Ron Howard may have left his role as the beloved Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show nearly 60 years ago, but the Oscar-winning filmmaker still holds the show close to his heart. In a recent announcement of his TCM (Turner Classic Movies) picks for November, Howard kicked things off by paying tribute to his TV father, the late Andy Griffith, with a special selection of films, including Elia Kazan’s A Face in the Crowd (1957).
Howard discussed the movie’s cultural significance, especially in today’s media-driven world, saying, “Its significance has grown tremendously over the decades, both as a distinct piece of cinema and an increasingly relevant social commentary.” He also praised Griffith’s powerful performance as Lonesome Rhodes, a charming but manipulative folk singer turned political figure. “Most personal to me is Andy Griffith’s performance,” Howard added, noting that Griffith, originally not the first choice for the role, brought an unexpected intensity to the character that he rarely revisited in his later career.
Howard shared an interesting behind-the-scenes tidbit, revealing that Griffith had confided in him that the role was uncomfortable and pushed him out of his comfort zone as an actor. The experience led Griffith to shy away from dramatic roles thereafter.
Next, Howard highlighted the 1949 film Champion, starring Kirk Douglas, which he acknowledged as a major influence on his own 2005 biopic Cinderella Man, about boxer James J. Braddock. Champion tells the story of a determined fighter (played by Douglas) who does whatever it takes to support his disabled brother. Howard pointed out that Douglas did all of his own boxing stunts, even after recent cosmetic surgery, making the risk of a real punch landing particularly high.
Howard also praised the filmmaking team behind Champion—director Mark Robson, producer Stanley Kramer, and writer Carl Foreman—and noted that the movie was independently financed and shot in just 24 days, much like today’s indie films.
Howard’s TCM picks also included Goldie Hawn’s comedic role in Private Benjamin and Diana Ross’s iconic portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues. To close out his list, Howard highlighted The Maltese Falcon (1941), a film noir classic directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart. Howard explained that The Maltese Falcon is credited with helping define the noir genre, even though it was Huston’s directorial debut. He also shared a fun fact about Huston’s journey into filmmaking: although his father, Walter Huston, was a well-known character actor, John initially didn’t pursue acting, working instead as a writer and eventually transitioning into a successful career in Hollywood.
Howard’s TCM picks showcase a mix of drama, comedy, and classic noir, with each film reflecting a significant moment in cinematic history. Fans of both Howard’s work and classic film will want to tune in to TCM this November for a deeper dive into these timeless stories.
