of Hazzard'') is 49. Actor Tim Daly (``Wings'') is 47. Actor Mark-Paul Gosselaar (``NYPD Blue,'' ``Saved By the Bell'') is 29. ``Blues Clues'' host Donovan Patton is 25.

Peggy Sue

Hey Animal Crackers,
I can only add a little to what I said. I do have an autograph picture of Ron that he sent me when I was a kid, and he was doing Happy Days. It said, "To cousin____ best wishes, love Ron". To the best of my knowledge, Ron, who was born in Duncan OK, hasn't been back to OK since the mid 1960's.

Originally posted by speech2003
Hey Animal Crackers,
I can only add a little to what I said. I do have an autograph picture of Ron that he sent me when I was a kid, and he was doing Happy Days. It said, "To cousin____ best wishes, love Ron". To the best of my knowledge, Ron, who was born in Duncan OK, hasn't been back to OK since the mid 1960's.

Wow, I'd sure have that picture out for the whole world to see! Thanks, speech2003!